Bjorn an effective Hq?

[Hrothgar Beastslayer]

Now, im not expecting Ard'boyz level performance here, but how should he be feilded and what weapon is the most effective? The lascannon will never miss, the assault cannon will let him tear apart infantry and light transports and the plasma cannon pounds elites. Ive been considering him for a while but just want some feedback on his performance, thanks.

 

btw couldnt find any other topics that cover what i want....

[WulfenBrother]

I tried him this last week and it didn't go so well. He didn't make it past turn one due to some nicely placed lascannons. But I would like to know if anyone has any tactics that may help.

[mastrchief33]

He can be an effective unit, and he can also be an effective HQ choice provided you build your list with the understanding that he is a support HQ, not a close combat monster.

 

The best fit for Bjorn is in a mechanized list with a lot of small flexible units that he can help support and vice versa. Personally I would always take the assault cannon on him because his high BS will affect that weapon's performance more than the other choices. It's also flexible, as it can be effective against both light to medium infantry and light to medium vehicles.

 

Other than that, I'd have to see a list to help more.

[Hrothgar Beastslayer]

well its a 1750 list with,

 

bjorn,

rune priest

wolf priest

 

Elite-

power armoured combi weapon weilding frost blade pack leaders

scouts, 5 scouts with melta

 

Troops,

2x

9 grey hunters/PF/Melta + pack leader

10 blood claws with redeemer with wolf priest

 

Fast-

1 thunderwolf + power weapon with SS

 

Heavy-

Redeemer

any help on how bjorn should be utilized is much appreciated.

[Mahstah]

I have used Bjorn pretty effectively a few times. He loves to fight orks, but normally sits when I play against my Tyranid or IG friends. I typically run him behind a squad in a rhino and send him at the biggest thing that he can catch. I had one game where he saved 8 penetrating hits over 3 turns, while taking out an nob / warboss squad and 3 killa kans all by himself.

[Simo429]

just been and purchased the space wolf ven dread from forgeworld so im hopefully going to try him out on wed

[hartnett]

ive used bjorn a couple of times and most of the time he has kiled his points cost easily. he ran through a nob biker squad with a warboss (unlucky roling on his part) ive found that against marine armies he works as well as they get no monsterous creatures so very few units with 2D6 AP

 

It may ave been brought up before but if hes in cover does he get a hull down and then his saving throw or just one or the other

[Korhal Ragingspirit]

Bjorn is an okay HQ choice, getting to re-roll to see if you can go first is very nice. I am definitely happy they brought him back as a character. I haven't used him very often yet but when I do use him I go with an Assault Cannon or Plasma myself since a BS of 6 helps you land most of your shots. I can't help but feel a little disappointed with Bjorn though, overall he is tough as far as Dreadnoughts go but something seems to be missing. Maybe an invlun of 4 instead of a 5... or what I was hoping for was some special close combat weapon with is signature Dreadnought Lightning claw. Ah well whats done is done, he is still quite capable of putting down some carnage though.

[TiguriusX]

I have to disagree with some of the comments here.

 

I think Bjorn's best weapon is the plasma cannon. Highly accurate and powerful AOE. The TLLC and AC are not making the most use of BS6. You could get similar performance from 2 venerables for similar points. Nobody else can drop plasma like Bjorn can.

 

I also think he is a beast in close combat. He has 5 S10 attacks that ignore armor and strike at I3. Anything that wants to hit him back needs to penetrate AV13. Even a PF needs a 5 just to glance him.

 

Bjorn is super hard to kill with (1) venerable; (2) AV 13; and (3) invulnerable save. My only complaint with Bjorn is his lack of extra armor

 

If you add an IP and servitors you can repair any damage done to Bjorn as well!

 

His point cost is significant though...hard to use him effectively at 1500pts or less and still have a balanced army

 

*EDIT*

Almost forgot...here is a thread professing love for venerables with a breakdown of some odds etc.

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/index.p...howtopic=186741

[Prophecy]

Seconded on the plasma. He can lay that template down like nobody's business. And yes, he's a great HQ; personally, I find he works best with another dread to back him up (plus, I finally managed to find one of those old "Eddie" models and painted it up like my pups. Any excuse to throw him on the table is welcome). You can wreak some havoc by alternate smoke popping as you move down the field the first two turns.

