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Thinking of taking some sternguard in a drop pod and am debating the value of combi weapons. Are combi meltas worth the 10pts for a single shot?

I've pondered this, too. In my opinion they are only worth it if you need the unit to deal with one specific threat. If this is the case you had better make sure it is dealt with, i.e. by quadrupling up on the combi's to make that shooting phase count. Meltaguns themselves often don't get to shoot more than once or twice as it is, at least at their preferred targets, so it's not totally unreasonable to take the one-shot combi's.

I tend to try and use units with focused roles in mind, so if I were to put any combi weapons on Sternguard it would likely be Grav, Plasma or even a flamer or two, as I see Sternguard as primarily anti-infantry. Likewise, I actually have a combi-melta on the Champ in my 4-melta Chosen squad just to ensure they get the job done.

In fifth I ran them as suicide squads against the nastiest target my opponent had. Which was before knights and stormsurges and wraithknights.
They used to be SERIOUSLY worth it. Now...idk how good a suicide melta squad is.

I am about to start building a pile of footslogging Sternguard (well, infiltrating Sternguard with Lias Issodon) so I am pondering this question too. 10 points seems like quite a bit for a single shot especially because a turn shooting the combi part of your combi bolter is a turn not shooting your specialist ammo, which seems to devalue the sternguard as you are paying for that specialist ammo already. I would be interested to hear more thoughts on this topic.

Depends on the army.

Vanilla Tacmarines can take a Grav Cannon so are already set. Scouts can do Infiltrate+Scout+Combigrav if you're feeling cheeky but that's it. If you're running Chaos Marines in a Warband, you might as well give the champ a combi-melta.

I have mixed feelings about combi.

Similar to what one of the previous posters mentioned, I typically keep my units purpose specific. One squad purely for anti-infantry, another for purely anti-tank.

Occasionally though, they have their uses. Combi flamers can be great for usually long/mid range units that find themselves in close quarters. Combi meltas on the other hand provide an emergency anti-tank shot when needed.

So.................. That kind of depends on what situations you plan on throwing your guys into. I typically run Inquisition alongside my Guard forces, hence why I sometimes make use of combi.

I think it depends on what your doing with the squad in general. I use combi meltas in a single Termie squad of 5 but I make it a point to cast prescience on them before they use thier combi meltas and 1 of those 5 is a Lord so I can usually drop 2 vehicles with 1 squad.

I’m not a fan, but they do work.

I generally run my sternguard basic, with a pair of HFs. Usually in a pod, sometimes a rhino. The special ammo is very nice, and there is always something that needs it.

To pop a tank reliably, you need 4-5 melta shots. It’s not easy to get that in one place, at one time. Sternguard deliver. You need to ensure you get the shot off before taking casualties, and get into firing range. So pods are mandatory for this build. You also need something worth killing. Because while you can delete most anything, you do pay a premium for it.

If you just want to spam special weapons, bikes or command squads are probably better. At 10ppm, and taking a turn away from shooting that special ammo, I find it hard to justify.

Ive been proposing that combi flamers, be treated as heavy flamers instead. I mean, even Orkz managed to build one. That 10 pts for one flamer never added up for me, and ive always wanted to include them. Never thought aboutnwhether the melta is overcosted. Ive just been glad that grav/plas is discounted.

Combi-Weapons are worth 5 points.

When I was putting together my plans for my Sternguard I noticed in the rules for them that it appears you can end up with your two guys using special weapons also having a bolter as well (swap pistol for chainsword and swap that for a special weapon as its a melee weapon). Now you can take 3 other guys in the unit (5 man squad or a combat squad half) and give them combi weapons to give you 5 of those weapons firing and then the 3 with the now spent combi weapons can be bullet sponges for the 2 with the actual special weapons.

The only army I use combi-meltas for sternguard on is my salamanders because it makes their special issue ammo twin linked. I don't like paying 10 points to waste the special issue ammo shots with other armies.

I use combi weapons quite often.
But only in combination with the special weapon of my squads (plasma gun and combi plasma for example).
Then I manage to put my Tac squads in rapid fire range, and it works.
4 plasma shot with rerolls 1's (Ultramarines) is scarier than 2.
It puts dents into ohters marines squads and even blows up light tanks.

Combi melta are good because, as previously stated, you often get only 1 shot at this short range (6").
So, getting only one shot isn't bad (and, for the sternguards, you keep you special ammo).

You have to carrefully think about it, don't go crazy about it.
But it can complement some squads very well.

If your running vulcan, combi-meltas are worth it. Otherwise not so much.

It's very feast or famine. 100 pts of combi-meltas is a small price to take down a SHW. But it's a waste vs MCs.

In a Chaos Warband, where the 2 Marine units are a tax for everything else to get Obsec? Sure, spend 20 points, so your Meltas can double-tap stuff.

Martel732 wrote:
It's very feast or famine. 100 pts of combi-meltas is a small price to take down a SHW. But it's a waste vs MCs.

In deed.
However it's always feast for me because their are few MC. Until very recently, at last. But if you can tailor your list a little, it works.
I totally overlooked this because of my meta, good catch.

I rarely use combi weapons but I do use a squad that always has a Combi-Flamer.
I use Space Wolves and drop a squad consisting of a Long Fang Ancient with a Flamer, Long Fang and Wolf Guard Pack Leader with a Combi-Flamer and sometimes a Rune Priest with Pyromancy.
Clears MSU out of the way for melee units.

 Dakka Wolf wrote:
a Rune Priest with Pyromancy.

Which publication did Rune Priests get access to Pyromancy? Because I'm certain they don't have it in the Space Wolf Codex.

As mentioned before, Command Squads are better suited to Melta duty, and I personally prefer to keep my Sternguard bare bones. That said, if you can only bring one squad and you want the flexibility of Sternguard ammo but need Melta, 5 combis can work just fine.