Sagittarum Guard

[Captain Idaho]

Which of my fellow gamers of the TRUE Emperor's Finest have used the Saggitarum Guard in their games in 9th?

 

It seems to me they are ideal for fire support from home objectives whilst your units march up the table, since we are often so few in number that having a unit doing nothing on an objective is just going to be detrimental to our effectiveness on the table.

 

The weapons aren't bad either. 3 shots at D2 and 1 shot at D3 per model, a couple units of 3 can help put damage out down table nicely enough.

 

Personally I feel the unit absolutely has to have Misericordia as a back up, just in case they do get into melee. I generally save the points on the other Custodes if I can (plus I find they don't sit well on the model for my liking) but this unit doesn't have a melee weapon otherwise. They actually become fairly dangerous up close with a Misericordia actually, with 4 S5 attacks at AP-2.

 

Regarding their weapons, the guys hit on a 2+ so should always fire both profiles at once, since hitting on a 3+ is compensated for by the extra shot each. Heavy infantry will get rinsed by these guys and you can even put a few wounds on vehicles.

 

Only real downside to them is heavy armour in the form of T8 stuff or massed vehicles, but more acutely it's large numbers of infantry. 4 shots per model is good, but you aren't getting loads about the table. I feel like these things can be compensated for somewhat by melee from other units and some of the Forge World units in the form of Grav-tanks and Dreadnoughts.

 

What do other people have to say about these units?

[Galthan Ironsturm]

I play one Sagittarum squad (3-5) on back Line or middle Line to support Assault Line.

 

I Nevers put Miséricordia on this squad.

 

I juste have one regrets...their bolters are Assault, and note Rapide Fire for shoot twice with stratagem...but 4 shoots it's really good !

[Captain Idaho]

Be interesting to see if there's anything in the new Codex they can use offensively that's for sure.

 

So did you not find you needed the melee potential of the Misericordias?

 

Being assault is interesting. If you're firing both weapons the penalty to hit for advancing and firing them matters not a jot anyway. Makes them a little more maneuverable.

[Galthan Ironsturm]

I usually play on Dread Host, and all gardians with Spears or blade/Shield need have Misericordia because they are on m'y Assault Line.

 

If i have some point yes, Sagittarum have Misericordia...but i Never have this points

Edited November 26, 2021 by Galthan Ironsturm

[Captain Idaho]

The penalty to hit is capped at -1 so it doesn't hurt this unit.

[Galthan Ironsturm]

The penalty to hit is capped at -1 so it doesn't hurt this unit.

Damned, i don't remember this rule...

Forget my answer.

[Emicus]

With Misericordia they are shockingly good in melee for a non-melee unit.

[Captain Idaho]

Strength and toughness 5, 4 attacks in practice at AP-2 and their armour and Invulnerable, folk need to be weary against them for sure.

[BloodyB]

I have only ever fought against this unit, and each time it was tricky to deal with. The Misericordia are surprisingly potent melee weapons on a unit with such a good profile, and made short work of most of my melee options if I didn't get the charge. So if you field them and find a powerful CQC beast is nearby, and for whatever reason you can't kill it with raw dakka, finish it with a charge rather than wait to see if overwatch will carry the day.

 

And second, in the first game your opponent is liable to ignore them at first, after the first decent round of shooting, they absolutely will not ignore it, even Death Guard have to respect that many decent strength, high ap shots, and every one else struggles to survive a brutal abundance of damage 2 and 3 shooting. Speaking of the Plague God's beloved disciples, remember to use the Disintegration weapons first against their power armoured infantry, as they will still one shot them, I saw that mistake cost a guy a big win at our local store.

 

Anyway, good luck in your games my friend!

Edited December 12, 2021 by BloodyB

[Captain Idaho]

That's some good perspective, many thanks.

 

What sort of unit sizes are people encountering/using the most?

[BloodyB]

That's some good perspective, many thanks.

What sort of unit sizes are people encountering/using the most?

Usually 2 squads of 5, able as they are to hold objectives while being pretty mobile thanks to assault weapons all round, plus only ever taking -1 to hit even when firing both guns is powerful in many situations. They are a surprisingly good way to establish a threat zone in a wide area with just a little melee support, which Custodes are obviously good at.

 

I struggle to find a meaningful way of getting to grips with them while a unit of Guardian spear Custodes are covering them and backing them up. The fact that both units are hard hitting against marines at all ranges is actually a serious consideration I am forced to make a lot, and the only wins I have are from having more mobile units able to just stay away from them, rather than successfully killing them. But keep them away from dreadnoughts, there aren't many units you want to be stuck in combat wig a dreadnought, but the Dreadnought CCW and it's high toughness makes them pretty much the bane of this unit, though you could probably still gun one down in a couple of turns.

[Captain Idaho]

I wasn't sure on taking 5 man squads but I think you might have sold it to me lol.

[Galthan Ironsturm]

I played 5 Sagittarum last week-end (1500pts, Space Wolves VS Adeptus Custodes), they killed 2 Eradicators, 3 Bladeguards, 5 Assault intercessors and 3wound on Space Wolves Dread...

[Captain Idaho]

That's pretty tasty.

 

I'm looking to have a unit of 5 alongside 5 Custodian Guard and likely a unit of Prosecutors as my 3 Troops choices.

[Galthan Ironsturm]

On 1500pts, i'm playing :

1shield-captain on jetbike,

2x 4 gardians (1blade&Shield + 3 Spears)

5 Sagittarum or 4 Pyrithites Spears gardians

3 vertus praetor

1 Achillus

3 Allarus

 

On friendly games.

[Captain Idaho]

A unit of 5 seems to be the way to go at the least.

[duz_]

Waiting on my bits to show up from FW

Unfortunately I think the tornado impacted their transit...

 

Which is fine because I'm still waiting on GW to ship my Custodes that they would be going on...

[Captain Idaho]

Yeah can't put them on Marines in replacement! How many you building? Edited December 15, 2021 by Captain Idaho

[Charlo]

I find them incredibly impactful, especially with a Miseriachordia so they have some AP in melee.

 

I used a squad of 3 in a few small games and they just dominated. The Beams are really useful for punking super tough infantry too.

[duz_]

Yeah can't put them on Marines in replacement! How many you building?

1 set of 5, apparently they're showing up today

:D :D

Edited December 16, 2021 by duz_

[Captain Idaho]

So if we can shoot twice using Salvus and Master of the Stances and use the same Ka'tah twice, then if Saggitarum Guard get Auric on their weapons their firing twice will be amazing.

[duz_]

I was just thinking that today :D

 

Holy Emperor those guys were horrible to build though! Glad I only bought one squad :lol:

[Captain Idaho]

I'm building mine this weekend ready for the new Codex drop. Man I hope they get a new FAQ sharp to give them Auric weapons.

 

Also, I wonder if there'll be more stuff for Auric weapons?

[Hellex_The_Thanatar]

I'm building mine this weekend ready for the new Codex drop. Man I hope they get a new FAQ sharp to give them Auric weapons.

 

Also, I wonder if there'll be more stuff for Auric weapons?

If auric rule means deals "true damage" without mitigation, that would be awesome.

[Captain Idaho]

Now that would be cool! Like a super Mastercrafted, fluff speaking.

 

Cor my mind is racing with that idea, as Custodes are kinda stuck against massed damage reduction abilities.