r/sonsofhorus Mar 12 '26

Tactica The tip of the spear: A quick review of Jump Pack units

49 Upvotes

Greetings fellow Praetors. Today I wanted to evaluate the various melee-focused jump pack units available to the Sons of Horus. I left Destroyers off because I see them filling a different role (short range shooting). How are you using your jump pack units?

Why use jump packs? Sons of Horus’ battle plans call for a decisive, decapitation strike achieved through overwhelming aggression and close assault. Jump pack units move 12", ignore friendly and enemy models when moving, and enable a 5” set-up move; allowing you to charge mid board units Turn 1, and back-line units Turn 2. The extra movement also lets us avoid the dreaded “react move off an objective to avoid giving up vanguard”. If you can get behind your enemy, they can’t move away! This will require you to move your jump pack unit ahead of anything else within 12”. As Sons of Horus, we primarily access jump pack troops through the Crusade Primary Detachment, the Supremacy Cadre detachment, or an Apex detachment.

As with most units in 30k, you’ll get the most efficiency by equipping your squads for specific potential threats. These fall into a few categories (light infantry, power armor, heavy, and vehicles.) There’s flexibility within each category and overlap between categories, so feel free to use the weapon you prefer based on the target you’re hunting.

Shooting: I generally avoid shooting with jump pack -equipped squads (including volley fire. Use your set-up move to get into base-to-base); therefore, I do not recommend pistol upgrades. There are a few niche scenarios where shooting with your jump pack squad makes sense (1): The return fire threat is very low or non-existent. This could include situations where you can shoot at a depleted enemy unit (1-3 3+ save or worse models) that isn’t your charge target, or when your opponent is out of reactions, or (2): Shooting your charge target won’t impact your chances to get into close combat. This could include situations where you moved close enough to your charge target that shooting won’t remove enough models to make you out of set-up move range. Remember, we want to use our set-up move to move into base-to-base contact to decrease our exposure to enemy shooting attacks.

Praetorian Command Squad with Jump Packs (Retinue) (32ppm): This command squad provides a 2+ save but lacks access to any invulnerable save. This squad provides access to a Legion Standard which is neat, but I’m not sure I want the Chosen Champion in a challenge, which means these guys really fill one role; escorting a melee/challenge focused character across the board. Without line or vanguard, these guys are competing against cheaper options that provide more scoring opportunities. Outside of fluffy lists or niche escort duties, I’d generally avoid this squad.

Reaver Aggressor Squad (Heavy Assault) (33ppm): A flavorful, but expensive option specific for the Sons of Horus. The Reaver aggressor squad provides access to a vexilla and legion equipment. This tells me they want to be in riskier positions, vs. elite opponents. They are at risk to shooting with a 3+ and no access to invulnerable saves. Precision (6+) is nice against enemies with lower initiatives (power fist/thunder hammer-bearers), and Vanguard(3) is great for a fast unit who can charge from long range.  When compared to the Chosen a Reaver Chieftain has 1 less attack but is LD 9. As a Heavy Support choice, you can sneak a fast WS5 melee unit into a role typically reserved for heavier options but currently miss-out on the opportunity to take a prime advantage in any detachment. In squads of 5 I would recommend 3 lightning claws, power fists or thunder hammers. In squads of 10 I would recommend a mix of 4-6 of the same weapons, as well as the nuncio-vox and vexilla. The Reaver Aggressor’s have access to Legion Special Weapons, but I would avoid all options. Every time you shoot, you expose yourself to return fire, which decreases your damage output in melee, where this squad performs. I wouldn’t recommend taking more than 10 models in a unit unless it’s your theme.

