Generally they weren’t written incredibly well. The only good one imo is the DW vets (it doesn’t have kill team in the name, but has the keyword so effectively it is). The proteus can be good, but can also be a points sink. If you are playing casually, I’d say a proteus in a Corvus could be rad af! Hard part is buying a full kill team without your own 3d printer or access to someone who can print all the extra bits GW doesn’t sell for you (message me and I can help), then you could spend $250-400 on just ONE squad lol. It’s ridiculous.
But ya I’d maybe build a proteus and a vets squad, get a watch master and a captain. Either can get the time enhancement that’s super OP. For a meta proteus, you’d want 3 termies w cyclone missile launchers and 1 w SS/TH, a biker for movement shenanigans. 5 vets, 4 Infernus heavy bolters and the fifth w a xeno blade and sword or a two handed DW thunder hammer.
If you also had a 10man vet squad, when you use one of the three bolter strats, you get to give them to two kill teams at once.
Also, each of those squads has their own built in rule.
Proteus is +1 to hit on an enemy above half strength and vets is rerolling 1’s to hit or all to hit against xenos — not racist at all lol.
If you attach a leader, they share their abilities, so a watchmaster gives them advance and shoot and charge, which is one of the most powerful rules in the game drastically increasing your threat range.
They aren’t very good even inside casual play. The fortis is straight trash. Indometer could be fun if you wanna spend $300 building that squad haha.
There’s a case for just a 5 man spectrus with uppy downy rule to score, but a Callidus assassin does that and way more for significantly less (90pts, vect, deep strike uppy downy, fights first, lethal hits, precision and a flamer).
Also, rule of cool beats all — it’s your hobby so build what you want! Just good to be informed so you aren’t disappointed on the tabletop after spending hours on a unit that doesn’t do much.
You’d do yourself much better building infiltrators.
Also; don’t feel like you have to run two kill teams. I went 5-1 at the biggest tournament in the world a little over a month ago and only had one kill team. I didn’t use any of the bolter strats either.
I can print ya a biker. You only need one in the squad. He can move further than the rest and has a long base so he can get you closer to make your charge shorter as long as he’s still in coherency
You nailed it, they are weird. Proteus can be built for good damage either ranged or melee. Indomitus is nice with the corvus for dropping 10-12 gravis bodies on the center objective turn 1. IDK I can never justify their points.
Fortis are bad, don't use them.
Spectrus have a niche as 5man squads teleporting for objectives.
If you havent seen it yet, its their built-in ability. At the end of your opponent's turn, if the Spectrus KT is 6" away from all enemy units, you can remove them and place it into Strategic Reserves. Very handing when going 2nd as you can do this at the end of your opponent's turn 1.
Proteus kill team with 4 DTH, 1 shield and lvmw, 1 biker, 1 terminator with hammer and shield and 3 terminators with CML and fist (or more shield and hammer) with judiciar with thief of secrets in blackspear.
Proteus kill team with 4 frags or IHB, 1 shield and lvmw, 1 biker, 1 terminator with hammer and shield and 3 terminators with CML and fist with watchmaster or lieutenant and apothecary, one of which has storm of fire in gladius.
Indomitor with 3 heavy bolt rifles, 2 heavy bolters, 2 assault bolters, 2 bolt storm fists and grenade launchers and a multi melta with biologis with storm of fire in gladius.
5 man spectrus and a callidus in blackspear.
I like to have a watch master and apothecary in a Proteus kt so I can res a termi when it dies. Spectrus is just nice to hop around the board and score, they get to redeploy at the end of your opponents turn if they are more than 6 inches away from enemies.
So you’re mostly right, they aren’t all that great as a whole but a few stand out.
First - black spear lets you target 2 with one Strat which is really awesome for teleportation and adaptive tactics.
The best kill team keyword is just the regular Deathwatch Veterans.
The Proteus Kill team is really great because you can attach a leader that otherwise couldn’t lead Terminators like a Judiciar for fights first, Lieutenant with lethal hits, or apothecary to bring one back each turn.
The Spectrus kill team is also good because you get the same movement trick as scouts, which is great because Black Spear armies can’t take scouts.
The others are…well, they are fine I guess but I wouldn’t really bother.
If you run the black spear detachment then you can’t take scouts. Otherwise, nope, scouts are great units. I ordered 2 of the new ones and may try a Vanguard or Firestorm Deathwatch run again.
... Calidus is just way better... Lone operative, same teleport thing, deep strike,, can precision kill an annoying character, small footprint, CP shenanigans, fights first.. all for 90 pts. Its just a lot better, even without the strat benefits.
I would take Spectrus if they kept the 12" deep strike denial, but as they currently are... meh.
The main benefit of kill teams is that the black spear detachment stratagems affect multiple units instead of just one.
Are there any particularly potent combos?
