Warhammer 40k - Unit Review Library 166 - Astra Militarum, Banesword


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"Fire the Quake Cannon!"

Hello everyone! Zak Ludick here from Cape Town, South Africa and this is a Warhammer 40k - The Great Unit Review Wheel! post!

Now known as the Unit Review Library!

What is it all about? It is not there to just give a stat. It is there to give MY review of the unit!

Also this has become quite the Challenge! With so many units to review in the game the consensus in the hobby community is that I will not have enough time to review all of the Datasheets before the new edition of Warhammer 40,000 came out.

I should have started when 10th edition launched!
493 days since the start of 10th Edition.
This is Review #166, I am 327 reviews behind! (Lowest I have been is 314 behind)

January 2025 we are expecting Astra Militarum and Aeldari codexes as explained Here, so time to focus on THOSE Datasheets!

Astra Militarum, Banesword

10th Edition Index

The BaneSWORD is yet another Baneblade variant.

This one has zero transport capacity, it does not have a Demolisher Cannon in the hull or the Co-axial Autocannon.

It swaps all of this for a big tank killing gun that will kill most heavy tanks used in 2000pts games and some serious dents in super-heavy tanks and walkers.

To put this into perspective, the Quake Cannon alone does around 12-16 wounds of damage on another Baneblade variant. When it does 16 wounds in one turn, it has the same chance of 1-shotting a Land Raider!

Basically it can half-health an Ork Stompa with one turn of shooting from the big gun.

And this is really reliable when you see the quantity of high stength shots with flat damage output. A Lascannon might flop once in a while with low damage, but this gun does 4 flat damage per unsaved wound.

The Banesword is 480pts to field and $185 to buy.

But let's check those stats...

Stats

Movement 9"
Toughness 13
Save 2+(armor/invul/Feel No Pain)
Wounds 24
Ld 7+
OC 8

Weapons

This comes standard with:
Quake Cannon
Heavy stubber
2x lascannons
Twin heavy bolter
2x twin heavy flamers;

It can then have the following additional:
2 lascannons and 2 twin heavy bolters
or
2 lascannons and 2 twin heavy flamers

And it can exchange its 2 twin heavy flamers with 2 twin heavy bolters.

Ranged:

Quake Cannon

72" Range, D6+6 Shots, Hitting on 4+. S16, AP-4 and 4 Damage each.
Blast (Add an additional Attack per 5 enemies rounding down)
Ignores Cover (Targets do not get Benefit of Cover against this atttack)

Heavy Stubber

36" Range, 3 Shots, Hitting on 4+. S4, AP0 and 1 Damage each.
Rapid Fire 3 (This weapon gains 3 additional attacks at half range of 18")

Lascannon (so 6 of these in total)

48" Range, 1 Shot, Hitting on 4+. S12, AP-3 and D6+1 Damage each.

Twin Heavy Bolter (I would run the option that takes 5 of these)

36" Range, 3 Shots, Hitting on 4+. S5, AP-1 and 2 Damage each.
Sustained Hits 1 (On a 6 ti hit, gain an attitional Hit)
Twin Linked (Re-roll to Wound rolls)

Twin Heavy Flamers (The layout starts with 2, you could make it 4 of them or 0)

12" Range, D6 Shots, Hitting on Auto, S5, AP-1 and 1 Damage each.
Torrent (Auto Hits, just roll for the number of attacks and then roll to Wound)
Ignores Cover (Targets do not get Benefit of Cover against this atttack)
Twin Linked (Re-roll to Wound rolls)

Melee:

Armoured tracks

6 Attacks, Hitting on 4+. S8, AP 0 and 1 Damage each.

Abilities

Armour Obliteration

When destorying a target with Deadly Demise, it triggers the Deadly Demise on a 3+ instead of a 6+!

Thoughts

So, S16, AP-4 with Ignores cover, unless you have a 4+ Invul save, most targets are taking 8-16 wounds flat. Then, when you are destroyed, it has a high probability of exploding.

If you WANT the big titan/super-heavy tank to explode then ping some wounds off it until it has around 12 wounds left, then let rip with this gun. The chances are high that you will kill it AND cause it to explode!

Deadly Demise D6+2 (Its own explosion is quite dangerous!)

