Starting a GK Army

[Slyfox1990]

I m currently a collector of Black Templar and have a reasonably large force, as much as I am realistically intending to ever get. I recently purchased a squad of 5 Grey Knight Terminators which I can occassionally use with my Black Templar force. I think that all of the GK figures are superb and feel an urge to collect an army of either pure GK or GK and SoB in the near future. I don't really know what units I should get to start my force off. I m aiming to start by getting a force in the region of 750 points and may increase it further.

 

I wondered if people could give me aclue about what units I should get to start with.

 

Thanks,

Slyfox

[Dilgar]

Well, first of I´m no expert, played ½ year with DH(and 40k for that matter, but I got alot of experience from fantasy so I consider myself atleast a seasoned player), never used a pure GK army though, as I feel it is more fluffy to also use an Inqvisitor+IST.

 

but at the very first I would still recommend that u get two squads of pure vanilla Grey Knights(7+justicar), this is considered to be the optimal size, and I completely agree. This is a very solid core to use in any list. U also already have 5 Terminators which I feel is an ok number, as they fit a LR, arn´t too expensive and still carry a punch. This brings me to the LR, u will need one to atleast have a say in the battle. It or then maybe a lascannon/missilelauncher dreadnought. By now u quickly realise your points are spent and u are hopelessly left with a feeling that u can´t possibly get all the things u want in a GK list...to this I only say, welcome to the DH/GK world :P

 

at 750 points u basically will have to choose between using the cheaper SoB as troop choices, and then maybe having a LR+Terminators to deal the real damage, much else u will not get in a list of 750 points.

 

Or, then skip the expensive GKT+LR combination, and go with an all out footslogger GK army, with two squads of 8 GK, a few SoB squads concetrating completely on AT...I do not have any specs atm, and I´ve never played SoB but they do get atleast melta guns to there squads?

 

A few example lists:

 

BC 61

4 Terminators 184pt

 

-Dedicated LR 259pt

-extra armour

-smoke

- light

 

8 GK (inq justicar) 225

 

That is basically what u get for 750 points :D...u are left with 21 points which might by some equipment for the BC or meltabombs for the justicar.

 

 

BC 61

 

8 GK 225

 

7 GK 200

 

LR 259

- EA

- Smoke

- Light

 

This is 750pts. This is the ver core of a ~1000-1500 points list of DH/GK IMHO...By adding the Terminators, a IST squad+chimera, another LR or two dreadnoughts u quickly get to 1250 points lists.

 

I really can´t make an example list with SoBs, but what I remember from there points cost u might get a decent 1000pts list by adding some SoBs to the current lists.

 

Also some points might be a bit off since I do not have the codex with me atm.

 

It really is a hard thing making a GK/DH list <1000pts :)

[number6]

Welcome! ;)

 

If it were me, I would forgo land raiders in games under 1000 pts. Otherwise, I think it's too difficult to get enough boots on the ground ... and too difficult to get more of what you appear to want in your army. For example, as much as I think GKTs are unnecessary in games less than 1500 pts, I can understand wanting to field them ... especially if they're a big chunk of what you already own! There's just no way to field both GKTs and even a single land raider in small points games. (The land-raider heavy force has become the most popular way to build pure GK armies since the advent of 5th edition, though it is not the only effective build available.)

 

Since GKs and GKTs are what you have, and since the DH will be your base army, here's where I would start a 750 pt force.

 

HQ

[254 pts] BC, psycannon; 3 GKT retinue, psycannon

 

Troops

[175 pts] 6 GKs

[175 pts] 6 GKs

 

Heavy

[145 pts] Dreadnought, TLLC, ML, extra armour

 

Total: 749 pts

 

The Troops are much smaller than what would be optimal, but it's either that or you drop the GKT retinue from the BC. ;) You can screen your Troops with the GKTs and dreadnought. The GKTs' primary job is to pop light vehicles with their psycannons. The dread should slag anything bigger than that and also be a sacrificial speedbump to any fast assaulters that are getting too close. The army can actually put some hurt on in close combat, but assault should only be used as a clean up action. Be sure to keep the entire force together and keep it shooting. If you string it out it will get picked apart.

 

As you expand to 1000 pts, I would add a 2nd dread and fill out the PAGK Troops units.

 

As you go beyond 1000 pts, that's when you can perhaps add a nice land raider for your GKTs, maybe get another GKT or two in the HQ, and consider Sisters of Battle allies and/or ISTs and/or inducted IG as well.

