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+++Unit of the week+++ Chaos terminator squad This thread is only for tactics for Chaos terminator squads, not for pictures, there are other places for that. How to best use Chaos terminator squads? Wargear? Legion? Marks? Which stratagems are worth throwing out? Any solid unit combos?

This thread is intended as a one-stop resource for those interested in playing the Alpha Legion from the 9th Edition era Codex: Chaos Space Marines. My intention for this thread is that Fraters can suggest tactics and combinations for use in games; the community can then discuss and cooperatively refine these concepts. Summaries of the combos in their final form will be edited into the initial post. These concepts can be either specific to the Alpha Legion or involve generic Heretic Astartes rules, though please do not bring Legion-specific, non-Alpha Legion combinations into the discussion. I'll divide the concepts into the following categories (but if you have suggestions for more please let me know!): 1. Character Combinations: give us your best character builds! 2. Unit Buffs & Debuffs: let's talk about combos you can pull on your units and your enemies'! 3. Battlefield Strategies: maneuver tricks, objective play, etc -- anything that you can do to affect the state of play rather an specific units on the tabletop If there's any questions or issues we can cleared those up as they crop up. On with the show! ++CHARACTER COMBINATIONS++ Immortal HQ: Chaos Lord, Terminator Lord, or Dark Apostle with Clandestine WLT, the Drakescale Plate relic. Add Mark of Tzeentch or Nurgle for extra laughs. You could even add the Black Rune of Damnation via Gift of Chaos, but that is usually better served elsewhere. Assuming MoT, the Immortal HQ's defensive statline is 2+/4++, can't be hit on 1-3, can't be wounded on 1-3, and you can ignore the damage from the first failed save. "Immortal" may be hyperbolic, but that's a pretty hard to kill HQ. Given the HQ's durability, it might be a good pick for Gifts of Chaos and taking a relic weapon. Blade of the Relentless and the Black Mace are the obvious choices, though I suppose you could take a thunder hammer and one of the bolt pistol relics if you'd rather get a little extra shooting oomph. Sniper Lord (Pistol): Any HQ with a bolt pistol with the Headhunter WLT and either the Viper's Spite or The Warp's Malice. Utilize Daemon Shells for extra laughs. Both pistols work for this combo in different ways -- the Viper's Spite has a higher rate of fire, but Warp's Malice does more damage per shot. These will do best in the hand of a Chaos Lord because of BS2+, but the re-roll to hit from Headhunter helps the BS3+ models. In either case, they're both 18" range which isn't terrible if rather short for a model called a "sniper," but with Daemon Shells included the range gets pushed out to 24" which is much more manageable for trying to headshot an HQ. Of the two pistols, I think Viper's Spite is actually the better bet for the better AP and higher rate of fire but Warp's Malice has the benefit of letting you double-dip on your fishing for mortal wounds. Now, I did not mention the Hydra's Teeth in this bit despite it being usable with bolt pistols but that's largely because of the range issue -- 12" isn't much for a sniper....which leads me to the next combo. Sniper Lord (Bolter): The only three HQs that can do this are Terminator Lords, Terminator Sorcerers, and Exalted Champions because they're the only HQs available who have a gun bigger than a pistol. Again, we pull the Headhunter WLT and the Hydra's Teeth relic. This turns your twin-bolter or the bolter half of the Exalted Champion's combimelta into a one-shot, auto-hitting, S6 AP2 D3 gun that ignores invulnerable saves, allows you to reroll shooting wound rolls, can proc a mortal wound on a 6 to wound, and ignores Look Out Sir. Reach for Daemon Shells again to hit 30" range and AP3. If you're planning on using an Exalted Champion to provide his reroll aura for a gunline, this isn't a terrible kit to reach for as it allows him to contribute in the midfield. Even better is that if you're getting in close with him, the "ignore Look Out Sir" bit applies to both halves of his combimelta -- getting a D6+2 damage hit on an enemy HQ is by no means a bad thing. The advantage of the Terminators in this case is that with Malicious Volleys they will always get the full 24" range on their shots; the Exalted Champion still has to manage his range brackets. If you're working in the midfield, the Terminators are also more survivable due to their better saves and higher wound counts. Infantry Blender: This one comes via Matthew Y. in the Alpha Legion 40K Facebook group, with a little adjustment on my part. Chaos Lord with a chainsword and the Blade of the Hydra relic, plus the Flames of Spite WLT. Apply Diabolic Strength from a Sorcerer or Balefire Legionary and you're throwing 12-14 (6A base +2 Diabolic Strenth +3+d3 relic) attacks at S7 AP2, re-rolling wound rolls, and wound rolls of 6 cause a mortal wound. For further buffs, add Mark of Khorne for S8 and start chopping up vehicles and monsters; via Gits of Chaos you could add the Talisman of Burning Blood for +1A (and more if you kill stuff!). MoS and Intoxicating Elixir is another option, but the +d3A from that relic only lasts one phase while the Talisman bonus is permanent. I mean, either way you're throwing a bucket of dice that hit on 2+and you can fish for mortal wounds with the re-roll -- it's not failed wounds, so you can re-roll as many of those wound dice as you want to pull extra 6s. ++UNIT BUFFS/DEBUFFS++ More Dakka Legionaries: Have you ever read a Black Library novel and come across a passage where the author describes incessant volleys of bolter fire just scything down waves of enemies? Here's how you do it. Take a 10-man squad of Legionaries with bolters, the Champion with a bolt pistol and your choice of CCW, and one heavy bolter. If you'd like to add another weapon, I'm partial to the Reaper Chaincannon in this instance for the rate of fire but that's a personal choice; the Havoc autocannon isn't a bad choice either since it really likes the extra AP. Use Trophies of the Long War to give the Champion the Viper's Spite. Add Mark of Tzeentch, an icon, and (yes I know, I'm hitting this one a lot) Daemon Shells. All your bolters are now hitting at AP2, your heavy bolter at AP3, and your RCC at AP2, and the Champion is putting out six shots at AP5! I'd keep an Exalted Champion nearby for the wound rolls though as the shooting is admittedly all S4-5. Since Rapid Fire weapons benefit from Wanton Destruction, the two heavy weapons and the boltguns will all explode on 6s. I used this minus the pistol bit in my first game with the new codex and cleared Phobos Primaris screens with ease. ++BATTLEFIELD STRATEGIES++ Turn One Secondary: Our subfaction secondary, Subvert & Infiltrate, has a little wonky wording. On first read, it appears that you need to not only be within or near the enemy DZ, but you need to be within range of an objective as well. On a closer read, that's not true at all. To complete the secondary, you just need to be wholly within 6" (or actually inside) the enemy DZ to score the secondary; if you can shut off an objective, that's just gravy. However, it takes a full turn for the action to complete, so your opponent has the chance to kill that unit first. We really have two options here: Raptors and Warp Talons, but Warp Talons are too useful in assaulting enemies to waste on this objective. Raptors have a 12" Normal Move, so their Forward Operative+Normal Move distance should be enough to get right across the midfield and in position to take the Subvert Action. I highly recommend taking the Black Rune of Damnation via Trophies of the Long War, or perhaps the Mark of Nurgle, to increase their durability. EDIT: I had to remove the Possessed as an option here because 18" isn't enough to cross a 24" gap between deployment zones and be wholly within 6" of the enemy DZ; you can't Advance and take an Action, and the Action has to start at the end of the Movement Phase so you can't Warptime further up the board, either, unfortunately. Critique my work and provide your own! Let's get some brainstorming going.

