Vindicator tactics are anything but subtle. About as subtle as a sledge hammer, a Vindicator is the tank of choice for assaulting urban areas and fortifications. Fielded in a multiple tank formation known as a “Line Breaker” or “Siege Breaker”, the massive Demolisher cannon jutting from their prow is capable of not just cracking open enemy defenses, but leveling them flat with the defenders trapped underneath.
A sturdy Dozer Blade or massive Siege Shield is often mounted to their front to assist in the navigation of the rubble their guns create. These mighty tanks rightfully form the iron point of many Space Wolves attacks.
The primary strength and weakness of the Vindicator is the Demolisher Cannon. It is a massive piece of Ordnance that can reduce the mightiest of targets to a fine mist and crack even the hardest armour.
This fearsome power is balanced out by a short range, Blast template deviation, and the gun being silenced by even a Glancing hit. A heavy front armour helps keep the tank moving and shooting, but their short range also makes Vindies an optimal target for enemy melta weapons.
This huge gun also brings another benefit: Vindicators will get shot at... a lot. They are a fire magnet unmatched by anything else in the same points cost. This makes them an excellent resource for pulling enemy fire away from the rest of your army.
The Vindicator is a wonderfully easy tank to run. It goes at the front of your lines with the heavy front armour facing the enemy. The first turn it moves forward to bring the enemy into range and starts shooting. From there you either continue advancing and shooting against a static enemy or backing up while pounding those foolish enough to come towards you.
OPTIONS
Dozer Blade – Nice
Siege Shield – Even better
Storm Bolter – Gives you two, but this isn’t exceptional
Hunter Killer Missile – Nice if you have the points
Extra Armour – Expensive as you still can’t fire
It is easy to buy a bunch of upgrades for the Vindicator but be warned that the cost can add up fast. A Dozer Blade or Storm Shield is excellent for keeping the tank mobile, but even they are not critical. When in doubt, simplicity is usually the best option.
CONCLUSION
The Vindicator is an excellent assault tank that really compliments the range and style of a Space Wolves army. It likes being close to the enemy, hits hard, dominates the local field and is able to take a hit in return. They can be an excellent core component for fully or semi mechanised lists of any size.
Still, one medium-heavy tank all alone will often find itself the focus of every enemy anti-tank weapon in the area. The key to also getting offensive power out of your Vindicator is to give your opponent problems with target priority. Do this by pushing into their lines with two or even three heavy tanks together. Just match your Vindicator up with one or two Land Raiders, Predators, or additional Vindicators and enjoy the fireworks!
-Guest post by Bill "Dverning" Lewis.
6 comments:
February 16, 2010 at 3:59 PM
A cool tactic that I've seen done with a pair of vindicators is set them up in the center of your deployment move them forward to reign punishment on the center of the board. With an appropriate amount of intimidation and fire power brought to bear in the center, your enemy might choose to move his units away from them, or suffer fire. Pushing the enemy toward the table edges, this leaves enemy units vulnerable to ambush by Wolf Scouts using the behind enemy lines ability.
February 16, 2010 at 6:37 PM
I take a vindicator in all my lists works like a charm every time. I like to use them naked 115pts is a bargain!
February 16, 2010 at 10:44 PM
I'm actually not such a fan of the Vindicator, even in SW armies.
1) the actual damage
Ok, S10 Ordnance is reasonable for cracking higher armor values, but it's still only one roll on the chart. It's not the BEST
Against troops in cover, ooh, ahh, 4+ saves. Only marines and terminators actually fear the reduction in saves, but you can at least insta-kill stuff.
2) S10 + Thunderwolves (or, well, any other assault troop)
Honestely, for an army that has some excellent assault troops, I don't think that a Vindicator is really a match. You either have troops in their lines, OR you're chucking S10 AP2 templates (that are scarier in theory than in reality).
I mean, they're a nasty psychological threat, but I think Space Wolves do better with some of their more distinctive choices.
February 18, 2010 at 2:51 AM
in response to Raptor1313,
The Vindi isn't going to reliably kill excessive men, it's true. However, it is the potential to do that which is the bigger threat.
*remember though that Marines, Necrons, SoB do represent over half of played armies, which means you will be getting good back for buck.
**just two shots against Hordes, getting 20 kills against Boyz, etc. means you have broken even just on kills, let alone the other factors I will list.
Once you bring the Vindi to the table top, your foe thinks 'better deal with that'. Though I love my 3-las Pred, it never gets that kind of respect. You have shaped your foes plans (perhaps more than any other unit you can bring) and alter his deployment and movement. A step closer to you winning.
This adds a second value to the Vindi ~ it allows the rest of your armour to do their job's unmolested.
Dreadnoughts, with weaker AV 12, get relief from HW just because the Vindi gets the lion's share of shots.
Your foe will be nervous for his 500 pt unit of Terminators and ICs just because of the Vindi. Your Armour gets a chance to do it's job just because of the Vindi. That 3-las Pred I use, with it's turns free of hits, gets to take out those threats to the Vindi.
That's what the Vindi brings, control and threat of the table top. In addition to what it actually does achieve. So you get your points worth plus more on top of that.
Once you bring 3+ pieces of Armour, having 1+ as Vindis is a good investment.
Sounds like a good deal to me (^^j)
June 29, 2011 at 9:59 AM
My wife played a team game just last week. Wolves and Blood Angels vs 2 chaos players. Her long fangs cracked open three rhinos, and her teamate dropped three demolisher shots on the squads from the center, and wiped 2 squads completely, and reduced a nurgle squad to 1. 5 Long fangs and a vindi = 6 killpoints in 3 turns. Vindi's can indeed be terrifying.
September 29, 2011 at 3:47 PM
A cool tactic I've seen is to play ONLY VINDICATORS AND ROFLESTOMP ALL OVER THE TABLE§§§
Then OS the rest of the army (if there is survivors, which is very unusual) with priest of runes.
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