Chaos review #10..Heavy walker #1

The last few Chaos books have had the Defiler. It is here again and it is still very similar to what it has always been, a big demon filled walking gun platform.

The new Defiler has a WS 3, BS 3, Initiative 3, strength 6, 3 attacks, has Armor 12/12/10 and 4 Hull Points. It is a walker and follows all those vehicle rules. It comes armed with a battle cannon, reaper autocannon,  twin-linked heavy flamer, 2 powerfists, searchlight and smoke launchers. It also has the Demon, Fleet, It Will Not Die and Demonforge rules. It also has the Demonic Possession upgrade. It clocks in at just five points under 200.

Demonforge- is a once per game ability. It is used at the start of the shooting or assault phase. For that phase you may re-roll all to wound rolls of 1 or armor penetration rolls. At the end of the phase roll a D6. If a 1 is rolled then the Defiler loses a Hull Point. 

There are a few upgrades that  the Defiler can take, well more like weapon swaps than upgrades. The twin heavy flamer can become a havock launcher +5 points or a power scourge +25 (a close combat weapon that is S8 AP2. It also lowers the weapon skill by D3 points of a unit that is locked in close combat with it.) Then the reaper autocannon can be traded for a power fist for free, twin-linked heavy bolter for free, or a twin-linked lascannon +20. Finally, the Defiler can take the vehicle upgrades from the general list. This seems odd, but hey grab an additional havock launcher, combi-weapon, dirge caster, etc.

Ok that is the Defiler at a glance. Now to go a little deeper......

This vehicle is way to expensive now. The cost has increased by 45 points since the last codex. I guess giving out a 5++, useless Fear, Demonic Posession, Demonforge and the It will Not Die rules is the justification for the point increase. The 5++ save is something and is better than cover since it can be used in close combat. The ability to try and get a Hull Point back on a 5+ every turn due to It Will Not Die! is something, but like the 5++ I put no faith in it. The same goes for the Demonforge rule. It is something, but re-rolling 1's to wound/armor pen is really just unimpressive. I am underwhelmed by the rules the Defiler now has.

Then we have the two biggest weaknesses. The first are the powerfists. I guess this is the new G.W. thing to replace dreadnought close combat weapons with powerfists. The Defiler will go at the same time as all other fits of the power and chain and any melta-type bomb variety which is the best case scenario. Any monster or Imperial walker will be striking before the Defiler (as of right now) gets a chance to swing. This makes close combat a bit of a pain and means you should only assault crummy units if you hope to survive close combat. 

Second problem is the front armor 12. This makes the Defiler missile and even autocannon bait, since those weapons still seem very prevalent. If there was a bump to armor 13 in the front, then maybe the cost wouldn't seem so awful.  Sure it has 4 Hull Points, Demonic Possession and not every shot will cripple this guy, but....a lot of armies can put this vehicle down or neuter the hell out of it easily. Maybe they are tougher than I think; but I just see Guardsmen, Long Fangs, Chaos Havocks, Necron planes and Guard planes making a mess of this unit.

Ok, I'll bite and try to use a Defiler. How? Well I would probably dump the flamer for a havock launcher. I would also purchase the vehicle upgrade havock launcher. Why? Well, if for some reason you don't want to (or can't) shoot the battle cannon, then you have two S5 blasts and an autocannon. These are all twin linked and that can really help with the Defilers BS 3. I used to like the two extra close combat weapon idea, but not now. First is the power fist and the second is you would have to buy a power scourge. I hate the look of the scrouge and the associated price. If you had the option for 4 powerfists then maybe that would make for some cool modeling, but it would still struggle to get to and win combat.

The cost, slow close combat weapons and the armor all make the Defiler a big pass for me. Maybe the developers are making people walk away from the Defiler to the new and shiny Fiends. Hmmmm....strange how they are cheaper than the Defiler and are a new kit with many similar rules. I won't comment on the Soulgrinder when compared to the Defiler either. Well not yet anyway. Hell, I still have a Defiler in a box and it is the process of assembly. Sadly, that assembly started in 4th edition. If anyone is interested in a Defiler that is missing a leg (thank you G.W. for selling me a faulty kit) then speak up and I'll sell it to you.