Lascannon Lust

Having been absent from the 40k tabletop game for more than a few years, I was surprised at how, particularly with the gamers I play against, the preference for anti-armour weaponry had shifted to the multi-melta.

A lot of the responses I received when asking why, focused around the cost of a lascannon, as well as the AP of the multi-melta.
Personally, I'm not ready to get rid of my lascannons just yet.

There are 9 options for getting a lascannon into your army -

• Tactical Squad
• Razorback
• Sternguard Squad
• Venerable Dreadnought
• Dreadnought
• Legion of the Damned
• Devastator Squad
• Land Raider
• Predator

Infantry

Tactical Squad: The 10 man Tactical Squad option is cheap and cheerful, however, when placed alongside a free missile launcher, multi-melta or heavy bolter, it is often scorned, and I can see why. The missile launcher and heavy bolter both provide a decent ranged anti-infantry option, and with the missile launcher there's the anti-armour use as well.

Sternguard Veteran Squad: The Sternguard options cost slightly more, and even the option of using 2 per 5 man squad doesn't make it that great a choice. The other weapons available (at a lower cost) have the same advantages as those in the Tactical Squad. 2 heavy bolters or missile launchers for 10 pts anyone?

Legion of the Damned: I'm yet to be convinced of the practical use of a LotD squad, yes they have a load of very good looking models, and fluff wise are the dog's bollocks, however, the cost of upgrading this squad with anything, never mind a lascannon, is mind boggling.

Devastator Squad: The cost of running these guys with the maxed out 4 lascannons option is just nuts. At 230 pts before any of the Sgt's options, you're just short of buying a Land Raider. And given that you'll probably want a little bit of protection in the form of Dedicated Transport for these guys, then that cost is just going to go up.

Realistically, there isn't a compelling argument for taking a lascannon in any of the infantry options available (and although I know Sternguard, LotD and Devastators aren't troop choices, they are on foot). Infantry are, after all, just like in real life, simply there to take and hold ground, and what anti-armour they do need is more cheaply available in the form of missile launchers, or as an upgrade to dedicated transport options.

Dreadnoughts: This is where lascannons start to earn their wages, a dreadnought with twin-linked lascannons is going to give any opponent you are facing a few things to think about. My favourite load out for a Dreadnought is Close Combat Weapon, Heavy Flamer (in place of Stormbolter) and Twin-Linked Lascannon. Perhaps a bit pricey at 145 pts, but look at what your getting, Strength 9, AP 2, 48" Anti-Armour, Template Anti-Infantry and someone's going to get hurt Close Combat. And for me? It's the lascannon that brings it all together. Best suited to working in a similar manner to a squadron (either 2 or 3), I see these guys as moving anti-armour platforms. The threat of two or three twin-linked lascannons being able to hit almost everywhere on the board is enough to keep a lot of heads down, and armour hidden. This also makes them an attractive target, but your opponent is either going to have to get his own armour into the open to face them, or get up close with something that can take them down.

Armour: I've included the Razorback in here even though it's a Dedicated Transport option. The lascannon load out on either the Predator or Razorback has, although slightly pricey depending on your choice, got to be seriously considered. Both can give you a cheaper, less armoured version of a Land Raider, with the same advantages; range and strength. As with the Dreadnought, using these guys in two's or three's is going to control large swathes of the board, and your opponent is seriously going to have to commit to kill them off.

Whilst there are undoubtedly advantages to using multi-meltas on Fast Attack options such as the Attack Bike and Land Speeder, where they can close in quickly with the enemy armour and do the damage, it's worth remembering that a throw of 6 on a lascannon hit, is going to penetrate anything in the 40k universe.