The last Grey Knight HQ, Brotherhood Champion

Alright so the Grey Knights have a version of the Black Templar Emperor’s Champion, the Brotherhood Champion. He is not quite the Black Templar version, but you can see a bit of similarity. The Grey Knights pick a single guy to become their Brotherhood Champion. His role is as a bodyguard for the Brother Captain. He is ever ready to die in place of his Brother Captain. He is this great warrior and battle tested and so on and so on.  

The Brotherhood Champion is the cheapest of the Grey Knight HQ’s as he comes in at a “Benjamin.” Yup his is regular Astartes Librarian cheap. His stats are pretty typical for Marine headquarters: WS 7, BS strength and toughness 4, initiative 5, 1 wound, * attacks (yup an * for attacks), leadership 10 and a 2+/4++ save. He has all the standard Grey Knight gear and rules. He also has an Iron Halo. He carries the Anointed Blade, is the Perfect Warrior, Titan’s Herald is an Independent Character and has the added psy power Heroic Sacrifice.

Anointed Blade- is his super cool sword. It is of the Nemesis variety and allows for re-rolls on failed wounds. 

Perfect Warrior- is where this guy gets crazy. The Brotherhood Champ is such a great fighter he can adopt a different stance during the assault phase. Specifically he must choose one of three options after moves but before blows each assault phase. These take the place of his normal attacks.

1.       Sword Storm- allows him to throw one attack on each model in base contact with him (no bonus attacks for charging).

2.       Blade Shield- allows him to re-roll any failed saves until the end of the assault phase.

3.       Rapier Strike- gives him D3 attacks (+1 if charged) at initiative 10. AWESOME! Wait they must go against a single character or monstrous creature in base contact.

Titan’s Herald- gives the Champion, and any unit he is attached to, the ability to re-roll hits on the turn he charges.

Heroic Sacrifice- is his other psy power. When the Champion is removed as a casualty he can activate this power. If failed he is removed. If passed he is removed as is one model that was in base contact with him. This model is removed from play and gets on save of any kind. It is similar to Lucas the Trickster’s Last Laugh, only a bit weaker.

He has very few options for upgrades; only digital weapons, psy bolt ammo and brain mines. So, even if you take all three options he is still the cheapest of the Grey Knight HQ’s, under 150 points. He is a little weird in close combat, but can buff his unit on the charge like a Chaplain, will hit most opponents on 3+, gets a re-roll on wounds which is incredibly helpful, has descent saves and also has that wonky assault battle stance thing going for him. He isn’t quite the Black Templar Champion, but his story and abilities seem like he is cut from similar cloth.

Personally, I really dislike this HQ unit. I have trouble with his stats and point cost. I couldn’t spend that on a single wound Marine. I know he has some fun stuff in close combat and descent gear, but outside of that he is just too fragile. A transport explosion could drop this guy before he sees battle. A dangerous terrain test failed and he is gone. Heck weight of fire on the squad he is in has the chance to drop him before he gets his fun combat abilities. Other HQ units could shrug this off and still function, where the Brotherhood Champion cannot.

Then we have close combat. Sure he can do cool stance, and gets awesome re-rolls, but a cagey opponent can limit his potential. Charge his unit to keep the damage potential lower. Put the majority of your attacks on him, then he has to decide if he wants to fight or just re-roll saves. Where other HQ models bring 2+ attacks he might only bring 1. I fail to see how that is good. Yes he can go all defensive and re-roll saves, but no armor save hits will still be a problem.  A 4++ is good, but it isn’t a sure fire save even with a re-roll.

I just think he is not nearly worth the points. If you have enough left over to take either him or more stuff which would you take for the army? I would take more stuff, even if it was a themed list. He is a HQ that has the ability to be tough, but just looks to frail to me. Especially, with what I know I'll see on our 40K tables. If he rocks and I'm not seeing please inform me.