Bullgryns are essentially the only reliable close combat option when it comes to the armies of the Astra Militarum. These units come as groups of three, but you can and probably should pay for more. You have the option to have units of up to nine of these bad boys running round.
With simple equipment options of either a maul or gauntlet in one hand and a slab shield or brute shield in the other.
The gauntlet isn’t anything to write home about, with an average of three shots per bullgryn, only half of which is likely to hit the target due to their ballistic skill. Plus with strength four in a new world where there are some armies with toughness 5 it means you could be wounding on 5’s against creatures such as Orks. Far better to be taking the maul in my opinion and leave the shooting to your regular infantry.
Use these guys as intended and counter punch. Each Bullgryn with a maul will have three attacks (four in any turns in which they charge due to Avalanche of Muscle) hitting at strength 7. Okay the AP isn’t great but these guys are good for taking out infantry units and light armour. You could also run them with a cheap 40pt priest nearby to give them another +1 attack through their War Hymns.
The slab shield and brute shield both have their uses with the former giving the model a 2+ save and the latter a 4+ invulnerable save. If you do choose a larger unit if these then choose to have an almost 50/50 split between brute and slab shields, as one will allow you to save against high ap weaponry while the other will be good for small arms fire. This makes this unit very survivable and able to trudge up the field under heavy fire to smash face.
As well as this, if you use the Stratagem Take Cover! You can add a further +1 to their saving throw, which if already in cover can mean you’re almost always saving on 2+.
Their drawback is the inability to use transports, but they more than make up for this with their survivability. With three wounds each and toughness 5 most enemy players will need 5’s to wound you most of the time, and with your choice of either 2+ saves if they choose small arms or 4+ invulnerable if they choose something heavier you have an answer for most things.
I’d even be tempted to run two units of nine, but that can be expensive with a single model running at 35pts.
9x Bullgryns – 315 points
– 4x Bullgryns with Slab Shield and Maul
– 4x Bullgryns with Brute Shield and Maul
– Bullgryn Bone ‘ead with Brute Shield and Maul
