So it's been theorised by Mike that the Lightning Claw Terminators are actually the best unit for killing Thunderhammer Terminators.
Lets see if he's right.
We'll take 5 man Terminator units. Each unit fully equipped with their weapon of preference. We'll also see if Furious Charge makes much of a difference.
We'll let the Lightning Claw guys have the charge first time around but no Furious Charge bonuses and we'll round off the dead to the nearest whole number.
Round 1
Lightning Claws charging.
Lightning Claw Terminators get 4 attacks each on the Charge.
20 attacks, 10 Hit, 5 Wound + 2.5 with re-rolls so 7.5 in total. After 3+ invulnerable saves that's 2.5 dead Terminators. We'll call that 3 dead then.
The two remaining Thunderhammer Terminators get 2 attacks each.
4 attacks, 2 Hit, 1.67 wound, 1.11 dead Lightning Claw guys after 5+ invulnerable saves. well have to call that 1 dead then.
An average roll will see them pass a Leadership test even at -2 so we'll presume they do.
Round 2
Lightning Claw Terminators going first, 4 guys left, 3 attacks each.
12 attacks, 6 hit, 3 wound + 1.5 from re-rolls is a total of 4.5. That's another 1.5 Dead Thunderhammers. Rounding up that's one dead unit of TH/SS with only 1 casualty in return.
I suppose we should see how much difference Furious Charge makes...
Round 1
Lightning Claws 'Furious' charging, so they'll be Initiative 5 and Strength 5 this time.
Lightning Claw Terminators get 4 attacks each on the Charge. The extra initiative is somewhat irrelevant as they were going first anyway.
20 attacks, 10 Hit, 6.67 Wound + 2.2 more with re-rolls so 8.87 in total. After 3+ invulnerable saves that's 2.96 dead Terminators. We'll call that 3 dead then.
The two remaining Thunderhammer Terminators get 2 attacks each.
4 attacks, 2 Hit, 1.67 wound, 1.11 dead Lightning Claw guys after 5+ invulnerable saves. well have to call that 1 dead then.
An average roll will see them pass a Leadership test even at -2 so we'll presume (like last time) they do.
Round 2
Round 2 is going to be the same as last time so we'll skip that. So it still takes 2 turns to do the job and the Lightning Claw casualties are exactly the same. Note though that first time round the 3 dead could easily have been 2 as we rounded up from dead in the middle (2.5) whereas with the benefit of Furious Charge it was a far more conclusive 2.96.
Lets rob the Lightning Claws of a few attacks and let the Thunderhammers have the charge.
Round 1
Thunderhammers charging.
Lightning Claw Terminators get 3 attacks (2 base, 1 for the 2nd Claw).
15 attacks, 7.5 Hit, 3.75 Wound + 1.88 with re-rolls so 5.63 in total. After 3+ invulnerable saves that's 1.88 dead Terminators. We'll call that 2 dead then.
The three remaining Thunderhammer Terminators get 3 attacks each.
9 attacks, 4.5 Hit, 3.75 wound, 2.5 dead Lightning Claw guys after 5+ invulnerable saves. we'll call that 3 dead then.
We'll presume Leadership tests are passed.
Round 2
Lightning Claw Terminators going first, 2 guys left, 3 attacks each.
6 attacks, 3 hit, 1.5 wound + 0.75 from re-rolls is a total of 2.25. That's another 0.75 Dead Thunderhammers. Rounding up that's one dead.
The two remaining Thunderhammer Terminators get 2 attacks each.
4 attacks, 2 Hit, 1.67 wound, 1.11 dead Lightning Claw guys after 5+ invulnerable saves.
Not going quite so well for the Wolverines this time is it?
Round 3
Lightning Claw Terminators going first, 1 guy left with 3 attacks.
3 attacks, 1.5 hit, 0.75 wound + 0.38 from re-rolls is a total of 1.13. That's another 0.38 Dead Thunderhammers after 3+ invulnerables which to the nearest whole number is I'm afraid...none.
The two remaining Thunderhammer Terminators get 2 attacks each.
4 attacks, 2 Hit, 1.67 wound, 1.11 dead Lightning Claw guys after 5+ invulnerable saves.
A win for the Thunderhammers!!!
In Conclusion.
So I'm afraid Mike was both right.....and wrong, lol.
Charging Lightning Claw Terminators either with or without Furious Charge beat the crap out of Thunderhammer Terminators in 2 rounds but don't exactly come out unscathed.
On the other hand if they don't get the charge then they're not going to have a fun day at all.
5th edition 40K, where the guy who goes first usually wins....
Thoughts, Comments and other mathematical input is (as usual) most welcome.
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