Sternguard Veterans Just Got DANGEROUS? Datasheet Review + Tactics

[@LysimedVenteel]

AUSPEX IT’S CHRISTMAS DAY, FOR THE LOVE OF THE GOD-EMPEROR, REST

[@danielhan4537]

Only in death does duty end 🫡

[@mrlakkie1612]

No.

[@GwainSagaFanChannel]

Christmas is not celebrated by everyone also December is the month where KZbinrs get paid the most ad revenue so I respect Auspex Tactics's grind

[@Teddybomb]

His rest is probably in the new year. Your leasure time is his payday.

[@Majere613]

Video scheduling is a thing, so I'd guess this was made in advance. I'd be more worried about us sad gitz commenting on Christmas moring...

[@stripeybag6977]

Sternguard Veterans make me question more why a third of the Tacticus Characters can't lead Bladeguard Veterans. Also yay, First Company is even more of a dead detachment.

[@basteala525]

Yeah it's kind of ironic that the first company detachment has negative synergy with one of their best units now. Still, I'll take it if it means Sternguard are playable again.

[@LinkiePup]

I just wish Combi-weapons weren’t a single profile. Like… that was the whole point of Combi-Weapons? Was to combine weapons? I just think it’s dumb how it’s a rather weak profile that only is good because of Dev-Wounds.

[@bobbywatson2737]

They should be able to choose, before the beginning of the game -or maybe write it on the army list, if they want anti vehicule, infantry or monster, to represent the variety of combis...

[@adeptuspotatocus6451]

"Simplified, not simple." I feel you with my Kombi-Shootas...

[@crazyshak4827]

Even if their combo with Librarius Conclave gets nerfed, I'm glad they got a nice buff to the units. I love the new kit. Hopefully, the inevitable nerf just hits the Conclave, not the Sternguard themselves. Merry Christmas, Auspex!

[@GwainSagaFanChannel]

GW: lets nerf both

[@basteala525]

I agree. I love the aesthetic but I also love the theme: the idea of these guys using just bolters or maybe a specialized combi bolter, but being so damned skilled with it that they can shoot out big units with them. It's a very evocative image.

[@Praetor_Encarmine]

I play 2x10 of them one with Kantor and the other one with a Librarian. In Stormlance, why Stormlance you'd ask, general mobility, a strat that gives sustained to bolt rifles and assault to heavy bolters(and Kantor bolter) at the same time, charge after advanced and shoot with Kantor full rerrol is enough to kill a Lord of Skulls, Knight or Daemon primarch with oath. And there is a enhancements to fall back and shoot ideal for the librarian in the second unit. I also play a unit of hellblasters with Lt that can use the sustained strat.

[@RevanR]

Bladeguard : "I thought what we had was special!" Edit : Merry Christmas everyone

[@JohnDoe-rp7mf]

Merry Christmas!

[@jfm.d5180]

Merry Christmas brothers. May you and those you love be blessed

[@IRdatank]

My 2k Lion's Blade detachment is running 3x 5-man squads to get some useful ranged threat, home field defense, while still having the Deathwing keyword.

[@matthewgiglia643]

This seems like a primo candidate to get nerfed, but before that happens I want to see some Necron lists with the Silent King + a bunch of C'tan absolutely obliterated.

[@peters6345]

@matthewgiglia643 yeah they're always happy to nerf any marine combo XD but ctan are fine apparently

[@basteala525]

@@peters6345 Which annoys the hell out of me. At least now marines may not be completely reliant on party tricks with the stat changes. Still if we're lucky they'll only nerf Fusillade and then buff Titus or something.

[@peters6345]

@basteala525 yeah at least I'm happy for the oath change. I think makes some detachments more worth a try. I'd like them to make the warsuit cheaper or maybe change it's a ability for something more useful

[@jakepeat690]

They only seem borderline OP in the librarian detachment, but knowing GW they'll punish the whole unit rather than just the detachment

[@peters6345]

@@jakepeat690 yeah problem is librarius detachment isn't crazy competitive in itself hope Gdubs maybe changes the OP bit to something else but still useful.. not just flat nerf.. but is Gdubs so I have limited hope

[@HB2K-h8m]

There's definitely a move in the balance dataslate to more infantry and more MWs. Maybe the designers tired of the tank and dreadnaughts meta

[@MarlboroFed]

aren't we all lmao

[@Jokitzm24]

I'm just returning to the game. I appreciate your channel being here to help get me back up to speed.

