Space Marine Bikers

[ImperialTuba]

I recently came into possession of some Space Marine Bikers (technically, they're Ravenwing but I'll be running them as Raven Guard). 

 

I've got five bikes in playable condition. Two with plasma guns, two with chainswords, one with a bolt pistol. 

 

They are the third models I own that are Fast Attack, so I have enough for an Outrider Detachment. (Other Fast Attack models are x3 Bolter Inceptors, x3 Suppressors)

 

A few questions I have regarding them:

 

1) What weapon options work best/are most efficient for Bikers? If I had built the models myself, I probably would have gone with all chainswords. However, I've also never used Bikers so I don't know what is usually used on them.

 

2) What units compliment Bikers?

 

3) How do Bikers best serve your armies? I imagine I'd be wasting them if they sat back in my deployment zone not using their impressive movement speed.

 

4) Are they even relevant nowadays? 

 

 

[Son of Sacrifice]

I like them with bolters, keeping them cheap. Their movement speed and T5 is decent. They are rarely seen as a threat but they can get where needed, bolster attacks or grab far objectives.

[TwinOcted]

They're one of the best units to carry meltaguns, as they've got the speed to get in threat range quickly.

[Marshal Vespasian]

They're one of the best units to carry meltaguns, as they've got the speed to get in threat range quickly.

I like them with melta guns. Due to Bolter discipline you can also put out a surprising amount of dakka.

[ImperialTuba]

 

They're one of the best units to carry meltaguns, as they've got the speed to get in threat range quickly.

I like them with melta guns. Due to Bolter discipline you can also put out a surprising amount of dakka.

 

I just had an interesting thought regarding Bolter Discipline and how it affects bikers. I see on Battlescribe that the Biker Sergeant can take a Boltgun or Storm Bolter, both of which are rapid fire. Does that mean in addition to the twin Boltguns on his bike he can rapid fire his Boltgun/Storm Bolter regardless of range and movement? If so, that's potentially 8 shots out of one bike. Pretty nice.

[Marshal Vespasian]

Yes he can.

 

Thinking of it you should also be able to shoot the Bolter Part of his Combi weapon at 2 shots as well. So hed put out 6 shots (2 at 4+) and the other guys 4 each - 14 Bolter shots plus 3 metla/6 Plasma shots for round about 100pts

[Marshal van Trapp]

Yeah it's disgusting, a vet biker squad can take storm bolters and storm shields for 40 points a model meaning you can get a 200 point 5 man squad that has a 3++ with T5 and 8 bolter shots out to 24" that can move 14" and still shoot fine Edited October 12, 2019 by Marshal van Trapp

[Captain Idaho]

Chainswords are a must. T5, 2 wounds, 14" move and 4 shots per model, plus 2 attacks basic in assault makes them fairly cheap but effective choices.

[Sergeant Centurion]

Hi brother.

 

1-Chainswords, 2 meltas, sometimes a powerfist for the sargeant. I like to mix some guns for more eficience against all posible foes.

2-I usually play bikes whit a Atack Bike attached in the squad(  or another squad of two) for more firepower, or even Land Speeders for even more heavy fire. An Apothecarie on bike are a good companion to, heal some wounds and bring them back in action.

3-Their best weapon its the speed,Hit and Run!, take objetives before your enemies. Go fast to help a gunline whit their guns. Whit meltas they can go close and make serius demage against heavy pools of wounds like tanks, monsters. Their twinlinked bolters can take down some less units of troops, maybe they dont make a carnage, but a few enemies slain can meaning less units to capture a point and thief that point becouse you have more models close. Or help to kill some miniatures after another of your units kill more previusly, and help to make that pals to fail a morale test.

4-Don´t now well, becouse i play what i like. I can say some people i know, see bikes like a waste of points. I dont want to sound pedantic, but when i field bikes, i broke a good part of their plans or criple some heavy units and make them less efficients, becouse they can´t react in time against or see the bikes like a great threat.

Hope you serve well, and take this dice to reroll some 1 in your plays!. And forgive me, becouse today my disleccia its killing me and its hard for me to express well.

Edited October 14, 2019 by Sargeant Centurion

[MeltaRange]

I think Bikes are super interesting for RG.  24" rapid fire 2 guns seems great with their Chapter Tactic to me!

 

I like to run mine deep and cheap...8 with chainswords and a storm bolter on the sarge.  With Raven Guard, I can see a few different builds working.  For me, I'd consider sawing off the bolt pistol and throwing a storm bolter on there.  3 Bikes (the other 2 with chainswords) makes a pretty fine unit for not a lot of investment.