Kratos builds and Tactics

[Dont-Be-Haten]

Hey everyone,

I've been looking through some threads and other outlets, and I can't seem to find a good discussion on how to get the most out of the Kratos battle tank in HH.

I don't think any of the weapons are bad, and this thing can pump out a ton of shots. What have others found to be the best investments?

From the jump the full volkite loadout calls to me. It can deal with infantry and has > 20 shots.

The melta cannon at Heavy 4 seems like a fantastic elite and tank killer, and you probably want to bring the lascannons upgrades here.

The battle cannon seems to have a lot of potential with its pinning and 2 shooting profiles, yet it feels like the weakest gun.

It's quite expensive, and really needs flare shields for added protection, but I still think ita one of the best tanks in the game right now.

What are your thoughts?

[ShadowCore67]

I think the basic loadout with maybe a flare shield is the best. The volkite loadout is good anti infantry but the default heavy bolters and cannon are pretty close in terms of anti infantry as well, and retains the AP shells for an anti tank option. The anti tank loadout is also pretty solid, but can get pretty pricey if you still want flare shields. Also the melta cannon doesn't truly shine until you get within 18", which can be hard depending on terrain. You also either have to chose between moving up the board fast and losing your lascannon firepower or moving slower and being able to shoot everything at full BS.

I do plan on running a good amount of them for my ironwing list. I love the models and the idea of a battle tank with the durability of a land raider/spartan.

[Marshal Mittens]

Battle Cannon with Flashburn shells + Lascannons seems good for AT at the back of the board. 

Full Choom for anti Infantry/Anti light vehicles.

18" Armorbane Melta is good for killing flare shielded things coming to dump termies in you. 

Ultimately though it very over priced  compared to Predators or even Sicarans.

 

I have two, but I will never run them expecting great things, for their cost. I will run them because they look cool however.

I built mine as a Choom Wagon for my DA and Cannon + Las for my Sons of Horus. Great centerpiece tank for an army. 

Edited August 28, 2022 by Marshall Mittens

[Dont-Be-Haten]

Some good points. I don't think it's over priced. I do feel it is more durable than a sicaran, and offers better coverage for a single heavy slot. 

That being said, the choom seems best for all the troop heavy lists currently out there. The long gun is well complemented by Las cannons while the heavy bolters or volkite offer more defense for overwatch etc. 

[SkimaskMohawk]

To me, the kratos fills a niche of being able to fire at most units and not worry about return fire too much with the flare shield. Heavy support squads, tyrants, dreads, javelins; you can freely target them without worrying about the reaction. Maybe you can even use it to fish for the reaction.

That being said, most weapons it can take won't do a spectacular job doing damage.

HE shells are a worse scorpius barrage and get humiliated by heavy units, though it can help a bit against the dreaded tactical blobs fnp. The other rounds are both low rate of fire, in a game edition where av went up/got changed into multiwound toughness value. They both have some rather poor range to go along with that low rate of fire. The gun performs poorly with every round, making the flexibility it offers a bit worthless.

Volkites fall off against the durable stuff (high av, dreadnoughts terminators) and is still 320 points minimum for an average of 7.5 failed power armour saves. 

This leaves the las and melta as probably the best build (~5 successful wounds before invuls/damage mitigation on the variety of targets). But it's still pretty pricey, and you really need to lean into the durability and limited movement you get over something like heavy support squads. 

 

[Orange Knight]

In the 3 games I have played (all around the 1800 - 2200 point mark) I have found the Kratos to be a worthwhile unit.

Two words: Flare Shield

Unless you are going up against Iron Warriors, which admittedly are very popular even in my local meta, having AV15 on the Tank makes it durable enough to actually weather some fire and provide support over a few key turns. The tank also has the reinforced rule which keeps it firing even if has taken a penetrating hit.

There are two ways you can go, imo, for vehicles if you are looking to optimise them. Either take a durable Kratos, or take 3 cheap Predators. The Sicaran, imo, is the unit that gets stuck in that zone where it isn't durable enough for the investment you make as it starts to compete with Contemptors.

 

As for the Kratos, for me the only loadout worth considering for the general Legions is the Melta and Las Cannons, or the Battle Cannon + Flashburn with Las Cannons. Iron Warriors make excellent use of the Volkite because they gain additional strength when targeting other vehicles, making the weapon very good as glancing vehicles and forcing lots of saves on infantry, but I wouldn't use that option for other Legions. Perhaps Imperial Fists could get decent use out of the Auto Cannons and Heavy Bolters but I haven't come across an IF list using those weapons on a Kratos in practice.

[xxxjtmxxx]

i will do one kratos with battle cannon and flashburn shells and laser for my death guard ever game. moving with full speed and fire all weapons is great.