Primaris Black Tide?

[Brother Basileus]

does anyone think a black tide of Intercessors with thunder hammers or power fist on the sarge could be effective? compared to a msu crusader spam list seems like u get the same amount of attacks but twice that wounds although it would cost 10-20 points more per squad depending on how you loaded them out. seems like a decent deal 

Edited March 28, 2020 by Brother Basileus

[Marshal Reinhard]

Not what you asked,

 

but damn, now I want an intercessor squad where everyone has a thunderhammer.

[Hymnblade]

I've entertained the idea. With the Aurillian Shroud, Cenobyte Servitors, a Father of the Future apothecary, and the Indomitus Crusader Greyshield trait (for the IH trait for durability, or WS for a bunch of advance-and-charge), we could potentially make a blob of Intercessors pretty durable. Helbrecht makes basic Marine attacks more dangerous, and his warlord trait helps them get up the board faster. A bunch of auto bolt rifles could put out some decent shooting while running up the board. And as long as you're trying to put every aura in the world on a big blob of units with random movement distance, a chaplain with Fervent Acclamation wouldn't hurt.

 

I have no idea if it's effective, and it may be kind of a gimmick, but it sounds fun.

[redmapa]

Pure infantry could work though I think a mix of Phobos and Mk.X infantry would be better than pure Intercessors as they dont have any real ability to reach the other side without getting shot while Phobos infantry CAN reach the enemy quite easily. Maybe some 5 man Intercessors to squat objectives and then full Phobos units to attack.

[N1SB]

Our local regular tourney winner's default army is a Primaris Black Tide.

 

Now, it's an Iron Hands Intercessors horde in his case (he doesn't even use Vehicles except for games above 1500 as far as I can see, it's just Intercessor spam), for their Feel No Pain save so he focuses on defense rather than offense, but here's why it's still relevant to your question.

 

He gets into combat Turn 2, Turn 3 at the very latest, anyway, and stays the rest of the game there.

 

He plays his army very aggressively, I believe he does use Stalker Bolt Rifle, because he jokes about how he can only fire them once (it's a very effective single turn of shooting though) because he's in combat right afterwards.

 

He then relies on his Biker Captain with Power Fist and a non-Primaris Lieutenant both for buffs and close combat.  In your case, Black Templars have better buffs (like Brother Hymnblade pointed out) for what even he spends the most of his time, close combat, plus all the squads will bring a Thunder Hammer or Power Fist of their own instead of relying on their HQs.  This player happens to super-prefer Boys Over Toys, it's his personal style, he thinks Thunder Hammers are over-costed even on a Captain, but I think he's so frugal he overlooks some options.

 

He also used to run them as Greyshields, too, (again, just like Brother Hymnblade pointed out) before the new Codex just for the bonus Chapter Tactic (just 1 Command Point).  Only after Iron Hands became so good did he drop that.

 

So I think yours is actually a good idea, I still think Iron Hands horde might do slightly better than a Black Templar horde because their Chapter Tactic is so good for Intercessors, but definitely on the competitive end.  Which is why I really like that Greyshields idea even if it's just for the 1st turn.  But try to keep the characters cheap, the power of the list is that it just has so many Intercessor Wounds to go through, I think.

[Medjugorje]

I've entertained the idea. With the Aurillian Shroud, Cenobyte Servitors, a Father of the Future apothecary, and the Indomitus Crusader Greyshield trait (for the IH trait for durability, or WS for a bunch of advance-and-charge), we could potentially make a blob of Intercessors pretty durable. Helbrecht makes basic Marine attacks more dangerous, and his warlord trait helps them get up the board faster. A bunch of auto bolt rifles could put out some decent shooting while running up the board. And as long as you're trying to put every aura in the world on a big blob of units with random movement distance, a chaplain with Fervent Acclamation wouldn't hurt.

 

I have no idea if it's effective, and it may be kind of a gimmick, but it sounds fun.

I think it could work - I will try it as soon as possible (what is clearly not as soon as i wish)

[Muckwarrior]

I run a couple of squads of Intercessors with power weapons, usually swords due to cost of hammers/fists, but it also depends on what I'm fighting. I arm them with Auto Bolt Rifles and Advance every turn until I'm in melee. Auto Bolt Rifles are very solid, you get 30 shots at 24 inches no matter what. If you're within 12 inches, you can pop the Auto-Hit strategem and it's very deadly, especially after an advance. We also have a Strategem to be able to Advance and Charge, so it works well. I'm running two 5-Mans and a 10-Man. Only because I don't have 10 more Intercessors yet. But 30 Intercessors charging full force is dangerous to any enemy.

