The implication of this Support card is very much limited because it looks for a unit that is around without an enemy Warlord.

With Catachan Outpost available and MANY 2 Shield cards in SM there is no real reason to actually give a space in SM. For AM this card might eventually turn out to be slightly interesting as such it isn't garbage perse.

2/5

I agree, though its notable that the benefit here over a 2-shielder is that its repeatable, and the effect lasts all phase. -2 attack for the whole combat can take a unit out of the battle entirely, or render or relatively toothless. Thats a pretty good combat math messer. Its telegraphed, for sure, but so is Catachan Outpost, and thats a 5/5 card. This is closer to 3/5 for me.

This would have been quite annoying if it cost 1- It's actually a great counter to t1 "bombs" such as Wildrider squadron and Blood Angels Veterans, but it's telegraphed and costs 2.

2/5

Well I disagree, respectfully of course. I believe that this is a good pairing with Catachan and Ragnar. What makes it beautiful is that it does last all phase. Deploy predator and the Librairium will protect it all phase. Bully the warlord to HQ and it now has a window to save your units. Sandbag a unit and take out the other threats then finish the sandbagged unit off at your leisure. See my comments on Predator for more details.

Let's hear some more test reports: so few people seem to have tried this card, largely because Space Marines are already spoilt for great cards in their non-Unit slots. 

My own single game experience of having it in play was mixed: it felt like a reusable Suffering, which isn't bad for 2R. However, the "without an enemy warlord" restriction did mean that on two turns I didn't get to use it at all, which sucked.

I don't play Space Marines often, but did test this card when it came out.  It came to be useful in a few situations where it served as an answer to armorbane:

1. Reducing attack on armorbane units, particularly Baharroth mobile vehicle deck this came up that was running wraithgaurd and starcannon.

2. Aun'shi and Orbital City: Aun'shi bounces off planets throughout battle using orbital city, so you can catch a unit during the battle phase prior to the Aun'shi recommit

Aside from armorbane, I see it as a good answer to protecting against card effects that trigger after damage or units that get multiple attacks.  Which at the current time is not a lot:

- Blackheart Ravager

- Hypex Injector Unit

- Deathskull Lootas

- Cadian Mortar Squad

Good calls.

Other multiple attackers:

- Nazdreg's Flash Gitz

- Twisted Wrack

- Ancient Keeper of Secrets

My other thought here is that this might be a card that needs to be in a deck that has high redundancy of defensive options. E.g. a deck that has three of these, three rockcrete bunkers, three steel legion chimera...

I agree Eiji!  In fact, this support is going to be great against all Tyranid synapse units, because they can only ever be at the same planet at their warlord if it is the only remaining planet.  Get one of these supports into play and against Tyranids it may as well be give their synapse unit -2 atk for the game.  Whilst that is similar to the Dark Eldar card, Suffering, this had the added benefit of being a support and therefore be able to be used even after the initial target is dead.

Plus, of course, Suffering can't be attached to a Synapse Unit. Agree that this card will definitely gain in quality when Tyranids are about. How useful it is will depend very much on the meta - if Tyranids are suddenly dominant, this card will help Space Marines stay in the game. If Tyranids prove to be another mid-tier faction, this card likely won't see any more use than it already does.

Plus, of course, Suffering can't be attached to a Synapse Unit. Agree that this card will definitely gain in quality when Tyranids are about. How useful it is will depend very much on the meta - if Tyranids are suddenly dominant, this card will help Space Marines stay in the game. If Tyranids prove to be another mid-tier faction, this card likely won't see any more use than it already does.

Totally agree. I think that Tyranids have a chance at replacing Tau as my favorite faction, especially after Dark Eldar lost the spot due to a heavy focus on torture throughout the cycle, with the epic (fail) conclusion of Rakarth.

Long time since this card discussed, and not heard much more about it. Can anyone give reports of success?

It's better than the attention that it has received suggests. Splashed in AM it does a remarkable job of shutting down your opponent in combat. Especially when your opponent is avoiding a Warlord confrontation due to Preemptive Barrage combos. 

Right, I agree, I think. I'm finding that its a great addition to Straken / SM at 2 copies, making him a lot less prone to getting bloodied, which was always his biggest downside. And as you say, AM is quite good at discouraging enemy Warlord commitment through presence on the board. 

Out of SM I'm not liking it much at all, and from Tau it doesn't seem to have a place either. Definitely a good boost to AM though.

I agree Eiji!  In fact, this support is going to be great against all Tyranid synapse units, because they can only ever be at the same planet at their warlord if it is the only remaining planet.  Get one of these supports into play and against Tyranids it may as well be give their synapse unit -2 atk for the game.  Whilst that is similar to the Dark Eldar card, Suffering, this had the added benefit of being a support and therefore be able to be used even after the initial target is dead.

It'll be interesting with Worr. It obviously combos well with Allegra but I prefer playing Coteaz and Allegra doesn't work so well with him.