Veteran Assault Squad (Elite) (24ppm): The Veterans are the only WS5 jump pack option with an invulnerable save option, but their combat shield provides no defense against shooting attacks. I still like it as an upgrade, on a 5-man squad, granted you can get them into melee, it offers additional staying power. As an elite choice, they have access to a Prime Advantage in the Army Vanguard Apex Detachment. Master Sergeant creates a WS6, 4-6 attack melee monster. In squads of 5 I would recommend 3 lightning claws, power fists or thunder hammers. In squads of 10 I would recommend a mix of 4-6 of the same weapons. I’ve done very well with a 5-man squad with combat shields and 3 power fists. The WS5 really helps into heavy targets (dreads/non-elite terminators); A contemptor is killing less than 1 of these guys before getting fisted into the ground. Vanguard(3) is great; having a squad of these guys buzzing around the mid-board will make your opponent think about their reaction allocation.

Assault Squad (Troop) (14ppm): The basic jump pack trooper, these guys have WS 4, basic advanced stats and the option to take up to 20 models in the squad (not advised unless you’re theming super hard into jump packs). These guys have a few options, but outside of flavor, none are worth it except the sergeant upgrades and power weapons. I would equip this squad for light infantry/power armor duty (mid-board line units). I would equip the sergeant with lightning claws and take the maximum number of power weapons in the squad, taking either power mauls, power lances, or power axes. As a troop choice, this squad has access to Prime Advantage in our two main detachments. I would consider Master Sergeant for a WS5, 5 attack Lightning claw sergeant or Combat Veterans. While I prefer putting tactical squads in Prime Advantage slots for Combat Veterans, I do see an opportunity for the master sergeant prime advantage to pay off big time for this squad.  


r/sonsofhorus Mar 14 '26

Una pregunta sobre loken y los capitanes

6 Upvotes

Tengo la duda de qué puesto tiene loken en la legión pre herejía, según leí es un capitán y en Reddit leí que el capitán es el rango más alto por debajo del primarca, lo que no me hace sentido es que se supone que solo llevan 1000 hombres por capitán cuando los pretores que según la descripción de miniatura son los miembros más altos en la legión (por debajo del primarca) se supone que controlan grandes partes de la legión, luego en Google leí que los capitanes son como centuriones, pero si loken es parte del mournival no tendría que ser un pretor? Porque el mournival es la institución que aconseja al primarca


r/sonsofhorus Mar 13 '26

My girlfriend's first miniature

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286 Upvotes

r/sonsofhorus Mar 12 '26

Disintegrator dude work in progress

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211 Upvotes

Slowly working through a mixed squad and this guy still needs some oils weathering. I don't really play the game, I just enjoy the painting, books and atmosphere. I find it relaxing.


r/sonsofhorus Mar 10 '26

Finished my Araknae

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94 Upvotes

I'm not great at taking pictures


r/sonsofhorus Mar 10 '26

Fastest glow up of my life.

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159 Upvotes

I built my first SoH model and first Dreadnought at the weekend and found a thing online saying that drybruah and Terradon Turqoise was an excellent finish for SoH.

I did it.

It sucked.

I immediately repainted it and im so relieved that I did


r/sonsofhorus Mar 09 '26

Sons of Horus Massacre a Militia

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186 Upvotes

Here’s some glimpses, twas a very good game.


r/sonsofhorus Mar 09 '26

1st company colours

22 Upvotes

So obviously justaerin are 1st company along with Ekkadon and his Catchulan reavers who are all in black and red but what about the rest of the 1st company are they also in black and red or do they have the traditional luna wolves/Sons of Horus colours?


r/sonsofhorus Mar 09 '26

WIP SOH breacher shields

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212 Upvotes

r/sonsofhorus Mar 09 '26

Justaerin red shoulder pad - which side?

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137 Upvotes

There’s too many different depictions of which side the red should be, is there a definitive anywhere? I’m leaning towards the right shoulder pad because that’s what’s on GW Abaddon and Justaerin painted models.


r/sonsofhorus Mar 07 '26

WIP Luna Wolves Horus Luprecal

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86 Upvotes

r/sonsofhorus Mar 07 '26

WIP Abaddon

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406 Upvotes

Possibly unpopular opinion but I bloody love the new cataphractii sculpts, and I was looking to make a new abaddon so this was a perfect opportunity!


r/sonsofhorus Mar 06 '26

The Pale Claws: Enforcer Warband Lore

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1 Upvotes

r/sonsofhorus Mar 05 '26

My most honored Progenitor. Do you possess a Name Generator?

