Grey Knights Primer Mk3: Faith Is Eternal

[Reclusiarch Darius]

So, a fair bit has changed since our updated 7th edition book dropped. Our initial hatred...I mean enthusiasm...I mean glassy-eyed acceptance of the new book has passed, and we're now settled into our new cage of fun. Also, several other armies have been released. Yeah. 

 

New neophytes stream into the Chamber of Recruits. However, before they can don Aegis plate, or wield their first nemesis sword, they must be purified and trained. In this time of need, ancient and hoary veterans have risen from the Dead Fields as well, ready for one more crusade. They too must be re-acquainted with our enemies, new and old. 

 

As per usual, debate and discussion must be held in the Hall of Champions. We're a practical brotherhood. We have our traditions, but are not afraid to overlook them if pragmatism and logic demands. The reason we're the best Chapter and the only true hope for the Imperium isn't just that we bear the Emperor's Gift. It's that we're the most adaptable of his armies. His last and most potent gift. 

 

But, a great weapon is nothing without strategy, and tactics to match it. It's why the Primers exist. 

 

I'll be splitting this Primer into three separate discussion threads. Brothers are free to contribute to each, or only the ones that peak their interest. All ideas, new or old, are welcome. As on the battlefield though, no quarter asked for nor given. But remember you're among brothers. Respect and honesty be your watchwords. The following threads are outlined below:

 

Grey Knights Primer Mk3: This thread you're in now, concerning a guide to the army in brief. Specifically, this will concern the many units of the Chapter, and the common deployments of the Chapter's strength. 

 

Sorcery Primer: Concerning the usage of our many disciplines of the psychic arts. 

 

Allies Primer: Concerning our many alliances, temporary or otherwise. Note that discussion of alliances with the foul legions of Chaos, or the loathsome alien, will not be tolerated. 

 

Ave Imperator

 

 

HQ:

 

- Grand Master:

 

- Brother-Captain:

 

- Librarian:

 

- Brotherhood Champion:

 

- Castellan Crowe:

 

- Brother-Captain Stern:

 

- Tech-Marines:

 

 

Elites:

 

- Purifiers:

 

- Paladins:

 

- Dreadnoughts and Venerable Dreadnoughts:

 

Troops:

 

- Terminators:

 

- Strike Knights:

 

 

Fast Attack:

 

- Raven:

 

- Interceptors:

 

 

Heavy Support:

 

- Dreadknight:

 

- Purgators:

 

- Land Raiders:

 

 

Lords of War:

 

- Supreme Grand Master Kaldor Draigo:

 

- Thunderhawk Gunship:

 

 

Detachments:

 

- Nemesis Strikeforce:

 

- Combined Arms Detachment:

 

 

Formations:

[Deamon Wolf]

I have to say that for the fact that I hate the model , Brother Captain Stern is actually one of our best HQ choices

just for the Reroll and the garneted  Sanctuary power

[Prot]

Honestly there's going to be a lot of stuff here we may disagree on, so respect is key. :)

 

That being said I also see some stuff just no one is going to use in the immediate future without serious change.

 

For me the biggest discussion in in HQ's. It's just such a fickle area... the prime contenders are so obvious, and the 'wannabe' HQ's are hardly used, except in 'fun' situations or my own experiments.

 

Everytime I deviate from my beloved Librarians I always end those games regretting the change. I hate to say it, I really do but I almost feel aside from named characters (some, not all) I put the common Librarian heads and tails above the rest.

 

+ Agree on Stern. I found my OLD metal Stern from my old grey knights, and I can't stand that figure. lol He looks like a fridge with a sword for a door handle.

 

Perhaps one of the biggest factors in my grudgingly acceptance of the Librarian supremacy is the Wargear, and Relics. These are huge factors in all of our list building, maybe more so than many other codexes. Aside from perhaps marines, I have trouble thinking of another codex I play where Relics are such a staple of every list I make over 1K... .heck even at 1K! Relics are a big part of this HQ discussion imho.

 

Do I dislike the fact I feel this way? That we are a mono-HQ army (non-named characters specifically)?  Not really I suppose many armies are, but I do wish it wasn't such an easy decision for me.