[Hrothgar Beastslayer]

im gonna buy the venerable dread box today to convert him, i will hopefully try him out later this week. I think i will go for the plasma cannon for his first game. And has anyone considered him in a game of 'clash of heroes'? that'd just be mean. Thanks for the comments and more are appreciated!

[Grimfoe]

crap. now that I've read this I'll be placing that order with forgeworld.... :ermm:

[Grey Mage]

Its kind of funny, but when I got my Bjorn model, the old Metal SW Dread that was Bjorn before that :ermm:..... It came with an extra arm, and that army had been modded into a plasmacannon.

 

Used it for years with the 3rd ed codex, and then when 5th came out and they removed ven-read HQs I was bummed.... almost ripped the cannon off....

 

And then I saw Bjorn had the option. Possibly the most exciting part of the new codew was going "SWEET! HOW DID HE KNOW??"

 

;)

[Logan230]

I use Bjorn in my 2k list for tourneys and he does extremely well, you do have to remember that he should not be on the front lines, but rather as support, but in a pinch he is able to take care of himself. I also proclaim the profits of a Plasma cannon, you cant go wrong i think.

 

This is what I run: http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/index.p...howtopic=200024

 

I find he is extremely useful in DOW because you can just deploy a Dreadnought! but yeah. i love him

[Stormbrow II]

I think Bjorn's best weapon is the plasma cannon. Highly accurate and powerful AOE. The TLLC and AC are not making the most use of BS6

I completely disagree - the Plasma cannon just doesn't crack tanks open consistently enough to make it worthwhile. The TLLC is something I never leave home without. As others have said he is a very useful support platform and with his high BS (and re-rolls) he is something that will keep pouring fire into enemy heavy support and will help with cracking open transports to reveal the squishy stuff inside which is where your other units come in.

 

The AC is too short-ranged to be of any great benefit - I'd rather Bjorn didn't get too close to enemies that might be carrying Melta. That, and I don't want him getting bogged down fighting a horde of grunts. He tends to float near my backlines and will usually only move forward if there's a Rhino or Razor nearby to give him a 4+ save while still allowing him to fire on the move.

 

But for all that he is horrendously expensive at lower points levels and I wouldn't even consider him at 1750. Best left for 1850+ pts.

[Morticon]

I think its an excellent tactical model for tournaments.

 

His ability to stick around and stick around and stick around and just keep throwing in fire aside, his biggest strengths (I feel) are in his reroll for first and, ironically, in his weakness.

 

I would always run a small GH squad in razorback as fire/claiming support to make sure you have an extra objective in 2/3rds of the games or make sure you dont give away extra KP otherwise.

 

The "ultimate draw" capture and control mission is made SO much more difficult by Bjorn in the mix. You automatically present him with a VERY difficult choice - ignore Bjorn and let him throw shot after shot into you unmolested, or take shots at him, waste a few, potentially kill him and then grant the SW player a free objective.

 

Yeah - hes very pricey - but if I was running wolves - especially for 'Ard Boys - hed probably be my number one.

[Lord Ragnarok]

I completely disagree - the Plasma cannon just doesn't crack tanks open consistently enough to make it worthwhile. The TLLC is something I never leave home without. As others have said he is a very useful support platform and with his high BS (and re-rolls) he is something that will keep pouring fire into enemy heavy support and will help with cracking open transports to reveal the squishy stuff inside which is where your other units come in.

 

Most effective in many cases needs a footnote on how else the rest of the army is configured. If you already have tons of missiles and las cannons, then maybe Bjorn is best with the P. Cannon. On the flip side if you have plenty of plasma and not enough long range AT, the Las cannon may be better.

[Simo429]

whats a tllc?

 

sorry for the stupid question

[Xtee]

whats a tllc?

 

sorry for the stupid question

 

twin linked las cannon

[Simo429]

whats a tllc?

 

sorry for the stupid question

 

twin linked las cannon

thanks

[rodgambit]

I was actually looking at running him in my 1250 list against a few buddies. We play 3 way games so we use smaller list and having a hard hitting HQ or elite can turn the tide of our games. I do agree he is more of a support character rather than an in your face HQ.

 

I was looking at:

Bjorn w/ PC-270

2xGrey Slayers in rhinos 2xflamers, PF, motw, standard (I run 13th)-235 each

2xLong Fangs with ML's and TLLC RB's-215 each

1x10 Fenrisian Wolf Pack-80

 

We use battle missions so depending on deployment I'd try to use Bjorn and the Fen wolves to support the Long Fangs and then capture objectives with the 2 troops choices. Having long range fire power in this list allows me to play a bit more of the counter-attacking army. Something else I like about the list is that in Bjorn's fluff he was the sole member left behind by by Lemian Russ who was lost in the warp so it could tie in well with the 13th Co.

