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Vindicators in 8th edition


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Anyone still including Vindicators in your lists in 8th unfortunately one of my favorite tanks has taken a pretty bad hit with the elimination of all templates. Some gamers are saying they're dead this edition. Vindicators don't appear to be the response to hordes anymore but are they really not worth taking at all? 

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They got the short stick, at least until the SM codex arrives.

 

Right now, they are outshined in every aspect except durability when compared to a pred (vindicators have T8, while preds have T7, but that's not enough). Predators can be build to either be better vehicle/monster killers (4 lascannon shots against 1d3 demolisher shots) or better horde killers than vindicators (2d3 autocannon shots + 6 heavy bolter shots against 1d6 demolisher shots). Hell, even dreadnoughts are better at that role than vindicators, because a mortis dreadnought (or other variant which can take 2 ranged weapons) cost about the same but with better firepower.

 

 

Maybe if vindicators cost are dropped to 140 points could be an option, but right now, there are better options

Vindi's got derped on the multi-model shooting.  D6 is not as good as a template, unless you have weighted dice.  However, D3 @ vehicles/monsters/etc is a buff to the Vindi.  Also do not dismiss T8 vs. T7.  It is significantly harder to wound.  Think of it as the new AV14.  I use a Vindi to draw fire, and if the dice are with me, do damage.

 

Edit: Full disclosure, I avg. 2-3 CP on re-rolling 1's for # of shots.=)

Durability gives them a different role than previously. Against orks, I find they don't do much damage, but I can use them to charge a big mob that would otherwise charge (and destroy) something I would rather keep alive. The Vindicator is tough enough that it will survive (just barely) and it can fall back the next turn to let me shoot and then charge the mob I was worried about.

Their role has certainly changed. They are pretty bad against hordes now, but are very good at smashing tough multi wound models (especially T5 ones...far better than lascannons here because of that extra point of STR). They can also in theory put 18 wounds on a vehicle or large target in 1 shot, though that is ofc very unlikely.

 

Their toughness helps though, changing S4 weapons from wounding on 5+ to a 6+. That's twice as resilient against one of the most common S values in the game, though the question becomes whether many people spam S4 shots at tanks at all.

 

I don't think they are great, but i don't think they are fully useless either. Jury is still out a bit for me on this, though it's not looking super promising.

They've added so many steps to actually causing the damage that it's just useless....

 

Roll for Number of Shots > Roll to Hit > Roll to Wound > Opponent Saves > Roll for Damage

 

5 Dice rolls that can lead to almost nothing before you even deal any damage, which is a further dice roll of D6... I can't be bothered to do the mat

 

The hits should certainly scale up with PER 5 models add another D3 after the first, so 5 = 2D3, 10 = 3D3, 15 = 4D3 etc The current cap is silly, but should probably still have a limit as this is technically a machine destroyer.

 

Damage also needs to be at least 3+D3 FLAT against: Vehicles, Monsters, Buildings to represent you tearing total chunks from them. D6 is fine for infantry as they can scramble, get behind cover or use other ways of avoiding the blast.

I agree, its not likely at all. They are better than a lascannon still, but the thing is that very few dedicated AT platforms have A lascannon. They have several.

Is a Demolisher better than 1 LC? Absolutely?

Better than 2? Hmm....maybe. Probably yes, since it'll have the same average shots, higher strength, and same damage and save mods.

Better than 3? No.

After that it gets silly, and since Predators, Land Raiders, Tarantulas, Devastators can all rock 4+ with ease it doesn't go well.

 

BUT, the Vindicator is still very cheap for an 8th Edition vehicle with a decent gun. If you think of it as "2 and a bit Lascannons" in effectiveness, tha'ts not too far off the mark, on a tough chassis. 

 

it's sweet spot is shooting large multi wound units, but there's just not many 2+ wound units with 10+ members.

 

As i said, i don't think it's great, but i don't think it's totally without merit.

Nob ikrs especially are good targets, yeah. And 10 man Intercessor/Reiver squads will not have fun.

But still, i don't think anti-infantry is their strength. That random shot count just can't be relied upon to clear units.

 

I do however look forward to the "multiple Vindicator" stratagem GW mentioned in one of their community posts.

I do however look forward to the "multiple Vindicator" stratagem GW mentioned in one of their community posts.

Likewise. I'm assuming it will be similar to the apocalyptic blast shenanigans from 7th albeit with some equivalent for the template of course. It would have to be special though to make them worthwhile to take in that number.

 

I'm holding a shred of hope that they'll benefit from some sort of iron hands detachment bonus like last ed. I own 3 of them and theyve sat in my case since my last game of 7th.

Nob ikrs especially are good targets, yeah. And 10 man Intercessor/Reiver squads will not have fun.

But still, i don't think anti-infantry is their strength. That random shot count just can't be relied upon to clear units.

 

I do however look forward to the "multiple Vindicator" stratagem GW mentioned in one of their community posts.

 

*sigh* 

 

I was planning on using them for a Death Guard Army... I highly doubt any Chaos vehicles will be getting anything remotely that useful.

 

I can't believe their hits are 2d3 honestly. and 3+D3 damage makes a lot of sense to me as well. IMO Flamer and MLs profile match very well with the amount of hits they would have dealt with a template. It's like they didn't even consider that for the Siege cannon. 

It is sad times, always been one of my favourite tanks. Maybe thats why i'm trying so hard to make them not suck :D

 

I think the Demo cannon was a victim of it's own power, and they found it hard to balance.

If it was 1d6 or 2d3 shots base it would be disgusting against vehicles vehicles, and would be the best AT gun in the game i think (i dont have a full weapon list here, but it'd be well up there). Not counting superheavy weapons anyway.

 

Tbh, that might not have been a bad thing though. it IS supposed to smash down fortress walls and the like after all.

I used one in an Apoc game. I parked it near the center of the table as far forward as I could deploy it so it wouldn't have to move. It took out a couple Wraithblades before they charged it and did no damage (they had swords, 3 of 5 got in maybe they did a point or two, I don't remember). I then had it fall back and shot at the wrecthed xenos a bit with other units before Castellan Draco charged in and finished the last one with his relic blade.

 

Was it worth it? I think it was. Units in 8th seem to be worth not just the points they can kill but the amount of damage they can tank.

 

The T8 on the Vindicator is pretty decent for the cost, and it gives you a durable line of sight blocker with a soft anti heavy infantry/anti vehicle capability. I say soft because you don't take it for the offense, you take it for a cheap durable tank that looks scary.

 

Ok, well not THAT cheap. It's 160 base bones, very similar to a Predator Destructor at 171. But that's at T8, with the same 11 wounds, which is not for nothing against common weapons like auto cannons which wound it on 5s and missiles which wound it on 4s.

 

I don't think it's winning any awards for most competitive unit but it's not unusable as long as you don't expect it to wipe units out on its own. I do think it could stand to get a point reduction or a boost in offense.

 

Don't hesitate to give it a storm bolter and Hunter killer missile for just a little now punch. Those vehicle upgrades are awesome now!

At 11 points less than a Predator Destructor, i think it's ok. Less damage output against T7 or below, but tougher. Against t8 or T-9 it has comparable damage, and is far superior against T10+ (rare as that is).

At the same time the extra point of toughness makes it a lot more survivable than it seems (bolters/S4 wounds on 6's instead of 5's, missiles on 4's instead of 3's, autocannons/plasma on 5's instead of 4's).

 

Obviously against infantry the predator poops all over it though.

 

It's....alright. I think you need to make the most of it being a brick though, since the actual damage output isnt stellar. 

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