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I have a set of weapon batteries that I have never built. I was looking into which of the three I would make them. With everything in the eldar codex now being legitimate, I want to broaden what I field. At first glance the D-Cannon seems like a no brainer. It's D and people will want to get close to the batteries. But looking at the shadow weavers, they seems amazing. 3 large blast at str 6 with mono filament and just 90 points. Lastly, the vibro cannons. They seem the worse choice, but maybe someone with experience can put some input here.

 Bonachinonin wrote:
I have a set of weapon batteries that I have never built. I was looking into which of the three I would make them. With everything in the eldar codex now being legitimate, I want to broaden what I field. At first glance the D-Cannon seems like a no brainer. It's D and people will want to get close to the batteries. But looking at the shadow weavers, they seems amazing. 3 large blast at str 6 with mono filament and just 90 points. Lastly, the vibro cannons. They seem the worse choice, but maybe someone with experience can put some input here.

Shadow Reavers are just blast, not large.
I'd go with D-Cannons for the area Denial.
Set them up anywhere in the middle 3' of the table and make a 165 point problem to which your opponent must react.

I like shadow reavers, they're decent of the cost, but you could just ignore them all game and take the hits. D cannons cannot be ignored.

If I had 6 weapon platforms, I'd go with 3 D and 3 shadow. If I had 9, I'd go 3 D and 6 shadow.

 HawaiiMatt wrote:

 Bonachinonin wrote:
I have a set of weapon batteries that I have never built. I was looking into which of the three I would make them. With everything in the eldar codex now being legitimate, I want to broaden what I field. At first glance the D-Cannon seems like a no brainer. It's D and people will want to get close to the batteries. But looking at the shadow weavers, they seems amazing. 3 large blast at str 6 with mono filament and just 90 points. Lastly, the vibro cannons. They seem the worse choice, but maybe someone with experience can put some input here.

Shadow Reavers are just blast, not large.
I'd go with D-Cannons for the area Denial.
Set them up anywhere in the middle 3' of the table and make a 165 point problem to which your opponent must react.

I like shadow reavers, they're decent of the cost, but you could just ignore them all game and take the hits. D cannons cannot be ignored.

If I had 6 weapon platforms, I'd go with 3 D and 3 shadow. If I had 9, I'd go 3 D and 6 shadow.

Agreed, ive never used the vibro variant, but the D weapons are brutal and the shadow weavers just seem to lack the punch by comparison.

Depends on what you want out of them. I actually have quite a few D cannon batteries but I almost never use them and instead 2-3 shadow weavers find their way into almost every CWE list I write, that and an autarch. The reason for this is that together they give me incredible tactical flexibility. CWE post serpent spam have truly jaw dropping damage output but have become significantly more fragile to good alpha strike lists. Things like drop pod cents, IG artillery lines, white scars grav bikes, etc. can all wipe most of your army off the board with their alpha strike. With 3 shadow weaver batteries I can deploy only the 90 pts of T7 GtG in ruins barrage artillery to take the first turn shooting of my opponent then bring the stuff I want in on a 2+ reserve roll. I loose nothing as the shadow weavers are still a great value for their damage and I rarely find my HS slots necessary now that I can take reapers in an aspect host and I have so many sources of points efficient firepower in every slot.

This is not as efficiently done by D cannons as they are 55 pts each and are 24" range. This means deploying them out of LoS in distant corners to survive turn 1 will waste their firepower.

Don't get me wrong though a D cannon battery setup in the middle front of your deployment zone is a big neon sign saying "kill me or die miserably" If your opponent cannot kill the battery you will own the area 24" around them for the rest of the game. D cannon batteries may be the scariest per point shooting in the entire game.

Not sure how I missed that they are only small blasts. They would be beast if they were large blasts. Looks like Dcannon might be the way to go. just place objectives in a spot where they can watch over them. Dare you to score the maelstrom card.

It really depends on what you want to do. If you're just skirting round the edges of the battlefield taking potshots, Shadow Weavers are great. If you're actually moving forwards, taking the fight to them, D-Cannons can hold the centre unmolested.

I personally like the vibro cannons since we're the only army in 40k with nearly unlimited access to psykers that can get 2 different powers that twin-link units. A farseer can take guide and prescience without even rolling for them, and twin-linked vibro-cannons are pretty reliable at putting out S9 AP2 pinning shots.

That being said, the way those batteries are made makes for easy weapon transferral. You don't even have to magnetize them to be able to comfortably swap the weapons out as you decide you want to use them, so don't glue the weapons on and you can try them all!