[@criosom2368]

As a dark angels player, Azrael with a 5 man, is a really scary late game skirmish unit, and giving full rerolls to wound to Azrael's weapons is scary, is rifle being dev wounds anti infantry 4+ and his sword also having dev wounds.

[@jyoung488]

Try 10 bro!

[@criosom2368]

@jyoung488 at that point it's a main unit, not a late game skirmish unit to keep safe untill turn 3/4. I will try the full 10 man brick in a repulsor instead of hellblasters as soon as I have the chance!

[@jyoung488]

@@criosom2368 oh yeah for sure. I don’t hide Azrael all game, he’s just too fun to not get in the action. 10 with Az are a great counter punch unit. Their melee is also pretty scary, weight of dice. Ive had that unit kill a full squad of meganobz with a war boss, then take the shooting and melee from 6 killakanz only to kill that entire unit as well lol. They are no joke and I like them better with Az than hellblasters.

[@FFXIForge]

​@@jyoung488they're really scary with Azrael now! I can't wait to get some reps with them.

[@sbeaber]

Which detachment did you do it in?​@@jyoung488

[@ProbablyFat]

Merry Christmas everyone! Emperor Protects and Auspex Informs!

[@paper404]

It’s not a loincloth 😭 😭 it’s a ‘Tabbard’.

[@TheCoincidence]

What happened with Combi-weapons in 10th Edition is criminal.

[@marshaledrek71]

Merry Christmas All!

[@Nomad_Red]

I just picked up this set cause I dig the white trim on the blue, had no idea they are pretty good on table top too!

[@omicdog]

I was thinking of using sternguard as my Dagger Driven Deep vanguard White Scars.

[@Praetor_Encarmine]

I tried that and it's great. I was playing two units so having one infiltrated in some deployments is quite nice. In vanguard also have the Guerrilla Tactics that is cool to put the unit at short range were the opponent didn't expected.

[@paulhenderson9905]

I did that with Azrael and an Apothecary against my mate’s Necrons. Deployed them to capture the midfield and they ended up deleting everything that can near them.

[@omicdog]

@@Praetor_Encarmine I'll also have Korsarro and three outrider units to sabotage objectives! They fall back, stern guard shoot.

[@Praetor_Encarmine]

@omicdog Korsarro leading sternguard can be cool too. He gives assault to heavy bolters and the full rerolls are nice for his sword with Devastating Wounds.

[@omicdog]

@Praetor_Encarmine think combi is the way to go?

[@Prophetofthe8thLegion]

Malum Caedo has an aura effect that increases stats of all sternguard on the table

[@LordyT34]

All sternguard gain devastating wounds on a 4+

[@cameronlang6858]

Should probably mention that he's a Homebrew epic hero, not remotely relevant to evaluating units from 40k

[@ZaZi-Zeta01]

Come on dude, don't be the guy people walk away from at parties​@@cameronlang6858

[@boozeybatman]

All squads should get an equivilent heavy weopon in my mind. For bonus of taking a full ten man squad Hellblasters with a plasma cannon, infurnus with a heavy pyro blaster, stern guard/intercessors heavy boltor. Eradicators with the multimelta And the t shirt cannon marines already have a heavy in the vengor bus launcher. That will cover the devestator squad thats bound to go away next. Then all we need is a grav gun and las cannon squad

[@paulhenderson9905]

I run a 10 man block with Azrael and they absolutely hose Necrons.

[@Brotherofthe4thCompany]

I definitely plan to get some Sternguard Veterans for my 3000 point army. Two sets of veterans when get The Lion. (Forgot to mention that I’m a Dark Angels player). I also plan to paint them in the colors of The Risen.

[@Olddata87]

My gift for this Christmas was sternguards, with lieutenant and apothicary cool to hear that😂

[@jaimesmiller414]

I’ve found running them next to Guilliman as I march him up the field as the game progresses has been the best use of them. Primarchs are basically bait. Free overwatch. Free rerolls. You can read the board easily to determine your primus and secundus OOM targets every turn, this has made their output well worth it for me.

