Let Thy Valkryies Fly!

Well, one of my favorite vehicles now is, of course, the Valkyrie, but specifically the Vendetta build. For those of you who don't know, the Vendetta is only 30 points more, and has three twin linked lascannons, pretty awesome for only thirty more points. Now that I'm done drooling over it, lets talk about how I use it on the table.

I pretty much always reserve it, especially if I'm going second, which means I don't get the save from moving fast. I always outflank with it as well, because I am coming in from a mostly unexpected angle, I get 3 twin linked lascannons to fire at rear armor, tell me that won't fuck up most mech. If the enemy doesn't have any armor that poses a major threat to me, then I run it up and drop off my veteran squad, Grae's Grenadiers if you have read that article then you know they are pretty good on foot, imagine them in a Vendetta. Simply drop them, and blast away with the flamethrowers and shotguns, can't ask for much more against horde armies. Lastly, I always take the door gunners, I don't know if it's my love of the door gunner, or what, but I like fluff, and i think any good aerial transport should have door gunners.

Perhaps the best thing about the Vendetta is that it's a fast skimmer, which means it can easily dominate cityfights, and has the movement speed to help it survive in places where there is no cover. Of course you can't always move fast, you have to shoot, to help it with that, its got 12 armor on the front and sides, so it can take a surprising beating. Personally, I love grav chute deployment, its risky, but I think it spices up the game, a lot.

I recommend taking either melta/plasma toting veterans with shotguns, or stormtroopers in the Vendetta. Those are all units that perform wonderfully in close combat, particularly the stormtroopers, just remember about those pistols, that's an extra attack per trooper, and it's assault, with AP 3, perfect for breaking Space Marines.

Lastly, and I have to say this, is the Valkyrie/Vendetta a broken unit? does it trash the rules, and throw away the fun? I don't think that the Valkyrie is, but the Vendetta is, however, the Imperial Guard have been the laughing stock of Warhammer 40k for a long time, and its about time we Guard players have gotten our dues. I wish that we weren't so unfair, but I can't say I mind the attention.