Horus Heresy 3e Review: Destroyer Assault Squad

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 stars. A Legacies unit with great rules. [The image is wrong - it is Legacies and not Journal Tactica - sorry!]

Background. 

Shunned by many. Not use by several legions (e.g., Salamanders). Regarded as an evil necessity, and potentially dishonourable. Embraced fully by others (e.g., Death Guard). The Destroyer Squads are a remnant of the old wars on Terra and use weapons that are otherwise proscribed and leave behind a scorched earth. 

Strengths. 

Rad grenades in third edition remain an excellent option. Although small range, the phage on toughness combined with 2+ on poisoned is very strong - especially just before a charge. The key thing with the Destroyer Assault squad is to get the positioning right so that you can pull off both a rad attack at range and then close in with either this unit or another unit to finish them off with lower toughness. 

Melta bombs and phosphex bombs are optional upgrades for the sergeant and remain great choices depending which way you are going to go. Phosphex should probably be the default though. Panic, poisoned, and breaching is a great combination with a base of AP=3. And, if you are going to commit war crimes, then you might as well not limit it to rad grenades. 

Speaking of which, taking the rad missile launcher is highly recommended and should be a default upgrade. It is an assault weapon so can be shot on the move very easily. Again, it is poisoned and phage, but just has a much longer range making for a greater threat zone. Conversion possibilities here are encouraged since I think that the rad missiles / grenade launcher should look different to the classic frag missile launcher myself (a personal opinion). A heavy bolt gun as the basis could work, but I'd encourage players to also look up the resin version of the rad grenade launcher that used to be sold by Forge World - converting an analogue to that is reasonably okay. 

For the other upgrades, I'm not tempted by the plasma pistol, nor the double volkite serpentas and double hand flamers. I'd keep it to the items above. However for the sergeant, and upgrade to a close combat weapon like a power fist or a thunder hammer is recommended. A power weapon upgrade is also viable. 

Weaknesses. 

One wound and a 3+ armour save makes this unit an expensive glass cannon. Positioning and timing your shots and charges is everything here. 

Builds.

5 Destroyers, 1 Rad Missile Launcher, Sergeant with Power Fist and Phosphex Bombs (140 points).

Yes, the points cost is expensive. Also yes: it is very effective if you can time your shots and charges correctly. Consider melta bombs if wanted. 

10 Destroyers, 2 Rad Missile Launchers, 2 Power Mauls, Sergeant with Thunder Hammer and Phosphex Bombs, Melta Bombs (275 points). 

The full upgrade suite. Very expensive. Very effective. Very glass cannon territory and a target priority for your opponent. Very much consider a terminator squad instead perhaps? I actually prefer a smaller unit if I'm honest. 

Horus Heresy 3e Review: Interdiction Cadres

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5 stars. The rules sound.

Background. 

Taking up concealed positions, these cadres wait for the enemy to come to them and ambush them. Their use was probably not exactly prohibited during the Great Crusade, but used like never before during the Heresy. 

Strengths. 

Interdiction Cadres are Prime Advantages. 

Squads set up in reserve, and then activate the Concealed Positions Ambush advanced reaction in step 2 of the movement phase - which is to say when an enemy unit has finished moving around. 

A reaction point is then spent, and the unit comes in from reserves and assembles in coherency. They can then make snap shots or make a disordered charge. 

Weaknesses. 

I think I like the disordered charge more than I do the snap shots, but there are some units for whom snap shots won't be much of an issue. 

Overall.

Worth considering once in a while to spice things up. This is a strategy that can pay off well when paired with some appropriate units - but they have to sacrifice a Prime Advantage for it, and that is the pay off. There are plenty of units to choose between, but for troops, I quite like the look of some World Eaters despoilers, or Iron Hands breachers for personal reasons. 

Horus Heresy 3e Review: Hyperios Missile Tank

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5 stars. The rules are perfectly fine for what you get. 

Background. 

This tank is what you get when you cross a hyperios tarantula missile launcher with a rhino chassis. Its like a Scorpius with a different armament. They were used in garrisons and similar encampments after campaigns. 

Strengths. 

With armour of 12 on the front, the basic idea here would be to keep the tank stationary and fire at will, whilst protection (in some undefined manner) the rear armour of 10 if you are about it. 

Of course, you could move around, but with sky fire and rapid tracking, this is fundamentally and anti-air tank that doesn't need to displace itself. And that's the point of the tank: stay put and fire at things in the air. Of course, there's no need to dedicate yourself to that, but it is obviously what the tank was made for. 

Weaknesses. 

That armour of 10 on the rear is a concern. Players will almost invariably sit the tank with its read against a wall or similar. 

Builds.

Hyperios Missile Tank, with Havoc Launcher (125 points). 

I do love my havoc launchers to be very honest. They're not needed to be very clear. And the naked version of this tank is viable without any upgrades at all. Dozer blade if you expect to move a lot (you probably won't); search lights (maybe); and hunter killer missiles (also maybe). 

Horus Heresy 3e Review: Augur Command and Control Squad

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.5/5 stars. Rounded Down. Could be game changing, or might not.  

Background. 

The command and control squad are those marines who look after unit coordination. They take recon reports, battle situation reports, and make recommendations. Although usually found with Siege Breakers or Masters of Signals, they are adept enough to take their skills to where they are needed. 

Strengths. 

