Horus Heresy 3e Review: Iron Havocs

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4/5 stars. An excellent choice from the Legacies list but slightly too points expensive to my mind.

Background.

The Iron Warriors raised the concept of heavy support squads to an art form. The Iron Havocs rain down heavy weapon support from range to saturate the battlefield with plentiful and deadly shots. 

Strengths. 

The major advantage of the Iron Havocs lies in them denying cover saves to their targets via the in-built Ferrum Occularis. Otherwise, they are literally identical to the main army list Heavy Support Squad option. 

They also (and almost uniquely) have access to shrapnel cannons as base which can cause pinning and also has shred. This can be powerful. 

Weaknesses. 

Firstly they are slightly more points expensive than otherwise I would have predicted. 

Secondly, I would have liked to have seen BS+1 at least for them being described as marksmen, but alas, their base BS=4 still. They don't have the equivalent of Tank Hunters from first edition either. Yet, they are still effective. 

Players therefore have to ask themselves how much they like denying cover saves to their opponents, and how much the plausibly might like Shrapnel Cannons which as a very interesting and powerful option at intermediate ranges. 

Builds.

10 Iron Havocs, all with Shrapnel Cannons, Sergeant with Augury Scanner (270 points). 

Maximum Shrapnel fire power, and the augury scanner helps with shrouded which is worth it the instant you come across shrouded in the game (trust me). Take a nuncio-vox to taste. This is possibly the only squad also worth taking a close combat weapon upgrade on the sergeant if you are thinking of a rolling wall of cannon fire? But you honestly don't want them in close combat - the weapon would just be a deterrent and probably ineffective. 

5 Iron Havocs, all with Las Cannons (210 points).

A full 35 points more expensive than a similar Heavy Support Squad. Yet for targeting dreadnoughts in cover it remains a lot more effective. 

5 Iron Havocs, all with Missile Launchers, Augury Scanner, Nunci-Vox (180 points). 

A strong squad that can tackle multiple potential targets and counters. 

5 Iron Havocs, all with auto cannons, Augury Scanner, Nuncio-Vox (205 points). 

Auto cannons remain an effective choice for the Iron Havocs as well. Tempting to increase this squad to full size to be honest - but only if you have the points available.