Anti-Necron tactics?

[Robert2004]

Hey guys back for some trusty advice from the knowledge pool that is the Bolter and Chainsword! Playing a friend of mine this Thursday a game of 40k, playing a random mission and the points limit is set to 2k. I've never played against a necron army before and was just looking for some basic advice and possible help with an army list.

 

This is what I have to work with at the moment,

 

HQ

1x Capt, combi melta, power sword.

1x Chaplain in term armor, storm bolter.

1x capt in term armor, storm bolter.

1x Librarian, plasma pistol and force axe

 

1x command squad, 1 champ, 1 medic, 1 melta, 1 plasma or options for bolt pistol + swords.

 

Troops

3x tac squads, flamer, melta, plasma, missile, missile, heavy bolter.

2x(5m) scout squads + 2 sniper and 1 bolter scout.

1x combat squad with bolters

 

Elites

1x dreadnaught ass cannon and DCCW. (options for las cannon and missile launcher)

1x assault terminators, magnets so options of claws and hammers.

1x(5m) sternguard, 3 melta, 2 normal bolter (with a weapons sprue and options to make another 5)

 

Fast attack

1x 10m assault squad, fist, 2 plasma pistols.

 

Heavy support

1x normal land raider

1x pred with las and heavy bolters

2x dev squads (1 x 4 heavy bolter, 1 x 4 missile launchers, +1 plasma cannon, las cannon.)

 

Transports

1x Rhino

1x Drop pod

(2 razorbacks I can borrow from the shop)

 

Fortifications

1x Ageis defense line with quad gun.

 

I also have the choice of a tau battle force (the one GW currently sells on their website) as an ally choice from my good friend which I have been thinking of using for the deep strike crisis suits with melta for something heavy and the 12 fire warriors to hold an objective behind my defense line and man the quad gun!

 

Would love some hints on an army list and perhaps some general advice on how to combat necrons!

 

Sorry for the wall of text.

 

edit; forgot the librarian =]

[Koremu]

What's your local meta? What units does your opponent have available? What does he particularly like playing?

[Robert2004]

What do you mean my local meta? Sorry bit of a noob only back into 40k recently!

 

The guy I am playing seems to be the local guru and we have kinda arranged to play most Thursday nights and he brings a different army each time. Played him vs space wolves, chaos and tau! He has well over 4k points of every army, and over 16k of tau his main force so literally do not know what he has to offer but he has all the bad stuff you wouldn't want to face I imagine lol.

 

He likes to take the big hitting units which are expensive, for example we played a 1.500 game and he had like 8-10 of those thunder wolf Calvary and used the basic wolves as his troop choices. His chaos army was based around a big demon prince and heavy hitting noise marines with special powers etc.

 

Lastly his tau force was based around commander farsight and his bodyguard which had a special support suit that never fired and just helped the others kill stuff. I suspect he will follow the same protocol with his necrons, that is minimal units but very scary!!

[Koremu]

"Meta" = Metagame - the game beyond the game of what challenges and responses are current in the local army choices.

 

So you opponent has a tendency to run Deathstar units, and has a wide variety of units to choose from. That makes things quite tricky from our perspective.

[Robert2004]

Ah I am not sure of the local meta game to be honest, as far as I am aware there doesn't seem to be one lol. Perhaps I am too new and don't notice it but at the local gaming center there are a whole lot more people playing and interested in board games than in 40k.

 

Yes he loves the 'deathstar' units ha ha used one in possibly every game we have played. I know its quite tricky to come up with a list to beat him, I don't have that much to offer in the way of fast attack and assault other than a TH/SS terminators in a land raider, some deep strike assault marines and infiltrating out flanking scouts.

 

I have been running the sternguard in a drop pod recently and they have been doing well, also tried the dreadnaught with melta gun in a drop pod to kinda knock out the biggest threat and its been working great. Perhaps I could drop two drop pods with a dread and sternguard first round, the locals would allow me another drop pod one of the lads has been building a blood angels army and let me use his before I got mine.

[DarkGuard]

So we can therefore deduce that your opponent will likely use Lychguard, most likely backed up with an Overlord or Lord. They cut through a lot of things in combat, so it would be best to shoot them with high strength, low AP weapons. Null Zone from a Libby will help neuter their protection from their shields (if they use them).

 

Furthermore, your opponent must use Necron Warriors. Now it's best to wipe the entire unit out all at once. This is best done in combat, but shooting also works. Pack a large amount of multiple shot weapons, preferably with decent strength and AP, to deal with these units. They keep coming back up until the entire unit is dead, so you need a good RoF to beat them down.

 

Finally, your opponent will likely bring some vehicles. For these you need high strength weapons at both range and up close, you can torrent them once their quantum shields are down but to get those shields down you need high strength weapons. So a healthy amount of meltas and lascannons would also be good. Some of these vehicles may be flyers as well, which will mean you'll need something to take them out. I believe they have quantum shielding too, so the AGL will struggle here.

