Any tips for using a Librarian?

[Immolator]

I got a librarian the other week, though i've had plenty of fun playing with it i dont think im using it to its full potential. The games i was playing at GW let you recycle your HQ so i just went a bit crazy with it. Most specifically which are the best psychic powers to use?

Thanks

(P.S Im a no-frills Space Marine codex user)

[Wolfshade]

Alot depends on how you intend to use the Librarian.

Gateway of Infinity is a great power if you want to hang back and do some last minute

Smite is very good at taking down heavy infantry but with a limited range you'll probably looking to be charging when you use this

Machine Curse is good if you are facing fully mech vs. bugs it is useless and as it only casues glancing hits might not be as effective, though you are always guaranteed to shake them.

The Avenger is great vs MEQ but again has limited range

Vortex of Doom my favourite power, AP1 S10 Large Blast yes please, though if you take this you'll have to take Terminator armour/Bike otherwise you'll fall foul of the move/fire rule

Force Dome gives a 5++ save to his squad, is useful, but if attached to Terminators its moot

Quickening useful for an assault orientated libby I10 + Fleet

Might of The Ancients this combined with quickening is good fun S6 power weapon attacks at I10

Null Zone forces invulnerable saves to be re-rolled very good vs. elite infantry but if the opponent has no invulnerable saves its a bit waste.

[Oelber]

The two pairs of power I use with Codex Marine Librarians is Gateway + Force Dome for using with Sternguard or Null Zone + Smite for taking out elite infantry like Terminator units.

[dave1032]

The Avenger, coupled with a squad with flamer in a rhino, is a very good combo, and a relatively cheap one, and leaves a second power slot open

[Mr_E]

At 2k points I find myself running 2 librarians with gate and avenger. Most of the time they shut down a large bubble of psychic powers as I'm covering 4 feet of space at best, and then I use them as needed. Sometimes they teleport with some tac marines to reinforce a unit or act as a speed bump or throw avenger on something and absorb a charge--then teleport out of combat leaving the unit in the open. Other times I'll take another tac squad and drop them on an objective to contest or grab for myself. They're a great toolbox.

Don't forget the force sword, too. Being able to land a blow against an MC or demon prince and insta-killing him is a nice touch.

I do occasionally run a libby in terminator armor, but his main goal in life is to be a pain in the ***. Storm shield, gate and vortex. He's basically just a mobile S10 AP1 heavy weapon and difficult to kill.

[PhatCat]

Honestly, your choice should be Null Zone plus whatever else you want. NZ is sweet against so many armies given the preponderance of Invulnerable saves these days. Daemons, terminators, flickerfields, Iron Halos/Rosariuses, etc. Most armies have a few, usually on valuable assets.

[papa smurf]

I've found that a good way to use a librarian (especially if you keep him cheap) is to use him defensively with force dome and gate of infinity. This works especially well with important shooty units or units coming out of a drop pod.

I usually keep my librarian with either a tactical squad or a sternguard squad to so he can throw up a force dome. a 5+ invuln is better than nothing when it comes to all the low AP stuff that gets thrown at them.

As for Gate of Infinity used defensively, you can use it in to get away from dangerous units that would turn yours into a pulp, or to jump in offensively for some rapid-fire goodness. Careful though, as it is dangerous for others to use the gate of infinity. I would only do this if you don't really mind losing that one Sternguard or Tactical marine that will be sucked into the warp forever.

Also, gate of infinity is good for objective grabs near the end of the game, teleporting a footslogging tactical squad to an objective has saved my butt in the past.

*edit: I agree with people who use null zone (as mentioned above), I just use the above combo more often due to the fact that I find it to be very adaptable to changing game conditions and I run into more low AP shooty bad guys than I do invulnerable saves, but hey, that's just how my local gaming area is made up I guess.

[papa smurf]

also with something only slightly off topic, has anyone here been successful with the 'might of the ancients' and 'quickening' combo? I feel like that would be a good choice for a librarian to just throw down some assault phase death. Never actually seen anybody use it though. maybe a librarian with a jump pack or terminator armor, depending on preference for speed or defense.

[BS FADE]

Don’t have overdue books!


Now seriously. I have seen a Liberian with terminator armor, null zone, and gate while attached to a SS/TH squad played a lot. It usually never fails to impress.

[burning crome]

my advice would be pay the extra points and get a storm shield. There nothing more anoying than him getting picked off or killing him self with perils.

[burning crome]

Now seriously. I have seen a Liberian with terminator armor, null zone, and gate while attached to a SS/TH squad played a lot. It usually never fails to impress.

The sort of standard load out with these two powers is attaching him to a full squad (10) of SS/TH, with the option of attaching a Chaplin as well . It even has a sort of internet name, the thunder bubble.
The basic design concept is you get a rock unit that can bubble wrap you force. so you get to surround the rest of your army at deployment and beyond to stop them being assaulted. Letting you spend most of your remaining points budget on pure fire power without the need to safe guard these units. So stuff like deviators and razor backs.
What the Liberian bring to this set up is physic defence (of course) form the hood and the ability to leap frog the unit forward to keep up with any advance or act as a threat to their deployment zone (so gate 24 and spread out using run) so the unit can nether be ignored or avoided One of the main issues with term is delivary either you flog slog or pay though the nose for a land raider whilst limiting squad size. Gate effective take this problem out of the equation. Null zone is a much over rated power in my book, but work brilliantly combined with SS/TH terms since invun saves are all that opponents can take against them. It also lets them deal with units which they would otherwise struggle against such as DE whyces.

[Brother Cruorem]

With BA I almost always go with Sword and Shield or Rage and Shield.

Of course I give him a jump pack and stick him with an assault squad.

[Wolfshade]

also with something only slightly off topic, has anyone here been successful with the 'might of the ancients' and 'quickening' combo? I feel like that would be a good choice for a librarian to just throw down some assault phase death. Never actually seen anybody use it though. maybe a librarian with a jump pack or terminator armor, depending on preference for speed or defense.
Under 3rd edition this was how I always ran my Libby and it just made him a complete combat monster, striking first and at a higher S combined with power weapons attacks just chewed through big bugs

[MatthewTiger56]

SS/TH Terminator Librarian is, for me at least, an almost required unit for my SM army lists. The fact that nullzone/psychic Hood still works from in a Land Raider (or Rhino if you stick with standard power armor) can sometimes give them a little extra resilience and get them where they need to be to shut down oh-so-scary psykers and/or elite units in other armies.
It's also worth noting, librarians with nullzone HOSE demon armies when they stick around.

Hope this helps!

[stewy37]

For some great fun, attach a Librarian with Gate to a unit of Sternguard. Than have fun hopping all over the board taking shots at rear armor or devastating infantry that thought it was safe.

[Lovecraft]

I've run libbies in my BA army for a couple years now. On their own they are nothing too special, but the ability to buff my own squads and try and keep the enemy from doing the same (psychic hood) is great. I also think the force sword is underrated. GW seems to have been more stingy with eternal warrior lately, so insta-killing a IC or MC can really shake things up.

[Sure]

Lately one of the best uses for Librarians is to keep them out of harm's way and stifle Grey Knight psychic powers. So null zone is good b/c it gives you a way to stay away from the opposition and still work the magic.