Horus Heresy 2e Review: Legion Mortalis Destroyer Squad

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4/5 stars. Good stuff! 

Background.

For the uninitiated, Zone Mortalis is referring to close quarter fighting as would be found on boarding missions to other capital ships, or perhaps in the underhives of the Imperial cities. Narrow and confined corridors make for devastating places to launch rad grenades and alchem munitions against enemies, and therefore well suited against enemies you know won't surrender. Like the jump pack brethren, this squad is similarly shunned by many legions, but embraced by the likes of the Death Guard and some chapters of the Ultramarines. 

Strengths.

As with the other squad, rad grenades have lost none of their impact in the new edition of Horus Heresy. Fundamentally, destroyer squads remain the way in which to bring these weapons to the battlefield (along with rad missiles and phosphex bombs for the sergeant). Arguably for this squad, the toxiferran flamer with its poisoned 3+ and rending is even more attractive. 

Weaknesses. 

[Repeat from the previous post] This is a close combat squad whose only real limitation is how fast they get to deploy and use their weapons. I like the two bolt pistols and chainsword as standard and to be honest, there is not much not to like here. Perhaps except for the fact that the elites options are a crowded set of tasty decisions to make. 

Difference to First Edition.

Not much realistically. 

Builds.

5 Destroyers, 1 toxiferran flamer, 4 with two hand flamers (140 points).

Take with a rhino or termite where needed. This is a standard set up for Zone Mortalis realistically. Replace the flamer with a disintegrator to taste?

10 Destroyers, 2 Rad Missile Launchers, Legion Vexilla, Nuncio Vox, Augury Scanner, Sergeant with power fist and artificer armour (275 points).

Long range or back field variant squad. Alternatively take with a land raider, noting that the missile launchers have suspensors. 

5 Destroyers, 1 Rad Missile Launcher, Vexilla, Sergeant with Power Fist (160 points).

Generalist squad. Replace the missile launcher with a graviton gun to taste.