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I'll soon have two Sentinels and am planning on getting some Leman Russ tanks in the near future (also a Hydra and Basilisk as well, but those have a singular load out). I'll also eventually want a Baneblade as well (because why not?). However, I'm at a bit of a loss as to what to equip each.

What do I give my (Armored) Sentinels? Lascannons for anti-vehicle, Heavy Flamers for anti-infantry, or Autocannons for the price?

What about the Russes? I've been told to do Demolisher+Annihilators for Anti-vehicle, but if I have Heavy Weapons Teams with Lascannons and equip my Sentinels with Lascannons, should I invest in something more general purpose?

What about a Baneblade? What in your experience is the best load out?

Arcanis161 wrote:
I'll soon have two Sentinels and am planning on getting some Leman Russ tanks in the near future (also a Hydra and Basilisk as well, but those have a singular load out). I'll also eventually want a Baneblade as well (because why not?). However, I'm at a bit of a loss as to what to equip each.

What do I give my (Armored) Sentinels? Lascannons for anti-vehicle, Heavy Flamers for anti-infantry, or Autocannons for the price?

What about the Russes? I've been told to do Demolisher+Annihilators for Anti-vehicle, but if I have Heavy Weapons Teams with Lascannons and equip my Sentinels with Lascannons, should I invest in something more general purpose?

What about a Baneblade? What in your experience is the best load out?

Armored Sentinels I personally prefer with Lascannons. This makes them a big enough threat to not be entirely ignorable, but also not worth devoting lots of resources to killing ,so often opponents will let them go unmolested. The big issue with all sentinels is that they're really rather expensive for what they cost almost regardless of loadout. Autocannons are another option, but I don't find them to be as compelling personally.

For Russ tanks, I think the best all-round loadout is the classed LRBT, sporting a Battlecannon, Hull Lascannon, and sponson Heavy Bolters. It's flexible, capable at engaging almost any target, doesn't bust the bank, and isn't going to be too specialized or too high priority for an opponent. The Annihilator is a great anti-tank/anti-monster unit, but I'm not a fan of the Demolisher, the shorter range and lower number of shots isn't made up for by the increase in S and Damage, especially at the higher price.

Armoured Sentinels I treat like heavy-duty snipers. I want Lascannons. Sit in cover, try for high priority targets. That 2+ save goes a long way, and there's no degrading stats.

As for LRBT, now that you can shoot all of the weapons at different targets, mixed loadouts are certainly viable. With relatively slow movement, you tend to get to target what your opponent presents to you, rather than what you choose. Having flexible weapon options let you have "good" weapons for whatever is available. Especially if you have multiple Russ that you plan to keep together, I like all-purpose weapons like the Battle Cannon. I love the Lascannon on the hull for the price, and I usually take plasma because that's what I have modeled... although I magnetized my second russ so I could swap out easily.

And that's a very important point. The modern Russ kits have push-fit weapons on the hull / sponsons, and magnetizing the turret is SUPER easy. Put a small magnet in the turret, near the weapon connection, and then glue a couple of staples or other scrap steel/iron inside the weapon. Even a single staple, curled into a spiral, is enough to keep the weapon attached to a magnetized turret. They're almost push-fit.

I like a BT with LC, and either sponson HB or PC. You can make a heavy-hitter chassis with Lascannon, Multi-Meltas and a hard-hitting turret. It's shorter ranged than is optimal, damned loss of BS while moving... but it can do work if something big and nasty is coming to you, like Nid-zilla lists.

So in the end, it depends on your meta. Are people coming to you, or do you need to move to them?

Just my two cents...(hmmm should it be like 8.50 now for inflation?)...
Anyway: I run a squadron of 3-4, one being a tank commander. My tank commander is my anti vehicle unit because of his higher ballistic skill. He has a Battle cannon, lascannon, and side sponsons of multi-meltas (which suck for cost this edition I know, but I had them modeled on, and many games they get in range by turn 2 and give me two more high S high damage basically no save against shots). I have an all plasma tank (lascannon front of course, but plasma main and plasma sponsons) for multiwound infantry or high save targets (this tank gets the re-roll 1's order of course) and then 2 generics with lascannons and heavy bolters besides the battle cannon.
As a note, i run the Tallarn doctrine, so get to move my 5.9999" and fire without modifiers, so range on all weapons is generally 6" higher than listed (A BIG deal on those multi-meltas)
I run an assault infantry formation (bullgrynns, roughriders etc) So my tanks tend to be my majority anti-vehicle.
Now, I do second the above thing and magnetising for swap outs. It is simple for sponsons as well. (I got two of my tanks secondhand cheap...no sponsons, so I actualy bitted the weapons on swivel mounts and magnetised those on...remote control from inside the tank I guess. I am pretty sure the bits I used were part of the chaos missile launcher thing (havoc launcher???) for vehicles. Makes a great mount that looks fully functional.

