Editing Custodian Guard (section)

===In 30k / Horus Heresy===

Heresy Era Custodians are an entirely different animal to work with.

They are NOT Eternal Warriors and are NOT Fearless, and now have Initiative 5 and Leadership 9. They also don't have Storm Shields and the ability to mix and match weapon types. This is a significant downgrade, even though with Inviolable Psyche special rule they are immune to Fear(''Suck on that, Curze!'') and can re-roll failed Deny the Witch rolls.

Futhermore, their Artificer Armour comes with a 5+ invulnerable save built into it and also gives them ''Move Through Cover'', their initiative jumps up by +1 whenever their Weapon Skill equals or beats their opponents, they ''always'' try to regroup at unmodified Ld and their squad coherency is increased to 3" rather than the usual 2. Oh, and they have plasma(frag upgrade essentially) and krak grenades.

The basic unit is Custodian Guard Squad, starting at 165 points for 3 models. Their '''Guardian Spears''' are only S+1 AP2 on the turn they charge, reverting to power swords in following phases ''(similar to the phoenix spear).'' But on the plus side they come with straight out 18" Assault type bolters with AP4, so there is no ambiguity over whether you can shoot and fight, but the spear cannot parry blows. Instead you add additional attacks whenever a to-hit of 6 is rolled. But those extra attacks cannot confer additional attacks. Additionally 30k Custodians can replace their Guardian Spears with either '''Adrasite Spears''' which have an Adrathic Destructor (read Terran Disintegrator) instead of the Boltgun, while the '''Pyrithite Spear''' has an Inferno Pistol in place of the Boltgun for opening Tanks and the like.

If you take the '''Sentinel Blade+Shield''' option, the unit becomes Sentinel Guard, 180 points for 3 models. Sword is AP3, but it does get the ''Rending'' rule to make up. The shield they get is called a '''Praesidium Shield''' which grants an invul reroll in melee AND all the CC attacks hit the bearer at -1 penalty, so basic Space Marines hit them on 5+. Gorgeous. The only disadvantage is that model equipped with a Praesidium Shield cannot use a weapon with the Two-handed special rule, claim the benefit of an additional close combat weapon in assault, or use the increased close combat profile when charging for a Guardian spear-type weapon, though Sentinels are only slightly affected with "no bonus for 2 CCW" rule. It's not like you were getting it with Specialist Sword, eh?

Overall, both units are a great troop choice, Custodian Guards being able to mince absolutely ''anything'' due to potential I6 S+1 AP2 on charge, and Sentinels find their use in tarpitting and holding an objective. Anyways, use them wisely and don't throw them at something like Horus+12 Justaerin Terminators.
''You have Tribune and Hetaeron killteam for that.''

{{Custodes}}