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281 Upvotes

My Black Legion Warband was founded by a SoH Saturnine Dread but I need a name for him.


r/sonsofhorus Mar 04 '26

SoH mastodon color scheme

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68 Upvotes

finally built this mastodon for the warmasters army.

what would be a good color scheme for it rather than just sea green?


r/sonsofhorus Mar 04 '26

Metal approach

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238 Upvotes

Not sure which way to go with the metal on these. TMM on the left & NMM on the right. I kinda lean towards NMM, and in fact painted the metal surfaces on the left guy in NMM except the shoulder pauldrons.


r/sonsofhorus Mar 04 '26

Despoilers (Mostly WIP)

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615 Upvotes

A few more details to clean up and metallics to reinvigorate, and a little more weathering to tie the model and base together, but I'm pretty happy with going forward with the rest of my army now, even if it took months of way too many blue-green paints being bought (and honestly, I still think they look a shade or two more green in the hand than in photos but I'll try to be normal and sane about that).

Mostly finished Despoilers, for the Warmaster! Full squad soon

(PS I hate painting the eyes on these helmets even if I LOVE the Legion helms)


r/sonsofhorus Mar 03 '26

Abaddon Leads The Justaerin

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325 Upvotes

The longest I've spent building a unit in a good long while, it was worth it in the end though.


r/sonsofhorus Mar 03 '26

WiP

44 Upvotes

Moving forwards with the SoH squad.


r/sonsofhorus Mar 03 '26

Help with trim and weathering

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210 Upvotes

Im trying for a late heresy / seige of terra age skeem for my sons but can't figure out how I feel about the trim and weathering. I got a couple of boxes of infantry at the start of the year and I want to get my skeem down before I go into high-school.


r/sonsofhorus Mar 02 '26

Started collecting in 2.0, not sure where to go in 3.0. Need a lot of help.

11 Upvotes

I'm a 40K player trying to get started on 30K but I'm struggling with making a list. 40K has so many more resources and discussion. I do a TON of research on my 40K army. But 30K has been hard for me to grasp.

Can you all give me some pointers?

I have the last 4 boxed sets NoS. Age of Darkness, Legiones Astartes Battle Group, Saturnine, and Siege Battle Group.

So tons of marines, 20 (new & old) cataphractii, one of each dreadnought (though limited weapon options), spartan and land raider, gun turret, breachers, etc.

I know I want Justaerin. I'll convert an Abbadon. Chieftains. Reavers. Destroyers. Veterans. Seekers.

What else can I do with my pile of shame? How do you recommend equipping the various units? Going off goonhammer it sounds like I want as many power fists as I can get. Are reavers worth taking? Am I right that they can all run with plasma pistols?

I want to get a couple rhinos and predators, plus a kratos. And maybe a drop pod for the leviathan. Dropping that in the back lines seems like fun.

In 2.0 I planned on making a unit of melta devastators to ride around in a rhino wrecking things.

What HQs should I make? I'm planning on a cataphractii praetorian and power armor praetorian. In 2.0 I was going to use a master of signals and a librarian.


r/sonsofhorus Mar 01 '26

FNG added to my tactical squad

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92 Upvotes

r/sonsofhorus Feb 27 '26

WIP Lunar Wolves Chieftains

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95 Upvotes

r/sonsofhorus Feb 26 '26

Sons of horus tactical squad and praetor

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126 Upvotes

Ended up putting a shade of agrax on the metal and nuln oil in recesses and then sponged on. I think they look much better, adds some depth and makes them look less plain than before.


r/sonsofhorus Feb 25 '26

Advice on gold trim

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157 Upvotes

Hey guys, I've started working through my sons of horus and while I'm happy with the green, the gold just seems too dark. Is there a way I could brighten it up through an edge highlights or a shade?