Sternguard tactics

[Chaplain Corvid]

Hey everyone I was able to pick up the shadow force solaq box set recently and I was wondering what's the most effective way to play the sternguard and what the best weapons to model them with is. I am going to use all the lightning claws for the vanguard vets for fluff but I have no clue how to make the sternguard effective. Thanks for your help in advance.

[duz_]

Sternguard were a hard sell last edition but at least you could throw them in a drop pod and get them in melta or grav range pretty easy (before the immediately died the following turn)

 

This edition you can't get them close enough without them dying and they're expensive for the cost. Unfortunately their best load out atm is their special issue bolters and buff them with the stratagem that's about it. Don't give them plasma as hellblasters do it better.

 

Hopefully if we see a new dex drop they get some love.

 

VVs on the other hand can be useful. I would mix it up between hammer, fist both with storm shields and then lighting claws. :tu:

[Shadow Captain Vyper]

You basically have two options for running them, in my opinion (and to echo what duz just said)

 

First off, Special Issue Bolters are the way to go, and abuse the stratagem. Best value is to shoot them at tough units with a decent save (things like a 2+/5++ or 3+/5++), and use their strat. As far as on the battlefield and deployment:

 

1) 10 guys on foot, using SFTS to move them up into cover before turn 1. This is 160 points and gives you the option to be shooting turn 1. You will most definitely be in range of something on turn one, but the strat is best used in Rapid Fire range. With the Bolter Discipline rule if you dont move you can tap twice at 30". This is fairly points efficient. You may also be able to move on Turn 1 and get into half range (24" apart - 9" SFTS - 6" move = 10" gap).

 

2) 225 points and give em a drop pod. This ensures you can absolutely kill what you need to. This unit does ~8 wounds to a TEQ model or ~4 wounds to a Riptide analog. You can see the issue with the unit.

 

The only other option the unit has going for it is Heavy Weapons x2 (specifically Heavy Flamers). It's kind of a fun/thematic way to play them. 2x 5-man units with 4x Heavy Flamer in a pod or preferably a Storm Raven and a couple of HQs or an Ancient.

[Oxydo]

To add to what Shadow Captain Vyper said regarding SIBs and strat.

 

Rhino's are usable to at least limit the alpha strike risk, sure you'll lose the Bolter Discipline when you deploy but 15 inch RF is still pretty easy to get into.

 

If you're not opposed to using Lias you can deepstrike them with him for 'free', hell you can even run 2 ten man squads and add a Company veteran unit to bodyguard Lias.

 

10 Sternguards with SIBs are a mainstay in my army list and they pretty much always do good work provided they are allowed to shoot.

[Shadow Captain Vyper]

Oxydo posting in the RG subforum with Factions listed as Blood Ravens and Alpha Legion.

 

"Who do you work for?!?!" - skeptic tone

[duz_]

Hrmmm bolter drill would be a nice little boon for them

[Oxydo]

Lets not forget that SIBs aren't half bad vs armour in a pinch either, provided you give them some rerolls. Storm of Fire WL trait is pretty great in combination with the strategem too, juicy AP -3 on 5/6s.

I've managed to put some hurt even on knights with them, despite not having SoF.

 

And if you run Lias, Storm of Fire is the only way to currently represent the old CT they had back in 7th. 

 

Oxydo posting in the RG subforum with Factions listed as Blood Ravens and Alpha Legion.

 

"Who do you work for?!?!" - skeptic tone

 

Does it make it better or worse if I say that my first squad of Sternguards were built and painted as Deathwatch using ye olde upgrade sprue?

[thewarriorhunter]

The only other option the unit has going for it is Heavy Weapons x2 (specifically Heavy Flamers). It's kind of a fun/thematic way to play them. 2x 5-man units with 4x Heavy Flamer in a pod or preferably a Storm Raven and a couple of HQs or an Ancient.

 

Wouldn't the heavy flamers and drop pod be a waste? You still have to be 9 inches away and the HF are only 8 so any models with those weapons aren't firing for a turn at best and getting removed from the table on your opponents next turn at worst.

[Paulochromis]

There is some evidence to suggest that storm bolters can be useful, especially against hordes, where RoF (Rate of Fire) outweighs damage/wounds potential.

