Horus Heresy 2e Review: Legion Scorpius Squadron

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

3/5 stars. The rules are average. 

Background.

A Whirlwind tank under any other name - and rightly acknowledged in the background fluff for 30k. Here the Scorpius is designated as one such whirlwind tank specifically designed at the instigation of the Space Wolves in order to combat a particular strain of xenos. Regardless of the name, these tanks fire a high rate of missiles. 

Strengths.

Do you like the idea of lots of missiles raining down on your enemy? Then the whirlwind (or scorpius) is for you. You get a large S=8 pie plate that gains pinning and rending if you are stationary. It does have barrage as well which is nice.

The real strength to my mind is the late game. I've seen people use these to "mop up" the remains of enemy units that have otherwise destroyed a player's forces and therefore tilted the game back in their favour. Of course, there's no guarantees here at all. 

Weaknesses.

I think Heavy 1 kind of sucks here. But that's life. I am not a great fan of this tank, but it can and does have its role - most obviously against non-space marine armies. I'm still not quite convinced of the points cost though and its not a tank for me personally. But hey. Your mileage may vary. 

Builds.

Scorpius with Dozer Blade (125 points)

Sort of basic, and in some scenarios the dozer blade is not strictly needed.

Scorpius with pintle mounted havoc launcher, 1 hunter-killer missile, search lights (145 points)

A stationary backline tank. 

Horus Heresy 2e Review: Legion Land Raider Spartan

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

5/5 stars. Iconic and strong. Yet remains fluffy and an all round acceptable choice for most players. 

Background.

Less common than other land raiders thanks to the expense of production, the Spartan nonetheless sees extensive use in all legions. In essence, it is a large transport carrier, while retaining all the benefits of a land raider's ranged arsenal. 

Strengths.

No less carrying capacity than a whopping 26. Simply amazing. Plus it has all the original land raider benefits that include but are not limited to armour values of 14 all round, being an assault vehicle, las cannon sponsons, and here it also has a great 6 hull points. The laser destroyer upgrade (for free) can give AP=1 and change to ordnance which might be a nice idea once in a while. I tend to prefer the original las cannon arrays simply for the extra range.

Players will regularly want to upgrade it with a flare shield as well to make it even more survivable. Although rude, I think that players need to expect this, or in casual games tell your opponent in advance and be nice about it. 

Weaknesses.

None really. Hence it gets a full 5/5 stars from me. 

Builds.

Spartan, Lascannon Array Sponsons, Flare Shield (400 points).

This is the build that every army needs to keep in the back of their minds when list building. You need a way to deal with this. 

Spartan, Laser Destroyer Sponson, Hull (Front) Mounted lascannon, Pintle mounted multi-melta, Flare Shield (445 points). 

A bit of a maxed out build. The front las cannons make up in terms of range for the sponsons shorter range. The multi melta is in the regime of "why not". Take a hunter-killer missile to taste?

Iron Warriors Las Cannoneer

Part of a lascannon heavy support squad for the Iron Warriors force, this particular marine was a bit of an experiment as I was not sure what to go for in regards of the colours for the lascannon itself. In the end I've gone for a rather shiny silver colour, brought together with Nuln oil. 

The lenses were a bit fiddlesome, and in hindsight, I might have painted them before gluing it all together, but never mind. The hazard stripes are also an area that I need to improve on a touch. Or perhaps I just need to steady the hand a touch more! Some decals have been applied to the shoulder and the shin which round off the model nicely.

Horus Heresy 2e Review: Legion Vindicator Squadron

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4.5/5 stars, rounded up; just about. I have a soft spot for the vindicator having fielded them in many tournaments. In Horus Heresy they remain incredibly powerful.

Background.

A somewhat short ranged dedicated siege tank, the Vindicator saw use in both cities and other close range fire fights by all legions. They are well capable of destroying enemy tanks to smithereens and are generally able to pose a strong threat to many things in the game.

Strengths.

With S=12 and AP=3, the demolisher cannon is superb given it also has rending, sunder, and Brutal (3). Its a pity it is not AP=2 to be honest, but we can't have everything.

The alternative load out is the Magna Laser Destroyer. This is Ordnance 3 at S=9 and AP1. It can take on anything in the game! Exoshock and twin linked are simply amazing here. 

Weaknesses.

Not quite as good as older editions of 40k in some ways - a smaller pie plate and worse AP for the demolisher cannon combine with rear armour of 10 to make for some slightly worse outcomes here. The Laser Destroyer is a very viable option though. 

Builds.

Vindicator with Demolisher Cannon and Dozer Blade (125 points).

I've taken out tournaments with this build. Love it. Take two more of this for a single unit costing 345 points. Such a sweet deal.

Vindicator with Magna Laser Destroyer and Dozer Blade (145 points).

It is tough to know which variant to take sometimes. So maybe take one of each in a unit and go tank and terminator hunting?

Horus Heresy 2e Review: Legion Land Raider Proteus Explorator

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4/5 stars. Great for fluff, and for messing around with reserve rolls. 

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.

This is a land raider like the proteus carrier. However, it swaps out being an assault vehicle for a smaller carrying capacity in favour of having scouts and the explorator augury web. The re rolls of your own reserve rolls are excellent here. But the temptation is always to make your opponent subtract one from theirs. In the right build, it can be powerful and I would suggest a focus on reserve rolls of your own here unless you have a specific opponent. The dozer blade is just the icing on the cake.

Weaknesses.

It is not an assault vehicle. With a carrying capacity of 8, it is also pretty cramped in there. I like to use these with support squads to be honest. 

Builds.

Land Raider Proteus Explorator, Vox Disruptor Array (275 points).

Many people don't exactly like the vox disruptor array, but it blends nicely with this unit if you are using it against opponents who like to deep strike. In all honesty though, the naked version of this unit is equally great and provides superb flexibility.

Land Raider Proteus Explorator, Hull (Front) Mounted Las Cannon, Pintle Multi Melta (295 points).

The anti-tank explorator. I actually like this build more than I should. Park a unit of melta gun support squad inside and enjoy?

Horus Heresy 2e Review: Legion Land Raider Proteus Carrier Squadron

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4.5/5 stars, rounded down. Simply iconic.

Background.

The Land Raider has been with us from almost the start. Through the Rogue Trader era to present day, this vehicle is a mainstay of the space marine legions and chapters. In 30k the same remains true and this particular unit sees deployment all over the galaxy on both sides of the civil war, and probably beyond.

Strengths.

AV=14 all round, coupled with a transport capacity of 12, a good movement rate and the equally iconic las cannon sponsons. This is also an assault vehicle for your smaller squads and low terminator count units to pour out of. 

Weaknesses.

It is a land raider. Deal with it. 

Builds.

Land Raider Proteus Carrier, 1 hunter-killer missile (225 points).

You can do without the missile to be fair. But I like this simple built a lot. 

Land Raider Proteus Carrier, Hull (Front) mounted Lascannon, Pintle Multi-Melta (255 points).

The anti-tank tank personnel carrier. Does it all really. Save the searchlights for a rhino though I guess.