Codex Deathwatch Points updates: The Lemondish Leaks, and Shotguns are back!

Bloggers and Youtubers often say how grateful they are for comments and likes. Usually it's just because it makes them more search engine optimised. I, however, could not be more grateful for comments since they give me access to the 40K community.

I have a full 24 hour job in the boarding house, and so my hobby time is far, far less than most other Games Workshop commentators. What little time I do have for hobbying is usually spent indoctrinating my children into being nerds playing with my kids. So whenever you guys drop me comments revealing new information, it saves me the time spent digging through forum posts and 2 hour videos to get to interesting information.

My unending thanks goes to Lemondish, a routine commenter who has revealed some great information about the Deathwatch Codex. They have driven development of my analysis spreadsheets by a huge margin over the past few days, and I could not be more grateful. Thank you Lemondish!

Here's what he revealed:

Hey friends!
A quick glance at some codex review videos and it looks like Stormbolters will be 4 points, and shotguns 3.
- Lemondish

Followed up with:

Yep! There's a shift in the way SIA is pointed now. It used to be part of the baseline cost of the model, which was a problem when you wanted to give that model weapons that never used it. Now it's attached to the weapon cost instead!
Almost all weapons are a point more than they otherwise would be, with Stormbolters ending up 2 points more. On top of that, Vets dropped to 16 points (down from 19) and Intercessors remain at 18. Since Intercessors have to take both a rifle AND a pistol, they end up at 20 standard with Vets sitting 3 points behind with a boltgun and chainsword (which it looks like is still free). Stormbolter equipped Vets end up equal to standard Intercessors, but -1W, slightly less range, and double the shots at AP 0. Or you could stick with the boltgun and grab a power sword, making that Vet significantly more killy in melee for a point more.
Everyone will love the SIA Stormbolter, but I think the humble SIA empowered Boltgun still has a place here, especially with an army where points are going to be really tight to come by. 3 points may not sound like an awful lot, but it adds up I feel.
- Lemondish

The good news is is that shotgun armed Veterans average out to be just as points efficient as Stormbolters!

When you take into account the points cost, the close combat ability and the defensive durability of the model alongside the shooting competency, the difference in efficiency between the two comes to a fractions difference. Stormbolters are ahead by 0.15 efficiency... which you just won't notice with the randomness of dice rolls.

Shotguns have quite a specific niche where they operate best though, and that would be against close combat hordes and their good overwatch. In other situations they're still good, that's just where they shine.

Bolters are much more efficient for their points cost than both, so taking a minimum squad with just bolters and chainswords is the best way to go for pure points efficiency. A bit bland, but the SpecIssAmmo gives them a heck of a lot of flexibility, particularly coupled with the anti-tank ammo Stratagem.

Stalker bolters remain useless. Unless they get FAQ'd with the Sniper rule, in which case they become awesome (2 shot sniper rifles wounding on 2+... my gosh). In gact they wouldn't need the mortal wounds. Just allow them to target enemy characters.

Whilst it's not point optimal, I'm revising my standard load out to 4 Bolter/Chainsword armed Veterans, and one Veteran armed with a Deathwatch Frag cannon. This clocks in at about 114 points 109 points (thanks CyberNinja! You get a post to yourself later this week), and has tools to threaten pretty much anything in the game along with the excellent overwatch offered by the Frag Cannon.

Intercessors though... these guys are marginally more efficient than the regular Bolter/Chainsword Veterans. Their edge is (as ever) in their second wound, with the Bolt Rifle really abusing the heck out of SpecIssAmmo. Wounding on 2+ with an AP-1 weapon is just horrendous! As Lemondish suggests in a previous comment, they will make for excellent early game anchor units, marching up the field absorbing fire and giving out quite a lot of pain.

Autobolter armed Intercessors are less points efficient, but that's the trade off you make for mobility, and better projection of double shot Kracken/Hellfire rounds.

A word on Power weapon veterans:

They're not as efficient as fielding Veterans armed with chainswords, but they will certainly hit harder in melee against armour 4+ and above. 3 attacks per Veteran is hard to pass up, but they will be a very flexible unit.

Also, they look cool.

At this stage it's almost certain I will be restarting my Space Marine Field Police as a Deathwatch army. I'll just need to pick up some conversion sprues, and go to work on my current army!

Until next time!

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