How strong are Gravis Plasma Cannons?

[Marshal Mittens]

With a five inch template, a dreadnaught with two can likely cover a good bit of a squad, or put two on a group of elites or termies with a decent chance of hitting several.

The change to a 5" plate makes them seem very strong to me. How does everyone else feel?

[xxxjtmxxx]

they are good but did you need this kind of weapon? contemptor with laser or gravis melter is better. you have other sources to Deal damage to termis and so on

[SkimaskMohawk]

Plasma cannons are really not great these days and the gravis one is arguably worse as you're paying 195 for 2, compared to 200 for 7 from a HSS.

Still has the potential to overheat and prevent the shot, still needs 4s to cut through armour, still can't instant death multiwound models, and still only counts as 1 STR 7 ap 4 hit against vehicles. But, you also get the added negative of granting armour save rerolls vs. units with heavy.

They need to lose gets hot and maybe gain another special rule that gives them more utility or reliability.

[Brother Sutek]

Never thought I'd see the day that plasma became one of the power choices.

[Slips]

The only real time I can see a giving a Contemptor a Plasma cannon being worthwhile is in ZM where, if the rules for blasts and how they scatter remain the same, could be pretty solid.

Outside of that, its honestly a tough sell and I ran a Plasma Cannon & Plasma blaster Contemptor in 1.0 whos glanced himself to death in a single shooting phase before.

Maybe this will change once Mechanicum and Imperial Army are released and we see a proliferation of T3 4+ or worse save bodies out there where a 5" S7 Ap4 blast will get to shine in just removing handful of (albeit cheap) models off the table.

Until that time though, take it if you think it looks cool but temper your expectations and I definitely would not have Double Plasma Cannons since that opens you up to just getting tarpit for the rest of the game.

[Marshal Mittens]

The main reason I want to to work is because I think it looks cool. In my mind it seemed strong but you all make pretty convincing arguments against it, to be sure. 

 

All my current dreads are melee + gun but I was considering dual gun for some. 

Edited July 31, 2022 by Marshall Mittens

[Slips]

If you want dual gun, you probably want double Kheres, Autocannon, Lascannon or, if youre playing on giant apoc tables, Conversion Beamer and give them helical targetting arrays so they can also double as anti-air.

[Brofist]

Box dreads are better platforms for dual plasma cannons. They're not reliable, but I do feel they're a decent choice for some lists. Most critically their extreme range makes them a viable counter to gun lines or heavy weapon squads.

[Marshal Mittens]

5 hours ago, Slips said:

If you want dual gun, you probably want double Kheres, Autocannon, Lascannon or, if youre playing on giant apoc tables, Conversion Beamer and give them helical targetting arrays so they can also double as anti-air.

I like playing on an 8x6! 

[Brother Sutek]

2 hours ago, Brofist said:

Box dreads are better platforms for dual plasma cannons. They're not reliable, but I do feel they're a decent choice for some lists. Most critically their extreme range makes them a viable counter to gun lines or heavy weapon squads.

Also the fact that they are int 2 now makes them a far less viable combat unit. I might go back to the 2nd edition Dark Angel lascannon and missile launcher.