Strikes vs Terminators, whats the big difference?

[Ninjoe42]

So I've heard it said that Strikes are amazing, and one of the best troop choices there is. I've also heard that Terminators are the absolute worst, but I'm confused...

 

A 10 man strike squad costs a shade under a 5 man Terminator squad. But they have the same number of attacks, same LD, same number of total Wounds, same war gear etc. Theyre 1" faster then Terminators for sure, but Terminators get the 1 better armor save and built in Invuln save. So why is it that Terminators get such a bad rap?

[Shagah]

Points efficiency.

Same damage output for half the cost, with the trade off that Strikes are less survivable.

However due to the AC mechanics and multi d weapons they are considered not "half" as survivable i.e. 10 2d -2AC shots at a five man squad of terminators or a ten man squad of Strikes is more likely to kill the former outright while leaving some of the later alive.

Also due to being cheaper they can more easily fill Bn requirements, which is s big deal when CP are so crucial.

[Capt. Mytre]

Points efficiency.

Same damage output for half the cost, with the trade off that Strikes are less survivable.

However due to the AC mechanics and multi d weapons they are considered not "half" as survivable i.e. 10 2d -2AC shots at a five man squad of terminators or a ten man squad of Strikes is more likely to kill the former outright while leaving some of the later alive.

Also due to being cheaper they can more easily fill Bn requirements, which is s big deal when CP are so crucial.

 

Also half the storm bolter shots.

 

Interesting idea, maybe terminator armour could reduce damage to 1 or by 1. Would make characters a lot harder to kill however.

Edited February 13, 2018 by Capt. Mytre

[Corvus Fortis]

While strikes has the same number of wounds and attacks, they have double SB shots and still cost less. Psybolt Ammo is a way more effective on such squads. 10-man also means that they will more likely secure objectives.  But more importantly, 10 strikes are often 2x5 man strikes. They fill two Troops for battalion instead of 1 for termies. Termies will cripple under 2+ damage weapons very quickly. 2+ and 5++ are good but not enough to keep them alive. Termies' stats are ok but not for their points. No reason to take them over strikes untill they cost less thyen twice of strikers. I still consider them ok for frindly games. 

[Reclusiarch Darius]

 But they have the same number of attacks

 

Not with falchions.

 

At the end of the day, we need the cheapest possible Troops option to fill out a Battalion (seeing as Brigade is impossible below 2k without taking a trash list). Strikes do that, they bring twice the Smite (soon to be irrelevant but hey, until Beta is in force it's with no penalty), twice the storm bolter and twice the bodies. It's really simple, Strikes are just efficient and for Marine Troops they're quite strong. Cheapness is the key point, you can get your 3x Troops requirement done for 315 points.

 

Terminators across multiple armies are suffering because 8th is all about quantity. 2+ saves get dragged down to a 3+ or 4+ quite rapidly (there is a lot of -1 and -2 in the game), and will the proliferation of D2 or D3 weapons, their 2W status is largely meaningless. Paladins (whose 3 wounds get better the larger squad you take them) perform the 'combat anvil' role much more efficiently, they just can't be Troops (and there is an argument Apothecary w/hammer is more efficient still).