+++Unit of the week+++ Warpsmith This thread is only for tactics for Warpsmith, not for pictures, there are other places for that. How to best use Warpsmiths? Wargear? Legion? Marks? Relics Which stratagems are worth throwing out?

+++Unit of the week+++ Master of Possession This thread is only for tactics for Master of Possession, not for pictures, there are other places for that. How to best use The Master of Possession? Warlord trait? Spells? Relics? Legion? Marks? Which stratagems are worth throwing out? Any solid unit combos?

+++Unit of the week+++ Havocs This thread is only for tactics for Havocs, not for pictures, there are other places for that. How to best use Havocs? Wargear? Legion? Marks? Which stratagems are worth throwing out? Any solid unit combos?

+++Unit of the week+++ Legionaries This thread is only for tactics for Legionaries, not for pictures, there are other places for that. How to best use Legionaries? Wargear? Legion? Marks? Which stratagems are worth throwing out? Any solid unit combos?

+++Unit of the week+++ Accursed Cultists This is the tactica for Accursed Cultist, keep the amount of pictures to the minimum. If you want to show yours, please do that in other threads The new kis on the block, and the special troop choice in the Chaos Marines list, Do they work for you? How do you use them. Tell us about your experiences you had with them. Do they work better in different legions? Or maybe you have found a nifty little trick for them. Cpt. Danou

