Fire Prism: Difference between revisions
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The difference between Focussed and Lance is not that big, and you're more likely to hit with at least one of the shots for Focussed. As for other upgrades, the Star Engines and Vectored Engines work well together but at 20 points require some planning, especially since they encourage you to be moving which cuts down on the number of shots you can make. If for some reason you are planning to advance with it, then make sure you take the Crystal Targeting Matrix on the thing as it'll allow you to still fire the main gun. Spirit Stones are useful but up your cost by another 10 points. The Fire Prism can work against infantry (and is better at this with a shuriken cannon instead of twin catapults, even if it has 1 shot less), but it really shines at hunting vehicles and monsters. And while an unupgraded Fire Prism is 155 points all these upgrades will bump it up to 200, which you should keep in mind. Still, the Fire Prism is one hell of a tank hunter and outshines the [[Falcon]] in such a role. | The difference between Focussed and Lance is not that big, and you're more likely to hit with at least one of the shots for Focussed. As for other upgrades, the Star Engines and Vectored Engines work well together but at 20 points require some planning, especially since they encourage you to be moving which cuts down on the number of shots you can make. If for some reason you are planning to advance with it, then make sure you take the Crystal Targeting Matrix on the thing as it'll allow you to still fire the main gun. Spirit Stones are useful but up your cost by another 10 points. The Fire Prism can work against infantry (and is better at this with a shuriken cannon instead of twin catapults, even if it has 1 shot less), but it really shines at hunting vehicles and monsters. And while an unupgraded Fire Prism is 155 points all these upgrades will bump it up to 200, which you should keep in mind. Still, the Fire Prism is one hell of a tank hunter and outshines the [[Falcon]] in such a role. | ||
== 9th Edition== | |||
Following the usual codex creep, the fire prism has seen a sizable buff as well as a simplification. Now only possessing two firing modes instead of three - focussed lance and dispersed pulse. The former gives you not one, but two s14 ap-5 d3d3 shots, and the latter 3d3d ap-2 D2 blast shots. The drawbacks? Fire prisms cost is now 165 points unupgraded... A whole ten points more than previously. | |||
=== Power Rating === | === Power Rating === | ||
The Fire Prism isn't radically improved when using Power Ratings. All the upgrades are no-brainers at this point and it can still very well hold its own. At 9 points it's one point more than the Falcon, which can field weaker but more reliable anti-tank weapons and can transport squads of [[Aspect Warrior]]s. It is matched in price by the Wave Serpent, which can be both a potent anti-infantry platform and a surprisingly useful anti-tank vehicle with twin Bright Lances. While the Fire Prism is strictly better at that job, the Wave serpent's toughness and transport capabilities are more than able to make it a viable alternative for something that can pull two jobs. | The Fire Prism isn't radically improved when using Power Ratings. All the upgrades are no-brainers at this point and it can still very well hold its own. At 9 points it's one point more than the Falcon, which can field weaker but more reliable anti-tank weapons and can transport squads of [[Aspect Warrior]]s. It is matched in price by the Wave Serpent, which can be both a potent anti-infantry platform and a surprisingly useful anti-tank vehicle with twin Bright Lances. While the Fire Prism is strictly better at that job, the Wave serpent's toughness and transport capabilities are more than able to make it a viable alternative for something that can pull two jobs. Linking is still a stratagem, but for 2 command points you can use the target prism to negate invulnerable saves. | ||
[[Category: Warhammer 40,000]] | [[Category: Warhammer 40,000]] | ||
Revision as of 19:41, 18 November 2022
A Fire Prism is an Eldar heavy anti-grav tank that looks exactly the same as a Falcon except for one minor detail; the Prism Cannon mounted on its top which is capable of wrecking your prized Predator tank in moments. The cannon focuses a beam of intense light within itself and then unleashes it in a blast of glory which can melt lesser tanks to pieces.
In Dawn of War the Fire Prism was hideously overpowered and beat the crap out of your squads and even other tanks mercilessly. If you had a squad of these they would fire through your forces, sending men, limbs and terrified kittens flying through the air, and DOW2 gives the Prism the ability to switch between anti-tank and anti-infantry settings just in case you really want to rub it in your opponent's face. But then, as we have established, nothing involving Eldar in DoW was particularly fair...
On the Tabletop
With T7, 12 wounds and a 3+ save paired with 16" movement a Fire Prism can move around quickly to take itself out of the enemy field of fire and take some fire it can't avoid. It comes equipped with a twin Shuriken Catapult and the main attraction, the Prism Cannon. No longer able to link up its shots to deal extra damage (though there is a stratagem for it now), the Prism Cannon has three firing modes:
| Name | Range | Type | S | AP | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dispersed | 60" | Heavy D6 | 6 | -3 | 1 |
| Focused | 60" | Heavy D3 | 9 | -4 | D3 |
| Lance | 60" | Heavy 1 | 12 | -5 | D6 |
The three firing modes all have their uses. The first is a potent anti-MEQ shot that can really thin out enemy units. But this is only to be used when no other targets are available, because the Fire Prism is a real tank hunter. The second shot is powerful against just about any type of vehicle and even Terminators in a pinch. The third shot will upon hitting a target really ruin its day: with S12 it's all but guaranteed to wound and it won't allow any saves either. What really makes the damn thing scary is the Pulsed Laser Discharge rule, which lets it fire twice if it moves under half of its movement characteristic in the previous move phase.
The difference between Focussed and Lance is not that big, and you're more likely to hit with at least one of the shots for Focussed. As for other upgrades, the Star Engines and Vectored Engines work well together but at 20 points require some planning, especially since they encourage you to be moving which cuts down on the number of shots you can make. If for some reason you are planning to advance with it, then make sure you take the Crystal Targeting Matrix on the thing as it'll allow you to still fire the main gun. Spirit Stones are useful but up your cost by another 10 points. The Fire Prism can work against infantry (and is better at this with a shuriken cannon instead of twin catapults, even if it has 1 shot less), but it really shines at hunting vehicles and monsters. And while an unupgraded Fire Prism is 155 points all these upgrades will bump it up to 200, which you should keep in mind. Still, the Fire Prism is one hell of a tank hunter and outshines the Falcon in such a role.
9th Edition
Following the usual codex creep, the fire prism has seen a sizable buff as well as a simplification. Now only possessing two firing modes instead of three - focussed lance and dispersed pulse. The former gives you not one, but two s14 ap-5 d3d3 shots, and the latter 3d3d ap-2 D2 blast shots. The drawbacks? Fire prisms cost is now 165 points unupgraded... A whole ten points more than previously.
Power Rating
The Fire Prism isn't radically improved when using Power Ratings. All the upgrades are no-brainers at this point and it can still very well hold its own. At 9 points it's one point more than the Falcon, which can field weaker but more reliable anti-tank weapons and can transport squads of Aspect Warriors. It is matched in price by the Wave Serpent, which can be both a potent anti-infantry platform and a surprisingly useful anti-tank vehicle with twin Bright Lances. While the Fire Prism is strictly better at that job, the Wave serpent's toughness and transport capabilities are more than able to make it a viable alternative for something that can pull two jobs. Linking is still a stratagem, but for 2 command points you can use the target prism to negate invulnerable saves.