Dealing with Bloodletters

[Oddnerd]

These are showing up in large numbers in the games I play. They pack a massive amount of punch and, with both a teleport and warp shift it is exceedingly difficult to stop them from closing the gap unharmed. I understand that nothing in this game is op, so I will just ask - what is the drawback/weakness that can be exploited when dealing with them, specifically as an IG player? Stopping enemies from closing the distance is a critical strategy when you play as a race with horrible melee and low unit hp. These guys are not just going to tie down your units, if you don't retreat quickly they will wipe units incredibly fast.

Any input from more experienced players would be great.

[Atlas]

I'll just assume the worst case where you're playing Not-Inquisitor.

In that case, you want to get the heretics off the field asap. Without heretic worship, letters are definitely manageable. WITH them they're on damn crack and can destroy your ogryns and hero.

As for general advice, a sentinel stomp and follow up will be able to deal with them even if they warp shift, which follows up as more time to shoot some other squad for a bit.

Other than that, a chimera is also enough to just back off with gm inside if they are really still breaking your lines.
Hope that helps.

[Sub_Zero]

I don't think bloodletters are a good purchase against IG, only against ogryns but nobody in his sane mind ever uses ogryns against Chaos (the worst MU for them).

Your best bet is a chimera, bloodletters will be toothless against that (but only when you always move this vehicle). Stormtroopers will also serve well to damage them. You can get both these units but don't upgrade stormtroopers right away. If he gets plague marines/havocs then upgrade your stormtroopers with the assault kit, if he gets a dreadnought/bloodcrusher then upgrade them with the anti-vehicle kit. On top of that add a HWT. Just to make your defensive line harder to break. This is never a bad purchase since you have 2 amazing options if just suppression doesn't benefit you anymore. Every mobile ranged unit can kite bloodletters and if your HWT is threatened then just command it to enter your chimera (you don't even need to desetup your HWT, it will enter the vehicle right away).

[Oddnerd]

I don't think bloodletters are a good purchase against IG, only against ogryns but nobody in his sane mind ever uses ogryns against Chaos (the worst MU for them).

Your best bet is a chimera, bloodletters will be toothless against that (but only when you always move this vehicle). Stormtroopers will also serve well to damage them. You can get both these units but don't upgrade stormtroopers right away. If he gets plague marines/havocs then upgrade your stormtroopers with the assault kit, if he gets a dreadnought/bloodcrusher then upgrade them with the anti-vehicle kit. On top of that add a HWT. Just to make your defensive line harder to break. This is never a bad purchase since you have 2 amazing options if just suppression doesn't benefit you anymore. Every mobile ranged unit can kite bloodletters and if your HWT is threatened then just command it to enter your chimera (you don't even need to desetup your HWT, it will enter the vehicle right away).

Thanks, the last bit was actually news to me. I actually have been poor at making full use of chimeras, I should take a more mobile approach to my IG play.

[Paradise Lost]

These are showing up in large numbers in the games I play. They pack a massive amount of punch and, with both a teleport and warp shift it is exceedingly difficult to stop them from closing the gap unharmed. I understand that nothing in this game is op, so I will just ask - what is the drawback/weakness that can be exploited when dealing with them, specifically as an IG player? Stopping enemies from closing the distance is a critical strategy when you play as a race with horrible melee and low unit hp. These guys are not just going to tie down your units, if you don't retreat quickly they will wipe units incredibly fast.

Any input from more experienced players would be great.

Just focus them down. They are so horribly squishy and expensive to replace (and purchase) I hardly ever use them.

[Nurland]

I rarely get BL against IG. Not exactly a MU where the unit shines. Unless I am facing a huge number of HWTs or something.

Sentinel stomp + focus fire. LC has the Inspire Terror ability, Inq has plenty of crowd control. LG just need to kite with GL speed buff or just rely on insane ranged firepower to force them off as soon as the Phase shift wears off.

As At£4$ said, you should try to focus down heretics ASAP so they can't support the BL. BL are not that great without worship but with worship they become insane.

[Paradise Lost]

I don't get how anyone could have trouble with BLs. It just boils down to focus firing them, they go down almost instantly.

[Toilailee]

I don't get how anyone could have trouble with BLs. It just boils down to focus firing them, they go down almost instantly.

Lol?

Maybe because they got insane health regen under worship and if focus fired they can phase out when they get close to losing a model. Maybe.

[Paradise Lost]

I don't get how anyone could have trouble with BLs. It just boils down to focus firing them, they go down almost instantly.

Lol?

Maybe because they got insane health regen under worship and if focus fired they can phase out when they get close to losing a model. Maybe.

Well you can just wait for Phase Shift to end, then fire again. BLs by themselves don't do much, you usually need a melee-oriented army to support their charges or they will be kited and shot down. You probably know more about this than me, but I can't see BLs making a real difference, only solidifying existing advantages.