40k: X vs Y – Dreadnought vs Predator
Some thoughts today all the way from I.D on what is better: a Dreadnought or Predator.
Dreadnought
The Dreadnought is a walker with an AV 12-12-10 profile, so not so shabby. It’s got Space Marine WS and BS, and it’s S6 as standard. Standard war gear is a multi melta and dreadnought close combat weapon. All this for 105 points.
While comparing it to a Predator I’ll look at the Dreadnought in the two forms the Predator can come in: anti-tank and anti-infantry.
For anti-infantry the Dreadnought can have a heavy bolter, heavy flamer, plasma cannon, or assault cannon. You can take a missile launcher, too, if you wanted. Strangely, anti-infantry options make the Dreadnought more expensive – in fact, as standard the Dreadnought is more expensive than a “dakka” Predator with a heavy bolter and autocannon. So, for anti-infantry, the Dreadnought isn’t that cooler and is more expensive and puts out less shots. A Dakka-Pred can out 2 x S7 and 6 x S5 shots, while a Dreadnought can do most 4 x S6 shots (with rending) and a S4 small blast if taking a missile launcher too.
The Dreadnought can use a variety of setups for anti-tank: twin autocannons or lascannon & missile launcher. The former is coined a “Rifleman” (GO Battletech!) and the latter we’ll just use as “Las-mis” today, though I think it’s called something else. The first setup is 125 points and puts out 4 x S7 shots, while the second setup is 145 points and puts out a single S9 shot and S8; not that good.
Pros
1. The Dreadnought is a walker, so it can move and fire all weapons.
2. It can fight back in assault.
3. It doesn’t get immobilized in terrain.
4. It has stronger side armour than a Predator.
Cons
1. Has weaker front armour than a Predator.
2. Has weaker fire power.
3. Costs 5 points more.
Predator
The Predator is a Rhino chassis vehicle which has armour profile 13-11-10, which makes it stronger in the front than the Dreadnought. It has normal Space Marine ballistic skill, and is a tank, so you can tank shock if you really want/need too. Standard wargear is an autocannon, which puts out 2 x S7 shots, this costs you 60 points… so very very cheap.
Anti infantry build is keeping the autocannon and throwing on side heavy bolters. You could add a storm bolter too if you wanted which makes it slightly more expensive, but at least if you move then you can fire two weapons. All this for 95 points, cheaper than the Dreadnought and puts out a lot more shots.
For anti tank the Predator can be setup in two ways. The first is switching the autocannon for a twin-linked lascannon and adding side lascannons. This puts out 3 x S9 shots, but costs a whopping 165 points; expensive. You can, however, go a cheaper route and go “Auto/las” – which is autocannon and lascannon sponsons. This puts out 2 x S7 shots and 2 x S9 shots, not bad and all costs 120 points and averages 4 x S8 shots.
Pros
1. Better front armour than a Dreadnought.
2. Puts out more fire power.
3. Costs slightly less.
Cons
1. Weaker side armour than a Dreadnought.
2. Can get immobilized in terrain.
3. Cannot fight back in assault.
4. Can’t move and fire all weapons, only one or maybe none.
Summary
In this small run down it’s no doubt about it – the Predator has more negatives than the Dreadnought. The Predator’s only silver lining is how much fire power it puts out, and the front armour can take more of a beating if you can position it to keep that AV11 side armour safe. However, the average armour value of the Dreadnought and Predator are the same. Another minor benefit is the points. It’s 5 points less than a Rilfeman Dreadnought, but who is going to argue about 5 points?
The other big problem with the Predator is assault. If you don’t want to get hit you need to move, but move and you cannot shoot – and once in assault it’s a waiting game to see if your tank gets popped or a weapon destroyed, at least with a Dreadnought it can fight its attackers instead of a Predator waiting to see the outcome and possibly drive away. A big factor in assault is that walkers are hit on the front armour but vehicles on the rear, so the Dreadnought has an armour benefit in armour too. This can have positives and negatives, as large weak hordes can tie the Dreadnought up and it takes ages to kill them when it should be shooting.
When moving through terrain you just need one unlucky “1” and your tank is immobilized, which leads back to problems of assault – plus you cannot reposition your vehicle. When a Dreadnought goes through terrain it moves as infantry, and to become immobilized your opponent needs to cause damage to do that, not yourself because of bad dice rolls. Remember: if the Dreadnought is immobilised it has its attacks decreased by one.
While the Dreadnought overall puts out lower strength fire power it puts out the same amount as the Predator. All it needs is that one lucky shot and you’ve popped a tank. Sure, AP2 lascannons mow through monstrous creatures but put enough shots into (non AV14) vehicles and they will go down – those autocannons are twin-linked, btw 😉
The Dreadnought, for 5 points more, has a lot more benefits. It can move and fire all weapons, fight in combat and when in combat is struck on the front armour, not rear. And, as mentioned, the overall armour value is the same on both units.
