Unit of the Week: Honour Guard

[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:

Honour Guard

What are you thoughts here folks? How best would you use your Honour Guard?

• To compliment a list, or to build a list around? Will the beta rules affect your list(s)?
• Will you be running multiples?
• 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

[Jolemai]

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

[Khorneeq]

Do we even have option for Honour Guard?

[Jolemai]

Do we even have option for Honour Guard?

 

Last edition they weren't, but following the changes to 9th edition, we now have access to any "generic" unit in Warhammer Legends: Space Marines - and this means we have access again. 

 

Of course they are a Legends unit which could hamper their use in competitive play, but they remain a legal unit for this edition.

[Karhedron]

Am I right that this is the unit with 2+ saves? My old Honour Guard were the guys with Jump Packs, is there even a Legends option for this unit?

 

[Khorneeq]

I own these models but didn't even know that we can use them now

[Jolemai]

Am I right that this is the unit with 2+ saves? My old Honour Guard were the guys with Jump Packs, is there even a Legends option for this unit?

 

 

That box is simply two Company Veterans with jump packs, Company Ancient with jump pack, Apothecary/Sanguinary Priest with jump pack, and Techmarine with jump pack.

I own these models but didn't even know that we can use them now

 

Any suitable Firstborn Marine with the correct weapon options (bolter, bolt pistol, power weapon/relic blade) will suffice.

[Jolemai]

Page 13 in Warhammer Legends: Space Marines (or Battlescribe) has he rules for these chaps and yes, they have a 2+ save.

[BloodyB]

While I have never used this unit as Honour Guard, I have used their rules to represent other units, specifically Dawnbreaker cohorts from Forgeworld. They did fine, as well as Sanguinary Guard at the time... But the thing is, I could just take Sanguinary Guard. If you give them the relic blades, use them as you would Sanguinary Guard and they will perform pretty similarly.

 

I don't like to sound apathetic about them, but if they hadn't put them in Legends, I still would overlook them, I have a rather large selection of methods to bring death from above, and these don't really distinguish themselves enough, they are good, and honestly better than SG or LCSS Vanguard Vets against higher toughness units, but the difference is relatively minor in too many situations for my liking.

 

I would simply use them in place of Sanguinary Guard, and in a similar manner, but be slightly braver regarding Dreadnoughts and vehicles.

[Jolemai]

With respect, it sounds like you are thinking of a different unit.

 

With only two models in the unit, I'd use them like Drones. They are the last line of defence for keeping our Characters alive; think of them as four ablative wounds that can do some damage if need be - which can then be healed by a nearby Priest. No jump packs, so limited to our foot Characters and hardly game breaking, and potentially cool conversions if armed with power lances.