[Reclusiarch Darius]

That being said I also see some stuff just no one is going to use in the immediate future without serious change.

 

Yeah it's a consistent problem across our codex. Everytime you branch out from the staples, you just lose so much effectiveness. Our internal balance is horrid. although that's kinda par for course with GW (unless you're xenos apparently, then everything gets buffed to at least viable if not kinda OP). 

For me the biggest discussion in in HQ's. It's just such a fickle area... the prime contenders are so obvious, and the 'wannabe' HQ's are hardly used, except in 'fun' situations or my own experiments.

 

Everytime I deviate from my beloved Librarians I always end those games regretting the change. I hate to say it, I really do but I almost feel aside from named characters (some, not all) I put the common Librarian heads and tails above the rest.

 

GW made Librarians auto-include when they costed them at 135 for a Mastery 3 in TDA. I mean, even CSM look at that and go 'and you get to cast Sanctic normally, and Divination access by default...oh and good force weapon options'. They're just such insanely good value, and they synergise perfectly with our Deepstriking Terminator Troops. 

 

I'm trying out the Grand Master. I think he has potential. He does cost as much as 2 Librarians, but you get a mini-DK basically. I often find Libby's whiffing in melee, the 2A is kinda lame and WS5 often doesn't cut it. GM is a melee powerhouse and has 4+ invul by default, plus he makes the best use of 'Cuirass' due to 3 wounds. 

Perhaps one of the biggest factors in my grudgingly acceptance of the Librarian supremacy is the Wargear, and Relics. These are huge factors in all of our list building, maybe more so than many other codexes. Aside from perhaps marines, I have trouble thinking of another codex I play where Relics are such a staple of every list I make over 1K... .heck even at 1K! Relics are a big part of this HQ discussion imho.

 

Cuirass and Domina Liber are game-changing Relics. I'm glad we got them, the rest don't exist as far as I'm concerned (except the Thigh-Bone of Overtroll when fighting Daemons lol). Soul Glaive is okay until you have to fight something in 2+ armour (ie a lot of HQ's and even some MC's these days). It is pricey though, when you consider a nemesis hammer does the same job for 5 or 10 points and also ignores 2+ armour (not to mention much higher Strength). 

 

Cuirass fixes a consistent issue with all psykers, which is over time 'Perils' will gradually kill you. It also makes your HQ that much more durable to small arms, and you even regenerate wounds given enough time. 

 

Liber is crazy good. It makes rolling mostly (not all, 'Banishment' is worth giving up for another 'Prescience' source) on Sanctic actually worthwhile. It also has incredible synergy with all our units. The only power we don't get buffed on is 'Force', but you've got Soul Glaive for that if need be (kinda overkill IMO). It gets especially absurd if you roll 'Lore Master' for Warlord trait on your Mastery 3 Librarian. If you're choosing between Liber or a Mastery 3 upgrade (they're the same price), I'd strongly consider Liber. 

 

Do I dislike the fact I feel this way? That we are a mono-HQ army (non-named characters specifically)?  Not really I suppose many armies are, but I do wish it wasn't such an easy decision for me.

 

 

To be honest most armies have an auto-include HQ. We're not unique in that aspect. Marines only take Chapter Masters for that troll build with Clan Rauukan, normally its Terminator Librarians or Tiggy. CSM its either Prince or Terminator Sorceror. Eldar, Farseers. Tau, Support 'O, maybe an Ethereal in a Devilfish if they take enough Fire Warriors for his buffs to matter. Etc etc. 

 

What is very annoying is that unlike most armies, we literally have two named HQ's, and both of them are cornercase. We lost Mordrak for no real reason (he got turned into a Warlord trait). Stern at least doesn't teamkill and has 'Sanctuary', but he's a mediocre combat hero due to his fixed nemesis sword. Crowe finally got his IC status, but GW punished us by upping his cost to a truly insane level (175 points is insane for a challenge hero who can't Deepstrike). Space Jesus got retconned because....no one really knows why. 

 

Draigo kinda makes up for our lackluster named heroes by being amazing support, utility and melee threat all in one 'not quite LR price' package. But it is lame that Draigo is a crutch not just for us, but for CentStar in Marines as well (he's functionally replaced Tiggy).