[Slyfox1990]

Thanks both of you, I think I may give the second list a whirl. I still need to fully paint up my Black Templar army but after that I think I will definately start work on a proper GK army. I think in the long term it ll become a mix of both GK and SoB but to start with I will try and stick with GK. I ve not ever really played with them before so I m quite looking forward to getting my hands on some models and giving them a test run.

[Dilgar]

As my mind seems to have been switch permanently to GK squad = 8+models :D I didn´t really thing to make em smaller to fit in all that.

 

As a pure GK list Number6´s looks good! It also holds the elements of a great base to start (easily expandable, no units have to be dropped etc.).

 

If I would have to come with an point of view, I might change the psycannon for a chainfist, just incase there actually would be a more heavy tank against you. I do however thing that at 750 points a chainfist on a footslogging BC+3GKT isn´t maybe the best, I´m just stating that IF u know u are up against SM, CSM or even IG, and u know there is going to be vehicles on the table, then the switch might be a good thing. Atleast stating that your BC has a chainfist, and setting him off runing towards the nearest vehicle will most certainly draw the attention away from your small GK squads.

 

But a very nice list indeed that Number6, I do have to say that, even though I fully understand that a LR may be to much at 750, but not taking it only gave u 3(the LR "cancels" the Dredi) more models on the field (compared to the first list of mine), or depending on how u count 4 more troop choice units. At this point a LR might actually work better for protection for your GK, then just the squad of GKT.

[number6]

I grok what you're saying, Dilgar. :D The one problem with your 1st list -- the one that includes both the land raider and the GKTs -- is that it is technically illegal, having only a single Troops choice. I've participated in games where anything at 1000 pts or less it's house-ruled such that armies only require a single Troops choice (and sometimes not even an HQ choice, either). However, that's house-ruling, not the basic 40K game rules. The only way such a list could be built using the standard Force Org chart would be:

 

HQ

[199 pts] BC; 3 GKT retinue

 

Troop

[150 pts] 5 GKs

[150 pts] 5 GKs

 

Heavy

[250 pts] Land Raider

 

Total: 749 pts

 

Perhaps this list would be workable, too, but there is a lot less firepower on the table than in a list that uses a dreadnought instead. It's success might also vary wildly depending on the opponent. I'm not convinced that the land raider is impregnable enough to make this list function. This list has no ability to prevent speedy melta weapons from getting up close and slagging the bedrock of the army. For armies like IG and Space Marines, 750 pts is more than enough to get melta guns up close and personal; a single land raider can't stop that many threats. Orks could spam you with Trukks and power klaws....

 

On the other hand, if you're facing Tyranids....

 

All of which is to say that two land raiders are necessary if that is going to be your only armour in the army. Two means redundancy and increased dilution of enemy attention. One just isn't enough. It's easier to swallow the loss of your one and only dreadnought than your one and only land raider. :D

[jeffersonian000]

I like to play GK Land Raiders were I can, and at 750pts this is a list I enjoy fielding:

 

HQ - BC w/ Incinerator (86pts)

 

Troop I - Justicar w/ melta bombs, 6x Knights (205pts)

 

Troop II - Justicar, 4x Knights w/ 2x Psycannons (200pts)

 

Heavy - GK LR Crusader w/ Smoke, Light (259pts)

 

750pts even, 14 models, 4 kill points, and a lot of fire power with a good asault element. My opinion.

 

SJ

[Dilgar]

Silly me, didn´t realise my first list was illegal, nice of u to point it out so Slyfox here doesn´t do anything "wrong" on account of me :lol:

 

Nice list! Again! I´m discovering new lists all the time myself atm ^_^

And I agree that using 2x5 GK is a risk, and that taking a Dreadi and boosting the squads could be a better move. Although the risk varies depending on who u play.

 

I actually can imagine the strenght of that list u built there Jeff, I will maybe even test it when I get the chance, it just looks rock solid

[Slyfox1990]

Thanks everyone for your help. I really like the look of the list jeffersonian came up with and I think I ll aim to try and make that list. I already have a model for the BC and I have two BT landraider crusaders which I could use as GK stand ins. Two packs of GKs in power armour with a few extra blisters and I d already have myself a nicely functioning 750 points list to work with.

 

Will definately be doing this as soon as I get a chance to do so. :)

 

Once again, thanks for the help.