[@AshenXr155]

Adrax with these guys seems pretty good. Halving oc vs opponent unit, Huge hits with him in melee and re rolling wounds in melee.

[@salamanda550]

Its such a shame combi-weapons kinda suck. Wanted to nab a box of these guys for the as far as i know unique to them Pyrecannon, and mix it with all Conbi Melta/Flamer for a fun looking ranged unit for my Salamanders.

[@ZaZi-Zeta01]

Do the Infernus Marines not have a Pyrecannon? Seems like a small bit of an oversight, honestly

[@salamanda550]

@ZaZi-Zeta01 nope! Maybe if they weren't still using the sculpts from Leviathan they might have but alas. It'd be really fun to take one Pyrecannon, four Pyreblasters and a Pyre Pistol on the Sgt.

[@ZaZi-Zeta01]

@@salamanda550 Y'know, screw a uptullionth Lieutenant - just give us real Infernus and Outrider sculpts!

[@salamanda550]

@ZaZi-Zeta01 right??? Its so weird they haven't gotten non-monopose models with more options. Like, every other kit did, why not my glorious flamer boy!

[@ZaZi-Zeta01]

@salamanda550 There's a lot of internal balance strangeness going on with them, honestly. But hey, rule of cool! Eventually, whatever you built has it's time in the metal. Used to run Sternguard with Librarian - now after December all the sudden I'm running top of the line, apparently

[@Erebus_the_trustworthy]

Auspex is going to have the EC & Fulgrim reveal before GW does. GO TO BED YOU MACHINE!

[@GeoffSmith34]

merry christmas Auspex and everyone out there in chat.

[@norseland]

xD you forget Anvil Siege Force

[@francoabad4911]

Strenguard with Librarian detachment seems staple indeed

[@TheHunted117]

Sternguard with Azriel sounds really interesting

[@CTimmerman]

9:15 Assuming supercharged shots (15 vs 5 kills) and Armor of Contempt (12 vs 15 kills). I'm getting only at most 11W to Land Raider and Terminator Squad though. And Sternguard Bolt Rifle (x5) only does 21W to uncovered Termagants. Maybe my calculator is still buggy (it doesn't go through all possible loadouts for one) or you swapped one for a Pyrecannon.

[@juultoo]

In blood angels they make a halfway decent mixed phase unit with a sang priest.

[@Lomhow]

Gives them some durability too. Hadn't considered the combo before? Stealing this idea lmao

[@ChrisPrice12]

I already owned 10. Got some ideas for them now. Maybe with a drop pod.

[@ZaZi-Zeta01]

Used to think Drop Pods were a joke because I was upset I couldn't drop the pod on top of enemy vehicles, but since I've actually learned the rules now it does seem rather tempting

[@ChrisPrice12]

@ZaZi-Zeta01 10 man Infernus teams dropping out of orbit is now some of my friend's worst nightmares. That WAS a maxed out Krieg squad with Command Squad attached.

[@tomjordan7606]

I think a points increse of 10 or 15 per model might be the way to go here. The rule they have works in a good way, and its not nearly as mad as some was back in the early days.

[@insertstupidname4085]

21 seconds, nice. Also Merry Christmas!!!

[@Youschnoob649]

Remember this is all assuming sterngaurd are entirely within 12” range. Outside of 12” they really drop off vs hellblasters

[@Bad_bandit44]

Where do you get your data sheets ?

[@GrimdarkKing]

Stern Guard: the unit you take when you want to obliterate your enemies at 12 inches but have to mortgage a kidney to afford the models. Truly the Emperor’s finest.

[@mtrunkello]

Enchancement: +30pts, sternguard: +40pts. Errata: enchancement works once per battle. Classic gw triple nerf.

[@mikeg8564]

I love the changes and how they affect Boarding Action

[@Grooviebones]

Hope the librarius enhancement doesn't take too bad of a hit since I fully expect it to get nerfed. It's a little problematic against monsters that HAVE to get in melee range and are punished for it but it's completely fine in my opinion for a heavy tank to get Dev wounded off the board if they let an infantry brick with no movement tricks get within 12" of them.

