Emperor's Children - Maru Skara

[Varyn]

Hello fellow heresy enthusiasts,

 

this is my first go at a Maru Skara list for an EC project I am hoping to start in the coming months, feedback and suggestions are most welcome:

 

HQ

Herald, lightning claw

Champion, combat shield, paragon blade, jump pack, artificer armour

 

Elites

Apothecary, jump pack, power sword

Contemptor talon; contemptor with chainfist & TL volkite culverin, contemptor with 2x kheres assault cannons

7 weapon master veterans, melta bombs, 3 power axes, phoenix spear

 

Troops

10 assault marines, melta bombs, 2 power axes, phoenix spear

10 tactical marines, rhino with multi-melta

10 support marines, volkite chargers, additional close combat weapons, phoenix spear, rhino with multi-melta

 

Fast Attack

Anvillus dreadclaw

3 attack bikes, multi-meltas, melta bombs

 

Heavy Support

Deredeo dreadnought, anvillus autocannons, aiolos missile launcher

 

Lord of War

Fulgrim

 

Total: 2494

 

 

Fulgrim joins the veterans & herald in the anvillus dreadclaw, champion & apothecary join the assault squad. The contemptor talon & attack bikes form the hidden blade, arriving (most likely) on turn 2.

I am unsure about the tactical support squad, ideally they need an assault vehicle and I am reluctant to swap them out for a non-infantry unit as I like having the extra scoring unit. I could swap them out for 6 palatine blades (jump packs, 3 spears, artificer armour), but that doesn't seem like a decent sized unit to be effective. The other option I have been considering is to swap them for 8 destroyers (jump packs, phoenix spear, toxiferran flamer, melta bombs),  ideally I would try and find the points for another apothecary if I take a second jump pack equipped unit. If I did swap the support squad for palatines/destroyers then I could use them as my 3rd hidden blade unit.

 

thanks for reading

[Lautrec the Embraced]

Greetings,

 

I think it looks pretty fun for Emperor's Children! I have a few thoughts on this list, maybe you will deem some of them useful.

 

- I don't think that Herald will work too well, especially with this loadout. First of all, his banner seems to me more foot-slogging horde oriented - with him and Maru Skara you could move whole swathes of infantry impressive 6+1+d6+2 inches on the first turn. I don't know how many units will be within 12" of him in your scenario. I don't think he's useless, I just would consider Chaplain (who is cheaper and makes melee even more reliable) or just invest into Primus Medicae as FnP on Primarch is always worth it  - and it seems weird that some random Champ has his own doctor and Fulgrim doesn't... But as I said, just some thoughts of mine, not saying that Herald won't be useful at all. But with no protection of his own ( no AArmour, Refractor) you are risking losing them and giving away 1 victory point due to Fallen Honour.

 

- Have Blood Ravens broke into your Armoury and Reliquary and stole all Artificer Armours? I belive that such flawless and fashionable legion as the Emperor's Children should only wear the most fabulous artificer-wrought armour!

 

- Apothecary only has 1 attack and WS4... better off giving sword to a Veteran who uses it twice as effective or Sarge or even dropping it.

 

- I'd also be unsure about Support Squad... they are not too expensive but on the other hand are not too effective (at least against marines). Besides 15" is really close to the enemy, usually when I take Chargers (on Terror Squads though) I either can't shoot or can both shoot and charge. Support squad is just not good at melee. 1 guy can shoot down 0.362 MEQ and then charge in and kill 0.250 more.  Since you are very likely to attack at higher Initiative on charge, it doesn't really matter whether you shoot someone or cut him down on I5, he won't be able to strike back anyway (barring overwatch if you choose the latter). So for example, barebone weapons masters veterans may have no Volkites but are way cheaper and deal on charge 0.111 wound with bolt pistol and 0.444 wound in combat each, against MEQs.

So the Support Squad marine eliminates 10,3% more marines each on charge but is more expensive (+35 pts). Vets can and should load up on power weapons though so for the same price they will be more effective on charge and in any prolonged fight. They also have boltguns so are not useless when there is no enemy in 15". You could throw in some Serpentas if you feel like it, they deal +2.2% wound in comparison to support squad on charge but are quite expensive.

Unless you expect to face Cults I don't think Volkite support squad is worth it, but surely it can work just fine. Destroyers can be fun too for sure.

 

- I undestand that you want to use Dreads talon as hidden blade but by doing so you lose some points. According to BattleScribe Contemptor Morits with twin Kheres is 25 cheaper and Cortus with Chainfist and TL Volkite is 40 pts cheaper than your equivalent. Could be wrong there but aside from losing the one Talon and replacing it with 2 separate units you don't really lose much - Mortis loses Fleet and WS5 but it can't fight anyway and gains Targeting Array; Cortus loses 6+ inv in melee (I don't think I have ever rolled this six anyway...), BS5 (but with TL Volkite it's not that bad, ain't it?) and WS5 ( ) but can gain Rage or +1 initiative and has MTCover.

 

Aside from these suggesitions I think the rest looks solid.

Sorry you had to wait 2 weeks for answer.

Edited May 5, 2020 by Lautrec the Embraced

[drogg]

heralds are support officers, so you can't use them as a compulsory HQ choice.  you'll need a third HQ besides the herald and champion to take the maru skara rite of war.

[Lautrec the Embraced]

Drogg is right, if you insist on taking Herald you need one more hq. Or just replace herald with some compulsory hq choice like chaplain.

[The Scorpion]

Drogg is right, if you insist on taking Herald you need one more hq. Or just replace herald with some compulsory hq choice like chaplain.

 

I'd advice against replaacing the Herald simply beaause the banners from the new transfer sheet look gorgeous. Besides, the herald will help your units run faster while the "open blade" is active.