Leman Russes

[RhysW]

Whenever one usually thinks of Imperial Guard Heavy Support, the first thing that usually comes to mind is the Lumbering Behemoth that is the Leman Russ. This Iconic Vehicle has been used throughout the Imperium ranging from Cadians to the Space Wolves who have adopted certain tanks in their Primarch's name. 

 

Each tank has it's own role in a force, but there's always been competition between tanks when fighting for the hotly contested Heavy Support slots, so my question is, what do you think is the best Leman Russ Tank, and how do you run Leman Russes in your forces, if you decide to run them without a command tank?

 

 

[gunnyogrady]

If I'm not running Pask/Command Tank, it'll almost always be a Vanquisher with Hull Lascannon. Undeniably tough Anti-Armor firepower.

 

In smaller points games (1000 and lower) I'll use a vanilla 'Russ for the psychological factor of the pie plate and for her versatility.

[Lukash_]

The "best" is probably the vanilla Main Battle Tank. Not overspecialized and puts the hurt on a lot of things.

 

My personal favorite is the Executioner, though. My WWII-American-themed Guard has pretty much only Vanquishers and MBTs, but I field one Executioner as a shout out to the crazier prototype weapons that were theorized during the war.

[WarriorFish]

Agreed, if an overall best was to be decided it'd be the most flexible - the question is a vague one after all! The standard MBT is reliable against most targets, the only thing it really struggles with is heavy armour. I don't run a tank commander all that much, but that's just me being used to running a CCS. Plus I like to have my commander running around with his standard (in model only, the upgrade is expensive).

 

My favourite Russes are the Demolisher and Eradicator. Dedicated killing machines in their respective fields :)

[Ulrik_Ironfist]

While I don't have any tanks, and I haven't fielded them, I like the Way Vanquishers and MBT's mesh together, and I would probably make use of the Demolisher and Eradicator, because of what they bring.

[morroccomole]

I prefer the exterminator both for the generalism of the autocannon profile, and also because it won't cause everything else on the tank to snapfire. Twin linked helps too!

Edited

[steellegionnaire85]

I think you mean exterminator. That's the autocannon Russ.

[Ulrik_Ironfist]

But when you throw S8 AP3 ordnance pie plates, who even takes sponsons? The HB and Stubber upgrade are there to keep the big gun safe from weapon destroyed results.

[Truesight]

Executioner is the best I think, but the most valuable for the points would be an eradicator. If running without a command tank, I probably wouldn't use the Executioner as it's Pasks preferred enemy that puts it over the line. If I had to choose a take all comers line up my heavy support tanks would be:

Exterminator, multi melta sponsons an lascannon

Eradicator, plasma cannon sponsons and heavy bolter

They both are really good at their roles, and deal pain to any threat.

The third slot would of course be two wyverns

[RhysW]

Yeah sorry, I just mean what Russ sees the most use or which one you think is the best that could sort of fit into any list well, I know it usually depends on list composition for choice but there are some which are good enough to always make an appearance!

 

I think my favourite is the Vanilla LRBT, the problem being at when I play a lot of my friends they arrive with a lot of cover, T5 or 2+ Saves (Thunderwolves with Iron Priests, Ravenwing etc) so it is making me reluctant to include the pair I like, so I'll probably end up with Demolishers as I love them anyway!

[Ulrik_Ironfist]

Eradicator for ignoring cover, Demolisher for AP2 and S10. Keep them cheap and cheerful, no sponsons, save those points for more tanks. When in doubt drown it in dice, statistically it will fail enough times to die. So pretty much you're looking to instagib TWC? Demolisher. 

[RhysW]

Yeah, the Demolisher is my joint favourite tank aswell, the only problem being the short range makes it very vulnerable and the fact They use Storm Shields for a 3+ Inv, I might just end up taking a different Russ and use Manticores for their drown in dice and also Avoiding forcing saves on the front iron priest, I can pick and choose my targets (He's started taking Fenrisian Wolves to soak up extra AP2 wounds). Also it's nice to see what everyone chooses!

[Inso]

Is there no love at all for Punishers?

[Emicus]

I reckon if you want a “generic tank you can chuck in to the army” it’d be one of the long range ones. Vanquisher or Battle Tank. Maybe even the Exterminator.

Why? Because they’re easier to keep alive. If you have a limited number of tanks, say, one Demolisher, and you need that up close and personal to do anything, and you have to send that tank out all by its lonesome? Right in to the teeth of the enemy.

Now five of them, sure! Can’t kill them all, but one or two won’t cut it. Got any Hellhounds in there? Chimeras? Sentinels even? Slogging sacrificial squads in front of the tanks?

​

[WarriorFish]

There is plenty of love for Punishers... with Pask in Otherwise 20 shots at BS3 isn't much to write home about in a codex that can spam fire with the best of them.

