Warhammer 40K: This Week’s Meta Hotness – Space Marine Eradicators
Let’s take a look at a unit that is too rad for the opposition, Space Marine Eradicators.
In the ever-shifting meta of 40K, armies rise and fall. We’ve spent a lot of time talking about armies that are hot or not, but a lot less time looking at units that are running the show. Today let’s start by taking a look at one of the hottest units currently running (err driving) around the tabletop.
The Unit
Eradicators are a new Primaris Space Marine Heavy Support unit. Clad in Mk X Gravis Armor and armed with deadly Melta Rifles, this heavy infantry unit serves as a close range anti-armor fire support unit. Durable but slow, they a major threat to any armored unit and the heaviest infantry.
Why are Marine Eradicators Good?
Eeradicators are one of those units that just have really solid stats. As Primaris Marines in Gravis armor they start off with a tough and envious base. T5, 3 Wounds and a 3+ save mean it takes some effort to kill them and they can shrug off a TON of light attacks. Good luck trying to take them down with a few lasguns. They are primarily a shooting unit. Their primary weapon, the Melta Rifle puts out some real damage with S8 Ap-4 and D6 damage, going up to D6+2 at 12 Inches. Optional weapons, which include Multi-meltas and Heavy Melta Rifles only up their damage.
The unit is further buffed by Total Obliteration, allowing them to shoot twice, though only at the same target and if they didn’t advance. A full unit can thus put out a tremendous amount of fire power. Enough to rival Knights or even a light Titan (and to kill those targets). While combat isn’t their strong suit, they have just enough attacks to see off light enemies. The unit’s one main weakness is lack of range, only 24 inches (and they really want to be at 12). Couple with a slow movement, and you have to work a bit to get them into position. All that aside, this is a unit that is hard to kill and really packs a major punch when used right. For its points it one of the deadliest units in the game.
A Sample List
Saying a unit is hot is all well and good, but let’s take a look at how players are using it. Erdicators have shown up in almost all Marine lists that have done well at recent tournaments. One list that uses them is the following: run by Tom Ogden at Sunken City GT (found on 40kstats.com)
++ Patrol Detachment 0CP (Imperium – Adeptus Astartes – Black Templars) [64 PL, 1,217pts, -1CP] ++
+ Configuration +
Chapter Selection: Black Templars
Detachment Command Cost
+ HQ +
Chaplain Grimaldus [7 PL, 140pts]: 1. Litany of Divine Protection, 4. Fires of Devotion, Litany of Hate
High Marshal Helbrecht [8 PL, 160pts]
+ Troops +
Primaris Crusader Squad [20 PL, 247pts]: Bolt Pistol and Astartes Chainsword
. 5x Primaris Initiate w/Chainsword & Heavy Bolt Pistol: 5x Astartes Chainsword, 5x Frag & Krak grenades, 5x Heavy Bolt Pistol
. 8x Primaris Neophytes: 8x Frag & Krak grenades
. Primaris Sword Brother: Heavy Bolt Pistol, Power axe
+ Elites +
Primaris Apothecary [5 PL, 115pts]: Chapter Command: Chief Apothecary, Selfless Healer, The Aurillian Shroud, Warlord
Redemptor Dreadnought [9 PL, 180pts]: 2x Fragstorm Grenade Launchers, Macro Plasma Incinerator, Onslaught Gatling Cannon
+ Fast Attack +
Inceptor Squad [15 PL, 375pts, -1CP]: Plasma Exterminator x2, The Crux Obsidian
. 5x Inceptor
. Inceptor Sergeant: Champion of the Feast
++ Patrol Detachment -2CP (Imperium – Adeptus Astartes – Black Templars) [45 PL, 782pts, 9CP] ++
+ Configuration +
Battle Size [12CP]: 3. Strike Force (101-200 Total PL / 1001-2000 Points)
Chapter Selection: Black Templars
Detachment Command Cost [-2CP]
+ Stratagems +
Strategem: Relics of the Chapter [-1CP]: Number of Extra Relics
+ HQ +
Primaris Chaplain [5 PL, 85pts]: 6. Canticle of Hate (Aura), Litany of Hate, The Crusader’s Helm
+ Troops +
Primaris Crusader Squad [20 PL, 247pts]: Bolt Pistol and Astartes Chainsword
. 5x Primaris Initiate w/Chainsword & Heavy Bolt Pistol: 5x Astartes Chainsword, 5x Frag & Krak grenades, 5x Heavy Bolt Pistol
. 8x Primaris Neophytes: 8x Frag & Krak grenades
. Primaris Sword Brother: Heavy Bolt Pistol, Power axe
+ Fast Attack +
Attack Bike Squad [6 PL, 180pts]
. Attack Bike: Multi-melta
. Attack Bike: Multi-melta
. Attack Bike: Multi-melta
+ Heavy Support +
Eradicator Squad [14 PL, 270pts]: Melta rifle
. 5x Eradicator: 5x Bolt pistol
. Eradicator Sgt
++ Total: [109 PL, 1,999pts, 8CP] ++
++ Total: [96 PL, 10CP, 2,000pts] ++
Using Marine Eradicators
Odgen’s list makes use of a single large unit of Eradicators. This is a pretty blunt unit. That is one reason why it slots into pretty much any type of Marine army. Even Black Templars, which don’t really do a ton to buff them, can make use of the unit. Sure the Tempalrs can drop a 5+ FNP or a 5++ save on the unit, both making it even harder to kill, but this isn’t the most optimized chapter for them. Even so they are a strong part of the army. They act as the heaviest anti-armor unit, capable of taking down the biggest threats. Along with the faster Attack Bikes, they deal with armor. This allows the other units, in particular the large Crusade squads, to focus on cutting down enemy infantry. There’s not a lot of tricks here, its just a really powerful unit.
Let us know what units you think are hot right now, down in the comments!