[eternal_warrior12]

I run 30. Two squads with auto bolter and power weapon (I got lucky and built them that way before the bolter buff) and one squad with regular bolt rifle and thunder hammer and unless someone builds specifically to tech my list I roll over most opponents. Even horde Tyranids or Orks get shredded by them. Being a Templar player for 23 years I’ve never had as much fun.

[Punchomatic]

How are you guys building full squads of Intercessors with power weapons? Maybe it’s an artifact of army builder but I’m not seeing this as an option.

 

It looks like you could pretty easily fit 6 10 man squads of Intercessors or Incursors, a chapter master, two lieutenants, three invictor warsuits, and 1-2 squads of jump pack vanguard vets (with storm shields) in 2,000 points.

 

That’s...a lot of bodies to deal with.

[Medjugorje]

I am sure thats just the Seargents who have power swords in his list. But then every Seargent ( Sword Brethren).

[Punchomatic]

Been toying with a 2000 point idea. 6 10 man units of Incursors, 5 tactical warsuits, a chapter master and a lieutenant. Comes to 1975 without really equipping the characters. The whole army can deploy 9" away or wherever you want. With the crusader helm you can get a lot of those guys in on the first round and even without you’ve got devout push. Seems nasty. Not the most well balanced thing ever though

[Acebaur]

How are you guys building full squads of Intercessors with power weapons? Maybe it’s an artifact of army builder but I’m not seeing this as an option.

 

It looks like you could pretty easily fit 6 10 man squads of Intercessors or Incursors, a chapter master, two lieutenants, three invictor warsuits, and 1-2 squads of jump pack vanguard vets (with storm shields) in 2,000 points.

 

That’s...a lot of bodies to deal with.

 

Army Builder? They even still around? They are always so out of date. I'd recommend Battlescribe for the most up to date info. 

[Brother Basileus]

yeah its just the sarg who would have the power weapon but for 9 points u get 3 attacks from it instead of having to arm the swordbrethren and a crusader with a power fist each to get the same effect and all the intercessors have 2 attacks so u dont lost any thing really and twice the wounds for a pretty small point increase and you get shooting i feel like this is really the best way to run a footslogging crusade right now until the emperor blesses us with primaris crusader squads i havent really thought up a list for yet but i think its got some potential maybe take some chaplain dreads 

 

glad to see this post got some traction tho

[Punchomatic]

 

 

How are you guys building full squads of Intercessors with power weapons? Maybe it’s an artifact of army builder but I’m not seeing this as an option.

 

It looks like you could pretty easily fit 6 10 man squads of Intercessors or Incursors, a chapter master, two lieutenants, three invictor warsuits, and 1-2 squads of jump pack vanguard vets (with storm shields) in 2,000 points.

 

That’s...a lot of bodies to deal with.

Army Builder? They even still around? They are always so out of date. I'd recommend Battlescribe for the most up to date info.

Oops, I meant BattleScribe. Must have been having a flashback to when I used to ply a lot.

 

yeah its just the sarg who would have the power weapon but for 9 points u get 3 attacks from it instead of having to arm the swordbrethren and a crusader with a power fist each to get the same effect and all the intercessors have 2 attacks so u dont lost any thing really and twice the wounds for a pretty small point increase and you get shooting i feel like this is really the best way to run a footslogging crusade right now until the emperor blesses us with primaris crusader squads i havent really thought up a list for yet but i think its got some potential maybe take some chaplain dreads

 

glad to see this post got some traction tho

Honestly for a tide you should look at Incursors. They deploy within charge range, they have a lot of attacks, and they’re not a lot more. At least 3 squads of them as you move 3 squads of intercessors up the board. That could be really nasty.

[templargdt]

I keep thinking about a Black Templars list with 3x 10 Incursors, 3x Invictors and a Drop pod that hits T1 with Helbrect and some other characters.

[Acebaur]

I keep thinking about a Black Templars list with 3x 10 Incursors, 3x Invictors and a Drop pod that hits T1 with Helbrect and some other characters.

 

I wouldn't run 10 man squads, MSU is where it's at right now. Especially when you consider that those 15 extra bodies could just be 3 extra squads and then you just need 2 HQ for a double battalion.