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1500pts Custodes... What to include?!


Charlo

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So I've got a game at the weekend for our local ladder campaign...

 

Essentially the rules are:

  • Open War Cards
  • 1500 Points
  • Don't be a :censored: with your list

Seeing as they're easy to transport and all painted to tabletop basic or better (plus they're woefully under-run for me!) I'm thinking of bringing the Golden Boys out for a spin.

 

However, 1500 is not a lot to work with!

 

I'd like to bring a Battalion so I at least have some CP to work with, as at this points level I think strats will be key in maximising performance.

 

3 Man squads seem too small to achieve anything, so I'm thinking one 3 Man to hold any backfield with a couple SS, but otherwise two 5 man units to roam about with a mix of Spear + Shield. Even this though is about half of my points, and I still need 2 HQs!

 

I can bring a Bike Captain (Aquila Relic + Deny Warlord Trait) and three bikes to give me some mobility aaaaand... Then I'm stuck!

 

I've got about 350ish to play with, but I need another HQ as part of this too!

 

In my collection I've got:

  • 9 Allarus (including Captain + Vexilla)
  • A few other Vexilla
  • A couple more Guardians
  • Telemon (Could be a Contemptor Exemplar as I have Las Storm + Caestus)
  • Coronus
  • A couple Shield Captains
  • Trajaan Valoris
  • Caladius

Any ideas?

 

I'd gladly remove the bikes and rework the list around Allarus too (as they're super cool and a little less powerful!)

 

Or I could grab a Vexilla (maybe a Relic one for Fearless and a Mortal Wound Nova?) in Allarus to drop in where needed with an Allarus Shield Captain too?

 

I'll be against an absolutely beautiful mixed Imperium army (Inq/ AM/ Sisters etc)

Edited by Charlo
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Well, if you want to keep your list humane but still somewhat competitive, I'd leave it at 3 Jetbikes. I would also keep the Custodian Guard at 3 guys. 4 max. One -1 hit vexilla is also pretty much a must-have if running pure, due to survivability and redundancy.

Dawncaptain, 3 JB, 3x3 CG, 1 vexilla will be 1020pts. What you can do now is to add a few more CG and another hammer unit. Maybe a second Dawncaptain and a unit of Allarus? Or an Allarus captain, a unit of Allarun and an Alarus vexilla? Take your pick.

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If you are allowed to take the Telemon then I would try and go

 

Bike captain misericordia

Captain with axe misericordia

 

3 x Guard squad 2 spears 1 shield and sword

 

Vexillus praetor magnifica, misericordia

 

3 x vertus praetor misericordia

 

Telemon 2 illiastus accelerator culverins.

 

This is 1499.

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Currently settled on:

 

Captain on Jetbike - 3++ & Reroll charges

Captain with Spear

5 Custodes - 3 Spear, 2 Sword & Board

5 Custodes - 3 Spear, 2 Sword & Board

5 Custodes - 3 Spear, 2 Sword & Board

Vexilla in Allarus - -1 to hit

3 Jetbikes

 

I don't want to do 3 man squads as they seem like a lot of points for no real impact on the table, even one squad member dying means a massive loss to output.

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So....

 

A Win for the Custodes! But hooboy was it a close one. I had two models left, just a single Guardian and the foot Shield-Captain!

 

I'm also convinced Open War Cards is the best way to play 40k.

 

Will do a write up with pics later but I think I don't actually need the battalion CP really.

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[...] but I think I don't actually need the battalion CP really.

 

U w0t, m8? Custodes have some of the best Stratagems in this game :ohmy.: IMO

 

Yeah you need at least eight CP to play them.

 

I 100% agree, and maybe I just mis-spent the CP this game - but the CP I did spend didn't seem to do much. Could've been luck but I'm not sure.

 

Of the 8 I used a couple re-rolls (2), Spark of Divinity (1), Shoulder the Mantle (1), Even in Death (2) and a combat interrupt (2CP).

 

Divinity was good as it stopped some Mortals, but Even in Death achieved zero (though Bullgryns with a 3++ are hard...) and with the units I used I didn't have much use for the rest!