That makes 14 Astra Militarum Datasheets Reviewed putting them on 15.73% Completed. The total Completed is 15.77% Complete! Can I review them all?!

By the way, I have finally separated the Imperial Agents and the Deathwatch units that are no longer part of the current tournament scene Datasheets and are now Legends!

Thank you for reading!

Warhammer Review Library

Army Rule and Detachment Rule Reviews

FactionDetachmentReview Number
Agents of the ImperiumArmy Rule #2
Astra MilitarumArmy Rule #1
Astra MilitarumCombined RegimentDetachment Rule #1
Space MarinesArmy Rule #3


Datasheet Review list (Alphabetical)

FactionUnitReview Number
Adeptus CustodesProsecutors#1
Adeptus CustodesKnight-Centura#54
Adeptus CustodesShield-Captain#61
Adeptus CustodesShield-Captain in Allarus Terminator Armor#70
Adeptus CustodesTrajann Valoris#40
Adeptus MechanicusArchaeopter Fusilave#13
Adeptus MechanicusArchaeopter Stratoraptor#14
Adeptus MechanicusArchaeopter Transvector#15
Adeptus MechanicusBelisarius Cawl#53
Adeptus MechanicusCorpuscarii Electro-Priests#97
Adeptus MechanicusOnager Dunecrawler#110
Adeptus MechanicusSerberys Raiders#55
Adeptus MechanicusSerberys Sulphurhounds#56
Adeptus MechanicusTechnoarcheologist#104
AeldariAsurmen#155
AeldariDark Reapers#165
AeldariGuardian Defenders#64
AeldariHemlock Wraithfighter#161
AeldariKarandras#153
AeldariMaugan Ra#87
AeldariNight Spinner#65
AeldariRangers#149
AeldariShadowseer#80
AeldariShining Spears#147
AeldariShroud Runners#151
AeldariSkyweavers#157
AeldariThe Visarch#159
AeldariPrince Yriel#92
Astra MilitarumAegis Defence Line#146
Astra MilitarumArmoured Sentinels#148
Astra MilitarumAttilan Rough Riders#154
Astra MilitarumBaneblade#156
Astra MilitarumBanehammer#160
Astra MilitarumCadian Castellan#158
Astra MilitarumField Ordnance Battery#162
Astra MilitarumKasrkin#60
Astra MilitarumOgryn Bodyguard#150
Astra Militarum Ogryn Squad#152
Astra MilitarumRatling Snipers#164
Astra MilitarumTank Commander#90
Astra MilitarumWyvern#81
Black TemplarsBlack Templars Gladiator#102
Black TemplarsHigh Marshall Helbrecht#38
Black TemplarsMarshall#46
Black TemplarsThe Emperor's Champion#63
Blood AngelsAstorath#131
Blood AngelsBaal Predator#2
Blood AngelsBrother Corbulo#132
Blood AngelsCaptain Tycho#133
Blood AngelsChief Librarian Mephiston#134
Blood AngelsCommander Dante#135
Blood AngelsDeath Company Dreadnought#136
Blood AngelsDeath Company Intercessors#137
Blood AngelsDeath Company Marines#138
Blood AngelsDeath Company Marines with Jump Packs#139
Blood AngelsFurioso Dreadnought#140
Blood AngelsGabriel Seth#66
Blood AngelsLemartes#32
Blood AngelsLibrarian Dreadnought#141
Blood AngelsSanguinary Guard#93
Blood AngelsSanguinary Priest#142
Blood AngelsSanguinary Priest with Jump#143
Blood AngelsThe Sanguinor#144
Blood AngelsTycho the Lost#145
Chaos DaemonsBeasts of Nurgle#98
Chaos DaemonsDaemonettes#29
Chaos DaemonsLord of Change#75
Chaos DaemonsNurglings#82
Chaos KnightsKnight Abominant#94
Chaos KnightsWar Dog Brigands#30
Chaos KnightsWar Dog Executioners#31
Chaos KnightsWar Dog Huntsman#77
Chaos Space MarinesAbbadon the Despoiler#50
Chaos Space MarinesHaarken Worldclaimer#41
Chaos Space MarinesKhorne Lord of Skulls#37
Dark AngelsAsmodai#16
