Best Vanguard Vet build

[BLACK BLΠFLY]

Suppose you has 350 points for Vanguard Vets… without tailoring to a specific supplement what do you suggest as the best build? Note it can be more than one unit.

[Inquisitor_Lensoven]

Lightning claws and storm shield period

[Captain Idaho]

Pretty much that yes. The ratio depends how you want to roll, like twin Lightning Claws on 4-5 models and Storm Shields with Lightning Claws on the rest for more offensive output, or just all Storm Shields and Lightning Claws.

[Rik Lightstar]

In a 5 man squad I go for:

 

Sergeant with Relic Blade and Storm Shield

2 Vets with a Pair of Claws each

2 Vets with Chainsword and Storm Shield

 

The shield guys are gonna die first, so keeping the claws on the other guys keeps the improves slicing available for longer.

 

Rik

[TheNewman]

I'd say it depends ... oh, not tailoring to a specific use case. Then yeah, Shield and Claw is hands-down the best general purpose build.

 

The "well actually" here is remembering that GW is very likely to change that the next time the rules are up for review again if that's the only loadout they see in the tournament data.

[MegaVolt87]

Lightning claws and storm shield period

I guess, but it looks like garbage otherwise from a modelling perspective though.

[Captain Idaho]

In that case go with Storm Shield and Chainsword. They'll still do some work in melee but also cost you less as losses come on the Storm Shield dudes. Looks better too.

[Karhedron]

Shield and Claw is the most points efficient build. I quite like chucking a Thunder Hammer Serg if points allow.

[Halandaar]

 

Lightning claws and storm shield period

I guess, but it looks like garbage otherwise from a modelling perspective though.

 

Agreed, couldn't bring myself to build mine with the meta loadout for that exact reason; makes no sense and looks stupid.

 

Probably be either nerfed or straight up disallowed in the next book anyway.

[Karhedron]

Probably be either nerfed or straight up disallowed in the next book anyway.

Best build changes every edition, magnets are your friend. To be fair, I doubt it will be disallowed since the kit comes with this loadout available.

[BLACK BLΠFLY]

With Knights on the comeback trail claws are going to bounce hard versus T8… even with a lot of attacks. I’d rather have a mix of melee weapons for versatility.

[Karhedron]

With Knights on the comeback trail claws are going to bounce hard versus T8… even with a lot of attacks. I’d rather have a mix of melee weapons for versatility.

The risk of any mono loadout is that you will run into its hard counter. Even against Knights, you will usually be able to find squishier targets. Knights usually run Armigers to bulk out their numbers and wounding on 5s with a reroll is not too bad. 5 LC Van Vets on the charge will do 5 wounds to an Armiger before any Chapter specific bonuses or other buffs which is not too shabby. If you opponent is running all T8 Knights, then at least the Van Vets are a mobile and durable unit for snagging Objectives.

[MegaVolt87]

 

With Knights on the comeback trail claws are going to bounce hard versus T8… even with a lot of attacks. I’d rather have a mix of melee weapons for versatility.

The risk of any mono loadout is that you will run into its hard counter. Even against Knights, you will usually be able to find squishier targets. Knights usually run Armigers to bulk out their numbers and wounding on 5s with a reroll is not too bad. 5 LC Van Vets on the charge will do 5 wounds to an Armiger before any Chapter specific bonuses or other buffs which is not too shabby. If you opponent is running all T8 Knights, then at least the Van Vets are a mobile and durable unit for snagging Objectives.

 

 

Even then VV on obj isn't a certainty IMO with the favourable ob sec rules Knights got in the balance update. At a minimum they will get 1:1 of those obsec rules or better ob sec options in their new books. I also believe there will be some kind of way to get limited double ob sec in some manner in knights. New points balance hasn't dropped yet also right? I think its a good bet volkite contemptors + VV's get points increases IMO. 

[Captain Idaho]

Hitting on 4s is very poor with Thunder Hammers, but BBF has a good point with building to face Knights. Sure they're an anomaly on a competitive circuit but they are always a danger.

 

Lightning Claws work against literally everything else quite well or at least better than other weapons for the points.

 

Against T8, yes you can net a few wounds but maybe a Thunder Hammer or 3 could help a 10 many unit?

[BLACK BLΠFLY]

For my Templars I’m planning to run the sergeant with the relic fist and shield, 4x TH&SS, 2x LC&SS, 2xLC.

[Captain Idaho]

Can he do that? Normally Sergeants can only get a Special Issue Wargear? Sounds like a great move though.

 

I find, if putting expensive weapons on Vanguard, I like to have some Red-shirts around to take the Storm Shields and therefore my first losses. So I've had builds with Storm Shield and Chainsword as the bullet catchers and then a bunch of Twin Lightning Claws to do the killing.

 

Of course, I've seen plenty of competitive lists that just put the Storm Shields on everything anyway as they see it as an investment and they're probably right. I'm just saving points that is great until the Storm Shields are gone...

[BLACK BLΠFLY]

Yeah it’s one of the cool things Templars can do now. The fist has no to hit penalty and does flat 3 dmg too.

[CCE1981]

If you want good and looks good just use a counts as Weapon. My Chapter is a White Scars Successor, using Space Wolf Successor build. I am converting a “Heroes of the Chapter” counts as Wulfen unit, instead of Wulfen Frost Claws I am giving him a Dao Polearm. On my Captain with a Jump Pack I am giving him a Dao Polearm to represent the Teeth of Terra combined with a Thunderhammer.

[Captain Idaho]

Yeah it’s one of the cool things Templars can do now. The fist has no to hit penalty and does flat 3 dmg too.

That is a spicey meatball. I think Deathwatch has a similar thing where they add a wound etc to a Sergeant.

 

I kinda like it. Make a character out of a mere Sergeant. And now all of the Sergeants you'll use it on have multiple wounds, it's an even better concept.

[BLACK BLΠFLY]

It’s strong and you can give another Marine in the squad ignore AP1/AP2… pretty immune to anything less than AP3.