Reivers

[Sea Reaper]

I'm interested in opinions on standard Reiver squads in the Deathwatch. Grav chutes and bolt carbines seem like an interesting option with special ammo, but I feel like standard Intercessors might outshine using the teleportarium (even accepting the CP cost). Knife/Pistol Reivers I'm also unsure about. Our army strengths lean more to shooting, but they can still use special ammo pistols in cc which is interesting. I had wondered about deep striking such a squad or taking them inside a Repulsor, perhaps with a Primaris Chaplain to help them. Do you think any of these are worth it, or are they best left as possible additions to Intercessor squads?

[Cruor Vault]

A Bolt Carbine costs 4pts, an Auto Bolt Rifle costs 2pts.  They have identical profiles, If you can deepstrike both Intercessors and Rievers, why pay the extra 10-20pts for identical abilities?

 

Sticking a single Riever into an Intercessors Squad to get access to Their Grenade and Leadership modification is pretty solid.  I can't see a reason to bring a dedicated unit of them unless you're low on CP to Deep Strike Intercessors.

[Lemondish]

Sadly, Reivers are kind of outshone by Intercessors as you said. The biggest thing I see holding them back is the carbine being (inexplicably) 4 points. This makes them more expensive than Intercessors with auto bolt rifles, which is effectively the same weapon statwise. While their carbines can certainly provide pretty decent firepower now compared to how they mostly worked as a harassment unit, Intercessors with auto bolters can achieve the same thing early on for cheaper thanks to the extra range provided by Kraken SIA.

 

Reivers with pistols and knife are definitely better in DW than almost anywhere else, though. That doesn't mean they're particularly good, but having SIA on the pistol and a reroll of 1s to wound means you'll be a bit more killy than any other SM Reivers except maybe Blood Angel. Sadly, leadership reduction is not a very helpful tool given how many units have tools to mostly ignore morale as a mechanic, and the shock grenade is unfortunately not very useful when you deep strike. Adding those abilities into an Intercessor squad may be worthwhile - consider that as the only really decent option for them. 

[Kisada]

In my last game I used my reivers (BP/Blade) to great effect.  I had them equipped with grapnel launchers ... hid behind some terrain and then was able to make a charge against some auto hit template weapons.  They didn't do any damage but the remaining 3 were able to later fall back and claim an objective.  Is that worth the 100 or so points ... I dunno ... But I had them painted to I used them lol

[Claws and Effect]

I'm considering a minimum squad of Reivers to shut off overwatch for my Death Company allies.