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So a mini battle report:

 

Went up against Ben's BEAUTIFUL mixed Ministorum + Militarum.
1500pts Open War
Deployment: Long edges
Objective was The Prize; it's a marker in the center you can pick up and run away with. Last person holding end of turn 5 wins.
Our Twists were two fold:
Acid Rain: all Shooting at -1 to hit, charges and Advance at -1 too. On a 4+ it stops/ starts again each turn.
Battle Frenzy: EVERYTHING has +1 attack.
 
Essentially the battle only took place on the left side of the board, slowly attempting to move to the center.
 
His list:
Cannoness - Plasma + Maul
Cannoness - Bolter + Chainsword
3x 5 sisters with extra Storm Bolters
Celestians with lots of Melta
Seraphim with lots of Melta in a Repressor
Retributors with Heavy Bolters
Repentia
Whip lady for Repentia
Priest
Crusaders
Scion Prime
Psyker
3x 5 Scions with 3 Plasma
3 Bullgryns with Shields
 
Mine was as above.
 
The TL:DR;
 
Deployment:
  • SC on Bike & Bikes Deployed on the left, opposite most of his army
  • Three Squads of Guardians, Vexilla + SC on foot were in the center (a bit to the left).
  • His Army was all on the left, except for the Scions in deep strike reserve

Action:

Pre Game:

  • Transports full of Melta Scouted Forward
  • He Seized first turn!

Turn One:

  • Did a few wounds to the bikes with lots of Melta
  • Perils but didn't kill his Psyker
  • Bikes proceeded to jump into his Crusaders, Seaphim and Melta-stocked Repressor after doing some damage with Hurricanes, slaying all of the infantry and doing some damage to the tank
  • Guardians + characters moved towards the objective

Turn Two:

  • Scions drop in but achieve little, he makes the mistake of re-rolling wounds Order when overcharging plasma at a -2 to hit. Lots of Scions kill themselves.
  • His shooting kills off the other bikes bar the SC, he then charges with Repentia + Ogryns, taking him down to 1 Wound
  • Captain stay put (as I plan to use Even in Death to get two rounds of combat from him).
  • Guardians move to deal with, and thusly murder Scions and move towards the Sisters guns, popping a few off with Spear Bolters
  • Bike Captain achieves little (but tanks a lot), but the SC on foot shoulders the mantle, taking -1 to hit and grabs the Objective

Turn Three/ Four/ Five (summing up as not a lot happened):

  • Basically his army moves into mine and I send Guardians in to hold the line. I take out as much as I can while the shield Captain runs away with the Objective.
  • At the end, I have One Guardian and the Captain left, but he's made too much ground to be caught!
Edited by Charlo
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  • 2 weeks later...

Got another game coming up this Sunday! (SUNDAY! SUNDAY!)

 

It will be against Necrons and I'm going to go for a different approach, but feedback and thoughts wanted...!

 

Shield Captain in Allarus

Shield Captain on Bike

3x 3 Guardians - 2 Spears, 1 Sword & Board

7 Allarus Terminators

Vexilla in Allarus Armour, -1 to Hit Banner

 

Obviously a very simple list... Turn 2 drop the Allarus, Allarus Captain + Vexilla in and start wrecking face where possible. Bike Captain is an Assassin. Guardians cap objectives and provide support.

 

Unleash the Lions will probably come into play.

 

Will most likely make the Biker Captain warlord for 3++/5+++/ Re-roll a fail shenanigans and then shoulder the mantle to the Allarus once he's suicided his life away (hopefully taking out/ holding up a threat!)

 

7 Allarus is a massive chunk of wounds to chew through.

 

One tactic could be dropping the Vexilla first to then bring the Allarus down later, closer to the foe but I don't think it'll be easy with this few points (1500).

Edited by Charlo
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  • 3 months later...

I hate to say it but going back to 1500 I think the bikes are essential.

 

I love Allarus. Always use them, but at 1500 you find yourself chasing the game quite a bit.

 

The good news is at 1500 it's very hard for your opponents to go super armour heavy giving you an edge.

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I hate to say it but going back to 1500 I think the bikes are essential.

 

I love Allarus. Always use them, but at 1500 you find yourself chasing the game quite a bit.

 

The good news is at 1500 it's very hard for your opponents to go super armour heavy giving you an edge.

 

Yeah I think you're right.

