Cataphractii loadout tips and ideas.

[Magistrix Remiosa]

Hello everyone! 

With my friend group pushing to get more games of Horus Heresy in, I have gone back to my Imperial Fists to fill in the last few gaps and get everything painted. 

My biggest problem is this: I messed up with my Cataphractii. I was a fool and attached too many of the bigger shoulders before the smaller ones. Too stuck in the Space Marine mindset of one shoulder pad. 

As I fix those, I think I need to reconsider my loadout. Sadly, Terminators are just not the heavy hitting force that I wish they were. While I am aiming for a 10 man unit to escort Rogal Dorn in a Spartan as my Hammer, I think I might just redo them entirely. 

Right now, I have 5 Lightning Claws, 4 Power Fist/Solarite Gauntlets + Storm Bolter, and a Power Sword plus Storm Shield. 

I was considering a retool of: 5 Thunder Hammer/Storm Shield Terminators and then either 5 shooty support or stick with the 5 Lightning Claws. With this being old school AP, my lack of AP sucked versus Terminators and Dreadnoughts, and I was just rather pillow fisted. 

How do YOU equip your Cataphractii Terminators and why? And yes, I know Tartaros are better for Fists, but I am working with the Age of Darkness box for now. 

[lost_angel]

Honestly, at ws 4 I’d be wary of throwing too many  things on them. A sprinkling of TH and/or CFs (2-3 in a ten man squad) seems fine for standard cataphractii. On the other hand, if you’re thinking about a command squad, hurscals or even teaming with a preator with the +1 ws trait then it’s def worth thinking about shinier toys like solarites, storm shields etc on most of them. 

[Marshal Mittens]

Personally I do combibolters and power fists. Good against everything but elite terminators, not too expensive. They work well for me. 

[Slips]

If youre doing IF Terminators and are using the PDF, make them Huscarls instead; the lack of brutal on the Sol Gloves makes it annoying but, with the flat S10 youll be IDing T5 (or battle-hardened (1) T4) and below anyways which can make up for the lack of it; so great for stuff like Gal Vorbak, Justaerin, Custodes, etc.

 

If you do want Thunderhammers and Stormshields, use a Command Squad instead for the higher weaponskill and sprinkle in maybe 1 or 2 chainfists as a precaution.

[Xenith]

12 hours ago, Magistrix Remiosa said:

I was considering a retool of: 5 Thunder Hammer/Storm Shield Terminators and then either 5 shooty support or stick with the 5 Lightning Claws.

 

Don't bother with the shooty support, in heresy the combi bolter is barely better than a regular bolter, unlike in 40k where it now puts out 4 shots at 24". Claws want to be going after 3+ saves and will bounce off termies, so it depends on what you're using them for. I'd say you can essentially drop the guns for shields, as they're much better, then go a mix of hammers, solar fists and chainfists, then maybe some maces or axes in for cheaper models? You're tooling the catas up to deal with other cataphractii that are harder to kill and have inexorable so will not be running away, so the lack of ability to sweeping advance isn't too bad. 

 

As per slips above, there's a great case to have your first TDA unit be a command squad, if they're going with your HQ anyway, the benefits are huge (WS, Chosen, Line), so maybe get one a banner?

[Agramar_The_Luna_Wolf]

13 hours ago, Marshal Mittens said:

Personally I do combibolters and power fists. Good against everything but elite terminators, not too expensive. They work well for me. 

 

Same here, but adding 1 or 2 chain fists instead of power fist.

[SkimaskMohawk]

Thunderhammers are a great pick. Cataphractii are the toughest unit you can load them onto and have the best chance of getting to swing with them; for only 5 points more than fists you spike their output right up. You do need to reach a critical mass of them to fight other elite units though, which can make a pricey unit.

 

Fists kinda complicate things because storm shields allow tartaros to hit the same durability, and fists get extra value out of bolter and auto stuff. Staying with bolters on a large unit is fine, but you need to be aware of reactions on the rather low output of combis.

 

But if you're looking for normal power weapons or claws, then vets tend to carry them better with their higher weapon skill and cheaper bodies.

[Magistrix Remiosa]

Thanks everyone for the replies, certainly a lot to consider. I really do agree that the buffs to WS and such would be really good, and Lightning Claws feel a BIT wasted as I seem to struggle most against Terminators and Dreads. I can bolter down the rest. 

