Post CA : revisiting the corvus black star

[IronDreddKnight]

So with all the price cuts across the codex. I’ve saved around 90 points on my lists. I’ve always wanted to field corvus blackstar’s but they’re cost has always been too high. Now I realise they themselves have only been dropped by 10p but combined with the other savings we make, is there a case for our beautiful flyer again?

[xenomortis]

I asked myself the same thing when CA19 was released. My build still comes in at 226 points:

 

Corvus - 125

Twin assault cannon - 44

2 x Stormstrike missile launcher - 42

Hurricane bolter - 10

Auspex array - 5

 

This could be reduced by not taking the hurricane bolter and auspex array but I think they're worth 15 points. Also, could take blackstar missiles (instead of stormstrike) for a further 12 point saving. Worth it? For me, no. The problem is the same as before - it is a BS4+ platform due to its heavy weapons. It desperately needs either PoTMS or similar to make it usable. Even using it as a transport is a hard sell due to drop pods being good again and our teleport strat. I really hope it gets something along the lines of the Tempestus Drop Force Valkyrie rules and then it would 100% be worth it.  

 

I look at it sat in a box and think 'what a waste'. It comes out every now and again in casual games but gets nowhere near my competitive lists because I can spend 226 points on something much more competitive.

[Mobius0288]

The only reason I take a blackstar is to load up a vanguard vet squad so I can jump screens on turn 2 and charge a character. I've thrown a kill team with a termie in there a few times knowing I have biker beacons and the beacon angelis in play.

 

I think the blackstar is working its way towards "OK." It is our only mixed kill team transport so it has value for the Vet-heavy players. In my experience, the dakka version (hurricane, rockets, twin assault cannon) has worked best for me. I usually just run the auspex as well but the infernum halo launcher is worth considering so you get that additional -1 against repulsors, wave serpents, etc.

 

I've had a couple moments where I hover next to a watchmaster and OH MY GOD does it put out. You can certainly do some skillful positioning to make it work.

 

@Xenomortis also makes a valuable point... 226 points is a lot points that can be used for other things too, if you choose to just throw a unit into the teleportarium.

 

I love the model but it's not an auto-include for me.

[Black Knight]

Where I can swap in a Landraider to replace my two dreadnoughts and feel good about it now, the BS4 on our flier kills it for me. It maybe good with a Watchmaster close by but why would you be using a flier that has to stand still, you want it to move and when it does good luck with hitting stuff when you need to.

[Drizzt79]

Maybe a long range combination of the Corvus (TLLAS+Stormstrike missiles)

 

Turn one: corvus sitting in the distance (hover mode), shooting what it can from relative safety

Turn two: Deepstrike a killteam and a watchmaster close to the enemy, then move the corvus within 6” for additional firepower and unload another vet killteam (of course in turn 3)

 

Could this be a viable strategy?

Edited December 17, 2019 by Drizzt79

[GrinNfool]

I don't think the Corvus is there sadly, and I love my Corvus.  I even had LEDs in it, so I try to find reasons to use it.  I think a fully loaded (most expensive version) of a black star is only ~60-70 points cheaper than a normal land raider now.  All it really needs is to get PotMS and it would be fine. heck could even bump it up 10 points, but I don't think it would be needed.  With the minimum weapon options on it being 70 points, its clearly a gun boat, but hitting on 4s is really poor for the prices DW pay for that firepower.

 

Having said that, its not like the Corvus is a travesty of a vehicle, its certainly usable its just right on the border of being good not quite there.  Its very good for squads that either have weapons that want to be deployed inside of 9" or squads that would happily see some melee to deploy via.  So it certainly pairs well with a squad hauling a couple frags.  Sure you can advance a rhino and pop smoke, but you couldn't have a term or VV as part of the kill team.  Basically if you are going to include the Corvus you need to make sure you include a reason to bring the Corvus, or you may as well drop pod, DS strat, rhino or LR.  As long as you include a group that gives you a compelling reason to bring the Corvus you should be fine bringing it.  It does get a special shout out vs dark eldar, and to some extent all eldar factions, due to the infernum.  Makes things like ravagers or jetbikes hit on 5s.

 

One of my fav 40k stories involves the Corvus, vs tau flew it up the table turn right between a storm surge and 3 broad sides, it kills most of the drones, and puts takes 1 broadside to 2 between it and other firepower.  His turn he shoots the corvus down, it of course explodes,takes kills the first broadside takes the 2nd to 3 wounds, does 5 wounds to the storm surge, and kills off some fringe firewarriors and drones that happened to be in the vicinity.  Term lib, frag kill team with 2 term 1 w/ melta fist 1 TH/SS walk out of the flaming wreckage with no casualties, and shrug off some firewarrior shots.  My turn they shoot out the injured broadside and take the storm surge to 7 wounds, then multi charge w/ lib going after Stormsurge and 1 term, and the rest of the vet squad hitting the last broadside, wiping both out.  The squad ended up dying except the lib but the havoc that caused won the match.

[Chris521]

I'm generally fine with the suggestions people give to bump its fire power, however, I'm much more interested buffing its transport capabilities.

 

I want it to have more transport slots.  When deathwatch got their codex, our big gimmick were mixed squads, which remains one of our strengths.  The Corvus was designed with special rules to facilitate mixed squads.  The problem is, 12 slots just doesn't do it.  A 10 man squad with a Vanguard, Terminator, and a bike, takes up 14 slots. Giving it 15 slots would let them have an HQ with them (16 slots would fit kill team Cassius if you wanna get cute).

[Mr4Minutes]

I think for friendly and narrative games they’re fine. But in a competitive environment they’re dead weight.

 

With Eldar flier spam and iron hands flying circus competitive lists are gearing up to take out 2+ fliers a turn. You’d need to spam Corvus Blackstars just to use 1 in turn 2. And that’s points we need for the kill teams we need to do all the work for.

 

For me it’s a cool unit that’s stuck doing too many jobs at once. Maybe come PS it’ll get some love.

[IronDreddKnight]

Thank you every one for the feed back. I guess it’s as I feared, the corvus still isn’t good enough.

 

But I will echo what GrinNfool said about deploying units within 9”. There’s some great utility here for frag cannons and melee units. It’s niche and probably best left out of competitive play for reasons Mr4minutes has explained. But it’s enough for me to want try two frag vet squads in the corvus, dump them within 8” and laugh maniacally as I roll 2x8D6 auto hits.

[Prot]

Thank you every one for the feed back. I guess it’s as I feared, the corvus still isn’t good enough.

 

But I will echo what GrinNfool said about deploying units within 9”. There’s some great utility here for frag cannons and melee units. It’s niche and probably best left out of competitive play for reasons Mr4minutes has explained. But it’s enough for me to want try two frag vet squads in the corvus, dump them within 8” and laugh maniacally as I roll 2x8D6 auto hits.

 

I can appreciate this, and I love the model. I've owned several of the Blackstar, and sold and repainted them. However even so I really think the newer (IE: current) Drop Pod rules just are too good to pass up on. I've just streamlined my squads so I don't need the Blackstar. At... what is it... 226 points ? That's really just far too much for me.