Best detachment for Intercessors?

[jaxom]

I really like Intercessors, and am not sure which detachment would benefit them the most. Maybe one with some sort of attack bonus?

[Karhedron]

Intercessors are good all-round troops. It is hard to say one Detachment boosts them the most but here are some benefits from each Detachment. 

 

Stormlance gives Advance and Charge. Given that they already have Assault on their Bolt Rifles, they can Advance, Shoot and Charge in the same turn. 

 

Firestorm gives them +1S on their shooting at close range. They get 4 shots each when the whole squad shoots the same target so even a 5-man squad will put out 20 S5 shots. Not bad for 80 points.

 

Anvil Siege Force gives them +1 to Wound when stationary. This does not stack with the +1 from OOM though so isn't as strong perhaps. 

 

Intercessors, by design, work well almost anywhere so you may be better off considering what else you want to run.

[jaxom]

2 hours ago, Karhedron said:

Intercessors, by design, work well almost anywhere so you may be better off considering what else you want to run.

Yeah, that’s one thing I’m having trouble with. Once I realized a Demi-company is around 1000 points I was like, “why not always start with a Demi-company and go from there?”

[gaurdian31]

Also in Stormlance there is a strategem (Blitzing Fusillade) that gives guns with the Assault ability Sustained Hits 1, which is nice when paired with a Lieutenant in the squad so you are getting sustained and lethal hits.

[jaxom]

 

 

Thank you, all! I went through and made some notes for each detachment:

 

Gladius Task Force

Detachment Rule

Devastator Doctrine - Astartes Grenade Launchers effectively get Assault.

Tactical Doctrine - Fall Back, Shoot, and Charge

Assault Doctrine - Advance and Charge

Strats

Honestly, unlikely to use any of the detachment strats because specialist units are better targets for them. Most likely Intercessors would make use of Grenade strat.

 

Probably the best option if using Intercessors to do actions and screen for other units. Has tools for whatever I choose to fill out the list.

 

Anvil Siege Force

Detachment Rule

Effectively +1 to hit and +1 to wound whenever stationary. Good positioning means not having to rely on OoM for +1 to wound.

Strats

• Rigid Discipline - Cap an objective with ObSec, move up to screen it, and use the strat to manuever back to it.
• Not One Backwards Step - Effectively become OC 4. Could be quite useful on a 10-man brick with Librarian.
• No Threat Too Great - Can really help a unit punch up when combined with +1 to wound. It's 2 CP though....
• Battle Drill Recall - Sustained Hits 1, and Crit on 5+ if stationary. Put a Lt in there for Lethal Hits and once again the unit is punching up. AP is still an issue; wouldn't want to use against a unit with cover.

The way I think this would have to work is using the Intercessors as stationary trading pieces covering firing lanes. If the opponent doesn't take them out, then they'd do more damage than expected. Not sure if that would actually work. I'd want to round out the list with units that are effective on their own without strat or detachment support. Bladeguard?

 

Ironstorm Spearhead

Detachment Rule

Effectively can reroll Hit, Wound, and Damage for Astartes Grenade Launchers.

Strats

• Unbowed Conviction - Probably not the best on Intercessors, but could be if pumping out 40 shots.
• Mercy is Weakness - Similar to Battle Drill Recall except instead of not moving, the target has to be below starting strength; and 5+ Crits is only against Vehicles.

Maybe rounded out with Eradicators? I also have two Dreadnoughts....

 

Firestorm Assault Force

Detachment Rule

Astartes Grenade Launchers get Assault and all ranged attacks get +1 Strength; stacks with +1 to wound from OoM. 

Strats

• Crucible of Battle- +1 to wound w/in 6". Useful for getting that wound bonus without using OoM on target.

Much more useable if I put Lts with the Intercessors to allow for Fall Back and Shoot. I don't have transports, but I do have Infernus Marines and Aggressors for rounding this out. 

 

Stormlance Tast Force

Detachment Rule

Charge after Fall Back or Advance.

Strats

• Blitzing Fusillade - Effectively gain Sustained Hits 1.
• Wind-Swift Evasion - Reactive move vs enemy within 9".

I'm curious just because of the maneuver options. I don't have flyers or bikes, but a big ol'army of infantry moving in and out of melee combat could be interesting.

[gaurdian31]

I ran a crusade with just the Stormlance Task Force and had a great time. Had 2 5 man squads of intercessors, one with librarian and one with captain and lieutenant.  Did alright. Used the fusillade a lot and evasion was useful in a number of instances in the campaign. I do enjoy hitting things in close combat so was constantly advancing, shooting a target to soften it up and then charging. Was a good time.

[Karhedron]

Another Detachment worth considering is Angelic Inheritors. Units led by a character get some nice buffs so a couple of 10 man Intercessor squads can do some work. Librarians are fairly cheap, give a 4++ save and their psychic attack synergises quite well with the Bolt Rifles. I like rerolling 1s to Hit and Wound for all attacks coupled with still being able to Shoot/Charge after Falling Back.

[Tacitus]

I haven't done the work yet, but my gut reaction says look for detachments/rules with generic force-wide multipliers more than loading up Intercessor squads with character leaders which might make their target priority easier to figure.   Others have pointed out plenty of the offensive synergies, but I'd be somewhat tempted by the Vanguard Spearhead.  Buncha 10 dude 40 shooters that are in the back of all four corners that are -1 to hit with the benefit of cover by the time you figure out ignoring dinky little Intercessor Squads was a bad idea.

Edited August 30 by Tacitus