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I just got a helldrake for CSM and i was wondering what you guys think is better: flamer? or autocannon? Im just looking for your experiences with both and suggestions on how to use them

Rare for anything except the flamer to be used on a heLturkey. Mostly for picking on troops.

Flamer munches SM easy.

Autocannon is meh on BS.

Remember to Vector Strike as well

Baleflamer, every single time. If you ever want something with an Autocannon, get yourself a Hell Blade from IA:13 for 115pts with two Autocannon variants. Never waste the points on a Heldrake with a cannon.

The autocannon version was mediocre when it was a turret. Now it is completely dysfunctional. The rate of fire is low, poor BS, and Str 7 with mostly AV12, AV11, and T6. There just isn't any good targets for the autocannon.

The flamer is extremely good. The hellturkey with a baleflamer is still one of the best units in the codex. It has actually gotten considerably better recently as the best units in the recent armies are 3+ save units which are made better because of cover saves and will struggle to take down a flying hellturkey.

 ansacs wrote:
The autocannon version was mediocre when it was a turret. Now it is completely dysfunctional. The rate of fire is low, poor BS, and Str 7 with mostly AV12, AV11, and T6. There just isn't any good targets for the autocannon.

The flamer is extremely good. The hellturkey with a baleflamer is still one of the best units in the codex. It has actually gotten considerably better recently as the best units in the recent armies are 3+ save units which are made better because of cover saves and will struggle to take down a flying hellturkey.

It's actually Str 8, not str 7, though the RoF is poor, the BS is poor and AP4 isn't worth squat if it doesn't ignore cover. Since you'll never kill anything with it, the fact that it's also pinning doesn't matter either.

Ypi can pretty much just cross out the Hades entry in the 'Dex, since you'd be mad to take one instead of the flamer.

At least untilt he next 'Dex when the flamer gets nerfer to Str 5 AP4, and even then it's be a tough choice. To be honest, I'd probably still take the flamer.

If you want the Hades, get them on the forgefiend, at least with 8 shots, you're likely to land a couple.

I think the Heldrake might make a comeback with so many space marine and eldar bike armies.

You know I thought this was a joke. Had to check the date.

I just had to shake my head. Who runs drakes with hades cannon?

Heldrake is still great at auto hitting with Vector Strikes, and auto hitting with the burny torrent flamer. I never go anywhere without at least one in any list.

Now with the rise of Skyfire you should never expect more than one good turn, so play aggressively with them. I always daemonforge the turn they come on.

They are the best fire magnets.... of fire.

 Filch wrote:
You know I thought this was a joke. Had to check the date.

I just had to shake my head. Who runs drakes with hades cannon?

Hades-drake was actually good anti-tank and anti-flyer in 6ed. Getting D3+1 S7 ignore covers hits as you flew over a vehicle and then shooting its back armor with four S8 shots (thanks to 6ed's 360 LoS) usually resulted in a dead vehicle. As such most CSM players would take a Hades-drake after having taken 1-2 Bale-drakes