[Ulrik_Ironfist]

Ooh, hellhounds, now there's a thought...

[vampyrerodent]

Is there no love at all for Punishers?

Love me some Punishers!

 

I tend to run my tanks as anti-infantry and the troops as anti-tank. So, the Punisher fits in great for me. I throw out 32 shots each turn and just make them dance! With the Company Commander nearby using Kurov's Aquila, I tend to get more hits than normal.

[RhysW]

Those Punishers look great, nice work! I'm glad to see they get some use without the usual Pask Build, do you find they work for you in games?

[Vel'Cona]

For me, all of the Leman Russ variants have a place but some are generally more useful for certain tasks. The generic Battle Tank is probably the strongest for "all-comers" setups, but it's also surprisingly expensive. I think all the other variants have specific uses, but it's really a matter of picking what your force needs. Eradicators are nice and cheap, and make a great bodyguard for a Tank Commander, though they're the least powerful variant in general. Vanquishers can punch the heck out of enemy armor, but they really want a Tank Commander driving for best results. Punishers are great for thinning hordes, while Exterminators do good work vs. enemy transports (though lack of Skyfire means they're not great for AA, which is sad). The Demolisher is a huge short-range threat, but its poor range and high cost make it a priority target. Finally, the Executioner is brilliant for wiping out MEQ and 2+ foes, but it tends to kill itself in 2-3 rounds without Pask around (for Preferred Enemy).

Therefore, I would postulate that the "best" Leman Russ is the one you need to bolster your army's weaknesses.

[vampyrerodent]

Those Punishers look great, nice work! I'm glad to see they get some use without the usual Pask Build, do you find they work for you in games?

 They work great when they focus on their targets. I usually have a Kurov's Aquila not too far from them to add a few re-rolls. They work great against hordes or anything that has a high armor save due to all the hits they can cause, i.e. Carnifexes, Terminators, etc. Not as good against Riptides and Wraith Knights, too high a toughness.

[librisrouge]

Anybody who says the Demolisher isn't the best is wrong and I'll tank duel them at dawn if they take umbrage with me...

Otherwise, all of the Russ have their niche where they're the best tool for the job and that means that you have no reason not to take a nice variety if, like me, you're something of a tanker at heart. I'm, slowly but surely, doing a series of tactica articles on the Russ variants on my blog. I've only done the LRBT and Demolisher thus far but pop over if you want a read.

[Ulrik_Ironfist]

From my perspective, the vanquisher is the best tank destroyer, and the battle tank is the best all a rounder. It's the others that are specialized, the demolisher needs support to be effective due to the short range on it's gun, and the same is true of the eradicator, only it needs support to keep enemy tanks at bay.

[morroccomole]

From my perspective, the vanquisher is the best tank destroyer, and the battle tank is the best all a rounder. It's the others that are specialized, the demolisher needs support to be effective due to the short range on it's gun, and the same is true of the eradicator, only it needs support to keep enemy tanks at bay.

 

The vanilla LRBT may be the best all-arounder in theory, but the scatter dice seem to hate my guts. That's why I prefer to just glance things to death with a Tank Commander in the Exterminator. BS4 + Twin Linked means a dependable amount of strikes, and it can use whatever sponsons I need for the foe. I like to hedge my bets.

[Captain Caine 24th]

I used to run eradicators with heavy bolter sponsons, hull heavy bolter, a heavy stubber, and a dozer blade. I really liked the volume of firepower for the points. So long as something else in the army can pop the transports, this set up can really make the opponent take a lot of saves. 

 

I've also run a pair of demolishers.  There's value in scaring the opponent into moving very conservatively, what the demolishers actually end up killing varies from game to game. Though T6 monstrous creatures won't mind terribly, and deep striking sternguard would love that target, so be careful.

 

There's been an ongoing debate among my group about including multi meltas on vanquishers.  I've had some success with that set up. BS3 isn't great and some times you need a lot of hits to take something down. I also find long range plinking with lascannons to be somewhat ineffective due to cover saves and invulnerable saves on vehicles these days. 

 

Pask is good, if not a bit expensive. Kurov's Acquila can be great in a similar way--help that BS3 and help the classic roll of a 1 when it's time to pen. If I'm rolling out some serious leman russ's I usually bring psykers using divination--getting a 4+ invulnerable on a squad of lemans is a big deal. 

[Ulrik_Ironfist]

I like the armored battle group list, with the elite tank commissars putting them in vanquishers because of their BS4. That's a hefty base of anti-tank fire coupled with the BS4 Tank commander in vanquisher. Backed up by 4 battle tanks and some artillery (griffons) at 1500 points that's 10 tanks and it's nasty.