While the Invader is is a much more durable unit than an Attack Bike, offensively it’s a much less efficient use of points. Its primary weapon remains that same and it loses core. For that cost, you gain a pretty important 4 extra wounds, as well as 2 attacks and 2 more attacks with its auto bolt rifle, which otherwise shares a stat line with a bolter. Armed with a Multi-melta, for the best apples-to-apple comparison, the Invader clocks in at 85 pts, 30 more than the Attack Bike. The Invader ATV is the Primaris Version of the Attack Bike. In this matchup I think the Attack Bike if not flat out better, is at least a viable alternative. Attack Bikes don’t have this issue and won’t cost you a ton of CP to get them where they are needed. In particular, the hardest part of using Eradicators is getting units within half range, or even ranges, as they are a slow unit. Yet point for point I think the Attack Bikes come out ahead here.
Due to the larger unit size, a full unit of Eradicators will do more damage than one of Attack Bikes. They also can ride in more transports, though their options are limited, and they have access to different stratagems.
They can be taken in larger units, and have weapon upgrade options that boost their damage output. Now Eradicators do have some advantages here. For only ten points that’s a lot of bonuses. At the same time, their primary damage output remains the same, though the Bikes get the option of splitting fire. For those extra ten points, the bike gains a wound, 4 bolter shots, and most importantly a whopping 9″ of movement, having nearly 3 times the movement of Eradicators. Thanks to a new points bump a multi-melta armed Attack Bike is only 10 pts more than a basic Eradicator. However, when matched up against Attack Bikes, Eradicators might not look as good. Attack Bike Vs EradicatorĮradicators are a hot new Marine unit, one that many have said is broken. Next let’s look at how they compare to other Marine units that fill a similar role. What’s more, they will only run 55 pts with a Multi-melta, the same amount they cost before the buffs. As a core unit they can also be buffed with ease.
This makes Space Marine Attack Bikes a pretty solid anti-tank/heavy infantry choice. In addition, the bike’s low profile makes them easier to hide. A 14″ move means the Bike can move from outside of the gun’s range, to within the greatly desired half range in a single turn, and can fairly easily get in half range on turn one. With the Multi-melta now a much better gun, the Attack Bike can really shine using one of them.
And it’s the multi-melta armed version we will be looking at here today, as there are much better options for taking Heavy Bolters. In particular the Multi-melta, both doubled its shots and gained increased damage. The second buff of course is the buffs both its heavy weapon options gained. At movement 14″ they are one of the faster Marine units. This lets Attack Bikes take full advantage of their mobility and heavy weapon.
The first is bikes no longer suffer a -1 when moving and shooting with heavy weapons. Two key things have changed to bump the Space Marine Attack Bikes up in value this edition. However looking at the recent Marine Codex they’ve got some buffs, and it got me wondering if they might just be good now. One of the key issues facing them has been being a fast non-vehicle unit armed with a heavy weapon, which in many editions has punished them. They’ve combined low firepower, with a single main weapon, with poor performance in combat and have rarely been worth their points. While fast, that has generally been the only good thing you could say about them. While they might once have been a solid unit, back in the misty times of the Long Ago, they are widely seen as relics of an older age. Let’s talk about a surprising discovery, the old-school Space Marine Attack Bikes might just be really good!įor a long while now Attack Bikes have been a bit of a joke unit.