Dark Angels Review: Predator

My review of the predator can pretty much be copy and pasted from my review of the chaos predator.  Some, here's there pertinent details:

Firstly, note that it can be constructed with autocannon or twin-linked las-cannon as the primary turret weapon, with the usual sponson options.  In addition, it also gets access to the chaos vehicle equipment list for extra load-outs.

The predator needs a role realistically.  The triple-lascannon set-up (the annihilator) will be popular to take down opposing vehicles and monsters, whereas the autocannon (the destructor) and heavy bolter option is much better suited to anti-horde duty.  The cross-over variants are rarer. I regard only the lascannon sponson one as viable since the other variant tries to do two jobs at once and never gets much bang for its buck; whilst I've not seen the mono-turret version played anywhere in a long long while.  Still, the points cost is very comparable to havocs.  i.e. if you want 3 lascannons amongst those havocs, you're paying about the same points cost as for the predator.  So you've got to make the choice: is a vehicle better than infantry?  Maybe and maybe not, depending on circumstance, set-up and opponents.

Here's a few potential builds that are worth consideration.

Predator, Autocannon, Heavy Bolter sponsons (95 points)

Cheap and great at pumping out plenty of shots every turn.  The classic "dakka pred" is still a cheap cost option to threaten squads of infantry and hordes, whilst having a reasonable reach and also able to threaten light transport style tanks.

Predator, Autocannon, Lascannon sponsons (115 points)

This is the one to take down monstrous creatures and provides anti-tank capability to boot.  It also has a reasonable price tag.

Predator, Twin-Linked Lascannon, Lascannon sponsons (140 points)

The tank-buster.  And can put hurt on greater daemons, big tyranids and other monsters to boot.  It can even take on flyers with a reasonable probability.  But I personally don't play this variant.  I prefer alternate ways of taking down tanks, so please take this entry as a suggestion for apocalypse only.

Predator, Twin-Linked Lascannon, Hunter-killer missile, Dozer Blade, Extra Armour (125 points)

A different idea here.  Its a tank hunter that once its done its job goes for a tank shock.  Not quite as good as my chaos predator variant due to lack of destroyer blades, but what the heck.