Horus Heresy 3e Review: Leman Russ

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4/5 stars. Strong on the offence - and set up to kill before being killed. 

Background.

Bred on Fenris, and one of the three trefoil legions, his own legion serves as the nominal "executioner" for the Emperor. Presumably he carried out some of this task with the II or XI legions in the past which prepared him to undertake Horus' altered orders to destroy the Thousand Sons in the true first volley of the Heresy (although it was not recognised as such at the time). Feared as much as Angron or Konrad, the darkness never touched him, and instead of a blood soaked savage as some would portray him, he was canny and had a great sense of self-awareness of himself and possessed utter loyalty to the Throne.

Strengths. 

With WS=8 and S=7 with the same in A and I, Leman is well positioned as a close combat monster. His weapons (The Axe of Helwinter and The Sword of Balenight) give him further S bonuses with AP2 and 2 damage. They also have armour bane and reaping blows, or critical hits (respectively). These line him up to be able to tackle most opponents in the game realistically. 

His side arm, Scornspitter, is only AP3 though, but still handy.

He has a special gambit called Howl of the Wolf Death is very strong: Focus+5 ensures he will probably get to do something. You don't get any other gambit to select though until you miss causing an unsaved wound (at which point this one stops). This should keep Russ on top of things unless the opponent has excellent defences or otherwise prevents him from causing such wounds - which is unlikely. 

As Sire of the Space Wolves, you get the Prime bonus from Grey Slayer packs - unsurprisingly. Infantry also get move through cover on turn one. This is okay. 

Weaknesses. 

T=6 is distinctly average territory for a Primarch. You will therefore need to win fights before you are killed. With W=6, you should be able to hold out, and with the focus bonus from the gambit you should be doing things pretty regularly. Just watch for sneaky counter moves. 

Overall.

The points cost is good for the model, and Russ remains a strong Primarch, even though here his defences are not superlative. Just kill before you get killed is the core message. 

Horus Heresy 3e Review: Space Wolves Legion Rules

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

3/5 stars. The rules are solid enough and in the right hands can be very powerful, but it does take a bit of thought. 

Background.

The Space Wolves arguable had the first act in the Heresy. With twisted orders from Horus, they set about not merely bringing the Thousand Sons to task about their sorcery, but were tasked with significantly more. This saw their numbers significantly reduced by the start of the Heresy, and they became harried by the traitors on a regular basis, and were unable to reach Terra in time for the grand show down. In the background, they are portrayed as a legion apart and and the call of the Emperor should the need arise whilst their Primarch was shunned in a rather similar way to Angron: more like a savage.

Armoury. 

Fenrisian Axe is a chainsword upgrade that yields reaping blow. My thoughts are about on par with chain bayonets - it could be useful, and certainly has the rule of cool, but the points cost stacks up faster that you would like. 

Frost Blades are an invention of Fenris and generally grant reaping blow on top of your standard power weapons for a large points increase. Arguably the Great Frost Blade is worth the points thanks to S+3 and AP=2 with 2 damage at the expense of I-2. 

Pack Thegn is a Prime Force Organization Slot upgrade for an Optae. He gets A+1 and WS+1 with a free frost weapon. This is generally fairly good. 

Tactica. 

The Hunters Strike gives +2 to the distance of your set up moves which is nice. Perhaps it is not quite the same as the World Eaters or the White Scars, but it serves well for a legion that wants to get into combat. 

Gambits.  
No Prey Escapes is a way of making sure that one or both of the combatants dies - you don't go to the glory step voluntarily. 

A Saga Woven of Glory meanwhile gives A+1 to the challengers comrades in arms if the challenge is won. This is a very nice trigger. 

Additional Detachments. 
Bloodied Claw gives more troops (they have to be grey slayers) and heavy assault. This is very thematic and on point.   

Advanced Reaction. 
Bestial Savagery gives you feel no pain at 5+ as a result of being shot at. You then move with a set up and if you get into base to base with the enemy then you are counted as having successfully charged. This is actually strong. 

Overall the Space Wolves are a mixed bag. Their core tactica isn't as strong as others, but the surrounding rules are both fluffy and potentially strong - as well as complementing the core tactica. The problem is getting your Space Wolves into range to begin with. 

Horus Heresy 3e Review: Tarantula Battery

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4/5 stars. An unsung and undersung unit.  

Background.

Do you remember the movie "Aliens"? The special edition? They deployed some of these beasts and they stopped so many aliens it was embarrassing. Then they ran out of ammo. And things got more interesting. There's no real difference here except that they don't run out of ammo! 

I actually have a real soft spot for Tarantulas in Horus Heresy and I may be over-rating them. 

Strengths. 

Fundamentally these units are static guns with a low armour profile that shoots reactive shots (interceptor, overwatch, and the special automated fire reaction here). 

Automated fire is simple enough. If something ends their move within 48 inches you shoot at it as a zero-cost reaction. But it does rely on movement which might be an issue sometimes. However, you can offset this due to Infiltrate (9) and set up some commanding overlapping fire lanes if you wanted to. They're also very expendable!

Weaknesses. 

