Warhammer 40K: This Week’s Meta Hotness – Sagittarum Custodians
Let’s take a look at a unit that was the boogie man of 9th edition for 3 weeks. Today’s Meta Hotness, Sagittarum Custodians.
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 around the tabletop.
Sagittarum Custodians Basics
Sagittarum Custodians are the other Custodes troop choice utilizing some Forge World Parts mixed with the good ole Custodian Guardians kit. These are your “super” combi bolter Golden Soldiers designed to hold the back field with some decent firepower. They utilize the same powerful defensive capabilities of the Guardians minus the Shield. Thankfully GW updated for Free Misercordias which allows the unit to have a little bit of close combat punch. The basics are this is a powerful troop choice that is cheap and designed to hang back – both things that a Custodes player needs right now especially after the Dataslate Balance Update.
Why are Sagittarum Custodians Good?
These guys are very powerful because they shoot really well and have 2 decent gun profiles. The Heavy Bolter profile is a 32″ 3 shot strength 5, AP -1, 2 damage option that is great for helping to clear hordes out. 9 shots that shoot downfield can always be an issue for some armies as the common load out is 3 of these guys sitting at a very respectable 150 points. This gun alone would be pretty good but then they add a Combi-Weapon profile with the Disintegration beam that is a 15″ Assault 1 Str 5 Ap-3 3 damage option that can put a lot more hurt on powerful units. Mix this all together and you can have a unit that can move, advance, and throw out a healthy amount of shooting while still holding your backfield and sit on a 2+ armor save.
Saying a unit is hot is all well and good, but let’s take a look at how players are using it. This Unit has been in a number of Adeptus Custodes lists that have done well at recent tournaments. One list that uses Sagittarum Custodians run by Ben Davis at the Hellstorm Wargaming’s A Dance Of Nightmares.
Adeptus Custodes Patrol Detachment ( 2CP – 1060PT )
SUB-FACTION: Shadowkeepers
HQ
Shield-Captain on Dawneagle Jetbike (180) Misericordia, Salvo launcher
CAPTAIN-COMMANDER UPGRADE: Tip of the Spear
TRAITS: Lockwarden, Superior Creation
RELICS: Stasis Oubliette
STRATAGEMS: The Emperor’s Heroes, Victor of the Blood Games
WARLORD: Trajann Valoris (160)
TRAITS: Champion of the Imperium
TROOPS
Prosecutors (60)
1x Prosecutor Sister Superior
4x Prosecutor
Sagittarum Custodians (150)
3x Sagittarum Custodian
FAST ATTACK
Vertus Praetors (255)
3x Vertus Praetor: Misericordia, Salvo launcher
Vertus Praetors (255)
3x Vertus Praetor: Misericordia, Salvo launcher
Adeptus Custodes Patrol Detachment ( 2CP – 940PT )
SUB-FACTION: Shadowkeepers
HQ
Shield-Captain on Dawneagle Jetbike (185) Misericordia, Salvo launcher
CAPTAIN-COMMANDER UPGRADE: Ceaseless Hunter
TRAITS: Peerless Warrior
RELICS: Castellan’s Mark
STRATAGEMS: Open the Vaults, The Emperor’s Heroes
TROOPS
Custodian Guard (145)
1x Custodian Guard: Misericordia
2x Custodian Guard: Sentinel blade, Praesidium shield
Prosecutors (60)
1x Prosecutor Sister Superior
4x Prosecutor
ELITES
Allarus Custodians (240)
4x Allarus Custodian: Castellan axe, Misericordia
FAST ATTACK
Vertus Praetors (240)
3x Vertus Praetor: Misericordia
Witchseekers (70)
1x Witchseeker Sister Superior
4x Witchseeker
Using Sagittarum Custodians
Here you an see how these guys set up a powerful backfield option to hang out with the Sisters of Silence to ensure that the home objective is locked down. Their weapons allow them to always be a part of the game as they can shoot downfield and pose a threat when the enemy gets too close. It also means that any long range firepower might leave the sisters alone a bit as they still have the 4+ invulnerable save as well as the 2+ Armor save.
You throw them in cover and you see how long it takes to move these guys out. I expect this unit to show up more now that the Balance Update has occurred as they do a lot of things Custodes need right now which is Objective Secured units that can perform long range damage.
Let us know what units you think are hot right now, down in the comments!