[@scolack123]

Even outside rapid fire youre still doing 20 MW Rapid fire range only adds 5 mortal wounds average

[@Kingofdragons117]

@@scolack123 Did 20 against a Battlewagon without Pyro active. God these guys are mean. Angron can eat your heart out.

[@Praetor_Encarmine]

Probably they'll add an exception to devastating wounds weapons in the enhancement like they previously did with Deathwatch's special ammunition strat.

[@ToddGrindle]

In blood angels with a Capt with RFW they seem decent as a 5 man

[@danabbey4232]

Sternguard are my all time favourite unit in 40K so great to see them looking strong again 💪. They’ll have to fix the conclave combo at some point but please GW leave the unit as it is 🙈😂😂😂

[@peters6345]

They did make em stronger but knowing Gdubs they'll make em useless again soon. 😅

[@philgagnon275]

Only after it's "temporarily out of stock" in their website

[@Spec0psGrunt]

combi weapons need a rules rewrite so bad

[@veryblocky]

Bro, it’s 2AM Christmas Day. Go to bed

[@huffinLeeroy]

On paper, the ancient with Fire Discipline attached looks dangerous. Though I do like the 4+ invuln of the Librarian. And a captain would up the melee threat significantly. Choices, choices, choices!

[@Bumbaclart247]

Just add Titus for the sustained. It’ll be cheaper

[@huffinLeeroy]

Dark Angels, pal, can't run him, unfortunately. Have run them with Azreal, though. That was a beastly combo before the patch. And run Gladius because DA detachments pretty meh.

[@colbybastian17]

I hope they re-evaluate anvil siege force's detachment rule. Now that +1 wound is baked into oath for compliant chapters, I feel like it loses a lot of oomph. I still feel like Stern Vets vit that detachment pretty well, but it makes me sad

[@Naddabeht]

I’m going to get 5 more and run them Titus or Tigurius. Have Uriel deep strike. I’ve had 5 in my army since I got them in Leviathan. I also think the models look great and feel like painting space marine characters.

[@repthe21st66]

Can someone clarify for me if the average damage numbers he posts here are for a 5man or a 10man squad?

[@RagingHorn7795]

I've tried this on a test roll in best case scenario, oath, ten man, sustained 1 and I got 17MWs. Then the Librarian, got 4 more MW but failed hazardous and caused him 3 MW. Overall it seems very situational, I'm not entirely convinced its a guaranteed thing, and needs nerfing. But hey

[@jamesosmond-wright6999]

The intercessors got a new ability added but by the looks of it the sternguard veterans swap abilities

[@jeffreywalker926]

I don't think Azrael and the Sturnguard veterans are counterintuitive actually Azrael and Sturnguard veterans would do perfect because he can do flanking you know instead of the front line work he is doing objectives

[@charleshowie2074]

Their Tabards, not loincloths! 😭😭😭

[@anamelessname4996]

Don’t forget Pedro kantor can be leading sternguard

[@Praetor_Encarmine]

Yeah, and with the +1 attack rule they make devastating 40 shoots(8 of them with damage 2) at short range. Plus 5 damage 2 from Kantor's bolter. Then they still can charge and Kantor with full rerolls and +1 to wound in his fist can be surprisingly dangerous. Last weekend the unit with Kantor killed a Lord of Skulls and Angron in the same game.

[@SafetyBriefer]

I’d love to see the math-hammer of them vs DW KT with similar load out.

[@yacocanessa1531]

Would it be good with Anvil?

[@commorragh13]

I thought the same thing. Of all the detachments to talk about Anvil is the one that makes sense.

[@MarlboroFed]

Sternguard have been one of the best units to take with anvil even before the buffs.

[@eg.1803]

auspex!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Fulgrim is out. Be Fast my friend

[@garrisoncox724]

What about Anvil Siegeforce?

[@Swampert919]

Their boltrifles already have heavy and if you are a codex compliant chapter then they’ll already have a +1 to wound against the oath target which is the whole reason you bring them. It’d be better to use with a non codex compliant chapter, but it does require you to stand still so there might be better options.

