Reaver survivability strategy

I've been playing since 2nd edition, basically.

Later you'll have the fun of having to look up rules because you're confusing them between editions.

shadowseercB wrote:

I know what you mean.  My memory is extremely strong for work which is in the medical field but I'm, and of course I'm only speaking for myself, am an idiot at 40k.  I get the strategies on here that are reported and I play a ton of RTS games but I can't seem to grasp concepts when it comes to abilities, spells, and rules for 40k.  Some major things don't make sense, anyway thanks.

There shouldn't be a problem if, before a game, you and your opponent go over each other's lists and explain to each other anything that isn't clear about what each thing does.

Thats exactly what I did before the game for 15 min.  I also studied the IG last night and this morning and got a easy win playing The Scourge.  Problem is my reavers didnt do anything but die which isnt anyones fault but my own because of the fact I dont have any discipline when it comes to feeling the need to bladevane

now im 6 wins, 2 narrow losses this month.

Good suggestions everyone thanks.

Good point Mushkilla. You have to know your opponents - and yours - strengths and weaknesses in order to overcome him/her.

one thing I do with my reavers is keep them in reserves and have them enter via webway portal, then make an attack with the turbo boost to a spot where they will be somewhat safe from enemy fire. Remember they get a 4+ jink save and ignore difficult terrain thanks to Skilled rider and can move an extra 2d6" in the assault phase due to the rules about eldar/dark eldar jetbikes

robomummy wrote:

one thing I do with my reavers is keep them in reserves and have them enter via webway portal, then make an attack with the turbo boost to a spot where they will be somewhat safe from enemy fire. Remember they get a 4+ jink save and ignore difficult terrain thanks to Skilled rider and can move an extra 2d6" in the assault phase due to the rules about eldar/dark eldar jetbikes

Though, they only get the eldar jetbike assault move if they don't turbo boost.

Thor665 wrote:

Later you'll have the fun of having to look up rules because you're confusing them between editions.

This. I never played 4th or 5th ed, but I started playing with Rogue Trader.
I should start using that as an excuse when I accidentally get a rule wrong. "Oh, damn, I'm sorry. You used to be able to do that with power-boarding Squats. I guess I got them mixed up."

Mushkilla wrote:

robomummy wrote:

one thing I do with my reavers is keep them in reserves and have them enter via webway portal, then make an attack with the turbo boost to a spot where they will be somewhat safe from enemy fire. Remember they get a 4+ jink save and ignore difficult terrain thanks to Skilled rider and can move an extra 2d6" in the assault phase due to the rules about eldar/dark eldar jetbikes

Though, they only get the eldar jetbike assault move if they don't turbo boost.

correct, this move can be used for briefly moving out of cover to shoot then moving back out of range or into cover like the eldar battle focus rule.

im pretty sure they get a 3+ save after turbo boosting correct?  flat out gives a 4+ and skilled rider makes it a 3

Sorry of this stuff was already corrected, but reavers don't ignore difficult terrain either, they get re rolls for it.

doomseer11b wrote:

im pretty sure they get a 3+ save after turbo boosting correct?  flat out gives a 4+ and skilled rider makes it a 3

Sorry of this stuff was already corrected, but reavers don't ignore difficult terrain either, they get re rolls for it.

Yes reavers do get a 3+ from turbo boosting, I think there was confusion because he talked about turbo boosting and then mention 4+ saves and assault moves straight after so we were lead to believe he was talking about turbo boosting reavers.

Also re-check the skilled rider special rule it flat out lets you ignore dangerous terrain tests this edition (it was in 5th that it let your re-roll).

robomummy wrote:

one thing I do with my reavers is keep them in reserves and have them enter via webway portal, then make an attack with the turbo boost to a spot where they will be somewhat safe from enemy fire. Remember they get a 4+ jink save and ignore difficult terrain thanks to Skilled rider and can move an extra 2d6" in the assault phase due to the rules about eldar/dark eldar jetbikes

best way to protect them is to move in with having target saturation.

If they become isolated they will die, and will die in viain unless you got really lucky on dice rolls.

The way I see it, always make sure you have some of your other units( be it CCQ, or mass fire) about 12 inches from reavers, or enemy models that reavers are also near by, at the end of your each turn.


