Terminator Loadouts

[Xenith]

Hi all, couldnt find a similar thread so here we go.

 

I'm about to make 10 terminators using the old old metals and was looking for a sensible loadout. I won't be magnetising, too much faff for these. I'm assuming combi bolters are now a great option, and I'm sure I read chainaxes are dirt cheap for what they do?

 

I thnk the bits I have are:

 

11 torsos

Ranged

2x combi melta

1x combi flamer

2x reaper autocannon

5x combi bolter

 

Melee

2x power maul

2x chainfist

2x power fist

4x chainaxe

Lightning claw

 

I'm thinking

 

5 models 4x combi bolters+chainaxe, reaper + chainfist

5 models 2x combi melta 2x combi flamer, reaper+chainfist. All combis will count as the same one in-game.

 

How would you do it?

Edited May 20, 2020 by Xenith

[Marshal Loss]

I think there are three good ways to run Terminators: dirt cheap (combi-bolters & chain axes), kitted out for shooting (typically combi-plasma, marked with Slaanesh to take advantage of cacophony), and, in some cases, armed to the teeth with lightning claws and other goodies. Which Legion are you running? Some (e.g. the EC) have stratagems that assist in getting a charge out of deep strike, meaning you can afford to spend more on fancier close combat weapons with less risk of getting blown out of the water before making it into combat.

 

Both of your units look pretty good to me though.

 

In my Word Bearers I typically run 5-7 man unit with combi-bolters, a reaper, and a wide range of melee weapons, against my own advice, just for the rule of cool. They tend to handle themselves well enough although the -1 to hit on fists/chainfists frustrates me a lot.

[WarriorFish]

I agree that keeping costs down is a good idea, but it depends somewhat on what you need them for as they have good choice in options. Combi-bolters are solid and you can sprinkle the more expensive combis as you need. Reapers sadly only disappoint me most of the time especially with that cursed -1 to hit on moving heavy weapons... I still like taking it though

 

Chainaxes are good for the price and should paint a smaller target on them, but the odd power or chainfist is needed to crack open harder targets and provide a bit of a deterrent so I think you have a good overall plan. My experience is that Termies need a good list for them, as you can't send them in and expect too much without suitable support - but this is true of most things in 8th.

 

They do well as a bully unit, as ever that's a game against your opponent if you can pull it off but deep strike helps here. I usually use them as a trouble consultant to drop in and reinforce a flank, take a juicy target of opportunity or generally appear where my opponent doesn't want them

[Special Officer Doofy]

I've never had luck with hybrids (like a dread with one melee and one ranged). I like to go full shooting or full melee. So I recommend bolters and strong weapons or cheap chain Axes and what combi's you need (plasma, meltas).

 

But most importantly what is your goal with these termies? What does the rest of your list lack? Clearing chaff? Dropping in the back field to clear some dangerous armored threat? There are far more better players than I with good advice like the two above me but if you find out what you need most out of them, they will be able to assist you best!

[BrainFireBob]

Hybrids need pairs or triples to work. It's a threat saturation strat.

[Hannibal]

I´d definitely drop the Reapers off your squads. They are points sinks.

 

Everything else is already said.

[BrainFireBob]

Considering a loadout I had not before: Combibolters with a lightning claw, as escorts for a lord with cfist.

 

Thoughts? It's 55 points more than same kit Chosen, for +1 wound, +1 save, native 5++, and deepstrike.

[WarriorFish]

I use a lot of lightning claw Termies (Tartaros is great) and they do quite well. They can turn their hand to most things with their S4 and re-roll and the AP is decent but like most they are best against the right target. In this case that is infantry, especially heavy infantry. They will generally cut their way through well enough

 

That said the cost can mount up a bit, especially if you want to take more (who doesn't?). I'll be adding some chainaxe Termies to bulk numbers and keep costs down. It's also wise to have something heavier hitting, I take a chainfist and/or a power fist sometimes but if they're running with a Lord his chainfist should do enough talking against the heaviest of targets

[MegaVolt87]

I use a lot of lightning claw Termies (Tartaros is great) and they do quite well. They can turn their hand to most things with their S4 and re-roll and the AP is decent but like most they are best against the right target. In this case that is infantry, especially heavy infantry. They will generally cut their way through well enough

 

That said the cost can mount up a bit, especially if you want to take more (who doesn't?). I'll be adding some chainaxe Termies to bulk numbers and keep costs down. It's also wise to have something heavier hitting, I take a chainfist and/or a power fist sometimes but if they're running with a Lord his chainfist should do enough talking against the heaviest of targets

 

Yeah I love LC termi's too. I setup my 10 IW tartaros x7 LC's, x3 with CF + combi bolter. Talk about a small brain moment, I realized having no CF is bad in HH when a dread will probably sit there and beat you up for 2 turns in melee and you can't do anything lol. 

[WarriorFish]

It has always been good to have a bit of heavy hitting, for those times when you either need it or want it. That said wounding on a 5+ with re-rolls isn't terrible along with the AP but without something to better crack armour it's not where you want to be I tend to only take a single combi-weapon (melta) as I want to keep costs down but I can see the appeal of taking more, it's a similar case to the chainfist - adding some flexibility and extra punch.

 

There's always that element of putting too big a target on their head with upgrades, I think turning up with a boat load of combi-weapons is a quick way to get a lot of unwanted attention It is probably worth waiting to see what 9th changes before diving in to any significant changes right now though, maybe we'll get lucky and the star of Terminators will rise?

[Gree]

World Eaters and Emperor's Children have Strategems that make running LC Terminators more viable. You would be dumping a good deal of CP for those strategems. Warp Talons can do a similar job.

 

Ultimately I would keep them cheap with just chainaxes and combi-bolters. Terminators are quite fragile for their cost and damage output, especially since Combat Doctrines has been introduced. Though that may change with 9th edition coming right around the corner.

[MegaVolt87]

It has always been good to have a bit of heavy hitting, for those times when you either need it or want it. That said wounding on a 5+ with re-rolls isn't terrible along with the AP but without something to better crack armour it's not where you want to be I tend to only take a single combi-weapon (melta) as I want to keep costs down but I can see the appeal of taking more, it's a similar case to the chainfist - adding some flexibility and extra punch.

 

There's always that element of putting too big a target on their head with upgrades, I think turning up with a boat load of combi-weapons is a quick way to get a lot of unwanted attention It is probably worth waiting to see what 9th changes before diving in to any significant changes right now though, maybe we'll get lucky and the star of Terminators will rise?

 

Agreed. Actually when I ordered my last 5 tartaros online, I got shipped 5 cataphractii instead, so have these as extra's. I am waiting on 9th ed to see how to equip them to replace my old indomni CSM ones, I already have x10 cataphractii magnetized for my HH IW's. So, at this point I have a pool of 40 termi's for my IW's lol.