Unit of the week CSM 10th edition Unit of the week: Venomcrawler

[Cpt.Danjou]

 

CSM 10th edition Venomcrawler

 

This is a topic about Venomcrawler in the 10th edition.

 

• Do you use them?
• How are you using them?
• Do you think they perform well?
• How do you equip them?
• Is there a detachment that they are extra crucial?

 

Other Unit of the Week for Chaos Space Marines can be found in the link below.

 

 

Chaos Space Marines Unit of the Week Series Index - 10th Edition Codex

 

Edited December 6 by Cpt.Danjou
Forgot the link.

[Karhedron]

Not a bad unit with decent shooting and melee. In many ways it is like a lighter version of the Hellbrute that trades a lighter save for improved speed. That means it works best on the flanks where it can use its speed to its best advantage and avoid the heaviest retaliation.

 

On the plus side it is pretty self-contained and does not rely much on synergy with other units to function well. The downside is that its attacks (both shooting and melee) are clearly designed to kill MEQs. This can put it at a disadvantage against either hordes or tougher targets (although use of Dark Pacts can mitigate this somewhat).

 

This unit works OK in any detachment but clearly is by far at its strongest in a Soul Forge detachment. +1 to Wound at Range and +2A in melee whenever you Dark Pact makes this guy a whole lot more interesting. Renegade Raiders is also not a bad call as Assault and improved AP when targeting units on an Objective definitely improves it too.

 

The real question is whether this is worth its 120 point price tag in an army that does not struggle to field MEQ-killing weapons. My feeling is that it is just a bit over-priced for a bunch of S6, AP-1, 2D attacks. Worth a look in Soul Forge detachment where it has natural synergy but probably not elsewhere.

[Iron Father Ferrum]

I used one a few times in the Index days, but I haven't tried it out since the codex dropped.  Frankly, it suffered from the same issues that the Helbrute did in that it died pretty fast. 

[MadEdric]

I love my two Venomcrawlers. I pretty much take both every game. 

They are cheap and fast, and IMHO they have great shooting and OK assault. 

I usually have them go after chaff units, which I think they really do well against. 

I like them being supported by a nearby Helbrute, 12 shot with sustained and lethal can really let them shoot at most targets, the hard part is their low AP, but 2D makes every hit count when they do get through.

They do great in Soulforge, just everything there helps them. In Raiders, the assault and AP boost really let them scoot around the board and get good shots in. Pactbound is good for lethal and/or sustained hits on 5+. 

Mister Scree and Miss Hiss are some of my favorite cretters in my army.

[tychobi]

Venom Crawlers are amazing and punch up a lot. Cheap fast and capable of bullying all but the heaviest of infantry I have never regretted taking venom Crawlers. 

[HeadlessCross]

16 hours ago, Karhedron said:

Not a bad unit with decent shooting and melee. In many ways it is like a lighter version of the Hellbrute that trades a lighter save for improved speed.

Lighter save isn't exactly accurate since the Venomcrawler has access to that Invul, which gives the same durability vs a multitude of weapons. 

 

Either way, speed is the name of the game, and Venomcrawlers are literally double the speed. For their price they're really durable and have good offense. The only reason I don't use them is I don't have the models and I like my Vindicators too much. 

[Dr_Ruminahui]

I was confused about the worse save comments, thinking "Doesn't the venomcrawler have a 3+"?  Yes, yes it does - I just hadn't realised the Helbrute had a 2+ this edition.  Even with that correction, though, I feel its as tough as the Helbrute due to its invulnerable and extra wound.

 

That said, in my mind I hadn't been playing the crawler as a competitor for the Helbrute but rather of the Maulerfiend - I guess in the role as fast melee threat.  In that role, I had pegged them about equal - the maulerfiend a bit more resilient and better and punching big stuff compaired to the crawler that was faster but had a fair bit of decent (if low AP) shooting.  That said, things may have swung a bit in the mauler's direction with its drop in points.

 

Personally, I like them a lot - they are fast, shooty and pack a punch in melee though they can struggle against bigger stuff or things with decent saves.

[Brother Nathan]

In my games its died earlyenough because of its speed and shot output. But to get it dead has taken the firepower that should have been directed at my tanks. Its been a great distraction carnifex for me and i kinda wish i had a second

[MadEdric]

Two are fun. I like to try to have them tag team units together to maximize their chance to increase the attacks on at least one of them.