The biggest reason why they might not just be Huscarls is taking a Spartan. I have a lot of things I would LIKE to take in the Heavy Support slot, so using my Spartan in a Dedicated Transport would be sweet. The only real way I can see that working is with the regular Terminator Squad, which is honestly kind of lame. lol 

So the options that seem to be set on are:

All thunder hammer/storm shield, which gives the option of running as Huscarls. 
Cheap Power Fist and Stormbolter

The +1 WS warlord is FANTASTIC, I have enjoyed him, but I was hoping/planning on bringing Rogal Dorn, which would replace him. So back to awkward Terminators. 

[General Zodd]

16 hours ago, Magistrix Remiosa said:

So the options that seem to be set on are:

All thunder hammer/storm shield, which gives the option of running as Huscarls. 
Cheap Power Fist and Stormbolter

Just to be accurate, having thunder hammer/storm shield wouldn’t allow them to count as Huscarls. The Huscarl unit comes with regular power weapons as standard, and the only option they get is to upgrade to Solarite Power Gauntlets. Thunder Hammers aren’t, sadly, an option for them.

[Slips]

You have, basically 3 options:

1. Huscarls w/ Sol Glove & Storm Shield
2. Tartaros Command Squad with Hammers & Shield (Cataphractii if you want to save some points)
3. Terminators with fist and combi-bolters (though if youre IF, you might as well slap Assault Cannons in there)

[Magistrix Remiosa]

On 3/9/2023 at 6:26 PM, General Zodd said:

Just to be accurate, having thunder hammer/storm shield wouldn’t allow them to count as Huscarls. The Huscarl unit comes with regular power weapons as standard, and the only option they get is to upgrade to Solarite Power Gauntlets. Thunder Hammers aren’t, sadly, an option for them.

Wow, not quite sure how I missed that. Huscarls were already a little awkward, as you can upgrade a Command Squad with most of their loadout AND get a banner. They have their uses, but...hmm.

 

As I have begun their repairs, I will need to source some extra bits anyways, so will figure out if I want to go all in with Thunder Hammer and Stormshield Cataphractii arms... We shall see.

[Bung]

I have had some success with:

Assault Cannon + 4 Combi Grenade Laucher Cataphractii teleporting in.

 

But i am not playing in a cutthroat meta.

[Agramar_The_Luna_Wolf]

Hum...Combi Grenade Lauchers are getting more space in army lists. And lot of people recommend it.

7 hours ago, Bung said:

I have had some success with:

Assault Cannon + 4 Combi Grenade Laucher Cataphractii teleporting in.

 

But i am not playing in a cutthroat meta.

A unit of just five?

[SkimaskMohawk]

Combi grenades are pretty good, and kinda have been ever since they got unlimited shots back in 1st.

 

With pinning, you kinda transform your terminators into decent reaction bots, as you can really frustrate your opponent by pinning them in their turn. Just gotta make sure you aren't on the receiving end of reactions yourself lol 

[Slips]

Yeah, Ive been a big proponent of them since 1st when they got unlimited shots. The reduction to strength on the Krak shot is, a bummer but, gaining pinning on the frag shot is huge.

 

Since pinning is so strong it gives terminator-heavy collections/armies an opportunity for pinning without having to invest into, say, Rotor Cannons or Nemesis Bolter Recons.

 

And if youre playing ZM a lot, well, those 3" blasts that pin get a bit more valuable.

Edited March 17, 2023 by Slips

[Lord Krungharr]

Seems like 'Huscarl' should be a Space Wolves unit doesn't it?

 

I find the Cataphractii kit magnetizes very easily; a good idea for that unit to try things out.

[lansalt]

15 minutes ago, Lord Krungharr said:

Seems like 'Huscarl' should be a Space Wolves unit doesn't it?

The IF culture has a barbarian side from Inwit rarely explored, but which can be seen in Fafnir Rann and the Executioners in 40k

[Bung]

19 hours ago, AGRAMAR said:

A unit of just five?

 

Yes, but that are more personal reasons like standard game size cause most of my group are still beginners and we play mostly 1500 - 2000 point games.

 The other is, this 5 guys can fit in any list i play and nearly any RoW i use. 

[2gud2bbad]

I think the non legion-specific terminators are best left stock where possible. Sinking 10 ppm into a fist at WS4 is just a waste of the points. I run my AL Terminators with just power axes and a Chainfist with Power Dagger (for the extra attack) on the Sgt to kill the odd vehicle or dreadnought.

 

Terminators shouldn't be used against specialised melee units in my opinion. You have more point efficient possibilities than that - Scorpius, HSS, Seekers etc. The non-specific terminators are best used against.