As to Sentinels. I run three currently with plasma cannons. They are not efficient (The overcharge and remove model for them sucks. They really should have been given plasma vents with maybe they take a d3 mortal wounds). The lascannons might be better. But it seems once every other game they devastate something I really need dead, and most opponents ignore them for the most part, so speed allows some objective moves late. I find the autocannon useless (too few shots for its effect, when I do hit I don't want easy saves, I'll sacrifice the extra wound I guess.) Any other weapon should go on a scout sentinel to do a suicide move on turn one.
I have contemplated a switch to the lascannon....

edwardmyst wrote:
Just my two cents...(hmmm should it be like 8.50 now for inflation?)...

Actually, even if you had the 2 cents in 1655 (the earliest I could find a site with data) it would only be worth $0.54 now. http://www.in2013dollars.com/1665-dollars-in-2018?amount=0.02

If you had it in 1913 when the US government began tracking the consumer price index, it would only be worth $0.51 now. http://www.in2013dollars.com/1913-dollars-in-2018?amount=0.02

But to stay on topic, I too recommend the Battle Cannon, Lascannon and Heavy Bolter loadout for Leman Russes, it does everything it needs to do and does it super efficiently. If you take Pask you want to take Plasma Cannons as the sponsons though.

IMO it depends. If You run sentinels as Tallarn then lascannon. Highly mobile lascannon platform which does not suffer heavy weapon penalty after moving is maybe not super competetive but very enjoyable

After discussing sentinels with my buddy for a while - they're nothing special, but I agree we decided they're best used with a lascannon, stuck in cover.

Autocannons are too weak for their poor ballistic skill, and they're not fast enough to make good use of a heavy flamer before dying. A missile launcher wouldn't be a terrible idea - giving you a bit more flexibility. We didn't consider too much in the way of stratagems or traits for them.

Since no one’s brought up Baneblades, I’ll throw my hat into the ring and suggest that Shadowswords are generally the best Baneblade variant. The sponsons are decent, I’d take the bolters for more dakka (if you’re charged, the 5+ overwatch stratagem still gives you some punch).

Sentinels: pretty poor units generally. Balastic skill is not great nor their survivability. Only real uses are if you need to fill out Fast Attack slots for a Brigade (which isn't really worth it since CP got adjusted, just take Battalions), or for their scout move. If you have to take them, I think maybe Autocannons are your best bet. On average you'll get 1 hit, and they're decent against elite infantry.

Russes: Demolishers are really hamstrung by their range, I wouldn't take them. Annihilators are nice, but do cost a fair bit more than Battlecannons. They're ok though. I generally stick to Battlecannons as they have the best balance of raw power and versatility. Taking a Punisher against hordes is good too though. Always take Pask if you can too, he is insane for his cost.

Baneblade: Shadowswords are better at the moment, but it's a big expensive centrepiece model so I'd say build it as whatever you personally like most. Power changes over time, but if you're sinking £85 into a single model you damn well better like it! Stormlords can be nasty too, stick Heavy Weapon Teams in them for up to 20 extra Lascannon shots! You know what, you should just magnetise.

Stux wrote:
Sentinels: pretty poor units generally. Balastic skill is not great nor their survivability. Only real uses are if you need to fill out Fast Attack slots for a Brigade (which isn't really worth it since CP got adjusted, just take Battalions), or for their scout move. If you have to take them, I think maybe Autocannons are your best bet. On average you'll get 1 hit, and they're decent against elite infantry.

Russes: Demolishers are really hamstrung by their range, I wouldn't take them. Annihilators are nice, but do cost a fair bit more than Battlecannons. They're ok though. I generally stick to Battlecannons as they have the best balance of raw power and versatility. Taking a Punisher against hordes is good too though. Always take Pask if you can too, he is insane for his cost.

Baneblade: Shadowswords are better at the moment, but it's a big expensive centrepiece model so I'd say build it as whatever you personally like most. Power changes over time, but if you're sinking £85 into a single model you damn well better like it! Stormlords can be nasty too, stick Heavy Weapon Teams in them for up to 20 extra Lascannon shots! You know what, you should just magnetise.

Yep, definitely magnetize. Takes a bit of work but there’s probably tutorials for all the IG vehicles and once the next edition rolls around you won’t have to worry about having an inferior weapon glued on.