 

So it's not very specific, but I'd focus on those 3 areas when building the list.

 

General tactics are to eliminate the big threats first, which include their flyers, Lychguard, tesla barges and Barge Lords. Once they're gone then mop up the infantry.

[Robert2004]

Ok cool will take those things into consideration when I start to build my list later in the week. Who or what is Lychguard?

 

The
guy was telling me the other week about this cool necron character
which can allow for night fighting to go on the whole game with a
special power he has so perhaps he will bring this model and use the
power to close the distance with special rules allowed from night
fighting?

 

So I will go primarily gun line and
perhaps the command squad in a razorback to fill the gaps anywhere
needed and maybe an assault squad to hit one of the flanks...?

[Ishagu]

In my experience its not a good idea to simply try to out-shoot the necrons.

 

Try to deliver the termies snd sternguard to their flanks. I dont know enough about their hq choices to offer any advance sadly...

[DarkGuard]

Ok cool will take those things into consideration when I start to build my list later in the week. Who or what is Lychguard?

 

The

guy was telling me the other week about this cool necron character

which can allow for night fighting to go on the whole game with a

special power he has so perhaps he will bring this model and use the

power to close the distance with special rules allowed from night

fighting?

 

So I will go primarily gun line and

perhaps the command squad in a razorback to fill the gaps anywhere

needed and maybe an assault squad to hit one of the flanks...?

 

They're a strong and tough combat unit with power weapons and invulnerable saves or warscythes which can cut most power armoured units to ribbons.

 

If he's going to use Imotekh (the person you described), do not go gunline. I had to face the following list at the last locals tournament I attended:

 

1 Imotekh

3 Warrior squads in transports

3 tesla barges

1 barge lord

1 Immortal squad in Nightscythe.

 

It was more or less that. I couldn't scratch it. I had a fair bit of firepower, with quad ML Devs, 2 Rifleman Dreads, and of course my pair of Vindicators and Stormtalon. But I couldn't scratch this list. The Night Fighting kept going on, and all he had to do was move each skimmer and he'd get a 3+ cover because he kept his distance.

 

With Necrons you need to get in close, especially if they're using Night Fighting (which they most likely will).

[Zombie P]

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/topic/275348-basic-anti-necron-ideas/

 

Will post more when I get time.

 

ZP

[Robert2004]

Thanks for the link Zombie P, some useful info there regarding the necrons! They have initiative 2 then so its a good idea to get up close and personal with them! 

 

Maybe I should use the assault squad and deep strike them, the sternguard drop pod on them, along with maybe a 10m scout squad out flanking and trying to get close and into combat! I've had a good showing from my close combat scouts, the sgt and his 4 lads killed a chaos predator the other week with their grenades!

 

I think its a good idea to take the two razorbacks and my rhino and get up the field to capture objectives etc. I will do out a mock army list and see what you guys think about it!

[Robert2004]

Ok how does this list look;

 

HQ

Libarian, plasma pistol, force axe - 115 points

 

Troops

Tac squad (10) flamer, missile launcher, rhino - 205 points

Tax squad (10) plasma gun, heavy bolter, razorback - 220 points

Tac squad (10) flamer, missile launcher, razorback - 210 points

 

Elite

Sternguard (5), 3 combi melta, drop pod, - 175 points

Assault terminator squad, 3 SS/TT, 2 LC, Land raider transport - 450 points

 

Fast attack

Assault squad (10) power fist, 2x flamer - 235 points

 

Heavy support

Devastator squad (6) 3x missile 1x lascannon - 186 points

 

Fortification

Aegis defence line with quad gun - 100points

 

Total 1896 points

 

Edit; made the recommended changes, I've got over 100 points to spend so any recommendations on what?

[DarkGuard]

Drop the Captain and Chaplain and take a Libby instead, both of those choices don't offer a lot, especially when stacked against the Libby. Swap the Scouts for another Tactical squad, it'll just do more, and add flamers to your Assault squad. Drop the Deathwind Launcher from the Pod if you have to.

 

Otherwise it looks OK.

[Robert2004]

will possibly use the extra 105 points to get a dreadnaught and heavy flamer to support my squad in the razorback who will be trying to contest objectives?

 

I will assume that the librarian will go with the assault terminators in the land raider and attack one of the flanks? =]

[Ishagu]

If the necrons spam scythes you'll be done for. Imo you need more than just a quad gun to deal with the aerial threat...

[Robert2004]

Sadly I don't have any gun ships in my army at the moment so basically the defense line is about all I've got with regards to AA. Planning on getting a gunship soon just not sure which one...

[Ishagu]

I recently got a raven and it has been exceptional. Sadly it is also rather expensive points and money wise...

[Zombie P]

If you are targetting mainly necrons, I would go with the Raven, Talons are just too flimsy. 

 

I have made you up a suggested list, although most of your units are not optimal...