[Demonslayer]

I was actually looking at running him in my 1250 list against a few buddies. We play 3 way games so we use smaller list and having a hard hitting HQ or elite can turn the tide of our games. I do agree he is more of a support character rather than an in your face HQ.

 

I was looking at:

Bjorn w/ PC-270

2xGrey Slayers in rhinos 2xflamers, PF, motw, standard (I run 13th)-235 each

2xLong Fangs with ML's and TLLC RB's-215 each

1x10 Fenrisian Wolf Pack-80

 

We use battle missions so depending on deployment I'd try to use Bjorn and the Fen wolves to support the Long Fangs and then capture objectives with the 2 troops choices. Having long range fire power in this list allows me to play a bit more of the counter-attacking army. Something else I like about the list is that in Bjorn's fluff he was the sole member left behind by by Lemian Russ who was lost in the warp so it could tie in well with the 13th Co.

 

Oh the heresy of this

 

The only problem with this is, if its 13C then there would be no rhinos or razerbacks

[TiguriusX]

I think Bjorn's best weapon is the plasma cannon. Highly accurate and powerful AOE. The TLLC and AC are not making the most use of BS6

I completely disagree - the Plasma cannon just doesn't crack tanks open consistently enough to make it worthwhile. The TLLC is something I never leave home without. As others have said he is a very useful support platform and with his high BS (and re-rolls) he is something that will keep pouring fire into enemy heavy support and will help with cracking open transports to reveal the squishy stuff inside which is where your other units come in.

 

The AC is too short-ranged to be of any great benefit - I'd rather Bjorn didn't get too close to enemies that might be carrying Melta. That, and I don't want him getting bogged down fighting a horde of grunts. He tends to float near my backlines and will usually only move forward if there's a Rhino or Razor nearby to give him a 4+ save while still allowing him to fire on the move.

 

But for all that he is horrendously expensive at lower points levels and I wouldn't even consider him at 1750. Best left for 1850+ pts.

 

Think of him as an HQ and not a dreadnaught. How many of your other HQs do you setup for a primary ranged anti-vehicle role? Although the TLLC is better at cracking open tanks...that role severely limits Bjorn and his abilities. He can absolutely cripple elite troops with the accuracy of his PC. Other units in your army can perform the TLLC role (which is basically the same at BS4 as BS6)

 

With a PC Bjorn can still split open a tank in melee with S10 just like an HQ on a TWM with a TH.

[Karack Blackstone]

I'll add that Bjorn is fine for an HQ Slot, just keep in mind his role you want to use him for.

 

The PC I would say is more effective, but that's because I don't want to often have an even more expensive HQ out there. Ven Dreads with TLLC and whatever else would seem to work just fine. Also not losing points on something (WS 6 is just as accurate as WS 5, where TL is involved) is a key point.

 

I'd wager that the Lack of EA and loss of I4 is a major sticking point to others, but it's what GW did. So there's my feelings on him.

[rodgambit]

I was actually looking at running him in my 1250 list against a few buddies. We play 3 way games so we use smaller list and having a hard hitting HQ or elite can turn the tide of our games. I do agree he is more of a support character rather than an in your face HQ.

 

I was looking at:

Bjorn w/ PC-270

2xGrey Slayers in rhinos 2xflamers, PF, motw, standard (I run 13th)-235 each

2xLong Fangs with ML's and TLLC RB's-215 each

1x10 Fenrisian Wolf Pack-80

 

We use battle missions so depending on deployment I'd try to use Bjorn and the Fen wolves to support the Long Fangs and then capture objectives with the 2 troops choices. Having long range fire power in this list allows me to play a bit more of the counter-attacking army. Something else I like about the list is that in Bjorn's fluff he was the sole member left behind by by Lemian Russ who was lost in the warp so it could tie in well with the 13th Co.

 

Oh the heresy of this

 

The only problem with this is, if its 13C then there would be no rhinos or razerbacks

 

I modify my 13th to the new codex and I don't think it is too far a stretch to have them confiscate a vehicle or two from chaos. I bought one marine and one chaos rhino and then kitbashed them.