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Hi,

Which of the death riders or rough riders would be best to use with a mainly Cadian army?

Ty

What detachment do you think you'll be running?

As for the numbers...

Death Riders are slightly more expensive, for an extra 10 points per five guys.
Their gun is better, but neither of them have shooting impactful enough to be worth taking.
The Death Riders ALSO get a handy fallback move ability, while Rough Riders get to Fall Back, shoot, and charge.

In terms of melee, assuming 10 man squads...

Against GEQ:

Rough Riders do 7/2*2/3*5/6*2/3 damage per Hunting Lance on the charge, for 1.3 dead GEQ per Hunting Lance.
Goad Lance users do 2*2/3*5/6 per body, or 1.11.
Sarge does 4*2/3*2/3 or 1.78.
Each steed does 2*1/2*2/3*2/3 or .44 per horse.

Death Riders do 7/2*2/3*5/6*2/3 per Lance, for 1.3.
If they use Sabres, they get 3*2/3*2/3 or 1.33 per dude.
Horses do 2*1/2*2/3*5/6 or .56.

Total damage from a 10 man on the charge is 17.5 for Rough Riders vs. 18.9 for Death Riders.

Against MEQ:

Rough Riders do 1*2/3*5/6*5/3 or .93 per Melta Lance
Goad Lances do 2*2/3*5/6*2/3*2 or 1.48 per Goad.
Sarge does 4*2/3*1/2*2/3 or .89, which is less than the Lance, so we'll use that instead.
Each steed does 2*1/2*1/2*1/3 or .17

Death Riders do 3*2/3*1/2*2/3 or .67 per Sabre.
Frag Lances do less damage.
Steeds do 2*1/2*1/2*1/2 or .25 damage.

Total damage from a 10 man on the charge is 12.1 Rough vs. 9.2 Death.

Against TEQ...

Rough Riders do 1*2/3*5/6*1/2*5/2 or .69 per Melta
Goads do 2*2/3*5/6*1/2*3/2 or .83, assuming an average of 1.5 damage (since they're W3 models).
Sarge does 4*2/3*1/3*1/2 or .44, meaning Lance is better
Steeds do 2*1/2*1/3*1/6 or .056 damage.

Death Lances do 7/2*2/3*1/2*1/6 or .19
Sabres do 3*2/3*1/3*1/2 or .33
Steeds do 2*1/2*1/3*1/3 or .11

Total damage is 7.74 Rough vs. 4.4 Death.

Against anything T8-11 with a 3+ save and no invuln for melee...

Rough Riders do 1*2/3*1/2*7/2 or 1.17 per Melta
Goads do 2*2/3*1/2*2/3*2 or .89
Sabre will do worse.
Steeds do paltry damage. 2*1/2*1/6*1/3 or .056

Death Riders do 7/2*2/3*1/3*1/3 or .26 Lances
Sabres do 3*2/3*1/6*2/3 or .22 per
Steeds do 2*1/2*1/6*1/2 or .083

Total damage is 11.7 Rough vs. 3.43 Death.

Notably, a Chimera (T9 3+ Armor W11) has an over 50% chance of dying to Rough Riders (even WITHOUT CP rerolls!) while the Death Riders have a mere .02% chance (at 30 attacks) to .12% chance (at 40).

Thanks for all the info

What's the math look like with Dreir with the DR giving them Devastating wounds on the charge?