[Mr_Wayne]

Which one is the best tank in our Codex?

It's a simple question, yet a very hard one. It all comes down to personal playing style but also how each individual tank fits into the overall mentality of the codex. Our dear CSM and their cultist brethren all favour medium range combat (dual special weapon CSM squads with ubergrit, cheap rhinos,Karmoons Special terminators, etc.). So our tanks should follow up and provide close range firesupport. Or should they? Is the long range tank busting better? Is not the combination of transport and fire support superior? Or need it be on tracks?

Which is your favourite tank and why?

 

[Mr_Wayne]

I voted for the Land raider with Daemonic Possession. It's tough and very reliable with possession.I transport Berzerkers with it so they can use it's Assault vehicle rule and assault straight out of it. It spells the doom for many a foe, unless it's shot down first. And even if it is destroyed it will have taken a substantial amount of fire away from my rhinos and my gamewinning CSM squads.

 

[The_Outsider]

The best tank? The one not in the list: the rhino.

 

[Mr_Wayne]

The reason why I didn't include the rhino is because it's weak armour value, it's lack of weaponry and the fact that it doesnt perform any role that compares to the other tanks in the poll except for tranportation. A tank is a mobile weapons platform used in aggressive or defensive combat, the rhino is a tranportation vehicle that can be fitted with weaponry used primarily for it's own protection [EDIT 2] ...or the protection of it's dismounted squad. [/EDIT 2]

Even if some people have opinions that differ from the ones I've just presented, the poll is what it is.

If the poll dealt with transportation vehicles I would have included the rhino.


[EDIT 1]... and yes it is indeed classified as a tank. I know that. The reasons for this in my opinion is for ramming purposes. It's still a heavy vehicle that is able to deal massive damage through ramming. Yet it doesnt perform any roles that you would select the other tanks to do.

... and the Dread should definately be there too. My mistake. If someone misses the Dread they can simply chose the Defiler option and explain themselves in a post.[/EDIT 1]

 

[Rabbit]

EDIT: Mr_Wayne, I understand your reasoning for not including the rhino; however, it is indeed classified as a tank. Perhaps you should have worded your poll differently to prevent the obvious questions regarding the rhino's absence. What's more, a Defiler is classed as a walker (not tank), which makes me further wonder why the Dreadnought wasn't included. So really, this poll should be asking which of the following is the best offensive vehicle available to Chaos Marine players

A tank is a mobile weapons platform used in aggressive or defensive combat, the rhino is a tranportation vehicle that can be fitted with weaponry used primarily for it's own protection

I just have to point out how the rhino is most certainly a defensive vehicle when up against swarms. In fact, it's probably our most valuable asset in this scenario, since it can delay the enemy's assault via rhino-wall. Heck, I even use it as a blockade to control Ultra Marine spam. Just saying.

At any rate, I voted for the Defiler.

 

[Ignis]

I voted for the better options in the codex..

I prefer to field Oblis and Rhinos, both are not in the List soo

Few reasons:
LR with possession is though, i agree, but it's 240pts that's a lot of points, and it's not that efficient without content, and the Berserkers cost a lot as well..
together with Rhinos and regular CSM it can be nasty i give you that. Still not a personal favor.

The Defiler, while nice with the Cannon and the extra CC, it's not artillery anymore and the CC is not that thought for the price. plus [insert discussion over Oblis vs. Defiler here].

Predator is cool with LasSpon and TLLC, but to expensive for the armour value plus the problem with only one single target = not that efficient.

And to explain why, I like the Rhinos with a combi weapon as a mobile cover for the Oblis.
Of course the whole thing is really rather subjective..

 

[hotspike18]

I realize that most people disagree with me, however, I personally find that our long range tank power sucks. Almost every game my opponent's tanks are lodged in buildings or hiding halfway behind the edge of terrain - Missile Launchers often seems like weaksauce to me and Lascannons are expensive and don't work that much with cover all around. I very frequently have to rely on Meltaguns to bust stuff open. Thus, I find Defilers are the most useful of my tanks - with some luck they can destory enemy squads one by one, but they also are a great threat that the enemy quickly targets (psychological weapon) and they can kill anything in assault (some games I've even used them to bring down Monoliths). While somewhat vulnerable, bringing a pair really helps to give you some great tactical options and fire power.