++Thousand Sons Unit of the Week++ ++Tzaangor Skyfires++ New codex, new discussions about units! As we already have in other faction sections, this is the Thousand Sons Unit of the Week series, where each week we select and dissect a datasheet found in the book, and discuss how we use the unit in-game, favoured loadouts and combos, essentially how to use these units best. What have you found that works, and what doesnt? Please try to stick to the idea of making the unit in question work, as opposed to pointing out other units that might do a better job - we'll get to those in time! This week, we will be discussing Tzaangor Skyfires - another unit ported fro AoS, these guys were semi-ok last edition, but don't seem to see the table in 9th. Are you using them, and if so, how? Spears or bows? Have you been using them in games, and how have you used them? Th Mauler fists in particular have great damage potential at D3+3, and with a move of 10", the fiend is capable of getting into combat. What are you thoughts, and how best would you use the unit? To compliment a list, or to build a list around? Will you be running multiples? What <GREAT CULT>, loadouts, spell relic and Stratagem support do you prefer and how much does it depend on the above choices? Are you buffing this unit, and if so, how? Are you building as a damage dealer or buff-provider? Uses in Matched, Narrative and Open Play How have they fared for you in-game? Over to you. ++Thousand Sons Unit of the Week Index Link++

So recently I have been listening to a lot of different podcasts while painting/building and I am doing some catch up within the last 2ish months of episodes for a number of them. The CSM book looks and sounds like an absolute hoot and I am very happy for our fallen intrigued by all the things that book can do and how much flavor it exudes for each legion. But the Emperor's Children really caught my ear the last few nights, specifically on the Art of War podcasts. So roughly speaking, they have been described as a "melee control" army, which is how I kind of viewed Space Wolves up until this point (side note I don't have a lot of 9th experience) with Saga of the Warrior Born, Armor of Russ, Murderous Hurricane, and Judiciar(?) Now looking at them, they have a couple of fights last Characters/strats, as well as having army wide fights first with marks, no penalties to hit , icons giving +1 to to hit, heroic intervention, are a mixed bag of things we can do with Hunter's Unleashed, Keen Senses, Countercharge, but arguably better than us. As well as having some straight heaters with strats like Honour the Prince and Death Ecstasy. Maybe I am turning a bit green with jealous rage, but it definitely feels like a "anything you can do I can do better!" which actually makes a lot of sense for Emperor's Children. Any thoughts from my fellow Rout members or any CSM players as well? (just to note, this is not a complaint, I don't have the tabletop experience in this edition to back it up. Simply my thoughts tonight as I doze off painting)

+++Unit of the week+++ Chaos Bikers This thread is only for tactics for Chaos Bikers, not for pictures, there are other places for that. How to best use Chaos Bikers Legion? Marks? Which stratagems are worth using with them? Any solid unit combos?

++Thousand Sons Unit of the Week++ ++Fire Raptor Gunship++ New codex, new discussions about units! As we already have in other faction sections, this is the Thousand Sons Unit of the Week series, where each week we select and dissect a datasheet found in the book, and discuss how we use the unit in-game, favoured loadouts and combos, essentially how to use these units best. What have you found that works, and what doesnt? Please try to stick to the idea of making the unit in question work, as opposed to pointing out other units that might do a better job - we'll get to those in time! This week, we will be discussing the Fire Raptor - used on and off through the editions, this is a chunky FW model that many don't have - are you using one, and how? What are you thoughts, and how best would you use the unit? To compliment a list, or to build a list around? Will you be running multiples? What <GREAT CULT>, loadouts, spell relic and Stratagem support do you prefer and how much does it depend on the above choices? Are you buffing this unit, and if so, how? Are you building as a damage dealer or buff-provider? Uses in Matched, Narrative and Open Play How have they fared for you in-game? Over to you. ++Thousand Sons Unit of the Week Index Link++

+++Unit of the week+++ Cultist Mob Extremely few marines cares about them, they are a tool to be used, something to throw at the enemy as a meat shield, maybe something to sacrifice to the Gods or just simple playthings. How are we using them, as simple objective holders, shields for our more expensive troops? How do you equip them? Have you used them in a spectacular way? Share your experiences and thoughts about them.

The Wolves go for the throat. We go for the eyes. Then the tongue. Then the hands. Then the feet. Then we skin the crippled remains, and offer it up as an example to any still bearing witness. The Wolves were warriors before they became soldiers. We were murderers first, last, and always! Now that the CSM codex has been out for a month it's time that we dig our own skinning pits (or in other words get our own tactics thread going). This is intended to be the go-to space for musings on Night Lords in 9th edition, army lists, combos, and strengths of specific units. The Flayer's repository is a collection of relevant links and I will update it whenever interesting stuff pops up in this thread. That way you'll find everything you need for the creation of a fearsome Night Lords army in the first post. Alright then, let's hear your experiences with your Night Lords so far. Let's hear the good, the bad, and the ugly. Which units have fared well? Which one will you leave at home the next time? How good or bad are our legion trait, relics, and stratagems in your opinion? The Flayer's repository Lists: Night Lords (3rd place at The Warhound at Game Grid GT in July 2022) Deep dive into the army list above at Goonhammer (you have to scroll down a bit) Legion tactics: Army overview at Auspex Tactics Unit tactics: Lord Discordant Defensive and Offensive loadouts at Blog for the Blood God Chaos Legionaries at Auspex Tactics Possessed at Auspex Tactics

IRON WITHIN, IRON WITHOUT As with the similar tactica threads for other legions, this is aiming to be a one-stop-shop for Iron Warriors Tactics, combos and general tips for the 9th Edition Chaos Space Marine Codex. What rules combinations have you spotted? How will you build your lists? What units best leverage the Legion Trait and Stratagems? How have your games fared? Have you got any tips new players to the faction?