[@ARCsvideos]

Auspex we love your videos, but take a break sometimes!

[@TravelingAnvil]

I reckon theyre a good argument for "illuminating fire" in the Lions claw detarchment.

[@skilledwarman]

Ah damn it... I was just planning to pick up a box of them and they're gonna sell out arent they?

[@frostedbutts4340]

Convert em if you want. Intercessors are cheap on ebay + spare fancy bits and a nice paintjob.

[@epicfpv8717]

Im still going to take a tactical squad of 10 brothers for 140 points over a 5 man squad for 100 points. The fact you can also split into 2x 5 man teams. Sternguard are good but I think tactical are still the better choice imo.

[@Bumbaclart247]

140 points of nothing vs 100 points of something 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@RSBurgener]

Nerfs incoming; maybe even before the New Year. We shall see.

[@Majere613]

I feel maybe that Blood Angels Sternguard are being downplayed a tad here. We all know how scary the Smash Captain with Rage-Fuelled Warrior is, but to truly unlock his full power you need full hit and wound re-rolls. Typically you'd put him with Assault Intercessors who are cheaper and grant that if you attack an Oathed target on an Objective, but running him with Sternguard instead means you can lay that combo down basically anywhere with melee support that's one point of AP worse and far, far better shooting. If you really want to push the boat out, add the Sanguinary Priest and you're close to death star territory, especially if he takes Speed of the Primarch to make charging the unit potentially very dangerous too. With this build I think I'd be very tempted by the Pyrecannon since their Overwatch will be pretty decent if the Oathed target somehow survives and tries to fall back.

[@giacomomasini9686]

Not even in Christmas does duty end

[@michaelsalyers9470]

Now that oat of moment has changed this ability isn’t good…you have to use a cp to reroll some wounds just for these guys… you select an oath target the target becomes unoathed once you complete that units attack…it not for the entire phase any more so this isn’t great

[@justinclark7868]

That comparison is so messed up hellblasters do so much more damage and you don’t need to rely on dev wounds

[@thekrokoo]

SM dont need more S4 ap-1 shots, and without oath, they are kinda useless (if you use them, be sure to target them at oath or they are waste of points) . And with oath every unit is kinda crazy now in codex SM. So I would say they are not that great and they lose against units with more AP shots. Librarius combo will be nerfed soon (as every bug that GW didnt see when they write rules) - so why even bother. Am not saying sternguard are bad now, they are good, but SM have a plenty shots with S4 ap-1 - aoth is not worth to use it on units such like these.

[@LordCrate-du8zm]

AUSPEX PLEASE STOP. YOUR FAMILY MISSES YOU!

[@Damnedlegion40k]

Add a comment...😮

[@IAMACHESBORGER]

QUICK MAKE A VIDEO COVERING FULGRIM IMMEDIATELY!!!

[@r3drumg33k3]

That's almost so OP people will refuse to play against that unit....yes please on average one shot an anything in the game for 280 points...

[@mtrunkello]

Most armies have a broken damage combo like this. Doesnt matter if you can roll saves against it or not. You got hit you are dead.

[@r3drumg33k3]

Sure for another 200 points with 2 characters and wargear.....

[@r3drumg33k3]

100*** won't let me edit

[@mtrunkello]

@@r3drumg33k3 you act like people wouldnt bring this combo for 380pts lol

[@r3drumg33k3]

@@mtrunkello that is the problem...this is nuts for the points ...even adding 100 points like you said lol

[@bobbywatson2737]

Broken datasheet watting for the next nerf to come... It's not like everyone didn't see it from the first day, except the guys at GW obviously 🙄

[@mtrunkello]

Its not the datasheet thats broken. Datasheet is mediocre at best. Its the enchancement thats problematic.

[@deanastephensosborne5604]

They had to after secret level after all they met a age of sigmar daemon and it took titis to stop it

[@gregtso7505]

Those were bladeguard

[@deanastephensosborne5604]

@gregtso7505 oh okay

[@Freak69Show]

I don't feel bad on the price because aspect worroirs have been the same price for years...

[@awkwardshrimp]

Happy Christmas!