Wargames Gallery: Primarch Duel

Corax and Alpharius (maybe Omegon) face off against each other on a bridge that somehow holds both of their weight.

For those wanting spoilers: Alpharius wins. 

Horus Heresy 3e Review: Master of Signals

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

3/5 stars. A reliable way to bring a command vox relay. 

Background.

Gifted in ranged communications, and most importantly having the equipment with them, the Master of Signals is reliably able to identify the weak spot of the enemy and press home advantages. They can also reinforce against enemy assaults. 

Strengths. 

The entire reason to take a Master of Signals in third edition is to get hold of the Command Vox Relay. 

This device gives you a +1 to reserve rolls which is excellent - but only if you are using reserves. 

Further, it can give Line (1) or Vanguard (1) on a successful Intelligence check. Which you are likely to pass since it is set to 10. 

Otherwise, they are WS=5=BS, along with 3 wounds. 

Weaknesses. 

They are a bit pricey, and if you are not running reserves, they won't feature in your army roster. It is as simple as that. They used to be a lot more attractive in previous editions thanks to Orbital Bombardment and I long and wish for that to return. 

Builds. 

Only pistol upgrades can be taken here, and if I'm honest the naked version is going to do just fine. Its only the Command Vox Relay that will make you want to take this model. 

Horus Heresy 3e Review: Vigilator

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4/5 stars. Excellent and relatively cheap ranged character. 

Background.

Sourced directly from the best of the recon squads, the Vigilators are the true marksmen of the legions. More than this, they are also the ears on the ground and the scouts who get the lay of the land before the main attack. 

Strengths. 

BS=7 is very attractive indeed.

They carry a Nemesis rifle which gives them an impressive 48 inch range along with S=6 shots that come with breaching, pinning, as well as precision. This combination is terrific. Not only can you snipe half the time, but getting to apply pinning from turn 1 is a very good move as well!

They come with a native infiltrate of 9 which means you can set up almost at will. But you really probably don't want to be too close. Set up in the middle perhaps where you have height and range to last a few turns before someone targets you. The 2+/5++ save is reasonable here as well to help keep you alive. Also don't forget your Smoke Screen where applicable. 

Weaknesses. 

For the points cost, I can't really fault a vigilator. Hence if ranged sniping is your favourite play, then this is almost a "must" character, and he is also much cheaper than the likes of Exodus. 

Builds. 

No builds are available: there are no upgrades to take unless your legion specific rules allow it. 

Horus Heresy 3e Review: Legion Champion

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4.5/5 stars. Rounded down. Savage close combat character. 

Background.

Some of the best that any given legion has to offer. These are the swordsmen of the space marine legions and they carry with them not only deadly weaponry, but also a significant quantum of pride and honour for the legion as they march forth. They deliberately seek out enemy commanders to take down - close and personal - to bring the Imperial Truth closer to home. 

Strengths. 

With WS=6 as base, the champion of the legion will want to get into close combat as quickly as possible (so remember a transport solution or take one of the Legacy versions with a jump pack or mounted). 

The must always take part in challenges due to the Never Back Down special rule. Other than that, they come with a Paragon Blade to help them out which is very nice indeed. 

Weaknesses. 

Upgrades are very limited - only a combi-melta or melta bombs. Neither of which is especially appealing overall. Secondly, you might want to consider if a named legion character does the job better (some named characters seriously outshine even a legion champion). 

Builds. 

Champion with Jump Pack (135 points).

My personal favourite, but of course even a naked Champion is a threat if you have a transport and a retinue. Take a jetback alternatively for 155 points. 

Champion in Cataphractii Terminator Armour (135 points).

A nice addition to a land raider!

Horus Heresy 3e Review: Lernaean Terminator Squad

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4/5 stars. Had a glow up compared to second edition and now a very serious option to take.

Background.

The Alpha Legion elites are hardly known outside their legion. The Lernaean terminators make it so because there are usually no survivors! Their job is to be the crushing and grinding jaws of the many headed hydra that the Alpha Legion is and are fearsome in assault. 

Strengths. 

Terminators in Cataphractii armour with WS=5, and T=5 make this unit survivable and strong. 

Significantly in this edition, they have hatred of all Legiones Astartes. They. Hate. Them. All. No favours here! They also have line (1) which makes them very valuable in principle for the Elites slot. 

Their load outs come with volkite chargers and power axes as standard. But they get a wide range of possible upgrades including combi bolters, a wide range of power weapons, lightning claws, and a choice of heavy flamer, conversion beam cannon, reaper autocannon, and plasma blaster for every 5 models you have in the squad.

Weaknesses. 

The load out has changed since Second Edition. Gone is the sergeant's venom sphere. And the larger Volkite weaponry. Boo. They also cost a lot of points. 

Builds.

5 Lernaeans, 1 Conversion Beamer (265 points). 

Sit on the objective whilst blasting things at the opposite side of the board. 

5 Lernaeans, 1 power fist, 1 plasma blaster, Harrower with chain fist (280 points). 

Sadly it is no longer an option to take an EXTRA power dagger instead of upgrading your power weapon. You only get the upgrade. However, this squad is still powerful and multi-purpose. 

10 Lernaeans, 2 Autocannons, 4 power fists, Harrower with thunder hammer (555 points). 

Getting expensive here, but this is an all round squad which can be remarkably deadly from both a shooting and a close combat point of view. Goodbye Volkite Culverins. I had already modelled you, but perhaps I can change them to autocannons?

Horus Heresy 3e Review: Exodus

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

3/5 stars. Solid and does the job, just a bit over costed.

Background.

The Alpha Legion has an amazing marksman who seem to go by the code of Exodus. Whether there is actually just one of them that appears in multiple places, or many, is anyone's guess, but the latter probably applies! 

Strengths. 

BS=8 is amazingly high for the game and outside of Primarchs is almost unheard of. He gets infiltrate (9) to get to be deployed where you need him, and is shrouded (5+) as well as carries important utilities like venom spheres (easy to overlook) and a power dagger. 

The key item here though is The Instrument - a long range sniper rifle. This can give you 3 S=6 shots with precision at 4+ for rapid firing, or a single S=8 shot at AP=2 for when you feel confident of picking out your target - or just wanting to cause pinning to be honest. 

Weaknesses. 

Not being able to join other units is a negative. The 3+ save is weak, but you do have an invulnerable, shrouded, and smokescreen to aid survival if needed. 

The main weakness for me though is the points cost. It is very steep here and only barely offset by ability level. Yes, he can probably hold his own in a fight, it has to be said. But you really want him sniping everything. And he is not unique either, nor has an allegiance which although nice, you probably won't want two of them. I just feel other units can do this job better overall. 

Overall.

Expensive. Effective. Yet there remains other choices.