Two automated heavy bolters for 45 points is a good deal overall. Particularly at BS=4 which is a significant improvement on second edition. However, the AP=10 is an issue and they will be wiped out prompted with a bit of return fire. So treat them as they are: cheap and cheerful, but deadly in numbers.

Builds.

4 Tarantulas (90 points - i.e., 2 slots).

Four lots of heavy bolt guns to saturate your enemies advancing corridors. This is actually okay in comparison to the cost of a heavy support squad. 

2 Tarantulas with lascannons (85 points). 

Longer range and harder hitting. 

2 Tarantulas with Melta Arrays (95 points)

Very short range, but hard hitting. Use wisely with infiltrate. Not highly recommended overall. 

2 Tarantulas with Hyperios Missile Launchers (75 points). 

Your ground to air interceptors. 

I actually wouldn't bother with the Orias Frag Missiles due to one use only. And only if I had lots of Volkite would I consider the Culverin option. 

Horus Heresy 3e Review: Land Raider Explorator

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4/5 stars. An iconic land raider variant.  

Background.

The explorator hails from even before the great crusade. It is primarily used for exploring hostile and difficult terrain. Of course, it would later find good use in many of the legions. Particularly the outrider ones, and those associated with mobility such as the Raven Guard and the White Scars. I could easily imagine the Alpha Legion and Death Guard liking these as well for similar reasons.

Strengths. 

As a land raider, it comes with AV=14 all round as the basis which immediately makes it strong (and probably a target!). 

You swap out your carrying capacity here in order to get more kit on board. Here you are granted auto-repair at 5+ as well as the valuable outflank rule. 

Weaknesses. 

In comparison to second edition, the lack of re-rolls of reserves is an issue. The carrying capacity of 8 means you also have to think hard about what you carry on board - and it is not an assault vehicle. My recommendation here is for tactical support squads armed with your favourite special weapons, perhaps with a command or high command marine of your choice. 

Builds.

Land Raider Explorator, Front mounted twin las cannon (240 points).

Lots of las cannons to provide cover for your people on board? Take a pintle mounted combi-melta to taste. Search lights are optional, but I always favour them on cheap and expendable rhinos. Hunter Killer missiles depend on your play style overall. Or just get rid of the front las cannons if you are saving on costs?

Horus Heresy 3e Review: Outrider Squadron

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

3/5 stars. Fast and able to bring appropriate threats where needed with good positioning and foresight. But you get what you pay for, and the lack of melta in third edition makes this unit less attractive. 

Background.

Marines on bikes!

The fluff describes them as being suited for scouting, encirclement, and hit and run tactics, all of which are viable.

Strengths. 

Just a note firstly about the Firestorm special rule. This lets you fire volleys not merely as snap shots. In addition, if you charge, you are not obligated to complete the charge and can just be happy with volleys. 

Outflank and vanguard round out the rest of the notable rules here. 

The stat line is a basic marine, but with 2 wounds each which isn't that remarkable. You can upgrade your standard twin bolters for twin plasma guns if you want, the rest is fairly standard. 

Weaknesses. 

Only a 3+ save.

And if you want melta guns, then you have to reach for the attack bike squadron from the Legacies instead. This isn't great and hopefully might be FAQ'ed. 

Builds.

5 Outriders, all with twin plasma guns, Sergeant with power fist (215points).

Plasma death on the charge. And combat effective if needs be as well. 

10 Outriders (225 points).

Even twin bolt guns can whittle away opponents. 

Take hand flamers or plasma pistols to taste. 

Horus Heresy 3e Review: Sabre

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

3.5/5 stars. Rounded Down. The rules are very fine.  

Background.

The Sabre is a strike tank. Rather than being a gun line tank of the early great crusade, these tanks represent a new form of warfare seen later on: strike, keep the enemy big guns suppressed, fade, and form up again elsewhere very quickly. 

This mode of operation will clearly suit some of the faster legions, and those who favour flexible deployment and rapid repositioning when required. 

Strengths. 

We get what we pay for roughly here just as we did in second edition. There's a big weapon mounted on the front of a distinctly average tank. Depending on the armament, it can function in a number of different roles on the battlefield, ranging from anti-tank, to anti-infantry, without competing against predators and vindicators for the same force organization slot. 

The movement rate is the real strength here though. Able to go 16 inches per turn, you can really out maneuver your opponents with ease. 

Weaknesses. 

You will need to think carefully about positioning. The armour values are not great (12, 11, and 10) so they are vulnerable if you position them poorly. But the good news is that they have outflank. I should like this tank more than I do as it is very flexible in the right hands and the points cost is very good for what you get - it just doesn't sit well in comparison to other options for many legions though. That, and I would want it in plastic to be honest - not resin. 

Builds.

Sabre with Neutron Blaster and multi-melta (115 points).

Anti-tank role. 

Sabre with Volkite Saker and havoc launcher (85 points).

Anti-infantry role. The Volkite Culverin can be added as a front hull mounted option to taste.

Sabre with Anvilus Snub Autocannon and 2x Sabre Missiles (90 points).

Monster hunter role.