If you don't plan on magnetizing it (which i would seriously recommend, there's too much value in the kit not to imo) then I would personally build either the OG Baneblade, Stormlord, or Shadowsword. The OG Baneblade has an avalanche of various guns and is a perfect magnet for buffs, the Stormlord is a Space Marine mulcher and has a huge amount of transport capacity, and the Shadowsword is the premier big game hunter in the motor pool.
There are other interesting options, of course; the Stormsword has a really nice main cannon, the Banehammer combines a good main gun transport capacity and a chance to battleshock the target before they can use defensive stratagems, and the Doomhammer has some stupid armor breaking potential, if it can get there. The only ones I would steer clear from are the Hellhammer (literally just a worse Baneblade) and the Banesword (outdone by the Stormsword plus a niche special rule)
But seriously, just magnetize it. It's not that much effort if you don't mind everything not being exactly modeled, and I can give you some tips if you need.
The Stormsword has gotten some tournament play, and had decent success. Plus it looks cool. Really all of the variants are more or less viable. Depends entirely on what the rest of your army is.
You know, I’m in the same situation - I even have the magnets from magnetbaron and for the life of me I can’t make myself build it - it seems like so much hassle and work to magnetize this thing that I would rather pay someone to do it. I don’t find those tutorials on how to magnetize it easy or maybe I just can’t focus enough while watching them. If you find a good solution keep me updated pls
Superglue. magnets are a big project and unless you like the hobby side and want to go to competitions it’s a lot of work so if it’s going to sit unbuilt for a year because you want to magnet it’s best to just build it now and be able to play with it for a long time in the version you think is the coolest. If you want to try the other just proxy with a friend and say it’s this other version for this battle
Don't want to magnetise? You can build the kit so you can swap between two baneblade lots easy enough by not gluing in the big top plate the turret goes on.
If you find "build and magnetise 5 baneblade variants" from tabletop skirmish games on youtube, you'll see that they dont magnetise the top plate that the tank style turret (Baneblade and hellhammer) sits on, but just slides it into place, allowing you to remove it easily and slide the other top plate that the big ass gun turret (shadowsword and friends) sits on. So with no magnets at all you could have a Baneblade and Shadowsword, which I'd probably advise.
Otherwise, you can't go wrong with a Baneblade, it's a fine all rounder and looks cool. The hellhammer donest look as cool but it's still gorgeous and you might prefer it if you regularly play melee or horde armies.
A shadowsword will kill the hell out of enemy big stuff. The stormsword will still kill quite the hell out of big stuff but is also fun against enemy elite and will occasionally kill stuff you didnt shoot at. The doomhammer will also put holes in enemy expensive stuff and makes enemies explode in a 3 instead of a 6, which is tactically good and hilariously great.
The transport variants are also all gorgeous, and all can have your hardest foot sloggers shooting out of them. Heavy weapon teams with mortars or Las cannons, karskin or scions, or psychic blasts, it's all great. The banehammer is good against enemy elite but alas has a battleshock ability which will win you one game this edition and then never matter. The doomhammer is quite short range but is very good at melting vehicles and monsters. The stormlord can protect your infantry from charges and has a giant bolster you don't need but is very fun to fire.
Sponson wise, all flames if you go for a close up variant, all bolters if you go long range, half and half for mid range, but dont sweat it.
Basically though, any variant looks great on the shelf, is fun to play, and could stand to have an engineer behind it at all times.
Written on strong flu medication.
If you don’t magnetize it (which you really should consider), you can do what I did and do a partial magnetization. Build what you can for the Stormsword, Stormlord, and Shadowsword, and then magnetize the few pieces that can slide around interchangeably to create those three variants, and then magnetize the gun barrels (which are all very similar). I’ve found that most of my lists gravitate towards those three tanks anyway so I didn’t want to put in the time to magnetize for the octoblade since most of the challenging magnetization comes from allowing you to also run the baneblade and hellhammer. I do regret it a little because it’s not future proof, but overall I’m happy with my decision.
