Heavy Support:
In the heavy support section, i tend to find that 3 slots aren't always enough for me, since i like most of the units there.
Long Fangs:
This must be the most popular unit choice in all the codex because it is so versatile and comes at a very good price. They are basically the same as a space marine devastator squad, but much cheaper, and on the top you can fit in 5 heavy weapons and a squad leader. The best build for the unit is not really my place to say but i have my favorite way of fielding them, and so i think i might as well present them to you.
#1 Missile Fangs
5 missile launchers and the squad leader completely naked comes in at a handy 140 Pts.
It's dirt cheap and can take out just about anything reliably. The only thing they seem to struggle with are 2+ Armor save units.I usually just fire away with the Krak Missiles on anything since it's simply the way that most reliably takes out units in the long run. Of course, against hordes like Nids and xenos with bad armor saves the frag missiles can cause quite the carnage.
I like this option because it's cheap and gets the job done most of the time.
#2 Multi Purpose Fangs
3 Missile Launchers, 2 Lascannons, Naked Sergeant. 170 Pts.
This will have to be my favorite build for Long Fangs since they can take out just about anything. Especially when they are given divination Re-Rolls from a Rune Priest. You have the lascannon to take out Terminator Equivalents and vehicles, and the missile launchers can do most things except for the 2+ saves. I usually like to field two of these squads as it gives me 6 missile launchers and 4 lascannons. If you have 2 Rune Priests with divination you can twin link them both to really put the hurt on your opponent no matter what he brings.
With this build it really helps to have the squad leader in there as he can make the rest of the unit split fire as they wish. So in general you will be able to separately target the units on the other side of the table with the appropriate weapon for the situation. If your opponent doesn't bring anything with a 2+ armor save, then jolly good for you. One more thing which i feel that this build brings forth by mixing the weapons as i do, is that it usually takes some time before you lose all of your Lascannons or all of your missile launchers.
Well, those are my ways of fielding them. In addition, Long Fangs in a Bastion or an Aegis Defence Line is not a bad idea as it gives you a solid cover save from turn 1. My favorite would probably be the bastion as you get higher up and can more easily draw line of sight to more enemies. In addition you can hide some stuff behind your bastion if you play things that ignore cover saves or if you go second and there is no night fighting.
The aegis is not a bad choice either since you get more space for the rest of your units to possibly hide behind a wall.
Alright, so the predator is cool and all, but it doesn't suit my style. But with the lascannons you can safely park behind an aegis defence line and enjoy your armor 13 in the front and add a nice cover save if you get shot at. I think it's a viable enough choice, but i think other units in general have a better chance of winning you the game.
I think that 9 times out of ten i would go with the lascannon options if i lack AP2 weaponry in my list.
Whirlwind
However much i like the whirlwind, i always seem to struggle to wound and kill just about anything with it. With so much marine armies around i really can't bring myself to integrate this model in my lists. Against horde armies the whirlwind only needs a few good hits to actually make it's points back and is of course a nice addition to most armies out there, but again you can take long fangs as a better tool to deal with most things.
But i urge everyone who haven't tried this one before to give it a shot, it's not bad, you just need to have the right kind of target for it.
Vindicator
Hello there! I'm sorry if i can't keep my opinion of this one objective, but it is afterall my favorite space marine vehicle. It's a S10 AP2 Pieplate that you simply dump on stuff to make it dead. and being able to move 6" and Shoot with the demolisher cannon is quite impressive. Good front armor makes this one a bit more survivable and therefore is a viable choice in my book. If anyone disagrees with me, you may state your opinion in the comment fields below :)
This is a good unit to guard your midfield role, but there is one thing that you should watch out for when it comes to using the Vindicator. Army Synergy. If you run a very assault focused army, then the vindicator will often find itself shooting at your own units via scatter or finding itself out of targets in range since enemy units are preoccupied with being in close combat with yours.
Land Raiders
Here we have the biggest and baddest of tanks that a marine army can field. Maybe it doesn't bring the most devastating fire options, but it's more of a question of what you can put inside it, the survivability of Armor 14 all the way around, 4 Hull points and the fact that it's an Assault Vehicle.
#1 Standard Pattern with LascannonsIt's cool enough, it can take out other tanks and Terminators and such, but the long range doesn't always fit that well with the cargo it carries(if it carries anything at all). I personally would like to use that utility at all times since it offers of a great protection for valuable units that can be placed inside of it. The transport capacity is 10 models, or 5 models with the bulky rule.
#2 Redeemer Pattern
I have a bit of a soft spot for the Redeemer since it carries those nasty flamers at S6, AP3 that can really make your opponents blood boil. Fill it with Terminators, drive up close and unleash hell before the meltagun comes back into your face. I know i have said that i don't really like fielding terminators, but they are good nonetheless and should therefore be included as a viable choice. Add a multi-Melta in for a nice possibility of wrecking other nearby enemy vehicles. It's also nice to mention that the capacity of the Redeemer is 12 models. I start to think of putting 10 Grey Hunters In there with fancy upgrades, a Wolf Guard Pack Leader with some nice weapons and of course at last, maybe even a Wolf Lord or Wolf Priest.
The wolf priest seems like a very good option to me since he has alot of nice buffs he can give to his squad, like Preferred enemy and Fearless
#3 Crusader Pattern
The Crusader pattern comes in here at last with what at first glance might seem a little weak. I mean, sure it doesn't bring a cascade high strength and low ap shots, but it does bring quite many shots! The Hurricane Bolters fires 6 shots each in rapid fire mode, which totals to 12 shots counting both the sponsons. In addition these are twin linked. You also have an Assault cannon and the option to bring a Multi-Melta, which i think is great to bring to fill the hole when it comes to anti tank option on this one. The transport capacity of this sucker is no less than 16 models which i find quite amazing, as you can fit 8 terminators in that thing! The points cost of course is sky-high, but it is still amazing.
The good part about the land raider is that it can be taken as a dedicated transport for wolf guard models, that way it doesn't tear away at your Heavy Support slots.
Conclusions
So, i think we can all agree that the Heavy Support choices we have really meshes well with the entire army, no matter how we build our armies, there will always be something in here that will give great support to other units that wishes to advance on their own or with these choices.
With that out of the way, as i usually do, i would like to ask you guys about how you feel about the units we have to offer from the heavy support section! Don't be shy, come with 'em :) Critique is always welcome, and if you have any exciting combinations then fire away, the comment box is just below!
