HH 3.0 1k Iron Hands Iron-clad Dreadnoughts-heavy list

[N1SB]

Here is a 1,000 points list with 4 Dreadnoughts, using the Iron Hands' Iron-clad prime advantage rule and a Mortificator.

 

The Iron-clad rule gives 1 Dreadnought slot, while the Mortificator from the Legacies of AoD PDF gives 3 (pasted below):

 

 

The list is very barebones of a Mortificator, 3 Contemptors, 1 Leviathan (to be the Iron-clad), 2 Tactical Squads:

 

 

My thought was the Mortificator will join the TacSquad with Melta bombs to follow the Dreads to provide Battlesmith repair checks and sometimes shoot something.  The other Tactical Squad will probably stay on a back objective and provide covering fire with Fury of the Legion.  The Leviathan will be the Iron-clad Champion and Challenge anyone.

 

For changing the list, I think the Mortificator and the 4 Dreads are pretty much must-takes, they're the point of the list.  I have about 200 points leftover, which just happened to be enough for 2 TacSquads, but I'm not wed to them.  It's just due to how the Force Org Chart is organised, I couldn't take a Devastator Squad without more HQ tax.

 

(I did even consider having a Despoiler Squad instead for the Mortificator to join, but I got like 4 close combat Dreads, what're they gonna do?)

 

But honestly, not sure what to do with the 200 points with how army list-building works in HH 3.0, open to ideas.  Also prolly will take Mk III armour.

[Shard of Magnus]

1K lists are always going to be challenging. The ability to diversify has limits unless a legion specific aux detach covers it.

 

I like the tactical squads as the option given the small amount of points you have left over.  Line(2) is useful if you’re going to play any of the stock missions and bolter fire is better than it was in prior editions.  Don’t forget one of the troop slots gets a prime advantage.  Master sergeant or veteran status for one squad for free is not game changing but it could help.  

Or….since iron-clad uses the prime advantage on the command slot as I understand it, you could use the prime advantage on the troop slot for logistical benefit and take a 5 marine support squad with heavy bolters or heavy flamers - you won’t have points for anything else since half of your 200 available points are needed for the tactical squad to unlock the prime advantage.

 

The other option you could consider is taking a single breacher squad with toys instead of the two tacticals.  I haven’t played enough to get a real feel if you need the two squads at this points level.  And no experience with breachers yet so not sure how well they would do as a replacement.

 

4 dreads will be a tough matchup for an opponent at this points level if they aren’t prepared; assuming there is a way to prepare at 1K. Conversely, you’re walking and very melee dependent.  Will be interesting to see how your games go.

[N1SB]

You totally pointed me towards the right direction, you solved like all the problems I can think of, thanks for that.

 

On 8/16/2025 at 11:19 PM, Shard of Magnus said:

I like the tactical squads as the option given the small amount of points you have left over.  Line(2) is useful if you’re going to play any of the stock missions and bolter fire is better than it was in prior editions.  Don’t forget one of the troop slots gets a prime advantage.  Master sergeant or veteran status for one squad for free is not game changing but it could help.

 

I TOTALLY forgot that separate prime advantage role for Troops.  I'm looking at the little spikey ring that is the prime advantage icon like an idiot, "oh, spikey, that must be a Chaos thing."  I was so fixated on the Dreadnought/Iron-clas prime advantage that I had overlooked this.  So 1st option is to take 1 squad, my 1st TacSquad, leaning towards that Combat Veterans thingy to give them more staying power for Morale checks and wotnot maybe.

 

On 8/16/2025 at 11:19 PM, Shard of Magnus said:

Or….since iron-clad uses the prime advantage on the command slot as I understand it, you could use the prime advantage on the troop slot for logistical benefit and take a 5 marine support squad with heavy bolters or heavy flamers - you won’t have points for anything else since half of your 200 available points are needed for the tactical squad to unlock the prime advantage.

 

I just checked and Iron-clad DOES use the Command Battlefield Role, freeing up the Troops prime advantage for that Logistical Benefit.  I looked at the options available and found I could do a 5-man Special Weapons Squad ("Tactical Support" now) with Plasma guns (costed like Heavy Bolters/Flamers).  Same difference.  This 2nd option just adds a bit more flavour for a unit that should be fine guarding the home objective.  I'm spamming Dreads; if a 5-man unit is under threat, it's not their fault, it'd be mine.

 

Moreover, I can get all the Infantry set up with 1 box of Mk IIIs and converting my own Mortificator and Plasma Gunners with some AdMech bitz.

 

On 8/16/2025 at 11:19 PM, Shard of Magnus said:

The other option you could consider is taking a single breacher squad with toys instead of the two tacticals.  I haven’t played enough to get a real feel if you need the two squads at this points level.  And no experience with breachers yet so not sure how well they would do as a replacement.

 

4 dreads will be a tough matchup for an opponent at this points level if they aren’t prepared; assuming there is a way to prepare at 1K. Conversely, you’re walking and very melee dependent.  Will be interesting to see how your games go.

 

I did consider converting some Medusan Immortals, but from past experience, I just really like having some min-sized squad house-sitting a home objective.  What you said about the Troops prime advantage, specifically with Logistical Benefit, freed up a lot of options for me.  Great stuff.

 

You're also right, these are skewed, gimmick lists, aren't they?  We really are playing with famous characters in Challenges and my Legion's ability to make a Leviathan Champion...like they know I'm the guy to go for that.  It's almost like a theoretical list, isn't it?  My peoples are already referring to him as that sumo wrestler in MMA.