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So after shelving my DA to bring some good old fashioned Chaos Daemons love, I've decided to return to my DA and make them work, specifically against Tau. One of the things I'm looking at is Drop Pods. I currently have 1 with a single Autocannon/Heavy Flamer Dread I bring, but I'm looking at getting at least 2 more. Are the Sternguard (due to their combi-meltas) generally the way to go, or would a 10 man with a Melta/ML/Combi-Melta work well too? My Tau opponent regularly runs Fire Warriors, Path Finders, a Fish or two, a Riptide and some Broadsides.

Do you mean vets? no sternguard in DA

Take a 5 man command squad all with melta (none of this combie rubbish). I run mine with Azrael and Zeke to boost them. costs a lot but oh it was fun to watch them munch through an IG tank line.

Drop Pods are a pretty not-good option against Tau. Given the sheer amount of Interceptor they can pack into a single list, anything that drops in front of suits is going to be pasted.

I mean, DA Pods might be fine overall, but if you're trying to specifically play against Tau, then it might not be the best option.

Requizen wrote:
Drop Pods are a pretty not-good option against Tau. Given the sheer amount of Interceptor they can pack into a single list, anything that drops in front of suits is going to be pasted.

I mean, DA Pods might be fine overall, but if you're trying to specifically play against Tau, then it might not be the best option.

Well, he generally doesn't bring a lot of Interceptor and I'm considering bringing 2-3 Pods plus some DW just for Turn 1 Deepstrike. I'm not necessarily trying to play against Tau, but I'm trying to examine how they function best in a DA army and Tau are one of the armies I struggle most against with DA.

This is true.. and the reason I like to drive my RW at them and plant hammers in their heads

 Jazzhands wrote:
Do you mean vets? no sternguard in DA

Take a 5 man command squad all with melta (none of this combie rubbish). I run mine with Azrael and Zeke to boost them. costs a lot but oh it was fun to watch them munch through an IG tank line.

Yes, Veterans, thanks. True, but that 5 man Command Squad plus HQ is a lot. I feel like a 10 man Vets Squad with 2 Meltas, a ML, and a Combi-Melta is a bette roption in terms of bodies and cost.


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 Jazzhands wrote:
This is true.. and the reason I like to drive my RW at them and plant hammers in their heads

That's my other thing. I'm planning on bringing a squad of 6 Bikers plus attack bike so if need be, I can pinpoint DS my Pods and DW.

it is true that the points cost gets driven up.

You could put a libby with pfg and divination in to boost it.

Might try your 10 man vet squad idea myself. I only have the one drop pod atm so can't test how many squads would work


Automatically Appended Next Post:
also don't mix up teleport homer with locator beacon. I did!

 Jazzhands wrote:
it is true that the points cost gets driven up.

You could put a libby with pfg and divination in to boost it.

Might try your 10 man vet squad idea myself. I only have the one drop pod atm so can't test how many squads would work


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also don't mix up teleport homer with locator beacon. I did!

What do you mean? Is there a difference? Bikes are part of my strategy.

Vets are OK in pods. With the FAQ they can all take combi-weapons, and are cheaper then stern guard to do so. 5 melt, 5x plasma, is just over 400pts with the transport, can come down, combat squad, unleash two separate hells, and next turn either bolter, or charge if they are close enough. With 2 attacks base, they can bring the hurt. Of course, you can always make them cheaper.

I can't really think of any other unit to drop pod, but this is just my 2cents, so take with salt.

Edited because apparently I can't spell.

Assault marines are the best pod unit in DA. 5 marines with 2 flamers is only 95 points. Take 3.

Vets really aren't worth it. Without the sternguard ammo or the decent chapter tactics of their competitors they are decidedly second rate.

 Big Blind Bill wrote:
Assault marines are the best pod unit in DA. 5 marines with 2 flamers is only 95 points. Take 3.

Vets really aren't worth it. Without the sternguard ammo or the decent chapter tactics of their competitors they are decidedly second rate.

