Sure the Iron Hands look strong out the gate in competitive 40k right now, but where are all the “broken” Leviathan Dreadnought’s that worried everyone?
First, let’s take a sampling of the latest big event here in the states that just went down. The Battle For Salvation had 100-ish players so that makes our math easy for this example.
Of the 100 players at the event:
- 8 played Iron Hands
- 4 of those players were in the top 8 (and top 20)
- 2 of those finished 1st and 2nd place respectively
- 7 were “Astartes” armies
- 4 of those Astartes players were in the top 20, one in the top 8 (3rd overall)
- 2 of those Astartes players actually used Iron Hands as well (Nick Nanavati mixed them with White Scars)
- 2 of those lists played a Leviathan, and one was in an Ultramarines Army.
So from just some quick math, in the top 20 at this event, there were 10 armies that contained Iron Hands. That represented 10% of the overall participants, however, of that 10% they finished in the top 90% of rankings right- with two at the very top!
Now while the math definitely supports the IH being super strong in their first real week in the competitive meta, the Leviathan was strangely absent from these lists.
But look at these numbers:
Of the top 20 Astartes armies (including Iron hands)
- 2 had Leviathans
- 5 lists used Centurions
- 5 lists used the Thunderfire Cannon (some with both Centurions and T-Fires in the same list)
So the prevalence in the meta on the Astartes side seems to be slanted towards units with more value right now, like Centurions, and Thunderfires and not towards units that have a huge tax to bring like the Leviathan.
Is the Iron Hands Leviathan Really Bad Enough to Get NERFED?
Wyatt over from Jack of Clubs painting did a math breakdown recently for us on all the investments that need to be made for that near-unkillable Leviathan. It might have a wounds profile so it can technically die, but with its survivability, you may be better off just blowing the rest of the enemy army away.
Yes, it is absolutely hard to kill, no argument there. But the thing is, to have the unit, the investment in points, unit taxes (For the Relic keyword), and CP, is well worth its tanky-ness in-game.
Here is an explanation and math of what the actual investment on a Leviathan is for Iron Hands.
Sure, the Leviathan with storm cannons is 303 points (plus 6-18 for HK missiles) and just to bring it in the list you need a heavy support slot filled because of the Relic tax. Usually, a Thunderfire Cannon, Whirlwind, or Eliminator squad if you want the tax unit to be useful. so 72-92 points. Now the total is up to 375-395. THEN you need Feirros, 110 points– up to 485-505. THEN you need Ironstone Relic, which is CP free if Feirros’ Warlord Trait, but it needs a non-named character you put it on. The Techmarine is cheapest so let’s go with that for the 45 point tax. total is now 530-550.
THEN you need the Might of Heroes power to slap on him from a Psyker to make it T9. Cheapest librarian? 88 points. total is now 618-638… Six Hundred Eighteen points for the Leviathan with its unit taxes! Now we go into resource investment. 1 CP to make him a character, 1 CP to give it a WL trait, then even more CP each turn it gets shot at to halve damage with Duty Eternal.
That’s 3 for a fast game, 6 if we can keep it waddling along brrrrting stuff the whole game. 5cp to 8cp is half to most of a typical Space Marine list’s CP. So we’re looking at a 700 point unit that also eats 5 to 8 cp over the course of a game.
Strong AF? yeah, you betcha. But worth banning? Not unless you also ban Castellans, most other variants of Knights, and Mortarion. Also, be sure to note that it has to use Duty Eternal again in the fight phase. so double CP investment for the game for it being shot at, and charged by smash captains. and it can’t even fall back and shoot. Plus 2-3 squads of chaff can lock it down in combat if even one reaches it though the brutal overwatch.
Is it really that bad when compared to things like Knights, Magnus, or even Mortarion? Is it just an unkillable distraction Carnifex that lets you focus on the rest of your enemy’s army?
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About the Author: Rob Baer
Rob Baer
Job Title: Managing Editor
Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
Socials: Rob Baer on Facebook and @catdaddymbg on X
About Rob Baer: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor of Spikey Bits, the leading tabletop gaming news website focused on the hobby side of wargaming and miniatures.
Rob also co-founded and currently hosts the Long War Podcast, which has over 350 episodes and focuses on tabletop miniatures gaming, specializing in Warhammer 40k. and spent six years writing for Bell of Lost Souls.
Every year, along with his co-hosts, he helps host the Long War 40k Doubles Tournament at Adepticon and the Long War 40k Doubles at Las Vegas Open, which attracts over 350 players from around the world.
Rob has won many Warhammer 40k Tournaments over the years, including multiple first-place finishes in Warhammer 40k Grand Tournaments over the years and even winning 1st place at the Adepticon 40k Team Tournament.
With over 30 years of experience in retail and distribution, Rob knows all the products and exactly which ones are the best. As a member of GAMA (Game Manufacturers Association), he advocates for gaming stores and manufacturers in these difficult times, always looking for the next big thing to feature for the miniatures hobby, helping everyone to provide the value consumers want.
While he’s played every edition of Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy (since 5th Edition) and has been hobbying on miniatures since the 1980s, Titans of all sizes will always be his favorite! It’s even rumored that his hobby vault rivals the Solemnance Galleries, containing rulebooks filled with lore from editions long past, ancient packs of black-bordered Magic Cards, and models made of both pewter and resin.