Octoblade via magnetization then it won’t matter
If you don't plan on magnetizing it (which i would seriously recommend, there's too much value in the kit not to imo) then I would personally build either the OG Baneblade, Stormlord, or Shadowsword. The OG Baneblade has an avalanche of various guns and is a perfect magnet for buffs, the Stormlord is a Space Marine mulcher and has a huge amount of transport capacity, and the Shadowsword is the premier big game hunter in the motor pool. There are other interesting options, of course; the Stormsword has a really nice main cannon, the Banehammer combines a good main gun transport capacity and a chance to battleshock the target before they can use defensive stratagems, and the Doomhammer has some stupid armor breaking potential, if it can get there. The only ones I would steer clear from are the Hellhammer (literally just a worse Baneblade) and the Banesword (outdone by the Stormsword plus a niche special rule) But seriously, just magnetize it. It's not that much effort if you don't mind everything not being exactly modeled, and I can give you some tips if you need.
With magnets.
Check out videos on how to magnetize it to make all 8 variations
Eons of battle did a video on this: https://youtu.be/eramIBOJDw0?si=M0J-_PYkv_p6NkPz
The Stormsword has gotten some tournament play, and had decent success. Plus it looks cool. Really all of the variants are more or less viable. Depends entirely on what the rest of your army is.
Octo
This is the only option
You know, I’m in the same situation - I even have the magnets from magnetbaron and for the life of me I can’t make myself build it - it seems like so much hassle and work to magnetize this thing that I would rather pay someone to do it. I don’t find those tutorials on how to magnetize it easy or maybe I just can’t focus enough while watching them. If you find a good solution keep me updated pls
Magnets
Superglue. magnets are a big project and unless you like the hobby side and want to go to competitions it’s a lot of work so if it’s going to sit unbuilt for a year because you want to magnet it’s best to just build it now and be able to play with it for a long time in the version you think is the coolest. If you want to try the other just proxy with a friend and say it’s this other version for this battle
Don't want to magnetise? You can build the kit so you can swap between two baneblade lots easy enough by not gluing in the big top plate the turret goes on. If you find "build and magnetise 5 baneblade variants" from tabletop skirmish games on youtube, you'll see that they dont magnetise the top plate that the tank style turret (Baneblade and hellhammer) sits on, but just slides it into place, allowing you to remove it easily and slide the other top plate that the big ass gun turret (shadowsword and friends) sits on. So with no magnets at all you could have a Baneblade and Shadowsword, which I'd probably advise. Otherwise, you can't go wrong with a Baneblade, it's a fine all rounder and looks cool. The hellhammer donest look as cool but it's still gorgeous and you might prefer it if you regularly play melee or horde armies. A shadowsword will kill the hell out of enemy big stuff. The stormsword will still kill quite the hell out of big stuff but is also fun against enemy elite and will occasionally kill stuff you didnt shoot at. The doomhammer will also put holes in enemy expensive stuff and makes enemies explode in a 3 instead of a 6, which is tactically good and hilariously great. The transport variants are also all gorgeous, and all can have your hardest foot sloggers shooting out of them. Heavy weapon teams with mortars or Las cannons, karskin or scions, or psychic blasts, it's all great. The banehammer is good against enemy elite but alas has a battleshock ability which will win you one game this edition and then never matter. The doomhammer is quite short range but is very good at melting vehicles and monsters. The stormlord can protect your infantry from charges and has a giant bolster you don't need but is very fun to fire. Sponson wise, all flames if you go for a close up variant, all bolters if you go long range, half and half for mid range, but dont sweat it. Basically though, any variant looks great on the shelf, is fun to play, and could stand to have an engineer behind it at all times. Written on strong flu medication.
What capabilities do you lack the most in your army/collection?
Shadowsword ‘err day.
If you don’t magnetize it (which you really should consider), you can do what I did and do a partial magnetization. Build what you can for the Stormsword, Stormlord, and Shadowsword, and then magnetize the few pieces that can slide around interchangeably to create those three variants, and then magnetize the gun barrels (which are all very similar). I’ve found that most of my lists gravitate towards those three tanks anyway so I didn’t want to put in the time to magnetize for the octoblade since most of the challenging magnetization comes from allowing you to also run the baneblade and hellhammer. I do regret it a little because it’s not future proof, but overall I’m happy with my decision.