Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Hey all,

Can anyone advise how good, if at all, grav cannon devastators are at the anti-vehicle role?

Cheers

Pretty good, if they can get within range. They just aren't that good vs SHV or SHW.

Best way I've found to run them is a squad with 2 Gravcannons in a Rhino. Rhino moves up first turn and pops smoke. Hopefully it is now in or near the center of the board. I usually try to have other threats around it as well to keep my opponent from simply focusing it down. On the second turn, you now have a 24-inch radius circle of death centered on that Rhino. Even vehicles are far from immune thanks to Grav-amps. As Martel said, SHV really don't care too much about them since they can't be Immobilized.

The range issue is why skyhammer is such a good formation.

You can kinda fake it with a dev squad in a pod with a Caperact TDA captain to give them S&P. If you are playing something like a gladius where you need the captain and devs anyway.

Captain can help tank wounds as well. Grav cannon devs are probably as expensive as you can get for a 1W PA model.

(Practically anyway. I’m sure you could hemorrhage more points if you put your mind to it just to make an example)

I second 5 guys with 2 Cannons in a Rhino. It's not super great against vehicles but it is Holy murder against pretty much anything else. For the points I love them.

FYI I use them as an area denial tool from behind an Aegis. They sit there and dare you to approach my deployment zone. If I really get desperate they'll move up but I've found them to be happiest playing Goalie near any objectives on my side of the board.

Two grav cannons in a khan-scouted white scar rhino is a proven damage-dealer. That is a unit that will get work done for you. Problem is, it's an easy selection as a priority target because of it.

I know that it might seem like an odd idea, but I only put one grav cannon in my 5-man, rhino mounted units. That way, each grav cannon is individually protected by 3 hull points and 4 ablative wounds. In a battle company, with 6 tactical squads and 2 devastators, that's a viable strategy (for me, only 5-6 of those will get the single cannon). Less practical without all the free rhinos. But when they're all spread out, it works great at mitigating the impact of incoming damage on your ability to do damage.