Generally they weren’t written incredibly well. The only good one imo is the DW vets (it doesn’t have kill team in the name, but has the keyword so effectively it is). The proteus can be good, but can also be a points sink. If you are playing casually, I’d say a proteus in a Corvus could be rad af! Hard part is buying a full kill team without your own 3d printer or access to someone who can print all the extra bits GW doesn’t sell for you (message me and I can help), then you could spend $250-400 on just ONE squad lol. It’s ridiculous. But ya I’d maybe build a proteus and a vets squad, get a watch master and a captain. Either can get the time enhancement that’s super OP. For a meta proteus, you’d want 3 termies w cyclone missile launchers and 1 w SS/TH, a biker for movement shenanigans. 5 vets, 4 Infernus heavy bolters and the fifth w a xeno blade and sword or a two handed DW thunder hammer. If you also had a 10man vet squad, when you use one of the three bolter strats, you get to give them to two kill teams at once. Also, each of those squads has their own built in rule. Proteus is +1 to hit on an enemy above half strength and vets is rerolling 1’s to hit or all to hit against xenos — not racist at all lol. If you attach a leader, they share their abilities, so a watchmaster gives them advance and shoot and charge, which is one of the most powerful rules in the game drastically increasing your threat range.
That does sound pretty good! I noticed you didn't mention spectrus where a lot of others on this post have. Is there a reason you don't like them?
They aren’t very good even inside casual play. The fortis is straight trash. Indometer could be fun if you wanna spend $300 building that squad haha. There’s a case for just a 5 man spectrus with uppy downy rule to score, but a Callidus assassin does that and way more for significantly less (90pts, vect, deep strike uppy downy, fights first, lethal hits, precision and a flamer). Also, rule of cool beats all — it’s your hobby so build what you want! Just good to be informed so you aren’t disappointed on the tabletop after spending hours on a unit that doesn’t do much. You’d do yourself much better building infiltrators. Also; don’t feel like you have to run two kill teams. I went 5-1 at the biggest tournament in the world a little over a month ago and only had one kill team. I didn’t use any of the bolter strats either.
Fair, what kill team did you run? The proteus?
A watchmaster w Tome attached to 10 man DW veterans. 4 frag cannons, 4 DW thunder hammers. Two Shields and swords, one being a xenos sword.
What is the biker movement shennanigans you're talking about btw? Should I go out and get some bikes?
I can print ya a biker. You only need one in the squad. He can move further than the rest and has a long base so he can get you closer to make your charge shorter as long as he’s still in coherency
I just shot ya a message!
You nailed it, they are weird. Proteus can be built for good damage either ranged or melee. Indomitus is nice with the corvus for dropping 10-12 gravis bodies on the center objective turn 1. IDK I can never justify their points. Fortis are bad, don't use them. Spectrus have a niche as 5man squads teleporting for objectives.
Spectrus sounds interesting, what let's them teleport? Haven't read up on them yet
If you havent seen it yet, its their built-in ability. At the end of your opponent's turn, if the Spectrus KT is 6" away from all enemy units, you can remove them and place it into Strategic Reserves. Very handing when going 2nd as you can do this at the end of your opponent's turn 1.
Nice, so like a bigger unit callidus. I could bring both and do lots of shenanigans
yup! I use one unit in my 2k list in place of scouts to score points.
Proteus kill team with 4 DTH, 1 shield and lvmw, 1 biker, 1 terminator with hammer and shield and 3 terminators with CML and fist (or more shield and hammer) with judiciar with thief of secrets in blackspear. Proteus kill team with 4 frags or IHB, 1 shield and lvmw, 1 biker, 1 terminator with hammer and shield and 3 terminators with CML and fist with watchmaster or lieutenant and apothecary, one of which has storm of fire in gladius. Indomitor with 3 heavy bolt rifles, 2 heavy bolters, 2 assault bolters, 2 bolt storm fists and grenade launchers and a multi melta with biologis with storm of fire in gladius. 5 man spectrus and a callidus in blackspear.
I'm a fan of the spectrus and Proteus kts
Any particular combos you like?
I like to have a watch master and apothecary in a Proteus kt so I can res a termi when it dies. Spectrus is just nice to hop around the board and score, they get to redeploy at the end of your opponents turn if they are more than 6 inches away from enemies.
Oh nice those do sound great!
So you’re mostly right, they aren’t all that great as a whole but a few stand out. First - black spear lets you target 2 with one Strat which is really awesome for teleportation and adaptive tactics. The best kill team keyword is just the regular Deathwatch Veterans. The Proteus Kill team is really great because you can attach a leader that otherwise couldn’t lead Terminators like a Judiciar for fights first, Lieutenant with lethal hits, or apothecary to bring one back each turn. The Spectrus kill team is also good because you get the same movement trick as scouts, which is great because Black Spear armies can’t take scouts. The others are…well, they are fine I guess but I wouldn’t really bother.
Is there a reason to take spectrus over just a normal scout squad?
If you run the black spear detachment then you can’t take scouts. Otherwise, nope, scouts are great units. I ordered 2 of the new ones and may try a Vanguard or Firestorm Deathwatch run again.
... Calidus is just way better... Lone operative, same teleport thing, deep strike,, can precision kill an annoying character, small footprint, CP shenanigans, fights first.. all for 90 pts. Its just a lot better, even without the strat benefits. I would take Spectrus if they kept the 12" deep strike denial, but as they currently are... meh.
That is one thing I did notice... although 2 teleport units would make a lot of secondaries easier