Power weapon comparisons in 6th edition Part 2

Continuing on from my most Popular article ever, I will look at some other typical enemies to use power weapons on.  As I covered the two most common marine types in the last article, this one is perhaps unsurprisingly looking at some different.  This one will look at two large groups of enemy units.  The first one is more or less Ork equivalents.  WS4, T4 and 4+ save or worse.  There is no point in looking at the difference between 4+,5+ or 6+ saves, because all of the weapons ignore them.  The second one is Guard equivalents, so WS3, T3 and again 4+ save or worse.  This covers guard, guardians, and a variety of tyranid creatures.  As before all numbers assume a marine sergeant with a bolt pistol and the weapon, who has not charged, eg has his basic number of attacks, plus one for a pistol.

Vs WS4/T4/4+
Power weapon:  0.75  [0.25 per attack]
Power sword:     0.75  [0.25 per attack]
Power axe:        0.99   [0.33 per attack, strikes at initiative one]
Power maul:      1.25   [0.42 per attack]
Power spear:     0.99   [0.33 per attack charging]
Power spear:     0.75   [0.25 per attack otherwise]
Power fist:         0.84   [0.42 per attack, strikes at initiative one]

Against this type of enemy the Power Maul is the most effective weapon.  The old power weapon, along with the Sword are the worst.

Vs WS3/T3/4+
Power weapon:  1.32   [0.44 per attack]
Power sword:     1.32  [0.44 per attack]
Power axe:        1.66    [0.55 per attack, strikes at initiative one]
Power maul:      1.66    [0.55 per attack]
Power spear:     1.66    [0.55 per attack charging]
Power spear:     1.32    [0.55 per attack otherwise]
Power fist:         1.10    [0.55 per attack, strikes at initiative one]

 Against horde style enemies, it also appears the Power Maul is the most efficient.  This is because although it shares its damage output with the Power Spear and the Power Axe, it has its power in all the rounds of combat, and doesn't strike last.

Overall looking at these weapons a general picture is emerging.  The Power Maul is the weapon of choice if the enemy do not have power armour.  If they do you want power swords, and if they are likely to have a load of terminators, you want a Power Axe.  The spear is an interesting weapon, offering a boost in the first round, before becoming the worst weapon in subsequent rounds.  Armies with low strength and high initiative and attacks will benefit the most from taking a Power Spear, so most likely Eldar, although I guess it is possible marines could get some use from it.   As before the Power Fist offers the most utility, being effective against everything

Power weapon comparisons in 6th edition Part 1

One of the largest changes has been the change to the humble power weapon.  For three editions, a power weapon was just that, a power weapon.  Now, there are several different types.  At first look the sword looks to be the pick of the bunch, but perhaps running the numbers will reveal something special about the others.

All numbers are assuming it is a normal marine sergent with a power weapon and a bolt pistol.  This gives him three attacks, or two with a power fist.

VS Marines [T4, 3+]
5th edition Power Weapon        0.75 kills [0.25 per attack]
Power Sword:                            0.75 kills [0.25 per attack]
Power Axe:                                0.99 kills [0.33 per attack, strikes at initative one]
Power Maul:                              0.42 kills [0.14 per attack]
Power Spear:                             0.99 kills [0.33 per attack charging]
                                                   0.25 kills [0.08 per attack otherwise]
Power Fist                                 0.83 kills  [0.41 per attack, strikes at initative one]

So vs marines it is quite difficult to make a decision.  As you can see from the numbers, vs other power armoured marines, the power sword offers an identicle kill ratio as the 5th edition equivelent.  The power axe offers the best return on points invested but is slow, although a charging spear is very strong, provided you don't get bogged down.  The maul seems out of its depth vs power armour

VS Terminators [T4, 2+/5++]
5th edition Power weapon      0.5 kills    [0.17 per attack]
Power Sword                          0.12 kills  [0.04 per attack]
Power Axe                              0.66 kills  [0.22 per attack, strikes at initative one]
Power Maul:                           0.42 kills  [0.14 per attack]
Power Spear                           0.16 kills  [0.05 per attack charging]
                                               0.12 kills  [0.04 per attack otherwise]
Power fist                               0.55 kills  [0.27 per attack, strikes at initative one]

Vs terminators, the power sword and charging spears potential drops off a cliff.  The maul is consistant, but not great.  The axe and fist are considerably more efficient than most of the weapons as they ignore the save, but still have to compete with the invulnerable.

This post is continued here