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I'm looking to create a themed but hopefully effective unit for going after enemy MCs or walkers.

I was thinking either JP Vanguard or drop pod Honor Guard.

Rest of the army is still being determined but Chapter Tactics will be Black Templar if that's relevant.

Of the two, probably vanguard.

With the exception of the champ, the HG are going to top out at S6, with either mauls or relic blades. For some MCs, you are probably going to want the S8 that TH/fists bring. Many of the things you are going after are also going to cut clean through the 2+ save that the HG pay for, so the VV’s ability to take a few SS will keep them alive.

Just a few thoughts, YMMV.

The SM monster hunter unit in the shooting aspect is Grav cannon Centurion or Skyhammer formation Grav Dev.
If you are looking for combat. Imho, the best contender is CM Smashbane, Hammernator, or Ironclad Dreadnought with PF and Sesmic Hammer (the latter being concussive) Vanguard can do some damage with lots of power weapon. Just nothing other than PF or TH is satisfactory in putting wounds on T6+ MC, while in combat anything not carrying a SS will be eaten by MC quickly. But putting all those on VV is going to make the squad expensive very quick. Will still vulnerable to FW gunlines or even just hordes of Termaguants, and HG have no way to get inv save all by themselves....
Imho, HG is better charging out of a Landraider rather than exposed a whole turn when disembark from Droppod, since they will be eaten by all the AP2 shooting like Plasma Cannon. So generally speaking, the VV maybe better since their mobility are grantedby only 3 ppm.
A thought for you to make reference when building your MC hunting force. Take a captain or CM with artificer armor, grav pistol, burning blade, JP, then take VV 5men, one TH/SS, one PF, two pairs LC, and one more grav pistol and Power axe. Before charging in fire the grav pistol, hopefully one wound through to make the MC I1, then the Captain attack with burning blade, should be able hit a few times and the MC need to take blinding test which it most likely to fail as it is now I1, which make it WS1 so that MC now swing last and hits your squad on 5+ while you just kill it with all PF, TH, and PA.

The option to run with storm shields and not be reliant on a transport does make the Vanguard more enticing. I'm just not sure they can bring the volume of attacks to bear to beat a big nasty without getting really pricey.

 minigun762 wrote:
I'm looking to create a themed but hopefully effective unit for going after enemy MCs or walkers.

I was thinking either JP Vanguard or drop pod Honor Guard.

Rest of the army is still being determined but Chapter Tactics will be Black Templar if that's relevant.

How far does the theme need to stretch? Neither of those two are really good against MCs. Especially since the most dangerous (and common) MCs fly, and both those options do dick all against a FMC. Grav is the answer to MCs. Or a Flyrant Reaper, I mean Fire Raptor.

 Silverthorne wrote:

 minigun762 wrote:
I'm looking to create a themed but hopefully effective unit for going after enemy MCs or walkers.

I was thinking either JP Vanguard or drop pod Honor Guard.

Rest of the army is still being determined but Chapter Tactics will be Black Templar if that's relevant.

How far does the theme need to stretch? Neither of those two are really good against MCs. Especially since the most dangerous (and common) MCs fly, and both those options do dick all against a FMC. Grav is the answer to MCs. Or a Flyrant Reaper, I mean Fire Raptor.

I don't know if this claim hold, swooping FMC can take 4+ cover without jinking by just have its toe touching terrains. If this is true. AV12 flyer have no hope to win aerial fight against Flyrant.

 Silverthorne wrote:

 minigun762 wrote:
I'm looking to create a themed but hopefully effective unit for going after enemy MCs or walkers.

I was thinking either JP Vanguard or drop pod Honor Guard.

Rest of the army is still being determined but Chapter Tactics will be Black Templar if that's relevant.

How far does the theme need to stretch? Neither of those two are really good against MCs. Especially since the most dangerous (and common) MCs fly, and both those options do dick all against a FMC. Grav is the answer to MCs. Or a Flyrant Reaper, I mean Fire Raptor.

The idea that bad huh?

I could drop the idea if I'm effectively beating my head against a wall.

It is not a bad idea, both honor guard and VV are great units if used correctly.
It just is that they are not efficient at MC hunting. Honor guard do not have an inv. save and good mobility and VV get expensive fast and die like flies against normal fire.
Bring Grav, missiles or lascannnos and shoot the MC's.
Use Honor Guard and VV to sweep the enemy infantry and vehicles in CC

Seems like Sternguard would be a better monster hunter squad, between special ammo and grav or plasma.

Neophyte2012 wrote:


I don't know if this claim hold, swooping FMC can take 4+ cover without jinking by just have its toe touching terrains. If this is true. AV12 flyer have no hope to win aerial fight against Flyrant.

I thought that rule was eliminated.

I thought all area terrain was removed. I've been away from 40K for a bit, so I could be mistaken.