|
Post by Trickster Raven on Mar 12, 2018 18:08:49 GMT -5
Does anyone have any tactics that work against the Adeptus Custodes? I've played them twice and was devastated by them in both games.
I'm not looking for any "guaranteed win" strategies, but some general pointers for standing more of a chance.
|
|
|
Post by Frosty the Pirate on Mar 12, 2018 21:23:23 GMT -5
I had yet to play against Custodes since I've been on hiatus for a while, but this is general advice I've developed and re-tuned for 8th from previous forms of "super-elite-low-model-count" style armies.
There's 3 general tips that might help.
1) Focus Fire -> Custodes have REALLY REALLY REALLY good armour saves. Like, their basic troop dude is tougher than most generic HQs like a Space Marine Captain. You really have to pour what feels like an absurd amount of firepower for removing a couple dudes into them. Just forcing them to takes lots of saves is all you can really do sometimes. Bolters, Plasma, Missiles, anything really. Just pick a target and fire everything at it until it's dead. Don't spread the firepower around. Custodes fight at the same strength whether they have 1 wound left or all of them. Removing whole models is the key.
2) Choose Shooting Weapons in an efficient order. -> You are dealing with multi-wound models, so in general try to shoot multi-damage weaponry first to kill the most models. Alternating between multi-damage and single damage firepower can cause loss of wounds, you need to be efficient. If there's a guy worked down to 1 wound, use some bolters to finish him off, if every model is at full-strength (or has equal or more wounds than you weapon's damage deals) shoot your multi-damage weapons. If you have a weapon with multiple firing profiles, you should choose the profile with the most shots that has at least -1 AP (-2 if the custode is in cover) that can wound on 3s or better. Damage Rolls or Multiple points of damage per hit is a big deal too. (For example, overcharging Hellblaster Plasma may be worth it for the Multi-damage per hit, even tho it doesn't improve the to-wound roll)
3) Save your Command reroll for a multi-damage weapon. -> Say you sneak a wound through with a Krak Missile onto a custode, but roll a 1 for damage. Reroll! That wound is already forced through a tough save, so take advantage! Rolling a 5 or 6 can kill a model outright, which can be devastating when each dude in the army costs upwards of 100 points in many cases.
I'd like to discuss further, but this is all the time I have for now.
|
|
|
Post by Jack Shrapnel on Mar 12, 2018 22:20:04 GMT -5
Does anyone have any tactics that work against the Adeptus Custodes? I've played them twice and was devastated by them in both games. I'm not looking for any "guaranteed win" strategies, but some general pointers for standing more of a chance. which army are you using to face them? that would help with some pointers... as every army has some different tools to use.
|
|
|
Post by Trickster Raven on Mar 12, 2018 22:21:01 GMT -5
Does anyone have any tactics that work against the Adeptus Custodes? I've played them twice and was devastated by them in both games. I'm not looking for any "guaranteed win" strategies, but some general pointers for standing more of a chance. which army are you using to face them? that would help with some pointers... as every army has some different tools to use. I play Eldar
|
|
|
Post by Jack Shrapnel on Mar 12, 2018 22:30:24 GMT -5
dark reapers for that multiple wound, decent AP that will have them using a 4+ invul or lose an entire model.
Custodes are slow with the exception of bikes, so use your mobility against them... once they're walking (after deep strike) they're not getting anywhere quick. Play keep away, take out the fast threats as early as possible.
Rangers to try and snipe out that banner dude character.. he's pretty annoying.
drown them in -2 AP 2-3 damage shots if you can... a 50/50 chance to lose an expensive model every hit goes a long way.
Planes should be pretty good against them too... again once the bikes are neutralized.
High priority target is to take out the bikes, then use your mobility (and flyers if you have them) to not let him touch you. Because if he touches you, you die.
|
|
|
Post by Frosty the Pirate on Mar 13, 2018 12:16:52 GMT -5
How tough is a basic Custode? Is it T4 or T5? Asking because I could see mass-shuriken going a long way to help as well with Doom support. Rerolling to wound with 6s being -3AP is a big deal.
Fire Prisms are also a great source of easily wounding shots, 2D6 Str 6 AP -3 D1 per turn can kill a lot of dudes. You can also use the 2D3 Str 9 AP-4 D3 profile against the characters or bikes.
Is there a particular theme to your eldar army? Do you play Bikes? Footdar? Wraiths? Could help us figure out what tools you already have that are most effective. (I also play Eldar FYI)
|
|
|
Post by Trickster Raven on Mar 13, 2018 13:31:23 GMT -5
Thanks for the suggestions everyone. It's a huge help.
