9th ed meta shift - double battalions

[Mobius0288]

I'm sure some of you have been thinking about this well, so I wanted to hear your guys' thoughts on it.

 

I'll admit before we go into this that we still have some missing information... we don't know what final points are going to look like, so we don't know the precise scale of unit/model count in a given game compared to other factions. We also don't know for sure what the ally situation will look like in terms of CP cost. Will it cost more because your mixing factions in a battle forged army? Something to at least consider.

 

With some of those assumptions, I can easily see us moving back to a single battalion for most of our needs (8th ed point system considered). This will also affect our opponents in the same way so its not an advantage solely for us. We will have to consider the best units for their prices, especially when it comes to anti-tank. But also, our strength is in our kill teams (both vets and intercessors). The good news is we can minimize our points on HQ models and total number of troop choices to include other units. Are you deep striking a 5-man intercessor unit with a CP? Cool, now you can switch them to Reivers for a little bit cheaper (yes slightly less dmg output) and you can keep that CP for a Relic Contemptor you want to deep strike instead.

 

There are quite a few scenarios you could go through but another aspect was our anti-tank. Could we save enough points to more easily bring repulsor executioners or a Blackstar in place of a mortis contemptor dreadnaught. Or do we simply stick with the tried and true, and just bring more infantry types to take advantage of SIA?

 

Lots of fun list building points to consider and work through as they shake up the meta/point costs.

 

Also, would allies still be viable? We can easily see that allied battalions will no longer be the answer... so do we bring admech spearheads in their place? Or could a tempestus scion battalion (filled with all the plasmas) be a viable allied detachment in terms of fire power? Or perhaps we eat the CP to bring a Knight Lance into the fray because they are already beastly. This aspect does have the doctrine ramifications to consider.

[Mr4Minutes]

For me, dropping down to single battalion and getting more CP(2k list) is great news.

 

I’ve not a big fan of our HQ choices, so only needing 2 is a plus for my lists.

 

Unfortunately I’m not sure how many points we’ll actually save tho. With points increases coming to 9th we could see the 100-200 points saved on HQs get eaten up by the troop kill team choices.

[Daynga-Zone]

Before Covid and the 9th edition announcement I had begun working on a successor chapter to run with my DW to add some anti tank punch as well as Phobos units. It looks like we may end up getting an update that will give us access to the newest units for sure as well as possibly those Phobos units.

 

For mono DW I think a single battalion covers us well. 2 HQs is perfect for me normally. Our kill teams are expensive so I don’t think we’ll have a problem only going with 3-6 of them. I’m curious how fliers will stack up in this edition. The Xiphon is one of my favorite models and doesn’t need a babysitter to hit targets, which is good with our lackluster HQs. If they’re priced decently and terrain rules end up making LoS harder to achieve I could see them being excellent fire support. Increased unit prices may lead to more value out of apothecaries as well. I am however worried about how blast weapons will affect full sized kill teams. Hopefully the max # of shots is on units of 11 or more and not 6+ or something.

 

Also hope the cost to soup isn’t terrible. I got really excited at the prospect of running a bunch of intercessors as DW backed by IH successor dreads/support. Hard to say without more info, but depending on the cost of each detachment I think I’d be able to easily run a DW patrol (assuming it’s the cheapest to buy) as well as an IH battalion as my free detachment.

[GrinNfool]

Well in 8th I've been of the mind, and nothing has ever changed this opinion, that DW do best with allies, even the doctrines didn't change my opinion on that.  However, between points hikes (DW expensive enough...), and likely paying extra cp to bring allies, I see that changing.  Far to early to tell if its for the better or worse as far as their performance goes, with a new codex imminent, new units available, and a new edition its anyones guess where we end up strength wise.  I just don't see allies being viable anymore for almost any faction but knights between the cp cost for detachments, and potentially (since they have alluded to this) paying extra cp to bring allies.  The only real question left is what is the CP cost of other detachments and cp cost to bring allies.

 

I do think its very likely mono faction will be the way to go though, coupled with the points hikes single batt looks the most likely.  The main reasons are points increases, and you no longer need to try to build additional detachments for CP.  Honestly the CP change is fantastic for DW as they are an elite army.  Aside from GK and custodes we probably benefit the most from this, as far as not trying to scheme for it.  I am sure there will be builds for other factions that come about though that benefit even more.  Might see a resurgence in usefulness of dreads or mortis dreads due to the mono faction being the best too.

Edited June 9, 2020 by GrinNfool

[ashc]

I think it's looking good, single battalion at 2000pts seems right, probably a brigade at 3000.

 

More CP without gaming the system is good, and as we've seen recently games workshop are loving strategems.

[leth]

I am thinking single battalion as well, fewer points spent on HQs, just need two to bring our important relics(tome and teleporter), and then having lots of CP to use our abilities is huge. 

[Roland Durendal]

 I like the idea of mono-BN or DW and have dusted off my old models for the new edition. As for anti-tank, I think dreadnoughts are going to be our best bet for it, and I'm already looking ahead at purchasing 2 contemptors to fill that role. I'm also excited to see how the Corvus comes out in the new edition, both cost-wise and overall power level-wise.