Blood Angels Unit of the Week series Unit of the Week: Captain on bike

[Jolemai]

 

 

Welcome to part four of the Blood Angels Unit of the Week Series!

 

Following the release of the 9^th edition Supplement, there is no better time to discuss all the units we have access to. Each week a different unit will appear, with the idea being that we discuss how best to use that model on the battlefield. Where part one will focus on the unique BA units and part two will focus on BA units that are new to this edition of the Codex, part three will discuss how to get the best use the generic units from the past that are still with us (and that many of us have in our armies still), and part four will discuss the Legends units that we still own and love. Forge World and Forge World Legends comprise parts five and six.

 

 

Note, this isn't to lament any nerfs, etc, from previous editions; the rules are as they are so try to unlock its potential for those who wish to use them all the same. Similarly, this thread is only for using the option being discussed; it matters not if you feel something is a better choice as such comments aren't constructive to the topic and shall be removed.

Without further ado, here's this week's entry:
 

Captain on Bike

Captain on Bike (kitbash), Karhedron

 

What are your thoughts here folks? How best would you use the Captain on Bike datasheet?

 

 

• To compliment a list, or to build a list around? Will the current Warzone and balance dataslate affect your list(s)?
• What units (if any) will you be babysitting?
• What weapons and equipment are you taking and does the above affect how you run them?
• How are you using Rites of Battle and Turbo Boost effectively?
• Are you buffing this unit? If so, how?
• Suitable for Warlord duties or Chapter Command?
• Stratagems of note?

 

Over to you.

Please note that Captain, Captain in Cataphractii Armour, Captain in Gravis Armour, Captain in Phobos Armour, and Captain in Terminator Armour should be discussed elsewhere.

 

Edited December 5, 2022 by Jolemai
Updated!

[Jolemai]

Should you want your model on display here (or on another thread from the series), then submit a photo here please.

[Jolemai]

Additional toughness, wound, twin bolter over a regular Captain. Same weapon options. This chap is more of a support character as a 14" move (more with a turbo boost) can get his Rites of Battle where it is needed, but still has the potential to be a second wave "Smash Captain" (like Mephiston is).

 

Personally, I like to roll him alongside tank or bike lists, but that's just me keeping with a theme (from an aesthetic side of things, I don't like seeing jump packs running with bikes...) :)

[Xenith]

I like the storm bolter + twin bolters from the bike option. He can put out a lot of firepower - 8 shots at 24" - and is still mean in combat. Any choices that are good on a normal captain are good here, except he cannot benefit from Upon Wings of Fire. A better base move should help him though. Death visions plus foresight combined with T5 and an extra wound makes him quite tough.

[Jolemai]

Updated rules for this can be found on page 130 of Codex: Space Marines

 

(So we can use it until our Supplement says otherwise...)

[Jolemai]

On 4/7/2020 at 9:17 PM, Jolemai said:

 

 

Welcome to part four of the Blood Angels Unit of the Week Series!

 

Following the release of the 9^th edition Supplement, there is no better time to discuss all the units we have access to. Each week a different unit will appear, with the idea being that we discuss how best to use that model on the battlefield. Where part one will focus on the unique BA units and part two will focus on BA units that are new to this edition of the Codex, part three will discuss how to get the best use the generic units from the past that are still with us (and that many of us have in our armies still), and part four will discuss the Legends units that we still own and love. Forge World and Forge World Legends comprise parts five and six.

 

 

Note, this isn't to lament any nerfs, etc, from previous editions; the rules are as they are so try to unlock its potential for those who wish to use them all the same. Similarly, this thread is only for using the option being discussed; it matters not if you feel something is a better choice as such comments aren't constructive to the topic and shall be removed.

Without further ado, here's this week's entry:
 

Captain on Bike

Captain on Bike (kitbash), Karhedron

 

What are your thoughts here folks? How best would you use the Captain on Bike datasheet?

 

 

• To compliment a list, or to build a list around? Will the current Warzone and balance dataslate affect your list(s)?
• What units (if any) will you be babysitting?
• What weapons and equipment are you taking and does the above affect how you run them?
• How are you using Rites of Battle and Turbo Boost effectively?
• Are you buffing this unit? If so, how?
• Suitable for Warlord duties or Chapter Command?
• Stratagems of note?

 

Over to you.

Please note that Captain, Captain in Cataphractii Armour, Captain in Gravis Armour, Captain in Phobos Armour, and Captain in Terminator Armour should be discussed elsewhere.

 

 

Another unit seeing a revival of late as we make some headway into Nephilim. How are you using yours or, how would you use yours if you had one?

[Khorneeq]

With reduced number of CP at game start I'm using mine with Chapter Master upgrade to gain  access to Master of Codex trait. If it is worth it... it's hard to tell, bit random and used instead of other trait

[Paladin777]

I know I've posted this guy elsewhere before, but you could make a decent blender on the cheap in both the shooting and fight phases. Replace his bolt pistol with a storm bolter and spend a CP to give him the ToT. 
 

8 shots out to 24" (SB and the bike's TLB) and 8 ToT attacks on the charge for only 105 points and 1 CP. reasonably durable with the bike stat line too. 

Edited January 2, 2023 by Paladin777

[Maggotlord]

On 1/2/2023 at 5:38 AM, Paladin777 said:

 Replace his bolt pistol with a storm bolter and spend a CP to give him the ToT. 

What does ToT mean? 

 

In addition what do you all think about Captain on Bike in comparison to Chaplain on Bike? 

[Karhedron]

ToT = Teeth of Terra (Relic chainsword)

 

The BIker Chaplain is a bit more durable as it is a Primaris model so has 8W as well as access to Transhuman Physiology. The downside is the fixed loadout but even this can be worked around with Litanies to some extent. The Relic Crozius + Mantra of Strength packs quite a punch, particularly with Red Thirst.

 

For me the Chaplain makes a better and more flexible buff engine as the assorted Litanies give you lots of nice effects. The Captain has access to a wider array of Relics which can open up some interesting options. A Captain with the Relic Deathmask and Rites of War can flip any Objective, potentially a game winning play on a model with a 22" guaranteed Advance move. You can do the same with the Chaplain but you are more likely to want to take Master of Sanctitiy and Wise Orator to get the most mileage out of your Litanies.