Punisher Leman Russ Squadron + Divination Conclave

[L30n1d4s]

I have been thinking about how to maximize the new "Emperor's Fist Armoured Company Formation" and one of the ideas that I have hit on is as follows:

 

-Make the Tank Commander's Squadron have three LR Punishers, all with max Heavy Bolters

-Take an allied Librarious Conclave with Tigurius and four PML(2) Librarians, rolling to max out on the Divination table

 

Now, with this, just out the gate you will generate 11 Warp Charges a turn. Additionally, Tigurius will know all the powers of the other Librarians and will be able to harness Warp Charges on a re-rollable 2+. Powers to aim for are:

 

1 --- Prescience -- Guaranteed because it is a Primaris, you can use this to Twin-link the entire LR Punisher squadron shooting each turn

2 -- Forewarning -- You can use this to give the LR Punishers a 4++, basically doubling their survivability (which is already significant, given AV14/13/11 armor)

3 -- Misfortune -- This is the money maker here! Makes all shots against the "Misfortuned" enemy into Rending attacks.

 

 

Combine all these and you have the following:

 

The LR Punisher squadron puts out 87 x S5 shots a turn, even on the move (so a 30" threat radius). With BS4 and TLed (from prescience) that yields an average of about 77 hits per shooting phase. With Misfortune cast on the Punisher's target, that makes all their shots Rending, and they average between 12-13 Rending hits.

 

-->Against a Wraithknight with Heavy Wraithcannons, this nets 8-9 unsaved wounds and one dead Gargantuan Creature

 

-->Against a Land Raider, this nets an average of 4-5 Glancing Hits, which is enough to kill it outright

 

-->Against an Imperial Knight with Ion Shield facing the Punishers, this nets 4-5 Stripped HPs (so almost dead in a single average volley)

 

-->Against a Tau Riptide with Stimulant Injectors, this nets 6-7 unsaved wounds, again enough to kill it outright

 

-->Against a Tau Stormsurge with Shield Generator, this nets 6-7 unsaved wounds, so 1-2 wounds short of destroying the LOW totally

 

-->Against a squadron of three Jinking Eldar Grav Tanks, this nets  6-7 HPs stripped (so two dead Skimmers and one damaged)

 

-->Against a Zooming Stormraven or Stormwolf, this nets 4-5 stripped HPs (or one dead 200+ point flyer)

 

-->Against a Swooping Hive Tyrant, this nets an average 5-6 unsaved wounds, so either killing the Tyrant or seriously wounding it

 

-->Against an Ork mob of 30 Boyz protected by a KFF and with a Mad Dok for FNP, this nets 22-23 unsaved wounds in a single volley

 

-->Against a 10 man squad of BA TH/SS Terminators with a SP (for FNP), this nets an average of 6-7 unsaved wounds

 

-->Against a 6 man TWC squad entirely equipped with Storm Shields, this net an average of 12-13 unsaved wounds (or the entire Pack wiped out)

 

-->Against a 6 Man Canoptek Wraith unit with Reanimation Protocols (from Canoptek Harvest), this yields an average of 6-7 unsaved wounds (or about 3 dead Wraiths)

 

-->Against a 6 man Ravenwing Command Squad that has an Apothecary and is Jinking (with re-rolls from Ravenwing special rule), this nets and average of 2-3 unsaved wounds per shooting phase.

 

-->Against an AM 50 man Blob squad camped behind an ADL, this yields an average of 32 unsaved wounds.

 

 

 

Obviously, this battle group is an expensive points investment and has some weaknesses (like shorter range and vulnerability to assault units, though the Librarian Conclave could actually help with that if required), but as you can see, it is exceptionally potent against a very wide spectrum of dangerous targets (and remember, it can cause this much damage, on average, EVERY shooting phase).

[Truesight]

I hate to rain on your parade, but I really think this is a bad idea.

 

Your tank squadron + librarius conclave:

Tank commander pask in punisher + bolter sponsons + 2 punishers with bolter sponsons

Demolisher

Battle tank

Eradicator

Enginseer

 

Librarius conclave with 4 level 2's and Tigurius

 

1565 points for 12 models.

 

 

That tank star is 560 points of Russ that needs to be within 24 inches of the enemy to do damage with no supporting infantry.  They will die the next turn.

Assuming all the buffs and debuffs go off (those librarians are walking after all), the punishers will likely erase one unit a turn, but after that your army has 3 tank shots, and that's it.  Not enough dakka.

 

I don't think the armoured company is worthwhile at all, 5 russes minimum to take it is not worth the honestly mediocre bonuses. 

 

Your idea of twin linking pask has merit and has been tried with success before: http://www.torrentoffire.com/5576/pask-bringing-the-punishment

I'd reccomend just taking Pask as a Warlord in a Combined Arms Detachment with 2 Primaris Psykers and proper supporting elements.  It avoids all the fat that the Emperors Fist Detachment unfortunately has.

That said, I don't reccomend taking russes in big numbers presently, as expensive vehicles are struggling at the moment.  For example, this recent game by Frontline Gaming between Imperial Fist Armoured Company Cadian Battlegroup and Tau http://www.twitch.tv/frontlinegaming_tv/v/37897380
 

Lastly one annoying thing to be aware of, Pask can only be included in a Cadian Battleforce detachment in a Battle Group Command, due to the restrictions for the Cadian Battle Group stating “No unique models other than those listed here may be taken as part of this detachment.” Pask is listed as an option in the Battle Force Command, but not in the Emperor’s Fist Armoured Company. So while an Emperor’s Fist Armoured Company on its own could include Pask, in the battle group he has to be in the command.

 

This is extra annoying as it means a Pask Imperial Fist Battle group needs 7 Tanks minimum.  Thanks GW.

[mertbl]

He doesnt need the extra tanks.

 

Just take a tank commander as the 1+ hq from the cadian battle group, then its just pask and 2 punishers.

[march10k]

Still way too many points for something that can only kill one enemy unit per turn (two with the split fire order, but then you're only misfortuning one of them) and loses huge chunks of its offense every time someone punches the squadron's AV11 rear armor in melee, which the libbies are not really that great at countering...and then there's the culexus...

[mertbl]

I agree...

 

It would be an interesting add on to a space marine battle company though at like 2k points.

[Truesight]

He doesnt need the extra tanks.

 

Just take a tank commander as the 1+ hq from the cadian battle group, then its just pask and 2 punishers.

He did specifically mention making the most out of the armoured company though.

[WarriorFish]

I agree, while it may be effective that's a hell of a lot of points in one basket. One basket that will be high on your opponent's list, vulnerable to assault and can only target two enemy units a turn. Maybe better for giant hunting as you describe, but these giants tend to be nasty in their own way and sometimes quick too...

 

I wouldn't mind hearing how it performs, but it sounds too niche for anything more than experimentation?