Defiler: reaper or heavy bolter

[Wolf Lord Loki]

Could someone run the maths on the new heavy bolters vs reaper autocannons please?

 

My 2 main opponents have tyranids and marines.

 

My gut says go reaper because I don't have any in my army at the mo.

 

But it would be easier to graft heavy bolters onto my plague hulk... Because I have spares....

 

So sell me either way or prove why I NEED to convert both

[Special Officer Doofy]

Hmmm. For me it would depend on the points. Both are heavy 36"

 

Twin bolter is 6 shots 6S -1AP 2D for 30pts

Reaper is 4 shots 7S -2AP 1D for 10pts

 

The 7S is nice for both, alot of the marines are now T5 and they all have 3+ not in cover, so the 7S is wounding more on marines and the extra ap is nice. Same against nids, the 7S will wound the small guys on 2+ and the extra ap is welcome, nids don't have alot of invuln saves. But the FAQ shows the twin heavy bolters are 6S not 5, so that applies to them as well I guess. Just one less ap.

 

The bolter has 2 more shots and is 2D, which is nicer against marines. But the 2D is wasted on small nids. Also triple the points.

 

My verdict is: Reaper is 1/3 of the point cost, and defilers suck at shooting anyways and want to get close and personal. Reaper all the way. With the bolters and cheapest loadout, that makes the Defiler 155pts, which is too close to a PBC which is better for the points. But that's just my opinion. Would also be nice to know how that new lord affects Daemon engines. I would maybe wait the month for the new codex and lord hahaha.