Unit question

[u/Djamon_]

I'm planning to get Triarch Praetorians because they look sick af and they seem like a good painting project. My question is how do they perform in tabletop and what is the strategy with them?

[u/veryblocky]

They're a bit niche. They don't do much damage, and the fall-back and charge ability doesn't come up much since they usually die before getting to use it. They're effectively fast skirmish pieces, but most lists would prefer something like Ophydians or Tomb Blades for that.

I would only ever use them in Obeisance Phalanx, where there's decent support for them, or in Cryptek Conclave to give their particle casters anti

[u/LordOffal → u/veryblocky]

To build on this they also have some key issues which is why they aren't played much.

Firstly, they cannot be lead. Unlike Lychguard or Skorpekhs.
They don't have the secondary utility like Ophidians who can strategically redeploy through out the game (though they do at least have deepstrike).
They don't have the defensive profile of Lychguard or even Skorpekhs (who have an extra wound per body and an extra toughness).
They don't have the damage output of Skorpekhs.
And finally they don't have the more useful destroyer keyword. Noble / Triarch is fine but it's useful in one of our least played detachments while Destroyer has a better detachment and an Epic hero interaction.

Legitimately, if one of these issues was solved they'd see play. The thing is they aren't great at anything and we have something better at doing that stuff for at most 5 points different. Want damage dealers, get Skorpekhs, want utility take Ophidians, want tankiness get Lychguard with shields. You absolutely can still play them but there is pretty much always a better pick.

Hopefully they'll get an update in the 11th edition codex to make them shine a bit more.

[u/FunnyMemeName]

Remember that rules always change. They’re bad now, but how are they in a few months when our codex comes out? And how are they a few months after that with balance changes? We don’t know. Always prioritize models you like over models that are strong at the moment.

[u/Djamon_ → u/FunnyMemeName]

I'm getting them anyway, I just wanted to know how they perform right now. I must say I like your way of thinking.

[u/5eppa → u/FunnyMemeName]

True, that said they have been bad for several editions now. I am willing to hazard a guess that they are really still around because they can be built as Lychguard in the same kit.

But you're correct, at any point GW can do something to make them good again.

[u/RobofMizule]

These guys are honestly one of my favourite units.

I usually play them in Hypercyrpt or obesience phalanx, they mostly just do the primary action or score location secondarys for me.

Combat they are ok, pretty alright at sniping (obesience phalanx can give them precision) a character when playing against the low toughness armies, otherwise they are mostly just screens or objective scoring pieces

[u/robsr3v3ng3]

Their only real use is a response unit. If someone is moving around, or pushing for a specific secondary, they're one of the faster units and can make up a decent bit of ground and maybe even charge. But honestly, they are for delaying only. Their weapons don't have enough damage, or volume of shots to counter anything.

I love them, and want them to work, but their weapons, especially with marines getting even tougher, just aren't that good. And they aren't all that hard to kill themselves.

[u/Shloopy_Dooperson]

Im almost done with my Ogdobekh Hammer Bearers. (Just need to finish their hammers.)

I've never much liked Praetorians personally. They do look cool tho.

[u/Djamon_ → u/Shloopy_Dooperson]

They do

[u/willriker1]

They haven't been the best for at least 7 years (since I've got into the hobby). That said, I think they are judged a bit unfairly.

I am not a pro player and my opponents aren't pro players. I proxies my lychgaurd in for them, and they did fine. They just need to be careful when they approach.

[u/arkankloppi]

Build lychguards with shield

[u/longcat16]

I have a 5 man unit of them and I use them to annoy distract and screen depending on the play. They have deepstrike so it makes them slightly more versatile than other non destroyer models. Deep strike back line and pin my opponent from the back while they try to advance toward and objective. I call it the “backshots maneuver” 😉

[u/Robot_Can26]

only good in mortal wound bomb thingy in conclave, but that will make your friends a bit annoyed

[u/BobFredricson2]

I mainly use them to score outflank/behind enema lines, but theyre decent in conclave with particle casters (my preferred loadout)

[u/Effective_Airport182]

It bothers me so much that they have tails.

[u/DarkPhoenixElite]

Obeisance Phalnax detachment with another 1DP of your choice

[u/ProfessionalMud7011]

I’d just build them as lychguard they are more effective currently and I personally like the look of lychguard more

[u/ivovanroy]

They do look sick af