 

However I'm fairly confident one of the players will be bringing Knights, which I have no idea how I'd deal with at all. Sure they'll only fit 2-3 + some armigers but that's still terrifying.

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Knights are a hard counter for Custodes but pure knights can't claim objectives unless they have something new in CA that I'm not aware of, so they will need to table you.

I'd hope for some nice LoS blocking terrain and try to use your mobility to claim some objective points. It will be tough either way, there is a batrep on youtube from 2 UK tournament players one playing Knights the other Custodes that would be worth finding D6Evolution is the poster. The Custodes win but in the pre game chat they say knights win the practice game. Is it maelstrom rules?

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  • 4 weeks later...

Going back to a previous list but now in a post CA world with points drops, I can actually get the following Battalion for 1500pts...

 

Trajhaan Valoris

Shield Captain on Jetbike - Misericordia

3x 3 Custodian Guard - 2 Spears, 1 Sword & Board

Vexilla Bearer - Defensor (-1 to hit)

7 Allarus Custodians

 

Essentially what I had before, but I can fit the big man TV in.

 

The core 9 Guardians, Trajhaan and the Vexilla all hang our for re-rolls and -1 to hit. Jetbike goes hunting. Allarus drop on turn 2, then aim to split with Unleash the Lions to just become a total nuisance.

 

It would probably be quite swingy, but i'd at least have 8 Command points to play with (plus Moment Shackle if need be) and TVs Axe could do some real heavy lifting at this points level...

 

Inescapable Vengeance stratagem could also be potentially horrific with 7 Allarus shooting at a high-priority character when they arrive.

Edited by Charlo
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Taking Knights out of the equation, how do you think it would fare in an all comers environment.

 

I know a few things I'll be seeing are:

  • Tau (but noting massive)
  • IG - Mix of Infantry, Russes, Hellhounds
  • DEldar
  • Potentially Harlequins
  • Tyranids
  • Deathwatch
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Taking Knights out of the equation, how do you think it would fare in an all comers environment.

 

I know a few things I'll be seeing are:

  • Tau (but noting massive)
  • IG - Mix of Infantry, Russes, Hellhounds
  • DEldar
  • Potentially Harlequins
  • Tyranids
  • Deathwatch

 

I don't see the sheer number of shots to deal with the hordes. Especially with the Tyranids, it could be wiping those Hive Tyrants after teleporting in and cleaning up afterwards, but it might just as well be getting stuck in big blobs of bugs.

And Tau... nothing massive means more infantry than battle suits, that means numbers, that means only going after the characters won't be enough.

 

And while I love Guardians against T4 models, the Terminators don't exactly bring much more in chaff clearing power to the table for their points.

I'd really take fewer of them (Allari are essentially designated Character hunters, as you've pointed out, but going large on them in this case means sacrificing all comers preparedness for ultimate Character obliteration) to make room for other things.

 

Stock up on Bikes is what I'm saying. They've each got horde removal power under the hood a humble C:SM player only finds in a Land Raider or a flipping Dreadnought.

And while they're not big on Deep Striking, their Movement will make up for that.

Edited by HighMarshalAmp
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Playing with another silly idea...

 

Tahjaan Valoris

Shield Captain on Jetbike - Superior Creation, Auric Aquilas

5x Guardians - 3 Spear, 2 Sword & Board

3x Guardians - 2 Spear, 1 Sword & Board

3x Guardians - 2 Spear, 1 Sword & Board

Vexilla in Allarus Armour - Magnifica

Telemon Dread - Acacnus Las Storm, Caestus with Plasma Ejector

 

Leaves me at 1471 but not really any way to fill that 29pts up...! (other than a lot of extra knives!)

 

Very simple plan; everything crowds around the -1 to hit bubble and deathballs up the centre. Telemon Deepstrikes to induce fear and Bike Captain speeds off when necessary to hunt whatever.

 

Probably not as good as the last list... But the Telemon is fun.

Edited by Charlo
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Valoris, 

3x3 Aquilon with one adrathic per unit

Vexilla magnifica with storm shield

Orion

 

1500 exactly! 

 

More constructively, i need to try out the new Telemon after the little nerf to the guns, a Coronus might be good at the new cost too, stuffed full of Allarus or something. Valoris at that point level should be strong too, extra CP if you need them

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