Word Bearer special/unique units (I do not rate them)

**EDITED**

As I wrap up with the word bearers, here is my overview of their Legion specific units.

So starting off we have the Ashen Circle: WS 5 assault marines all with hand flamers (str3 ap6 so they're pretty bad) and special chain axes, which reduce fall back distances by one inch (only ap4). Not great as it means they're closer to you for a counter charge but then again you have 5-10 hand flamers so charging you isn't really the best idea.

They can all get power axes for 5 points but as they only have 3+ armour terminators and ultramarine 2+ squads are going to eat you for breakfast before you get to attack at initiative 1 this may not be as good as it sounds.

When Ashen Circle deep strike, units within d6 take damage from their flamers, nice, but not that game breaking. Their hammer of wrath counts as flame damage so it's less effective against salamaders. Over all pretty meh. Can't be joined by HQ because they have the same rule as destroyers. Can purchase phospherex grenades, doesn't do a lot for them. 

Ashen circle are supposed to attack the things that give the enemy morale. Yet you can't burn down banners and they don't have ap3/2 on intitive so they can't kill HQ or bodyguard squads effectively. Over all I do not rate this sqaud, even as troops with Zaylak. (Dark channeling doesn't make up for how meh this unit is).

Honestly an expensive unit that loses most of its bite against a tactical squad of 15 is not a winner in my books.


Ashen Circle
Kill 3 with hand flamers
-1 to over watch
Kill 1.5 HoW

Kill 2.6666666667 Chain Axes
- 1.5833333333 return combat
Kill 5.7777777778 Power Axes
-1 Sergeant return combat

- 3.5833333333
Kill 11.4444444445

Win combat by: 7.8611111112

 2.77777778% Rally Chance (snake eyes for LD)

Odds of sweeping 66.66666667%

64.8148148166% winning combat.

Meh

Gal Vorbak:

2 wounds (3 on the sergeant) Str/toughness and Initative 5, weapons skill 5 demon marines the size of terminators. Awesome. One problem, 3+ save 5++ invol. These guys are wanta be terminators with 2 wounds and higher toughness.

They are good, they have deep-strike, cause fear and are fearless. A better option stick them in a spartan or land raider Phobos and charge them into TACTICALS, never charge a squad with lots of power swords. These guys will go down even with T5, the 5++ helps but against a veteran squad with power swords you will be massacred (especially if they charge you with furious charge).

You can take 1 in 5 weapons like melta guns (don't you'll waste shooting) or power swords (TAKE THESE). The captain can take lighting claws or a Power Fist. Power Fist is probably your best bet as it goes to str10, with rending. Unlike Sergeants the Dark Mytar has T5 and 3 wounds so he can easily afford to go last.

These guys have rending, which counters their lack of ap anything when they come stock. This doesn't mean you can charge terminators, it just means that you will be better against marines.

Coupled with Rage and 2 CQC weapons each model has a whopping 5 attacks each, meaning you can expect a decent amount of rending hits.

Also nice little gimmick is they have bolt pistols so they can shoot unlike 40k possessed.

Over all a good unit but one that needs to be upgraded before its any good.

A full squad can convincingly take out a large Tac squad in one round of combat.
My preferred load out is for a full squad: DM with Art armour and a Power Fist, 7 stock Gal Vorbak and 2 Gal Vorbak with Power Swords.

If need be, you can equip them for vehicle hunting, giving them Power Mauls (Str5+2+Rending) and a Powerfist (Str10+Rending)

Finally we have the Mal Ghara contemptor dreadnought. This guy is very expensive points wise so make sure you know what you want him to do.

 The rules for this guy seem to contradict how WBs work: he damages near by demons and psykers. Two of the main things that sets WBs apart from the other legions by having. *facepalm*

With 4 attacks on the charge at Str 10 he is nasty in the assault. Don't put him in combat with marines they will just tie down your expensive model all game. Charge tanks and blow them up.

He has a nice rule where you have to reroll successful invulnerable saves in close comabt with him if he has his close combat weapon. Also you must test for morale of the unit suffers ANY casualties from his shooting. Can take a plasma cannon, multi melta and auto cannon with this rule (las cannon doesn't get this rule). This rule is nice but you want your enemy to be close to you with Word Bearers as they are an assault legion.

Over all I don't rate the Word Bearer special units (Expetion for Gal Vorbak). Unlike their special characters these units are over costed for what they do and don't really give you anything great that normal units couldn't do better for less points.

 I would say don't get these units, invest your points in legion units, give them dark channeling and artificer armour and power Axes, take the WB special characters and buy units that will work together.

This concludes my Word Bearer legion focus, if any new units are released I will come back and do an over view of them. Up next is Iron Hands, followed by their best friends/murderers the glorious Emperors Children. 

Hope you enjoyed this first legion overview, and I look forward to creating more.