Bloodcrushers with a 3++

[L30n1d4s]

Easily one of the most changed units in the new Codex, Bloodcrushers are fast, have lots of offensive potential, and yet suffer from being very fragile for their price, despite 3 wounds a piece, since they are T4 and only have a 5++ (those 3 wounds can go "poof" to a single Krak missile or meltagun shot).

 

I would argue that Bloodcrushers are most vulnerable when not in CC, as they have no response to any high strength firepower that can ID them, whereas in combat they can rip down anything MEQ or below and often take out S8+ close combat weapons before they have the chance to strike, since most of these are Unwieldy (I would avoid Terminators, of course, but anything without a 2+ save is fair game).

 

In order to mitigate that vulnerability to ranged shooting, I think casting Grimoire of True Names on Bloodcrushers could really make them much more survivable (using Fateweaver to re-roll Grimoire's 3+ makes it much more likely to succeed). If you succeed in getting Grimoire off, then your Bloodcrushers now have a 3++ save, meaning that it would take and average of 5-6 BS4 Lascannon shots to cause a single wound, thereby by giving them a much better chance to avoid ID. Even against torrent attacks, with a 3++ (vice the normal 5++), it would take 27 BS4 Bolter shots to kill a single Bloodcrusher (about twice as many shots as it would to kill one if they had their normal 5++ save).

 

Now, I know it is expensive and still somewhat risky, but if properly incorporated into the army, I think this unit could move down field quickly, surive a turn of shooting due to improved survivability from Grimoire, and then get stuck in to enemy lines and begin wreaking havoc.

 

The great thing about Bloodcrushers is that they also threaten vehicles.... with 4 S6 attacks on the charge per model, you can easily glance vehicles with AV10 rear armor to death on the charge. Things to avoid with Bloodcrushers, IMHO, are 2+ save units and heavy tanks (i.e. Land Raiders), but for those you can use Flaming Chariot of Tzeentch, Soul Grinders, and Great Daemons to rip down.

[Black_Crusader]

I think this is a good combo. I made a list that has this unit as a part of it. I think the tricky part is to keep both Fateweaver and the bearer of the grimoire safe long enough for the crushers to do their damage.

 

My idea is to put a Herald on juggernaut and Karanak on the unit. Karanak gives hatred and scout while the herald provide rage and more AP2. The grimoire will be on a Tzeentch herald with a 20 horror unit that can do quite a lot of support damage.

The unit will be a lot more expensive but it is important to remember that the Grimoire targets a single unit. The bigger the unit it targets the more you get out of the grimoire so don't be afraid to put a lot of points on a unit.

This way you can also deal with 2+ saves (not hammernators of course because of shields unless you have a lot more bodies)