I like Retribution squads. I don't use them as often anymore, as I really like the Shooty Inquisitor build, which shifts a heavy weapon choice to the HQ or elite slot.

6-girl squads are a nice way to get 2 heavy slot choices for 1 slot, if you take a immolator as a transport.

I also like them up to a 10-girl squad with VSS, so as to pump out faith fueled longer-ranged goodness. I think they shine better in smaller numbers. For the price, it's hard to get as much dakka in a heavily armored squad.


I have 2 exorcists, so I tend to use them, and like to induct 2 armored fists and a Leman Russ to fill out my 3rd heavy option.


If the retribution squad had better anti-tank than MultiMeltas (which are expensive and easily avoided) I'd use them more. as far as anti-troop, WH have a lot already. Heavy Bolters aren't always needed.

but for cost effectiveness, Retribution squads are good

 

My question: Are retributors with heavy bolters a viable heavy support option in a Witch hunters army. Now as i dont have my exorcist i cannot conclude on my own whether retributors are more/less effective, and why i pose my question to you all. My only thought would be that, Exorcist > higher armoured units, while as Retributors > lower armoured units (infantry).

Sure retributors are a decent heavy support slot, especially when you are playing smaller point games. Generally you see less armour at this level, and so invariably your retributors can perform well. Of course if your opponent is playing with lightly armoured, low toughness troop choices, the strength and AP of the heavy bolter really shines. As long as you have anti-tank duties fulfilled by other sister squads (seraphim, celestians, etc) you shouldn't have too many problems using them.

In larger point games, where there seems to be an abundance of armour, retributors can sometimes lose out to Exorcists. Really the Exorcist is the only decent long range anti-tank weapon in the sisters arsenal, without resorting to inducting guard. It also does a great job with anti-heavy infantry, neither of which can be achieved with retributors.

I really want to try a pure footslogging list, with 3 ret squads, 3 Seraphim squads, and a couple of jump canoness and see how it goes. I just don't have the models to do this, 12 heavy bolters just seems so crazy it could work.

 

retributors are a decent heavy support slot, especially when you are playing smaller point games.

Seconded for an additional reason:
A smaller army has fewer units, and thherefor can't be in as many places at one time as a larger army, so it's easier to force a smaller army into their path.

 

I like the HB Retributor's. I actually use to run a squad of 10 of them with a VSS with SB so I had good long range dakka.

Yet like Farmpunk, I slowly moved away from them. By dropping them I could buy instead a shooty Inq w/ a PC and 2HBs, which actually added firepower. Downside is the BS but the with 2 sages that is somewhat nullified. oh and with the points saved I also got a Eversor.

I dropped some other things too to help round out the list (a second cannoness and a dominion squad to afford a 2nd Sera squad.)

But my point was, befoe I got distracted, yes they are good, but points wise they are equal to a shooty Inq (non lord) squad w/ 2 sages, 2HBs, a PC and an acolyte and some extra goodies on the Inq (SB w. Psy Bolts, Psy Hood, 1 psy power).

In my eyes the Inq squad costs the exact same but has slightly more firepower and adds in my force a needed anti psyker boost.

 

Like mercenary said, while Retributors are nice, I think they're most effective in small games.
Exorcists are better for larger games because of the increase in vehicles and MC's, plus if you spend your points well, the sisters should be able to handle anti-infantry.

Yet like Farmpunk, I slowly moved away from them. By dropping them I could buy instead a shooty Inq w/ a PC and 2HBs, which actually added firepower. Downside is the BS but the with 2 sages that is somewhat nullified.

How is the BS a downside when both gun servitors/inquisitor and sisters are 4? :?Sure, ages, chirurgeons, etc don't get it, but they're only taken for their abilities, not combat capability.
I would say its the armor: power armor w/ faith > (mostly) carapace or worse w/o faith

 

Yes, Retributors do kick quite a bit of ass. They're even pretty good against heavy infantry if you use Divine Guidance. I like to fill it out with an Imagifer to help with the Faith Acts, and a few extra girlies to absorb casualties. Give the Superior a Book of St. Lucius and they become nearly unbreakable. However, Retributors take a real beating; high priority target that they are.

 

yeah maybe not so much forgotten as just... the exorcist provides much needed long-range anti-tank support. and it's such a steal for what it does. Unless it's mine, which only shoots once, and only misses.

 

HB Retributors are great, they chew up any kind of infantry. I personally go with a squad of 8 with maxed heavy bolters + VS and a pair of exorcists in 2k point games and they have never failed me.

 

i love but in smaller games usually in 1500 or less i'll feild a unit of em numbering 8 with vss and an exorcist but in the fun points or when i'm feeling nasty i leave behind and bring the 2cnd exorcist the the lemon russ

 

Ah yes that's right, gun servitors are BS 4....thought for a sec they were BS3 for some reason.

Though even w/o carapce, put them in some good cover and they usually are tough to crack

 

Exorcist is cheaper (based on 8 Rets), can move and fire, and has the goodness of AP1 shots, but cannot handle swarms like Rets can. Their roles are different, that is all. Choice is based on what units you take in your army besides those two units.

Shooty =][= is good if you have to unlock some assassins and what to place that "heavy" squad at the end of your deployment. Inside pure SOB army he is not a good choice, again, unless you mix in Inquisitorial units or some assassins.

 

I tend to use my retributors in most of my games. A pair of exorcists supported by Seraphims and melta-sisters for AT and 8 Rets with HB mainly for killing those annoying eldars, but also for other non power-armoured troops. They are more effective in smaller games especially against IG, Eldar & Orcs. They massacred a whole army of Orcs in a 500pts game. I like using 3 exorcists but sometimes they have problems cooperating meaning I will switch one of 'em for a Ret squad

 

Yep. That sounds about right to me.

 

i had success in recent games against nids n orks with feilding my russ, 1 exorcist and the 8 sister rets with hb's but i don't think i could do it every game as then my at is reduced to 2 lascannon armed sentinal and a single exorcist (i don't count the russ cuz trying to hit somthin with the battle cannon is like trying to hit a pin with a air strike )

 

I wonder if anyone has been insane enough to try multi-meltas on retributors...


Wouldn't it be fun if Retributors had access to heavy flamers? Mmm, CoD...

Anyway, yes, I use retris in my all-round lists for SoB. They're really, really effective against swarm armies (especially tyranids where a player is silly enough to take warriors, and EC genestealers get munchied). Heck, they even work against SMurfs, and they're good at holding back and claiming table quarters.

 

I normally take 8 Rets with 4 HB, no Vet, and although I struggle to win (I play against more experienced guys), the Rets have done a great job, pinning down a whole Flank a number of times, and preventing AT units from sideswipping my Exo's.

 

I have taken a 6 model Retributor squad w/ Heavy Bolters and added an Immolator with Heavy Flamers. The Retributors never ride in it, its just there to give me an additional threat.

-981

 

I think I like the 6 girl/ 3 HB combo the best, fr Rets, because if you bank
on 4 HBs, nobody is going to do you the courtesy of stepping into their LOS.

 

i tend to run a 10 rets with 4 hb, an imagifer, and a VSS. problem is after maybe two turns of shooting nothing is in range anymore and i have to move to rejoin the battle. they do really good but their effectiveness runs out rather quickly, exorcists on the other hand have longer range, stronger hits, and can move and shoot. true they can only have the possibility of getting half as many shots as rets but still. i like the idea of three squads of rets and 3 serph squads.