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What is the optimal loadout of Sanguinary Guard?

As of right now, I have my SG equipped with three Sword Encarmine, one Axe Encarmine, and a Power Fist. All of them come with Angelus Bolters since the pistols aren't worth it, IMO.

Is there a better way to equip them? I always will be running mine with Dante and a Jump Pack Sanguinary Priest.

I think the loadout you listed is fine. Having swords is nice for the attacks at initiative, and then having an axe and fist is good for AP2 attacks later on. I agree that Angelus boltguns are good, I have a couple of plasma pistols in my unit sometimes if I want them to strip a wound or two off MC or something before charging in... melta pistol is never worth it as the range sucks and they aren't meant to be anti-tank.

My only critique would be adding another couple of bodies to the unit... a unit of 5 is ok but as soon as some of them die their effectiveness goes down significantly. I also usually run a Chapter Banner on one of them as the extra attack is really good on these guys (and the more guys you have in the unit, the better value it becomes)

I don't use them. But if I WERE to use them, they would be naked with no support. MSU and all that. The priest doesn't help them enough and Dante should be a squad that needs the CC punch. Actually, a unit of ten with the banner and priest wouldn't be the worst thing ever. But I wouldn't give five a priest.

I equipped mine with the following:

1 power fist
4 glave encarmaines
5 Death masks

That work for ya?

SG don't need Dante, and Dante doesn't gain much from an SG squad. They can usually fight their way through without Dante's hit and run.
Give 7-8 guard a naked priest with a jump pack and at least 1 fist to make them survivable and threatening, and give Dante naked assault marines or DC to be his meatshields. This gives you multiple threats instead of a single one for them to focus fire on. Also it gives you two units instead of one that can get stuff done, like maelstrom etc.

Always remember, super fighty IC's want meatshield grunts, and super fighty units want support IC's. Throwing a super fighty IC in a super fighty squad is usually overkill and also becomes too much concentration in one unit.

So far, I've really been digging the formation with free power weapons for vanguards. I'm actually 2-0 with that formation, against Crons and Orks. The Crons really don't like power mauls. They also don't like FNP power armor units. I actually killed all necron warriors on the table. Vanguard vets with power weapons have the additional advantage of receiving charges very well as was demonstrated in my Ork game.

Martel732 wrote:
So far, I've really been digging the formation with free power weapons for vanguards. I'm actually 2-0 with that formation, against Crons and Orks. The Crons really don't like power mauls. They also don't like FNP power armor units. I actually killed all necron warriors on the table. Vanguard vets with power weapons have the additional advantage of receiving charges very well as was demonstrated in my Ork game.

I have been considering it. I have so many Sternguard with Crimson Fists, that I don't know if I want more. A full squad of Sternguard with all Combi Weapons would be fun though. I like Vanguards, they would be fun to run as well.

I will keep my VV the way they are then.

Martel732 wrote:
So far, I've really been digging the formation with free power weapons for vanguards. I'm actually 2-0 with that formation, against Crons and Orks. The Crons really don't like power mauls. They also don't like FNP power armor units. I actually killed all necron warriors on the table. Vanguard vets with power weapons have the additional advantage of receiving charges very well as was demonstrated in my Ork game.

A positive post from Martel? About BA? I'd ask who you are and what you've done with Martel732, but I like this one better.

I really hate reserves and I hate deep strike even worse, but 400 pts of stuff makes up for it. The Stormraven does okay if I just don't care what happens to it. It's basically crappy BA gladius, but against Necrons it's actually quite good.

What other stuff do you use besides the formation?

Two priests for the vanguards, a pod furioso with locator beacon, two whirlwinds, two obj sec tac squads in rhinos, and some grav bikers at 1850.