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So, okay, based on the recent leaks, here is a comparison between a three man squad of Space Marine Bladeguard and a 3 man squad of Custodes with swords and shields:

Points:

Custodes 150

Bladeguard 105

Toughness/survivability:

Custodes have T5, 1+/4++/ 6+++ for mortal wounds, and a few buffs relating to the shield hosts. 3 wounds each. Ld 11 also, so, you know, it's statistically impossible for your one dude to flee when his two buddies die.

Bladeguard have T4, 2+/4++ and no mortal wounds protection, and if you are running Dark Angels they have built in transhuman. 3 wounds each. Ld 9, and “They Shall Know No Fear”, so it's, uh, also statistically impossible for your one dude to flee when his two buddies die? That's cool.

So for this I would say that custodes have a slight edge unless you are running Dark Angels, in which case the built in transhuman means that the Bladeguard are probably better for defense.

Offense, melee:

Custodes have 3 attacks, 2+ to hit, S6 and AP -3 in melee. Damage value of 2.

Bladeguard have 3 attacks standard, 4 on the charge, 3+ to hit (2+ on the charge if you are running Space Wolves, 2+ on the attack if they stood still for Dark Angels), S5 and AP -3 in melee (-4 with assault doctrine). Also a damage value of 2.

This means that the Custodes again have the slight edge. They hit better unless you are space wolves or Dark Angels, but have less attacks and slightly better strength (is S6 really that much better than S5?) Their AP is also either the same or worse, depending on the doctrine.

Offense, ranged:

Custodes have 2+ to hit, 2 pistol attacks, strength 4, ap -1, 2 damage.

Bladeguard have 3+ to hit, 1 pistol attack, strength 4, ap -1, 1 damage.

The Custodes have the clear winner here with more attacks, better to hit, and more damage. So, if you are trying to run your sword and board dudes as ranged combat then I guess you are better off. Kinda a weird thing to do though.

Conclusion:

Custodes clearly have a slight edge. They have more ranged firepower, generally better to-hit rolls, and slightly better defense (unless you play Dark Angels). That means that man for man, the dudes who are almost 50% more expensive are actually slightly better. Oh! And you do get obsec with Custodes, whereas the Bladeguard don't. Also they are troops, so that makes them easier to fit into an army.

Of course, points wise you can actually take a squad of 4 bladeguard for UNDER the point cost of 3 Custodes (140pts vs. 150pts). That means you get more attacks, more wounds, possibly more defense (depending upon the chapter), and... slightly worse shooting (4 attacks vs. 6, 3+ vs 2+, damage 1 vs. 2). Again: for purposes of shooting, the bladeguard are worse... and they aren't troops... and they don't get obsec.

I guess you also have shield host abilities to factor in, and that stupid Kata nonsense (or: Khah-the ah or whatever gak they are calling it).

Honestly, I just don't have the energy to calculate that right now. As a Custodes player I feel pretty defeated right now. Emperor's finest indeed. Anyone want to calculate what the Kata and shield host stuff might do to the comparison?

It really seems to me that, right now, Custodes are simply WORSE than space marines.

So that's fun.

I'm really hoping someone here can crunch the numbers here and help me out. I WANT to like the new Custodes, I pre-ordered the Codex and have been converting a Custodes army for months now. Please help me see how they are better than my long-used space marine elites. I WANT them to be better... but right now I'm just not seeing it :-(

Grey Knights are better then both?

I don't understand the point of this post. I just read you walk through how the more expensive unit is better, and then add on top of that the fact that you can't be bothered to figure out if the other army-wide abilities make a significant difference or not to further justify the difference in points?

It sounds like you're trying to explain that they probably are worth that many points, but then you say you think they're too expensive.

@Leerm02
Thats really sad.... i was hoping for +1 attack and +1 wound for normal Custodes with this book. This does not feel right if normal Space Marines are better or at least equal to Custodes.

We could buff them with the Vexilla for +0 but yes thats another 100? points.. .
I don't see where that Kata stuff could help in this comparison.... it's not that you can't buff Bladeguard either.

Honestly, I think just a +1 attack and +1 wound across the board would have been perfectly fine.

It would make them have the same wounds as bladeguard, roughly the same attacks, and a slight edge of other stuff. Which would be fine. Not earth-shattering, but fine.

I'm okay with not being OP. I'm less okay with becoming just a slightly worse flavor of space-marine.

well I guess you also have to factor in that one is troops and the other is elite.

While I dont disagree, really not, I want my Custodes to be the golden gods they should be, and +1W/A would be VERY welcome - but comparing Troops to Elite is like comparing a Telemon to a Tactical Squad.

You'd need to compare Allarus/Aquilons for that to be more accurate, or at least Wardens.
But I know that this is another type of unit and therefore comparisons are even more difficult.

A better comparison would be to standard, guardian spear Custodian Guard, not Guards with the pointlessly expensive shields.

Custodian Guard at 45ppm vs. Bladeguard at 35ppm is a fairer comparison as it’s a 2+ save against a 2+ save anyways.

Actually, weirdly, I didn't even think of that! They even both have the same 4++ invuln!

The only problem with that comparison is that now I have to go and run the comparison all over again ;-)

Guardian with a spear wins all day long and twice on Michelmas.