 

[Ghost of Rage]

I voted Defiler (big shocker here) because of how intimidating and powerful they are. Not only does it draw fire away from even my LR full of Berzerkers and Kharn, but it also dishes out the pain with it's Battle Cannon. I think a very close second place would be our Rhino, it's cheap, it's effective and without it, how would our troops get to their destination? The bus?? I think not!

 

[Rabbit]

Perhaps someone can explain to me the popularity with our possessed Vindicator over the Defiler. I just don't see it.

 

[Mr_Wayne]

Bigger, badder gun and better armour?

 

[Nhyx]

Bigger, badder gun and better armour?

bigger and badder, but can't shoot any significant distance....

 

[Mr_Wayne]

Some people doesn't seem to mind. With that front armour and DP it's kinda hard to stop. Maybe these people have other things in their army that begets more attention, letting the Vindicator come close enough to fire. Blitzkrieg seems to work. I really don't know. I've never used Vindies myself.

 

[Rabbit]

The superior front armor of the Vindi is kind of pointless, since it's gun is so short-sighted, that it must get dangerously close to the enemy. This, in my experience no less, always exposes the more fragile side armor plates. Plus, the Vindi flat out loses in close combat, whereas the Defiler can't simply be charged without taking serious losses in return.

The range of the Vindi is probably the least attractive of its shortcomings. You really have to drive a long ways if you want to hit the back lines of your opponent. Plus, a single "weapons destroyed" result renders it into a glorified rhino. The Defiler, on the other hand, remains still active. "Immobilized" results follow a similar path. Due to the narrow LoS of its hull-mounted weapon, the Vindi can easily be avoided if it's immobilized. Again, the Defiler trumps, since it's arc is 360 degrees, and has a ridiculous 72" range, as well as height advantage to where it's sight cannot simply be blocked by tracked armor. In effect, the Defiler can function while damaged; it can fire it's cannon if immobilized; it can fleet towards close combat if it's ordinance is destroyed.

Let me know if there's just something I'm missing, but I can't find any tactical advantage to the Vindi that would justify its slot.

 

[Mr_Wayne]

I think I'llmaybe try some Vindicators. I got a close range shock army. I know every gun in the enemy army is going to be pointed at my Land Raider with Berzerkers. That leaves my other tanks free to roam. Maybe the idea with Vindies is that they are so short ranged that the enemy won't prioritize them until it's too late.

Even though I like the Defiler I can't use it because I only field units or vehicles which has an equivalent in the Space Marine or Space Wolves Codex (true Renegades, Skyrars Dark Wolves), so no Obliterators or Defilers.

 

[Intrepid]

My vote was for the Land Raider. Chaos Marines are heavily oriented towards close combat and the LR's ability to serve as an excellent transport in addition to potential gunnery duties make it pretty much an auto-include in my lists. I'll use the other choices from time to time but the LR is what I keep coming back to.

 

[SilentNinja]

The main reason the Defiler trumps the Vindi is from Daemon Possession. A Vindicator could just be Shaken and it won't do anything. The Defiler just keeps on a commin'.

 

[evilmuffinz]

Yes, but it is common practice to put Daemonic Possession on the Vindicator for precisely that reason. I am a fan of the defiler myself. The gun is just as good at killing MEQ, it has much longer range, can take damaging secondary weapons, is great in assault, and can take an immobilized result and still play a big part in the game.

 

[Mr_Wayne]

@ SilentNinja: That's why I specified a Vindicator with Daemonic Possession. Without it a Vindi seems just too fragile.

@evilmuffinz: If you think that the Defiler is the better choice, what made you vote for the Vindicator in the first place?

 

[evilmuffinz]

I clicked the wrong thingy

 

[Rabbit]

In that case, I'll change your vote to its proper home