TERMINATOR Review - Tartaros & Cataphractii units in games of Horus Heresy 

Apart from Firedrakes (Salamanders-specific Cataphractii) with the out-of-the-box thunder hammer/stormshield loadout, I really haven't dabbled much with terminators, though from what I've seen on the table you really do need to invest in a delivery mechanism of some kind to get your points out of them, even if it's just making them ridiculously durable enough to shrug off heavy ordnance as they slowly but inevitably march up the board like heavily armoured slasher villains. Really, the only issue with going with the stormshield is that you must give up the combi-bolter. As for the special/heavy weapons, they're indeed hit or miss, and as was stated often on a legion-by-legion basis. Word Bearers, Thousand Sons, and Dark Angels alike all can make considerable use out of their legion-specific plasma weapons (Word Bearers especially for Pinning), and while Reaper Autocannons are typically better in bulk than as a 1-in-5 (interestingly, you can kit out an entire squad of Varagyr termies with Reaper ACs) they can give termies a bit of ranged AT capability as they close in for the kill, especially for Imperial Fists and Iron Warriors. Heavy Flamers on the other hand have more of a use as a defensive weapon, especially for Salamanders, if not helped by the fact that you need to get in so close to use it that you're likely going to get into melee anyway. Insofar as melee is concerned, you generally want ablative bodies if you take Unwieldy weapons in the squad, again apart from instances where you've made the termies ridiculously tough to kill.

I play SoH. I run my tartaros with the carosan power tabars. Free upgrade for any model with a power weapon. They swing at initiative, +1 S, AP3, two handed, and breach on a 4+. I run a chaplain with them and they can shred any marines and go toe to toe with most other termies. Stack that with the merciless fighter rule where they enemy is -1 strength first round of combat (which also modifies insta death for P-fists and T-hammers)

Good point, im not sure we brought that up as well, just that it can run.

Let us know how it goes ! Always stoked to have another heresy player.

You don't find the low weapon skill to be a drawback tho? I'd be worried decking them out in Hammers because they're gonna have a hard time against WS5 terminators and Centurions

@@Zilegil WS4 s a handicap, for sure. But S8, AP2 and Brutal 2 is great against other legion Terminators. They must make not one, but two invulnerable saves or they die.

I mean .... they miss 1/3rd of the time, they are only AP 2 50% of the time and they wont kill a termy outright since they have 2 wounds. If they were 5 points sure throw um on there, for 15, I dont think that they are worht it. You are not going to shoot every turn with them you might not shoot them at all. They look bad ass and they are not worthless like the other options , I say go for it if you like them. I think they are "cool" but they are not a great choice anymore.

Oh and they still get hot ....

For me they do ok, personally. They will usually make their points back.

​@@meatlaserEh... Gets Hot isn't much of a problem for termies in general as it's resolved at AP4 unlike last edition.

Pretty much the same as any other legion, I think there are some ways that you can get Inflitrate wtih your Legion termies though with the Alphas. It invovles characters thoguh. When it works and you build around it thought, thats pretty cool. Word Bearers, I would guess your points would be better spend on Gal'Vorback but I mean, if you like Termies then go for it, they are not bad at all.

By technicality, any legion can use Cataphractii reasonably well on the tabletop. It's just a question of whether you can equip them to take advantage of their Legion traits or wargear. Word Bearers cataphractii aren't exceptionally noteworthy on their own, but they do have access to Pinning via Warpfire Blaster, and when adequately supported (Biomancer Librarian typically does a good job of this) can be more difficult to shift than they first appear. Alpha Legion on the other hand don't really synergize with cataphractii all that much apart from being discount Lerneans (who are also in Cataphractii). Doesn't stop you from getting in your opponent's face with a hammer reasonably well, but their Legion rules lean more into shooting.