Anyone using Grenade Launchers?

[TheShredder]

Basically the title. Now that they've dropped to 3pts, is anyone using these?

 

If so, what units do you take them on and have you found them to be useful?

(And I'm totally not asking because I happen to own about 20 of the things.  )

[HallofStovokor]

All but 1 of my infantry squads take grenade launchers. The can fire D6 frag grenades or a single krak grenade 24". The frag grenade is as good as lasguns. Krak grenade is S6 -1AP d3 damage weapon. I highly recommend them as the give you options.

[Kallas]

Command Squads and Scions with Grenade Launchers seem pretty solid as a ubiquitous, cheap and relatively unassuming unit. They can add supporting fire to either anti-infantry or anti-tank units as needed. A Command Squad with four Grenade Launchers is a measly 36pts!

 

4d6 (average 14) shots at BS3+ 3/0/1 is about as good as a FRFSRF Infantry Squad (at more than 12") vs Marines (both kill about 1 MEQ). That isn't bad, particularly as they can sit back at 24" with no loss in efficacy!

[duz_]

I always take GLs as upgrades to my Mordians. Occasionally I'll take a flamer

I really liked them at 5pts, at 3 they're a steal! :D

[Canadian_F_H]

Good.. I was building lots of gl dudes anyways.

[Doof]

Vostroyan. My most recent list has 3 GL + Autocannon Veteran Squads. the 30" (+6 from Vost) range makes them more gun-lineable. I can always move them too and the hvy weapon team will be hitting like regular guardsman. Will try out the list this weekend.

[WarriorFish]

Indeed, 3pts is great value for them the versatility and decent range is always good to have. Lobbing the odd krak is what tends to work out best for me, can grab that wound when you need it :)

[Halfpint100]

I plan to use more. Only issue is that the metal cadians I use don't have a grenade launcher option :( only flamer plasma and melta were sculpted

[H311fi5h]

Vostroyan. My most recent list has 3 GL + Autocannon Veteran Squads. the 30" (+6 from Vost) range makes them more gun-lineable. I can always move them too and the hvy weapon team will be hitting like regular guardsman. Will try out the list this weekend.

 

Vostroya only works on heavy and rapid fire weapons. Grenade launchers are assault unfortunately.

[HallofStovokor]

Command Squads and Scions with Grenade Launchers seem pretty solid as a ubiquitous, cheap and relatively unassuming unit. They can add supporting fire to either anti-infantry or anti-tank units as needed. A Command Squad with four Grenade Launchers is a measly 36pts!

 

4d6 (average 14) shots at BS3+ 3/0/1 is about as good as a FRFSRF Infantry Squad (at more than 12") vs Marines (both kill about 1 MEQ). That isn't bad, particularly as they can sit back at 24" with no loss in efficacy!

Give that command squad take aim and fire krak. 4 S6 -1AP D3 damage. If they're Cadians standing still, they're going to devastate a squad of primaris Marines. They won't wipe them, but the will most likely thin them out significantly. People underestimate the strength of your lowly Guardsmen especially the grenade launcher. They're like S3 mortar team that doesn't have a movement penalty.

[TheShredder]

Thanks for all the replies, guys. 

 

Command Squads and Veterans with Grenade Launchers are sounding very appealing.

 

I'll definitely be trying them in my infantry list. 

[Canadian_F_H]

Utility and cost are king in guard lists historically. Just being decent cheap and useful frees up points for other things too. So it sounds like a winner to me... If AP had worked back in 7th the way it does now... I would have gladly brought tons of grenade launchers. Utility... And compared to the short range and overheat rules of melta and plasma respectively. They are much safer too!

[Kinstryfe]

I haven't used one in awhile, tending to run Plasma or Flamers, but I think I'll be dusting off the launchers. I agree that they're a mini-mortar/souped up lasgun, or a nice S6 shot of opportunity. Certainly my formerly naked "just sit on that objective and try not to die" squads will be getting them now. Special Weapon Squads of Flamers seem potentially interesting too. Just enough of a threat that they can't be fully ignored, but so cheap that I won't care if they die, and 3-3D6 lasgun equivalent shots per turn that can advance and shoot (albeit with minor penalty and without the lasguns) is nothing to sneeze at against weaker targets.

[Tokugawa]

I take Cadian, so no reason to use grenade over plasmagun. Better than naked though.

[Gothical]

I have always liked the Grenade Launcher, the flexibility of Frag + Krak on a cheap gun has always been useful and in 8th it has got a lot better thanks to AP working the way it does. Being able to take on tougher single targets or hordes makes it a very viable weapon. It also used to be the "fluffy Special Weapon" for Cadian troops back in the day. The other Specials beat it in their particular role but it makes a great backup weapon should the specialists be killed, in addition to complementing the weapons and skills of a regular Infantry Squad.

 

I think that 3 in a Command Squad is a great little unit (the 4th model reserved for a Vox - not only do I think every officer should be accompanied by a radioman but it is hilarious to run a single surviving Veteran into the opponent's army and use the Fire On My Position stratagem) as mentioned further up the thread; it is mobile and can hit surprisingly hard whilst being so cheap it is hard for the opponent to justify shooting at it instead of other targets. I figure with some Flamer SWS, Mortar HWS and the Infantry Squads with some sort of loadout (Plasma + Las/Auto maybe) the opponent will have to make some hard target priority choices.

 

I am even considering the Grenade Launcher in my Militarum Tempestus Scion units - though mostly because I use Kasrkin models and don't have enough Plasma Gunners for 4 per 2 squads and feel a pair of GLs may be just good enough to supplement the pair of PGs. I'm also considering Meltas or HSVGs but the cheapness of the Grenade Launcher is very appealing (half the price of the Volley Gun and over a quarter of the price of the Meltagun). 

[Commissar potato]

I take 10 infantry squads with them for my punchy catachans. I am usually advancing up the field until I can beat up heretics so they prove to be quite effective as a cheap gun that’s assault. They will be on 5s but you never know what a lucky Krak round can do!

[TheShredder]

I take 10 infantry squads with them for my punchy catachans. I am usually advancing up the field until I can beat up heretics so they prove to be quite effective as a cheap gun that’s assault. They will be on 5s but you never know what a lucky Krak round can do!

 

If you don't mind me asking, what does your list look like?

[Commissar potato]

 

 

I take 10 infantry squads with them for my punchy catachans. I am usually advancing up the field until I can beat up heretics so they prove to be quite effective as a cheap gun that’s assault. They will be on 5s but you never know what a lucky Krak round can do!

If you don't mind me asking, what does your list look like?

I’ll post it in the list forum if you would like.

[Rommel44]

Grenade launchers are solid option and I'm perfectly fine with people taking them. In my case however, I prefer Plasma Guns because since I am a Mechanized Infantry Army, I prefer to have something with a little extra punch considering I already have a lot of S5 shots coming out due to my Chimera transports.

[NatBrannigan]

Always have used them and see no reason to change now! I'm just stubborn though and hate that seemingly every other member of the Imperium's military is toting a gun so rare it's practically a holy relic... Plasma Guns: just say no!

[Toxichobbit]

I plan to use more. Only issue is that the metal cadians I use don't have a grenade launcher option only flamer plasma and melta were sculpted

 

Have you looked into Victoria Miniatures Arcadian Guard range? They're heavily inspired by the 2nd edition Cadians so might be of use for making options that the metal models don't cover.