How to Optimize Armor of Contempt (AoC)
AoC has been out for awhile now and given a sorely needed boost to Space Marines. Let’s take a look how it works and how to best take advantage.
The rule:
Each time an attack is allocated to an Adeptus Astartes, Sanctic Astartes, Heretic Astartes or Adepta Sororitas model, worsen the Armour Penetration characteristic of that attack by 1.
This rule does not apply to any of the following:
• Models equipped with a storm shield, a relic shield or a combat shield (or a Relic that replaces one of these shields).
• Models with either the Sacresant Shield or Force Shielding ability (Celestian Sacresant and Nemesis Dreadknight units).
• Models that are under the effects of any other rule that worsens or reduces the Armour Penetration characteristic of an attack.
A simple example is a Space Marine in the open shot by enemy bolt rifle (AP1). If a wound occurs then the Space Marine armor save is 3+ ignoring AP1. Here’s a table up to AP4:
AP Sv (NO COVER)
0 3+
1 3+
2 4+
3 5+
4 6+
AP Sv (COVER)
0 2+
1 2+
2 3+
3 4+
4 5+
Now let’s consider the same example for a Terminator:
AP Sv (NO COVER)
0 2+
1 2+
2 3+
3 4+
4 5+
AP Sv (COVER)
0 2+
1 2+
2 2+
3 3+
4 4+
Now let’s consider the case of a Terminator with a storm shield (does not benefit from AoC):
AP Sv (NO COVER)
0 2+
1 2+
2 3+
3 4+
4 4+
AP Sv (COVER)
0 2+
1 2+
2 2+
3 3+
4 4+
So AoC is great versus both ranged and melee attacks, although the Terminator with a storm shield is still the most resilient. The difference for melee is there’s no benefit from cover. If you’re playing a melee centric army versus Space Marines the assault doctrine (typically does not occur prior to turn 3) coupled with at least an AP1 melee weapon (effectively AP2) helps dampen the benefit of