Dark AngelsAzrael#17
Dark AngelsBelial#4
Dark AngelsDeathwing Knights#20
Dark AngelsDeathwing Terminator Squad#99
Dark AngelsLazarus#62
Dark AngelsLand Speeder Vengeance#101
Death GuardBiologus Putrifier#5
Death GuardBlightlord Terminators#10
Death GuardChaos Lord#36
Death GuardLord of Contagion#52
Death GuardTallyman#39
Death GuardMalignant Plaguecaster#71
DeathwatchCorvus Blackstar#72
DeathwatchDeathwatch Veterans#114
DeathwatchWatch Captain Artemis#122
DeathwatchWatch Master#124
DrukhariGrotesques#45
DrukhariHaemonculus#8
DrukhariRaider#35
DrukhariScourges#7
Genestealer CultsAberants#47
Genestealer CultsHybrid Metamorphs#58
Genestealer CultsReductus Saboteur#33
Grey KnightsBrother Captain#25
Grey KnightsGrand Master#48
Grey KnightsStrike Squad#51
Imperial AgentsCallidus Assassin#9
Imperial AgentsCulexus Assassin#69
Imperial AgentsEversor Assassin#105
Imperial AgentsExaction Squad#111
Imperial AgentsImperial Navy Breachers#113
Imperial AgentsInquisitor#115
Imperial AgentsInquisitor Coteaz#117
Imperial AgentsInquisitor Greyfax#121
Imperial AgentsInquisitorial Henchmen#123
Imperial AgentsLord Inquisitor Kyria Draxus#126
Imperial AgentsRogue Trader Entourage#127
Imperial AgentsSubductor Squad#128
Imperial AgentsVigilant Squad#26
Imperial AgentsVindicare Assassin#129
Imperial AgentsVoidsmen-at-Arms#130
Imperial KnightsCanis Rex#76
Imperial KnightsArmiger Helverin#22
Imperial KnightsArmiger Warglaive#43
Imperial KnightsKnight Castellan#83
Leagues of VotannBrôkhyr Iron-master#27
Leagues of VotannBrôkhyr Thunderkyn#78
Leagues of VotannCthonian Beserks#86
Leagues of VotannSagitaur#3
Leagues of VotannÛthar the Destined#44
NecronsObelisk#11
OrksBattlewagon#34
OrksHunta Rig#28
OrksZodgrod Wortsnagga#89
Space MarinesKayvaan Shrike#23
Space MarinesMarneus Calgar#42
Space MarinesRazorback#21
Space MarinesVanguard Veteran Squad with Jump Packs#103
Space WolvesArjac Rockfist#68
Space WolvesFenrisian Wolves#91
Space WolvesWolf Guard#74
T'au EmpireBreacher Team#88
T'au EmpireDarkstrider#12
T'au EmpireKroot Carnivore Squad#19
T'au EmpirePathfinder Team#79
T'au EmpirePiranhas#107
T'au EmpireRazorshark Strike Fighter#95
T'au EmpireStealth Battlesuits#67
Thousand SonsAhriman#108
Thousand SonsAhriman on Disc of Tzeentch#109
Thousand SonsExalted Sorcerer#59
Thousand SonsMagnus the Red#49
TyranidsBarbgaunts#6
TyranidsLictor#106
TyranidsRaveners#96
TyranidsScreamer Killer#24
World EatersLord Invocatus#100
World EatersWorld Eaters Chaos Spawn#18
World EatersWorld Eaters Daemon Prince#85

Legends Datasheet Review list

FactionUnitReview Number
DeathwatchDeathwatch Terminator Squad#112
DeathwatchFortis Kill Team#116
DeathwatchIndomitor Kill Team#118
DeathwatchKill Team Cassius#120
DeathwatchProteus Killteam#57
DeathwatchSpectrus Kill Team#73
DeathwatchVeteran Bike Squad#84
Imperial AgentsInquisitor Eisenhorn#119
Imperial AgentsInquisitor Karamazov#125

Thank you for reading!

** Images in this post are from the Warhammer app, or Warhammer.com or otherwise referenced.

Tag List:
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*PS, Should you wish to be removed or added to the taglist, please let me know!

Cheers!
@zakludick

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