Frosty: I like aspect warriors and include a lot of different types in my army. I do have a fire prism as well, and it's been a big help. I find the biggest problem I've been having is that Custodes have so many ways to avoid/negate damage they just won't go down (base T of 5, 4+ invul and an ignore wounds role).
|
|
|
Post by redshirt2375 on Mar 13, 2018 14:58:50 GMT -5
Thought I'd put it out there that Custodes only get an Ignore Wound roll vs wounds taken in the psychic phase
If your opponent is taking it against wounds from shooting or combat, they are inadvertantly cheating.
|
|
|
Post by Trickster Raven on Mar 13, 2018 15:07:29 GMT -5
Thought I'd put it out there that Custodes only get an Ignore Wound roll vs wounds taken in the psychic phase If your opponent is taking it against wounds from shooting or combat, they are inadvertantly cheating. Good to know. I probably just remembered it wrong. That, or they had a character with an aura ability.
|
|
|
Post by Jack Shrapnel on Mar 13, 2018 16:16:41 GMT -5
They have a unit (axe guys, not sure what their name is) which has FNP which is an extra save...
otherwise it's a 6+ during mortal wounds caused in the psychic phase.
But other than that 6+ hail mary, they have no psychic defense to speak of in an all custodes army. Multiple smites or other such abilities (Eldar have a few!) can make them take casualties.
focus fire.
|
|
|
Post by ohgodsnakes on Mar 13, 2018 16:28:27 GMT -5
Thought I'd put it out there that Custodes only get an Ignore Wound roll vs wounds taken in the psychic phase If your opponent is taking it against wounds from shooting or combat, they are inadvertantly cheating. Could be using Wardens (6+ ignore wounds on top of Aegis of the Emperor), or a warlord with the Superior Creation warlord trait (5+ ignore wounds)
|
|
|
Post by redshirt2375 on Mar 13, 2018 17:13:59 GMT -5
I forgot about them having it...my bad 😉
Shouldn't comment when the codex is at home
|
|
|
Post by Trickster Raven on Mar 13, 2018 17:18:10 GMT -5
I forgot about them having it...my bad 😉 Shouldn't comment when the codex is at home No worries. I can barely remember all of the rules for my army when the codex is on hand
|
|
|
Post by Frosty the Pirate on Mar 14, 2018 12:00:27 GMT -5
Ouch, well Aspects (outside of Dark Reapers) really don't fare well against Custodes unfortunately. Dire Avengers are second-best to the Reapers but they are hampered by 5s to wound on their huge volleys of shuriken.
One way you can really stick to Custodes is Mortal Wounds, Eldar are lucky enough to have LOTS of ways to generate mortal wounds. If you are running an Aspect list it's more than likely you have access to some of the better ones.
The Wave Serpent Shield is a free D3 Mortal Wounds on a 2+, and you can pay 1 CP every turn afterwards to use it again each turn.
Smites from various psykers and even Executioner on Farseers are also a great way to deal Mortal Wounds on the cheap, and Custodes only have a 6+ save against these blows. A lucky Farseer could potentially kill several Custodes on his own via casting both these powers.
There are also some less known ways to generate mortal wounds in an Eldar army via Aspects. Mandiblasters & Swooping Hawk Grenade Packs come to mind (I've been using these in my current list) and have had some success.
As mentioned above already, Rangers and their sniper rifles can be a real help too, softening up or even killing characters that provide buff auras or special rules across the army.
Lastly, the Jinx Runes of Battle power from Warlocks or Spiritseers can also be of particular value. Lowering their invul to 5++ can really help make those AP-3 wounds Eldar are great at generating via Shuriken weapons stick to the target.
Tactics and positioning go a long to playing against an elite army that simply outclasses your basic dudes. Custodes are the ultimate generalists, while Eldar Aspects are the ultimate specialists. If you can fight on your terms and where/when you want, you can turn the tide in your favour. Your speed is the key, and taking out fast-moving bikes first is definitely the priority as even a single Custode can rip an entire unit of Eldar apart. It will be a very bloody fight, and you will often have to sacrifice units to allow others to fight favourably, which is very much the opposite of the usual Eldar playstyle (Dying race and all...)
|
|
|
Post by Trickster Raven on Mar 15, 2018 21:58:56 GMT -5
Thank you for the help everyone Next time I play a custodes list I'll be sure to give your advice a try.
|
|