Blade vaining is powerful, so treasure it, not throw it away in 1st turn.

Reavers shine as late game unit, weaken the enemy with DL in first couple of turns, kill the big threats, and then start bladevaining

I've been struggling not so much with weapons that ignore cover, but rather with using the reavers too soon. When I hold them back and wait for a target I can fly over and land safely behind a hill or in a tree stand then, then they rock.

Um, food for thought, Reavers in reserve, DL dakka, and bladevane til your hearts content

luckily for me i usually play against SM and i only have a few flamers to worry about.  but i still make the mistake of turbo boosting too close to them, lol.  was trying to get melta shots with heat lances next turn too.  its a lot about paying attention to ranges.  most ignores cover are template weapons aren't they? i'm not aware of any regular shooting weapons with ignores cover.

CSM: Noise Marines are ones I recently faced. Not a good surprise.

kingc1313 wrote:

 most ignores cover are template weapons aren't they?  i'm not aware of any regular shooting weapons with ignores cover.

Yes most are. Current ignores cover weapon that is a shooting weapon that I know of is the eldar wave serpents shield. It can have a lot of shots too.

shadowseercB wrote:

kingc1313 wrote:

 most ignores cover are template weapons aren't they?  i'm not aware of any regular shooting weapons with ignores cover.

Yes most are.  Current ignores cover weapon that is a shooting weapon that I know of is the eldar wave serpents shield.  It can have a lot of shots too.

And every weapon the Tau have if you have 2 Markerlights on your unit. Sorry if this was already mentioned, but it's pretty important with the Tau Bandwagon we have at the moment.

With the amount of cover ignoring weapons out there at the moment, has anyone else dropped their Reaver squad from 9 down to 6?

mug7703 wrote:

With the amount of cover ignoring weapons out there at the moment, has anyone else dropped their Reaver squad from 9 down to 6?

I don't know if its just my meta or something, but im not particularly having trouble with 'ignores cover' as has been said, there isn't 'loads' of long range 'ignores cover'

I played against 2 wave serpents last week, which was anoying. But like others have said, put reavers in reserve. The wave serpents blasted some raiders down, before venom wyches had them.

I've just upped my reavers to squads of 9, due to advice on this site and they work very well

Wave serpents are not that big of a deal either as they are AP- so reavers still get their 5+ armour save (and FNP if thing are going as planned). Those shots are only twinlinked at 36" range (range of the scatter laser). If your eldar opponent is firing off his shields, it leaves him massively exposed to retaliation on your turn.

Blood angels have special ammunition that ignore cover, as well as TYRANIDS. Not to mention what marker lights from tau can do. For blood angels I think it's hellfire rounds, it works like a combibolter. I could be wrong in the name o the ammo type. It sucks either way, I hate losing jink, kind of what we live off of.

doomseer11b wrote:

Blood angels have special ammunition that ignore cover, as well as TYRANIDS.  Not to mention what marker lights from tau can do.  For blood angels I think it's hellfire rounds, it works like a combibolter.  I could be wrong in the name o the ammo type.  It sucks either way, I hate losing jink, kind of what we live off of.

Only Sternguard and Captain Tycho have access to the special issue ammo in the BA list and Sternguard are vying with many other elite options so probably won't be seen as often as their vanilla SM counterparts. Unless you're running a Cantor Sternspam list.

DE Smart Missile Systems are a worry - 24" range, twin-linked, S5, AP5, ignore cover and don't require LOS. It's like Jeremy Vetock sat down and thought, "how can I shaft DE Reavers?" . Tau tanks, Broadsides and Riptides come with them as standard, and Devilfish can pick them up as an upgrade.

doomseer11b wrote:

It sucks either way, I hate losing jink, kind of what we live off of.

In 5th flickerfields was mandatory. Jink saved us 10 points and it seems nightshields replaced it for most people.

Maybe if the 'ignores cover' rule continues to grow in future codex's the good old flickerfield will be back

Plastikente wrote:

DE Smart Missile Systems are a worry

Did I miss us getting these? Only teasing!

I tend to take flicker fields on some of my raiders anyway, just in case I get the dreaded 'can't move' damage roll, or my opponent can manoeuvre enough to see them in the first turn.