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Post by tiberius183 on Nov 14, 2012 0:40:57 GMT -5
Ok, I've fielded him numerous times, and yes, 6th ed did make him better, but overall, he's not been that effective. And yes, the PBS/Primaris psychic shriek combo can be quite devastating (if you pass both psychic tests and your opponent doesn't get ONE of the two deny the witch tests he would get in that situation), but, a similar effect can be obtained with a demo charge.
Am I just using him wrong? How does everyone else use him?
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Post by hendrik on Nov 14, 2012 3:31:47 GMT -5
i've ran him a couple of times, but never has he had a higher kill ratio than a 70 pts infantry unit could do. his biggest problem is that he's simply too expensive compared to other available alternatives. a runepriest is only 30 points more, but can do SO much more damage to your opponent. and the only requirement to have said runepriest is that you take a grey hunter pack too. an option i've never regretted before (but then again I am a space wolf player). i always think of the grey hunters as slightly better veterans with bigger guns
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Post by Cap'n Tightpants on Nov 16, 2012 7:39:03 GMT -5
I like him. As someone who runs purely guard with no allies, I would concede that a Rune Priest is probably better. But then again who says the Marines should have all the fun! Lightning Arc is pretty great. Dumping 7 S6 AP4 hits on a unit (on average) is always brilliant, particularly if you're 'Bringing it Down', or he's attached to a blob squad with 'First Rank Second Rank' in effect. In concert they can make enough hits to bring down pretty much anything up to T5/6 through simple weight of fire. Plus he's got 3 Force Weapon Attacks (he doesn't get an extra one for laspistol+FW right?), and I like Force Weapons because 70pts. of Guardsman insta-killing your opponent's annoyingly hard special character is always funny. I will concede a few things about him though. Only being BS4 is annoying with Lightning Arc- first you have to pass your psychic test (got a 1/4 chance of failing that), then you have to roll to hit (got a 1/3 chance of failing that), then your opponent gets a deny the witch roll (which he has either a 1/6 or 1/2 chance of succeeding). Having to go through three sets of rolls to make your psychic power work can be annoying, but then again it's the same with anyone who uses psychic shooting. Only being I3, S3 again, is pretty annoying, especially as he has 3A. Having nothing better than a 5+ save is infuriating at times too, but if you play guard, you should have learnt how to roll 5+ saves by now...  |
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Post by gamma016 on Dec 2, 2012 21:46:01 GMT -5
The Primaris Psyker does seem like a decent unit to have. In a PBS it look like he would do work, with the nightshroud and soulstorm psychic powers seem like a deadly combo (I don't know if this is what you meant by the shriek combo). The only problem with it that I can see is that you are going to sanctioned psykers which is going to drop the effectiveness a lot. But even using soulstorm and lightning arc against necrons seems like an easy way to deny their re animation protocols. Him in a blob doesn't appeal to me all that much. Although yes night shroud would be nice to try and take away some shots, it just doesn't seem like it would be worth the points. A blob can deal out enough damage on it's own with first rank fire to take down most targets that lightning ark just seems redundant, if you want some stronger shots add some autocannons or lascannons, they would be cheaper. I do think that the Primaris Psyker is viable though, just so long as you are willing to bring a PBS.
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Post by genilyenovick on Dec 9, 2012 14:42:25 GMT -5
Has any one used a Primaris Psyker with the new psykic powers yet? I tried him out in a 1000 point tournament and found that the new powers where very devastating. Being able to take two new powers from the 6th ed book and take them from different disciplines is awesome. Pyromancy and telekinesis both have good offensive powers while biomancy and telepathy have all around options for helping your units or hurting theirs. I was taking just the primaris power from pyromancy and telekinesis. They worked great when the dice gods decided to give me a good leadership test.
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Post by Trickstick on Dec 9, 2012 15:50:11 GMT -5
The shriek combo involves using weaken resolve to lower LD, and then hitting them with the power that does wounds equal to the amount they fail a ld test. It is powerful if it works but it is too hard to pull off. You have to pass 2 psychic tests, they have to fail 2 witch saves and you need to be within the short range and on foot (the powers can't be used in a vehicle). It would be better to just shoot them.
A Primaris works quite well in a PCS with GLs, with just his codex powers. This combo gives 6-16 mid strength shots, plus the chimera, at a very decent range. Perfect for running around and troubleshooting problems from behind the from lines. Vets with plasma work ok too, or vets with GLs.
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Post by dangerrod on Dec 10, 2012 7:06:46 GMT -5
He has his uses, I definatley think he took a boost in 6th Edition
Allowing a 70pt HQ unit to have access to some awsome Psychic powers is definately a boost!
Psychic Shriek FTW!!
Danger Rod
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Post by genilyenovick on Dec 28, 2012 13:31:12 GMT -5
The shriek combo involves using weaken resolve to lower LD, and then hitting them with the power that does wounds equal to the amount they fail a ld test. It is powerful if it works but it is too hard to pull off. You have to pass 2 psychic tests, they have to fail 2 witch saves and you need to be within the short range and on foot (the powers can't be used in a vehicle). It would be better to just shoot them. A Primaris works quite well in a PCS with GLs, with just his codex powers. This combo gives 6-16 mid strength shots, plus the chimera, at a very decent range. Perfect for running around and troubleshooting problems from behind the from lines. Vets with plasma work ok too, or vets with GLs. I hate to point this out but if you look in the FAQ the primaris only gets one psykic charge counter a turn. He is only psykic mastery 1. So the above scenario isn't even possible. You have to choose between one power or the other or save the charge for the force weapon. |
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Post by WestRider on Dec 28, 2012 14:09:20 GMT -5
Weaken Resolve is from the Psyker Battle Squad. It does work, it's just really awkward to actually pull off.
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Post by tiberius183 on Dec 28, 2012 20:32:18 GMT -5
genilyenovickHere's the play by play of how the combo works: PBS uses Weaken Resolve against a unit within range (36"), which reduces the target unit's leadership by the amount of psykers in the PBS (to a minimum of 2); then, the Primaris Psyker follows up with Psychic Shriek (which is the Telepathy primaris power, so you can just choose it at deployment); Psychic Shriek deals 3D6 wounds to the target unit, ignoring armor and cover, minus leadership. As you can imagine, if pulled off right, and the dice gods are kind, this is a pretty devastating combo. But, so much can go wrong: if you fail to activate either power, it falls apart; if the opponent manages to get a successful Deny the Witch on either power, it falls apart; you roll low on those 3D6, it was all for naught. Also, Psychic Shriek has a 12" range, so your Primaris Psyker is going to have to get uncomfortably close to the enemy for this to happen. I wouldn't recommend building a list around the combo, its really something that should happen if, say, you just happen to be fielding a PBS and also a Primaris, and a squad of termies or Sanguinary Guard just deep strike in your DZ, you can use it as a "desperation" attack...
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