Back in Custodes: A Question of Shields

[Prot]

So yea, this will be my 4th go around. This time though I'm questioning the value of shields in the army as far as the standard troops. 

 

There's something I found in other armies that have a 3rd wound that seems to be a great number. Chosen, Inner Circle...what have you, the benefit is requiring two failed saves from a 2 Damage weapon, or 3 failed saves from a single damage weapon.

 

This is kind of sad for me as the look is iconic.... however it seems the Spear is just very decent, and giving that up for a 4th wound, shorter range shooting, and a less impressive melee weapon seems a bad choice.

 

Am I missing something here? What is the best case scenario for the Shield?

[INKS]

You've more or less nailed the shield. It's often not taken right now because more spears is just better. HOWEVER: The shield will allow you to absorb an extra attack you normally wouldn't. So for example if you are going to attach a character to a squad then you don't really want the shield because the characters really help maximize the number of shots (from Draxus for example) or the number of attacks you'll get from the squad. Most of the time you'll attach warden squads over regular guard with characters. Draxus being the outlier. Adding in a shield can be good for regular troops in that it gives them a little more durability, and I think this could be a good thing if you intend for that squads or those squads to hold objectives. 

 

EDIT: I should note that I would take a shield or consider it in a full squad of 5. Often times you'll see lists only running 4 guard. If you are only running 4 then take all spears. If you take 5 then a shield I think is a decent option to give them a little more durability. I don't think wardens need this at all right now, but regular guardians can benefit from it.

Edited October 21 by INKS

[Prot]

Thanks INKS.

 

Why do I see/hear Draxus constantly with Custodes now?

[INKS]

She recently got a little nerf but she's still very good for Custodes. 

She is an Anti-Infantry unit

Stand Vigil - Re-roll wound roll of 1 or Re-roll the wound roll if on an objective they control

Sentinel Storm- once per game this unit can shoot twice in the shooting phase.

 

She has 2 ranged attacks 

Diresinger - Assault, Anti-infantry 4, Devastating wounds - 4 shots, hits on 3 (2 if the target is Xenos) str 4, Ap 0, D2

Psychic Tempest - Sustained hits 2 - 6 shots, hits on 3s (2s if the target is Xenos) str 6, Ap 0, D2

-18" range on both

 

What you want to do is shooting with this unit -(her plus a unit of Custodian guard) when they are on an objective they control.

This allows us to re-roll any of her Diresinger wound rolls to fish for Devastating Wounds.

If and or when we need to we can shoot twice - once per game. Which allows us to shoot both of her ranged attacks profiles again.

This will really put the hurt on almost any infantry unit.

 

As an example she would be good with a unit of Custodian guard x4 - 3 with spears, Vexilla / Shield / Misericordia

You could also go all spears. But here you see that the shield and sword isn't so bad with her range of 18"

You can use her unit with sticky objectives - very helpful. I know I said above that I would want a unit of 5 and I do. But it depends on how many points you have for that. The above unit is still very good.

 

Side note: You might be wondering why not give her to Wardens?

Typically you will have or want Valarian and or a Bladechampion with 5 wardens.

I like to take 2 units of wardens - 1 with Valarian and 1 with a bladechampion (w/ panoptispex if I can afford it)

This then leaves me with 1 to 2 units of Custodian guard.

 

You'll also probably want a Callidus Assassin. 

The Eversor has some big turn 1 charge threat but melee damage is not something we lack anyways.

 

The Callidus can fall back out of combat at the end of the opponents turn - her up / down is great for scoring secondary points.

Her 12' aura that apps 1cp to the cost of any stratagem on an enemy unit

She is used to help out army be aggressive. This is especially true when our opponent is down to 1cp.

Drop her within 12" of some important target, then they won't have enough CP to use any stratagems - which when against another melee army with fight on death or fight first stratagems can be the difference between losing a unit or losing nothing.

very strong.

 

 

 

 

Edited October 21 by INKS

[Ulfast]

I actually had a unit with shield, standing on a objective with a standard too and they hold that objective the whole game a it would had taking a lot of resources for the opponent to take them out. 20W, T6, 2+ armour, 4+ inv and OC 3 on each model is tougher to take out then many people thinks. Of course that unit would do little damage but you have other things in your list that can do damage. So one unit is not to chabby if you ask me.

 

But in general, yes, spear is propably better. 

[Prot]

Thanks for the advice. Much appreciation.

 

I had a game against Orks. I did pull off a win, but I had no answer for Ghazkull with this army. I am forced to use certain units to fill in points to 2K, and I had 3 Virtus Praetor bike plus Capt on Dawneagle. 

 

They did a great job of clearing plebs, but not a very efficient use of them. I needed a good turn pointswise, and I knew I would be putting them in a difficult position, but that being said, Ghaz was down to himself, Makari (so annoying. lol) and one Mega Nob left before he charged me.

 

Not only did Ghaz wipe the squad + Captain, but we did the math and he actually would have killed 9 bikes total.... indicating 2 things: Ghaz is a total beast, and I can't roll 4+ to save my life.

 

I have been using the app to make Custodes lists. I picked up the codex, and I went to the allies section and see that (I suppose since the Inquisition codex) that they put the Assassins behind the paywall.  But I will say I had fun playing without any, just to get a feel for all the Custodes units.

 

And yes, I immediately saw Valerian as a great choice for my Wardens. They were good.... 

 

I ended up winning by points, but my opponent had an abysmal last turn where he needed to really make a dent. Super fun match up though. Most everyone else that night was playing super shooty lists with a lot of 2 damage and I was really happy my first game back with these guys wasn't paired with one of those armies.

 

 

[INKS]

How to deal with Ghaz, shoot him until his little 2++ friend is gone.

Do not charge him until he fails that save.

once he does, you can charge in a clean him up.

Using Draxus with double shoot dev wounds is probably the easiest way.

 

 

Sadly bikes are pretty bad right now. yes they need more points drop but they also need rules and we won't see those for a while.

 

remember with shooting lists its about terrain and positioning . if that is lacking then there isn't much you can do. but do your best to not just let them get free shots on you. 

 

[Prot]

Yea that Makari (2++) is something I dealt with surprisingly easy with my Dark Angels. I simply shot up the body guard (easier to do with DA) then walked up to Makari with just about any infantry and used the grenade strat. This approach isn't really plausible here, but until I have a good method with my list, I think I'll be making a gigantic circle around Ghaz and friends.

 

The bikes really are bad aren't they? That's really sad as I think of them as symbolic, but now more lethargic. The wound count, offensive ability, one time use rule, and shooting weapons all seem to need a rework to me. (The wound thing is weird because I hadn't run into Custodes in 10th and that's partially why I'm doing my 3rd army of them...  and to see them at base 3 wounds was really weird. )

 

One thing I will say is the spears kept me in the game. Spears dice up orks pretty good.

[INKS]

yes the bikes are a mess. and all they did was drop them 5 points I think. lol

just not enough. Venatari just outclass them in every way right now.

 

Yeah, I talk to a few others about it as well and their response was the same, shoot him until they fail the 2++ and then charge in.

 

spears are solid and dependable.