Grey Knights using Seraphim

[templargdt]

Hey guys, I was thinking about this a while back and trying to decide if it was a good idea or not. Does anyone ally in a squad of Seraphim to kill tanks with Inferno pistols? If you do use them, how do they work out? Thanks!

[GodwynDi]

I can not really comment on the allying issue, but there are plenty of other threads on the viability of seraphim. Either people love them, or use them as paper weights.

[number6]

Absolutely! A unit of 8 with a pair of inferno pistols and a VSS with an eviscerator find their way into most of my lists. This unit is expensive and even a little overkill for what I want it to accomplish (primarily tank-hunting), but they've always done me proud. I can't recommend this unit strongly enough.

[Skyhawk]

My first squad of 5 will be finding their way into the nearest battle.

...and they look awesome too.

[templargdt]

Hey #6, what 8 Seraphim? That seems like a lot, I was thinking 5 (min squad, plus only 1 box required purchase). Do you really need the extra ablative wounds?

[Toogeloo]

If you are only fielding the one squad of Seraphim and no other allied Sisters units, I would actually recommend going a full squad of 10. The ablative wounds are extremely helpful if they are going to be your mobile tank hunters and with only 1 faith point you will want to make them as survivable as possible for as long as possible. It is fairly expensive, but they should last most the game or at least long enough to get their points back.

 

Make sure to use their Hit and Run as a epring board to get to their next target or out of line of sight of shooting or something as they have the most superior version of Hit and Run in the game.

[Eltnot]

I'm guessing he uses eight and not ten because of the cost, and the smaller footprint.

Eight models is still sizeable, yet small enough to hide completely behind a transport like a rhino most of the time. Having that one model visible puts the entire squad at risk, so I probably wouldn't go above eight either.

[jeffersonian000]

8 is the best size for achieving acts of faith, which require either rolling above the squad size or below. And with a Vet Superior, Seraphim can roll 3d6 and select the best two rolls.

 

SJ

[GTang]

If you're allying in, you might not have more than 1 or 2 points anyway. Don't forget the unit has an option for meltabombs.

[Toogeloo]

10 will also give him a chance for multiple assaults if he needs it. He can't rely on faith to protect his seraphim if they are his only sister squad. Go for 10 with an eviscerator and dual inferno pistols, jump behind terrain or vehicles to give you cover. Try to go to the densest vehicle areas, shooting what you can and/or assaulting multiple vehicles. When the Seraphim get below 7 models, you have that 1 faith point to give them Spirit to keep them going.

 

If you pop transports you can assault the models inside and then Hit and Run off them to get to the further Vehicles as well.

[Inquisitor Fox]

I adore my Seraphim.. probably my favorite unit ever, and the one that got me into 40k.

 

I always am obligated to mention the possibility of the VSS having a power weapon/plasma pistol (could be MC) as opposed to the eviscerator..

 

That gives potentially 2 strength 8 ap 1 shots, and one strength 7 ap 2 shot. With the twin-linked of the inferno pistols and the potentially master crafted plasma pistol, that's a lot of pain on say, squads of Terminators or side or rear armor of vehicles.

 

I'm not a big fan of eviscerators, but it's a personal taste really. That and I have the power weapon/plasma pistol older seraphim sergeant model...

[jeffersonian000]

Yeah, my plasma pistol Seraphim has a wonderful power fist form back in 2nd Ed when sisters had the same armoury as Marines. Still works well as a power weapon, though.

 

SJ

[Grand Master Iapetus]

You will definitely get some polarized opinions on this one - I think they are great. I have had success with using meltabombs - tho others recomend the evicerator on the VSS. About the same points cost...

 

With cover, smaller squads are more feasable than they were in 4th - plus it is easier to make the SOTM roll.

 

I usually only bring them in at higher points values (2000+) - due to my playstyle, not their effectiveness...

[number6]

8 is the best size for achieving acts of faith, which require either rolling above the squad size or below. And with a Vet Superior, Seraphim can roll 3d6 and select the best two rolls.

 

SJ

Sorry for the delayed response (real-life issues plus Adepticon this past weekend), but jeffersonian000 has the reason why I field 8 girls. They are typically the only faithful unit I field, so when I burn that point, I want maximum odds of getting the result I want.

 

As it turns out, 8 is also a useful number for assaulting small elite units in a hurry. I play footslogger GKs, and sometimes I really need to at least speedbump a really potent elite unit (e.g., Chaos termies toting combi-plasmas all around). Seraphim are an expensive speedbump, but they are quite effective assault troops in the configuration I favor and are up to the task. I don't expect them to win every time, I just need them to hold something up or weaken it enough that I can arrange to deal with it permanently on my own time in my own preferred fashion.

 

That said, their primary mission is still -- and always will be in the context of my GKs -- armour-hunting.