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So I am already running a command squad with bikes, stormshields, gravguns, apothecary, and a chapter master(storm shield, thunderhammer, bike) as well as a bike squad with a couple of grav guns to draw some of the attention away from the command squad. I also have scouts to sit in the back and hold objectives(camo cloaks and sniper rifles)
I have been considering adding in the Skyhammer Annihilation Force, but I am not sure how to loadout the devastators. I've got so much grav already, I am thinking any more would be a bad idea, in case I run into an army it doesn't have much of an effect on.

What is a good support, or backup, for grav? How should I loadout Skyhammer? Should I swap the weapons on the bike squads for something else, and focus them on infantry? Then load half my devastators with gravcannons? Or would you suggest something other than skyhammer? Maybe some air support?

The only sane choice for a skyhammer is Grav. Everything else, barring maybe multimeltas, is a waste.

Relentless Grav cannons really are that obscenely overpowered sadly.

The only lists out there that grav would struggle with is...what...Green Tide and maybe some AM or spammy tyranid list? Just make sure the rest of the list has solid anti-infantry in thunderfire cannons, flamers on the assault squads and so forth.

Okkaaayy, so I've run skyhammer and there's some pros and cons.

First, the armies it will struggle against:

Demons just wont care, tau will intercept you down. Eldar can also be a problem as the bikes will have jink and be MSU based, so can relatively well weather the grav storm. DA ravenwing will also not care about grav again because of re-rollable jink.

Furthermore, more often than not after your skyhammer falls it dies, so you need some good guns in other places to boot.

Finally most of the meta doesnt care about skyhammers other most powerfdul part which is the pinning. Most everything you care about is either fearless or on a bike, and thus cant GtG.


keep your ASM to 5 mans. You cant attach ICs in there and they will scatter and kill themselves (or re-reserve themnselves) more often than not. you wont get that cool TL pinning bonus often.


That said skyhammer is still hilariously broken and super good, you just need the right support.

First you need somethjing that can quickly get to midfield to back the skyhammer up with teeth. Otherwise your precious grav cannons will get focused down and that was a lot of points for just 1 turn of shooting. So bikes are good, chaptermasters with 2+/ew/etc are great. Worlf lords..etc.

Second dont worry so much about maxing out your gravcannon count. 4 is way too much when 2-3 will do the job. Especially if you are running the skyhammer as ultramarines (you are arnt you?) and thus getting TL devs for that turn.
to statistically kill a wraightknight you only need about 15 TL shots, it has like .7 wounds left which you can deal with in other ways. And ritpides/anything else is way easier than a WK (5++, 5+ FNP)

Depending on your meta you can either go 5 mans or 10 mans. If you are vs tau go with a 10 man and 2-3 cannons, as tau intercept will reliably kill 7-8 before running out ot steam (conviently leaving you with your grav cannons). If you arnt vs tau then 5 man with 2 cannons is perfect. Then your other dev team should be MMs. 4 mms in a 5 man should be enough to pop a vehicle and get in some good damage on a knight, all from midfield.

So to recap

something fast, hits hard, quick to get to midfield to backup your skyhammer.

Options:

1. wof lords/chapter masters/command bike squads/etc.
2. scouting rhinos with lots of marines with special weapopns.. etc.
3. More pods, go all pods. Or have some lucius pods with siege dreads. Iron clads can do well, anything that will survive interceptor and be a roadblock. You have to expect your skyhammer to be crippled after t1, so either protect it or have more dakka elsewhere.

Additional Ideas:

TFCs are good, something that ignores cover (wyverns as well for allies, etc), flamers, Sicarans, Fire raptors, anything to counter and engage demons.

if you honestly don't need more grav grab multimeltas in one of the squads and then pick what you feel you might need for the other squad, personally i went for heavy bolters because it costs next to nothing

That said the best competitive option is clearly grav cannons, which are utterly broken

Take a squad of Heavy Bolter Devastators. Relatively cheap, sits back, and does a good beating to the numerous little guys. Also worth considering, Devastators loaded with Plasma Cannons (don't forget your armorium cherub!). A great volley of fantastic fire, which can thin out units easily.