Target Priority

I restarted warhammer with 8th edition and I am struggling with target priority. I know it will get better over time but instead of scanning through all indexes on youtube I thought I could get help here since most of you are playing since a while.

And since armys in 8th lack diversity through spam I hope there would be not to many different threats per army anyway.

I play a vehicle list with venoms, ravagers, and flyers.

That helps to "counter" opponents AI weapons already.

What are the opponents range weapon threats to look out for during alpha strike or beta strikes to take down first?

What "threat" weapons are better outmanovered with our speed?

I know dark reapers launcher must be somewhere in the top and I am familiar with Las Cannons and Missle Launcher.

Any tips and advices are very appreciated.

When I play, my first target priority is heavy weapon teams. That may mean literal Astra Militarum Heavy Weapons Squads, but also include Devastators, Dark Reapers, etc. Take down any unit that can easily shred through our transports. Any enemy unit which is specialized for heavy or long range assault weapons.

If you play a lot of vehicles then here is a very easy matrice to consider;

1. Does the unit have 36" range+movement capability or better?
If Yes, it might be a threat, if No you can probably dance outside its threat for a while.

2. Does the unit generate 3+ shots?
If Yes it might be a threat, if No then with our built in invulnerable save we can probably endure it for a while.

3. Does the unit's attack have a Str of 5+?
If Yes it might be a threat, if No then our toughness ought to soften any potential attacks.

If you ask the three questions you will get a very good idea of what is a threat to your army, and what is not. Let's consider it very quickly;

5 Space Marines with bolters.
1. No
2. No
3. No
Answer = not a threat.

5 Devastators w. 4 Heavy Bolters
1. Yes.
2. Yes
3. Yes
Answer = threat

5 Space Marines w. 1 Lascannon
1. Yes
2. No.
3. No
Answer = very minor threat

Predator with 4 Lascannons
1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes
Answer = threat


Then, once you have your threats understood, you can ask yourself the final target priority questions;

4. Can I kill it/make it useless this turn?
5. How much of my army will it take?
6. How exposed will it leave me?

These last three cannot be answered easily because they start to depend on what your army is, what is still alive in you and your opponent's force, and what the mission parameters and board layout are. But those are what you should be thinking of as you assess the threats on the table.

Thanks for your response.

3+ shots you mean per model right?

Lyceus wrote:

Thanks for your response.

3+ shots you mean per model right?

3+ to hit.

I meant per unit. If the unit as a whole will generate more than 3 shots it might be an issue. 1 or 2 sots will have to both hit you and get through your saves and then have to do enough damage to matter - and that is a lot of hurdles to be a threat.

Though honestly Hellstrom has a point that the enemy accuracy is an issue 3 shots at 6+ to hit is quite different than 2 shots at 2+ to hit, so that's a valid metric to consider. I just find the bulk of the game to be high accuracy nowadays (or Orks or Guard that drown you in number) so didn't really consider that element.

Perhaps a good consideration is "will the unit hit you with 3+ shots on average?"

Seconding what others are pitching.

I take aim at heavy guns first, either to wipe them out or bog them down with Mandrakes.