 

Captain in TDA with hellfire

Libby w/ PP

 

Dread w/ Missile and assault cannon

5 sterns with 3 combi melt in a pod w/ Locator Beacon

5 assault termies 3x LC 2x TH/SS

 

10 tacs w/ missile, melta, razor

10 tacs w/ HB, Flamer, rhino

10 tacs w/ Plasma Gun, Plasma Cannon

 

5 devs with 4 missiles

5 devs with 4 heavy bolters

 

Aegis line with quad. 

 

comes to 1985... should be alright I hope...

 

Use the libby to gate the Termies around, captain included. 

 

ZP

[Cpt Lazarus]

How would you recommend combating Wraiths? I played a guy last week who brought 2 units of 5 each and they ran right through me. 3+/3+ saves and he made 90% of them.

[Office temp]

 

How would you recommend combating Wraiths? I played a guy last week who brought 2 units of 5 each and they ran right through me. 3+/3+ saves and he made 90% of them.

They're toughness 4 so either lots of mass fire or 4x missile devy squads to land the instant death (barring the 3++ save). Rapid firing a squad of sternguard with poison ammo would probably work by sheer wound attrition. I wouldn't recommend assaulting them with anything less than hammernaters because they get lots of s6 rending attacks and a common wargear item they carry will reduce your initiative to 1 making their low initiative of 2 irrelevant.

[Terrified Templar]

Add in a libby with Null Zone if you can to help the devs kill them off, forcing your opponent to re rolls invul saves is very helpful

[Robert2004]

If you are targetting mainly necrons, I would go with the Raven, Talons are just too flimsy. 

 

I have made you up a suggested list, although most of your units are not optimal...

 

Captain in TDA with hellfire

Libby w/ PP

 

Dread w/ Missile and assault cannon

5 sterns with 3 combi melt in a pod w/ Locator Beacon

5 assault termies 3x LC 2x TH/SS

 

10 tacs w/ missile, melta, razor

10 tacs w/ HB, Flamer, rhino

10 tacs w/ Plasma Gun, Plasma Cannon

 

5 devs with 4 missiles

5 devs with 4 heavy bolters

 

Aegis line with quad. 

 

comes to 1985... should be alright I hope...

 

Use the libby to gate the Termies around, captain included. 

 

ZP

Hey,

 

Thanks for the suggested list, noob question here but what does 'Capt in TDA with hellfire' mean?

 

This list seems very shooty and it has been suggested I try and close the distance and go toe to toe with the necrons as they are just as good as us at shooting? What are your thoughts?

 

The mission has been decided we are playing the rule book mission 5, I think its called for the emperor or something. Basically we have an objective in each others starting zones, and line breaker, first blood and slay the warlord are all active!

[Terrified Templar]

He means a Captain in terminator armor (it's also called Tactical Dreadnought Armor or TDA for short) with hellfire rounds but since you can't use them on stormbolters you'll have to buy a combi weapon to make use of hellfire rounds.

 

Ok correct me if I am wrong but from my somewhat limited experiance necrons are good at shooting targets within 24" so if you stay outside of it you can win through long range shooting. Just make sure to eliminate anything in his army that has long range firepower.

[Zombie P]

Doh, missed that bit about the storm bolter... 

 

Got enough points to upgrade to a combi weapon with the ammo though, go plasma, with the TDA (tactical dreadnought armor) you are relentless ;)

 

That is one plan, to stay at range. But from my own experience, space marines cannot pack enough punch at more than 24" to make a real difference to necrons. So the way I normally do it, is to engage in focused fire fights. On the whole space marines are quicker than crons, especially with our lovely rhinos, so I maneuver my units around, avoiding the death stars, delivering my marines in large quantities to the places they are needed. Rhinos are great LOS blockers. It really is a case of over whelming strength and power in a single place at a time.

 

If you want to improve your army more in the direction of necrons, a storm raven or a pair of vindicators should do you proud.

 

ZP

[Ishagu]

If I was going to battle Necrons I would bring the following:

 

 

Captain, artificer Armour, Plasma Pistol, Power Sword. (don't care much for Libby against Crons, I just want to put them down. With luck you could kill 2 warriors per turn in cc just with the captain)

 

3 x Tac Squads, ML and Plasma Gun

 

2 x Dev squads with plasma cannons will seriously dent the Necron troop numbers.

 

Sternguard or Termies to mop up harder units, drop pod or deep strike drop from Raven with locator beacon.

 

Raven escorted by Talon to pacify the sky, and possibly vehicles like a Monolith.

 

Lascannon Dred or Pred for additional long range power.

 

 

 

The Necrons are similar to Space Marines, except they can get up back up and they also bring large number squads. You have to bring enough power to bring down entire units in a single turn. They do suck in cc, so termies can have a lot of fun with them. Also, I would take Tac termies with Assault cannon...

 

The Raven can deep strike the captain and 5 termies without scatter if within 6 inches. Drop them behind the necron lines and open fire, then assault.

 

All this is just ideas, I know you don't own a lot of the things I've listed but if you fear Necrons in future you could always start to build up to fight them...