Yep. I'm trying out a Telepathy or Pyro Libby with 9 Tac marines, 1 Melta and 1 Combi-Melta to see how it goes

6x 5 man tac squads w/ plas/combi plas- 780 (with pods)
3x Assault squads with flamers- 285
2 Deathwing Terminator squads- 480 (assuming basic assault cannons)

comes in at 1545, plenty of room for HQs.

you have 45 MEQ bodies, 10 TEQ bodies

24 plas shots in a turn of shooting. (well, only 20, but if all the tacs shot that would be 24)
6 flamer templates,
8 str6 ap4 rending shots

and untold bolt shots.

not to bad.

 raiden wrote:
6x 5 man tac squads w/ plas/combi plas- 780 (with pods)
3x Assault squads with flamers- 285
2 Deathwing Terminator squads- 480 (assuming basic assault cannons)

comes in at 1545, plenty of room for HQs.

you have 45 MEQ bodies, 10 TEQ bodies

24 plas shots in a turn of shooting. (well, only 20, but if all the tacs shot that would be 24)
6 flamer templates,
8 str6 ap4 rending shots

and untold bolt shots.

not to bad.

Do you think Plasma is better than Melta? I feel like the chance to kill myself plus the lack of melta against vehicles makes melta a little better

This will not go well. Sending your marines to the slaughter my friend. You can have fun with it though and it is still a drop pod - arguably the best way to get your guns where you want them.

Something interesting you can do with the vets is give them some storm sheilds to tank fire - I considered this but dont have the models nor do I want to invest into something I know wont work that great. Also dropping Azreal with a squad of 10 vets is a tough unit to crack.

Another thing you can do is swarm drop pods around a dakka banner and try to get a ton of bolter shots off the proceeding turn - not relentless though so pretty weak.


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 jreilly89 wrote:

 raiden wrote:
6x 5 man tac squads w/ plas/combi plas- 780 (with pods)
3x Assault squads with flamers- 285
2 Deathwing Terminator squads- 480 (assuming basic assault cannons)

comes in at 1545, plenty of room for HQs.

you have 45 MEQ bodies, 10 TEQ bodies

24 plas shots in a turn of shooting. (well, only 20, but if all the tacs shot that would be 24)
6 flamer templates,
8 str6 ap4 rending shots

and untold bolt shots.

not to bad.

Do you think Plasma is better than Melta? I feel like the chance to kill myself plus the lack of melta against vehicles makes melta a little better

Melta is not really needed vs tau - plasma works better because it's got more volume of fire and more range. A few meltas are always good to have but it's not like hell have a knight ot a LR or a russ. I like the 3:1 ratio for plama and melta - works for me.

 Xenomancers wrote:
This will not go well. Sending your marines to the slaughter my friend. You can have fun with it though and it is still a drop pod - arguably the best way to get your guns where you want them.

Something interesting you can do with the vets is give them some storm sheilds to tank fire - I considered this but dont have the models nor do I want to invest into something I know wont work that great. Also dropping Azreal with a squad of 10 vets is a tough unit to crack.

Another thing you can do is swarm drop pods around a dakka banner and try to get a ton of bolter shots off the proceeding turn - not relentless though so pretty weak.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 jreilly89 wrote:

 raiden wrote:
6x 5 man tac squads w/ plas/combi plas- 780 (with pods)
3x Assault squads with flamers- 285
2 Deathwing Terminator squads- 480 (assuming basic assault cannons)

comes in at 1545, plenty of room for HQs.

you have 45 MEQ bodies, 10 TEQ bodies

24 plas shots in a turn of shooting. (well, only 20, but if all the tacs shot that would be 24)
6 flamer templates,
8 str6 ap4 rending shots

and untold bolt shots.

not to bad.

Do you think Plasma is better than Melta? I feel like the chance to kill myself plus the lack of melta against vehicles makes melta a little better

Melta is not really needed vs tau - plasma works better because it's got more volume of fire and more range. A few meltas are always good to have but it's not like hell have a knight ot a LR or a russ. I like the 3:1 ratio for plama and melta - works for me.

Fair enough. Its a friendly game, so if they die, oh well lol I like Azzy, but he's expensive and I feel like he dies too easy

Theres also the libby or tech PFG drop.

Melta is not really needed vs tau - plasma works better because it's got more volume of fire and more range

I disagree with this. If you have a delivery system to get in range of tau (which ideally you should do, as shooting at 24 inches vs tau is suicide) then melta is definitely the better choice.

Just consider what targets tau has that warrant special weapons: Battle suits, broadsides, riptides and tanks.

Now of these I find the melta better vs everything except the riptide. Due to melta causing instant death vs battlesuits and broadsides it statistically functions the same as plasma at rapidfire range, yet retains its efficiency vs vehicles and won't cook your own guys.

Some plasma is fine, but it is melta that I fall back and rely on. Tau are no exception to tthe rule, and are actually one of my preferred targets of melta due to having multiple wound T4 models.