There used to be a Storm Raven plus Sternguard formation in 7th, did it reappear (or morph into a strategem) in 8th with Vigilus?

[Oxydo]

If you're gonna run stormbolters I would go for Company Veterans instead, since you add chainswords for free and/or Stormshields cheaply.

The fact that they can soak wounds for your characters while costing the same amount makes them better for SBs imo. Sure, you'll be stuck with 5 man squads but you can just run 2 of them instead.

 

No Sternguard+Stormraven strategem/formation currently exists.

[Chaplain Corvid]

I was actually thinking about using them as company vets because of the storm sheilds

[Shadow Captain Vyper]

 

The only other option the unit has going for it is Heavy Weapons x2 (specifically Heavy Flamers). It's kind of a fun/thematic way to play them. 2x 5-man units with 4x Heavy Flamer in a pod or preferably a Storm Raven and a couple of HQs or an Ancient.

 

Wouldn't the heavy flamers and drop pod be a waste? You still have to be 9 inches away and the HF are only 8 so any models with those weapons aren't firing for a turn at best and getting removed from the table on your opponents next turn at worst.

 

 

Pretty much a waste, yes. Hence the "preferably a Storm Raven". Being in a pod would only be useful against a mostly-melee focused force (Orks/Tyranids for example), and dropping them in a choke or on an objective out of the way. 4x Heavy Flamers on overwatch isn't horrible against assaulting infantry.

 

Company Vets are without a doubt the better option if you start swapping out SIBs. The problem becomes that at that point you may want to consider a Deathwatch Battalion instead, as their version is significantly better.

[Jacques Corbin]

I like using just their SI Bolters. Yes they have their own stratagem to use and abuse, but my preference is to deploy them near a hole in my deep strike denial that I "mistakenly" left open. Then enemy drops in, I pop Auspex Scan, and rapid fire them to smithereens. Especially hilarious if your opponent puts a Character on the table first, and you bolter :cuss it before the bubblewrap drops, doubly hilarious if said character was the enemy warlord.

[duz_]

Feel like that really only works once though?

[thewarriorhunter]

Feel like that really only works once though?

 

If you're doing it right, sounds like. Because then the enemy is dead and morale is low ;)

[Jacques Corbin]

Feel like that really only works once though?

How many times does it have to work? Honestly, all your opponent sees is a squad of 5 blinged out marines with blinged out bolters. If they do not play loyalist marines, then it is just 5 guys with bolters, just sitting there. I have used this on Tau suits, chaos terminators, Dark Eldar, Deathwing Terminators, and Sanguinary Guard. In my experience, your opponent wants to drop in deep strikers far more that they want to be cautious. I developed this during a game against my friend Wade and his Night Lords. Gee, I wonder if he will try to deep strike Warp Talons in on me?! Also, just like and good trap, you need good bait. Leave that gap near a High Value Target. That HVT is the cheese, and the Sternguard are the metal bar that slams down and snaps the neck of the rat. My favorite bait HVTs are my Stalker tanks, and my Thunderfire Cannons. They already make a lot of noise, and most opponents want them gone quickly.

[Shadow Captain Vyper]

5 Sternguard with SIBs using Auspex Scan on a unit of Deep Striking Warp Talons kills ~2 models, assuming Captain and LT re-rolls.

 

The reality is virtually the same reality as most of the Space Marine codex: Their suitability under performs and they don't have an efficient delivery system. The Bolter Discipline rule helped, but unfortunately they are still out-shined by other options in the elite spot for the points.

 

That being said: They are hardly a bad choice and you could definitely find use out of them in a more casual setting.

 

I think their biggest weakness is simply the existence of Death Watch and a souped battalion. DW fulfill the same role at a much better efficacy than Sternguard while occupying the troops slot. More CP, more tools, better choices.

 

TL;DR: If you're playing in a casual environment and want to just include 1 unit (or two small units) for flavor: go for it! If you like their profile and want to explore running a larger quantity of them consider a Death Watch battalion instead (you can even buy the pads and still run them as Raven Guard visually - or Raptors/Black Guard/etc).