Viability of the Gladiator Valiant

[Thecaveman97]

I'm just trying to figure out how people feel about the Valiant at its new Cost. In chapter approved, it received a 20 point decrease to 230 (245 with all upgrades). Using Legacy of Dorn first turn with 4 Las-Talon shots and 4 Multi-Melta Shots, is it worth it?

 

Looking at the math, While within 12" of a Redemptor with a 2+BS from Techmarine and +1 wound from Tank Hunters Stratagem, you're looking at a dead Redemptor around 70% of the time. At 24 inches, its around 50%. This doesn't even count the Ironhail or the Icarus. With a T8 12W profile, Smokescreen (5pt auto launchers) and 3 wounds regenerated a turn, is it worth it?

[Captain Caine 24th]

There's something to be said for fast moving melta. Comparatively, things like eradicators may have great math and numbers, but they are a bit slow off the line. Strategic reserves helps on that front. There's the draw back that they don't shoot turn 1 or might not have a good target when they do come on the table.

 

My concern would be if the valiant gets a turn of shooting and then gets charged and destroyed. I think it's got to work with other units to ensure it's not just showing up for one turn of shooting.  I might even play it less aggressively (outside of half range) to give me more room to avoid getting charged. In another way, there might be a unit of enemy attack bikes ready to counter the valiant.

 

The valiant is also not a tank to ignore. It can do a huge amount of damage. So there's some value in using it as a distraction--given it's points however, it's an expensive distraction. 

 

Available targets could be a concern, but there are really nasty elite units that its guns can fill a dual purpose roll, not just anti-tank.

 

It's new cost helps, how much I can't say. I think it does have value, but deploying it and using it requires finesse. 

[Karhedron]

For almost exactly the same points you can 4 MM Attack bikes who bring similar levels of firepower. The 2 compare pretty evenly in a lot of ways.

 

ABs have 16 wounds between them but only T5 vs 12 at T8 for the Gladiator.

 

ABs are slightly faster but the Gladiator has a smaller footprint.

 

Gladiator degrades but the ABs lose shots as they are killed off.

 

The Gladiator just takes up 1 HS slot whereas 4ABs would be 2 Fast slots

 

The ABs are CORE which is a big advantage but generally only if you have a suitable buffing character with Bike or Jump Pack.

 

Given that Attack Bikes are generally considered competitive, I think the Gladiator is definitely worth a look as it compares decently in a lot of areas. One significant advantage of Bikes is the "Hit and Run Warfare" stratagem which means opponents can't tie them up in combat so easily.