The stat line reads like a near-veteran marine with 2 wounds and 2 attacks each with slightly enhanced advanced characteristics. The have a bolt gun and bolt pistol each, but one model could upgrade to a legion special weapon. I would actually entertain a rotor cannon purely for suppressing purposes here. 

The main special rule is Battlefield Coordinators. This means they they can reduce the reaction point cost once per turn, but they have to be within 18 inches and pass an intelligence test which isn't always guaranteed. Hence this is a risk-reward strategy for the unit overall. To place them next to other units that need them, but also realizing that it won't always go your way. 

Weaknesses. 

The saving throw is a 3+ here hence there's a need to consider where to position them on the battlefield for maximum impact. Unfortunately with a 3+ save, that might not be the front lines unless you like World Eaters. And there's only 4 of them per unit which makes the points cost seem high. They're also retinues which merits further thought!

Builds.

Augur Command and Control Squad, 1 Rotor Cannon (90 points). 

Rotor cannon to suppress enemies, but you also need a clear plan of where to position them for maximal impact. 

Horus Heresy 3e Review: Master of Descent

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 stars. The rules are great. 

Background. 

These Astartes are officers in the legion with a distinct talent for drop assaults and the coordination of them therein. They carry with them specialized communication devices that help them land others and then join the battle exactly at the point where they are needed. 

Strengths. 

A typical officer with WS and BS=5, 3 wounds and a 2+/5++ saving throw on the stat line. 

The Master of Descent comes with some special rules that are worth going over. The first one is a case of nominative determinism and allows the character and his unit to enter play from reserves on Turn 1. This is fairly unique in third edition (sadly). 

The Strato-Vox helps other units deep strike into play. It automatically passes reserves tests for the Master of Descent himself (i.e., guaranteed first turn deep striking). They can then successfully pass other reserves tests once on the board and bring down one unit per turn via deep strike. This is excellent and harks back to the first edition rules of drop pod assaults a little bit (I'm still sad that that army style is dead). 

Tip of the Spear meanwhile gives access to a new auxiliary detachment featuring one Praetorian Command Squad with jump packs, and two Veteran Assault Squads with primes. This is a good add-on overall and obviously encourages players to take the command squad along with the Master of Descent. 

Weaknesses. 

For the points cost, you are getting what you pay for really. I have no complaints other than I wish drop pod armies were still fully possible!

Builds.

Master of Descent, Power Fist (130 points).

A standard built. Take melta bombs to taste. 

Master of Descent, Thunder Hammer, Combat Shield (130 points). 

Looks good with other shield bearing marines?!

Master of Descent, Disintegration Pistol, Power Maul (130 points).

Gets you access to disintegration weapons whilst remaining good for melee. 

Horus Heresy 3e Review: Battlefield Assets

Journal Tactica: The Issvan V Dropsite Massacre is filled with a lot of lore about Isstvan V and what happened there when Ferrus Manus' fleet arrived. To a veteran like myself, a lot of the material is recycled and regurgitated from much older sources and does little to add anything spectacularly new compared to the First Edition black books (Book 2 and 3 in particular are worth referring back to here). 

With that said, I'm going to commence the brief review of this journal tactica with the Battlefield Assets. 

The journal makes clear that players can use them in any game - not just the legendary mission contained in the journal. The number of assets is dependent on the points value - 2 assets for up to 1500 points, and 5 assets for up to 3500 points (then 8 and 10 either side of 5000 points). Players determine the attacker and defender and this affects which can be selected. Minefields have to be away from other assets, and explosive ones go off on a 4+ to inflict a number of hits equal to the asset points at S=8 with breaching and shred. This is nasty. 

Disruption Emitter [attacker] (Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️ 1.5/5 stars, narrowly rounded up). Reduce the advanced characteristics by one will hardly make too much of a difference. The fact the emitter might disappear makes it worse. Not worth the stupidly large 3 asset points.

Melta Minefield [defender] (Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 stars). This is useful not merely as a threat (which it clearly is in terms of hull points), but also as a way in which to control approach lanes. Easily worth the 2 asset points. 

Graviton Snares [defender] (Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.5/5 stars, rounded up). Causing pinning, this is also a great minefield. Much like the melta minefield, it also controls approach lanes. AND it is only 1 asset point. 

Frag Minefield [defender] (Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 stars). Similar to the above as a way to control approach lanes, this one is a blast marker that gets placed on any model on a roll of a 1 on 1d6 (so not every model will get hit). S=5 with AP=5 hits result. Strong and has the potential to take some marines down that want to cross it. Also probably a bit of a default choice. 

Contingency Device [defender] (Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 stars). Remotely triggered corrosives and viruses! The triggering is awkward though: suffer and panic, and take an intelligence test. Seems a bit unnecessary - just trigger it. Everyone gets hit within a 6 inch radius with S=7, AP=4, 2 damage, shred and breaching. Ouch.

Forward Ammunition Drop (Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 stars). Your miniatures must be using S=5 weapons or less without things like blast templates or heavy. Gain S+1. This is great!

Strategic Cogitator Array (Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5 stars). Request new orders. On a roll greater than the battle turn, select a secondary objective in play and increase the victory points by 1. Neat, but possibly situational. 

Overall, these are fluffy. But if I am being brutally honest, some of the assets and dangers of the battlefield presented in the First Edition Black Books are simply just better and much more extensive!