Unit of the Week: Centurion Assault Squad

[Jolemai]

Welcome to part two 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. Finally, part five will be dedicated to the reinforcements from Forge World.

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:

Centurion Assault Squad

What are you thoughts here folks? How best would you use your Assault Centurions?

• To compliment a list, or to build a list around? Will the beta rules affect your list(s)?
• Will you be running multiples? MSU or full squads? Combat Squads?
• How are you buffing this unit? Will it babysit anything?
• What Wargear Options do you prefer and how much does it depend on the above choices?
• Stratagem synergy or note?

Over to you

Please note that the Centurion Devastator Squad will be discussed elsewhere

[Jolemai]

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

[Tokugawa]

9th deprived many buffs from them, so if you have the models and want to make this unit work, you'd better put them in some task which doesn't need support from other units. e. g. outflank. Edited May 22, 2021 by Jolemai
OT removed as per disclaimer

[Majkhel]

Being multi-wound models, they definitely benefit from healing and resurrecting abilities of the SangPriest. Obviously if they manage to get our Assault doctrine buffs too it's all the better. Those drills make short work of any regular DG infantry they manage to charge.

EDIT: outflanking seems a good idea to keep them safe as they will make an obvious target in our formations. Although if they are present and manage to attract some attention, then that attention is not focused on other units. I'm thinking an increased squad might be better for their survivability if they were to start on the table.

Edited May 22, 2021 by Majkhel

[FormelyKnownAsSmashyPants]

They also pump out a huge amount of shots, much higher than Aggressors, with a squad of three at twelve inches will pump out 36 bolter shots and 6D6 flamer shots. They look a hundred times better than Aggressors too. Their drills are fantastic weapons also. 

Edited May 21, 2021 by Captain Smashy Pants

[BloodyB]

These guys are great counters to hordes and vehicles alike, their only weakness is being painfully slow.

 

For BA the complete lack of speed can be a killer, so finding a way to girl them forward fast is vital. Mahjkel recommended outflanking them, I personally use a Storm Raven. My meta lacks anti flier units, so this works well, letting me shatter infantry concentrations very easily. Most recently, a Nid list of Gaunts and Tervigons that got quite a surprise. Adding an Ironclad is a nice fluffy addition that actually helps the Centurions reasonably well. This is very expensive, so be careful about eggs and baskets and what not.

 

Building a 'siege list' with these guys could work, adding lots of Heavy Intercessors, Devastator centurions and thunderfire cannons could make a very tough army. Lots of T5, good firepower and some hard hitting assault choices can leave an opponent with very few options on how to fight back.

 

Specifically for assault centurions, the melee is not ideal for horde work, but the shooting usually is. I try to focus on using massed bolter fire to isolate tougher foes, keeping a lighter melee unit nearby to tie up any little fellas trying to tarpit the Centurions. Assault squads and Intercessors both do well in this role. Thanks to the sheer damage done and the high strength of the drills, a nearby buffing Captain or Lieutenant is somewhat superfluous, even unbuffed, 13 drill attacks will bracket or break anything on the field 99% of the time. An apothecary is great for these beefy fellas, but a sanguinary priest is a little less needed. Simply put, by the time they get near something worth breaking it will be assault doctrine time, if you really need an extra 3 melee attacks.