As Emperor's Children players, we strive for perfection on the table top. The purpose of this thread is to explore the tactical opportunities created by the 9th edition Heretic Astartes codex and to discuss how they will allow us to humble our enemies. This is the perfect place to explore topics related to the supreme space marines of the Emperor's Children Legion, including (but are not limited to): Powerful combinations Majestic character builds Discussion of our many table top victories and of our rare defeats Potent army lists Optimal use of our units, stratagems, warlord traits, relics and other battlefield resources. Pitfalls to be avoided As a note, all arrogance and coloured text is probably best reserved to this initial post.

I've found myself thinking this in the last 2-3 games I've played. There's maybe 1-2 useful ones, however the rest seem to be tied to specific units, or just not worth it. I've been starting games with a full 12CP as WLT's and Relics aren't that great to me, beyond the free ones I give to my Farseer, and usually finishing games with 3-5 CP depending on how my rolls have gone. The only strats I seem to use are: Lightning fast reactions - generally every opponent shooting phase Bladestorm (when I remember on my guided Avengers) Feigned Retreat (if I get caught, maybe 1-2 times per game max) Optional: Grenade pack (I always forget about this, so never actually used it, but would be amazing with a full unit) Linked Fire - if I have 2 prisms, however the prism then needs guiding, and it's useless against it's main target, Custodes, who can transhuman and turn off rerolls. Are you making use of any other strats? Am I missing a trick here?

++Thousand Sons Unit of the Week++ ++Rubric Marines++ New codex, new discussions about units! As we already have in other faction sections, I'm starting up a Unit of the Week series for Thousand Sons, where each week we select and dissect a datasheet found in the book, and discuss how we use the unit in-game, favoured loadouts and combos, essentially how to use these units best. What have you found that works, and what doesnt? Please try to stick to the idea of making the unit in question work, as opposed to pointing out other units that might do a better job - we'll get to those in time! This week, we start with the core Troops choice of the codex, and the iconic model in any Thousand Sons army, the Rubric Marine - we'll get to other units in time as we all unpick the codex and get some games in. What are you thoughts, and how best would you use the unit? To compliment a list, or to build a list around? Will the beta rules affect your list(s)? What size unit? Will you be running multiple units? What <GREAT CULT>, loadouts, spell and Stratagems support do you prefer and how much does it depend on the above choices? Are you buffing this unit? If so, how? Uses in Matched, Narrative and Open Play How have they fared for you in-game? Over to you. ++Thousand Sons Unit of the Week Index Link++

Hi everyone! I noticed that quite some topics have started lately about ‘nid army list or getting started with our favourite bugs. That’s why I thought it would be nice to start up: Kicking of with the HIVE TYRANT -What wargear options would you pack on him/her and why? - Is the point increase worth taking the wings? (use of swooping assault) - Is it still a viable option after the rule of three introduction? - What’s your favourite way of using it? If you like to showcase your Hive Tyrant, feel free to do so!

I figured I start this thread since no one else has, granted these are mostly my observations since my 30k experience is limited. So please, if you have suggestions post it. I'm still fully building my SOH army is I am by no means the authority on SOH Tactics. First Discussion: Troops Choice Reavers vs Tactical Marines It seems better to take Maloghurst than ROW Black Reaving to have Reavers as troops but are Reavers as Troops better than the 20 man blob of Tacticals with apothecary ? 20 tactical marines w. Vox and sergeant w. PW (maximize merciless fighter) and artificer armor for 280 The best tactical load out can be discussed in length but I am just looking for a baseline to compare Reavers Vs 15 Reavers w Banestrike Bolters Cheiften w. PW and artificer armor runs 380 So for 100 more points you get five less marines, lose the ability to re-roll failed morale but gain outflank and AP 3 Bolters with precision shot. It seems as if instead of replacing Tacticals for Reavers as the troops backbone they do a better job complementing each other on the battlefield. As the Tacticals slogg upfield towards an objective the Reavers come in on what seems to be Turn 2 with the ability to re roll 1 on reserves, to claim a midfield or backfield obj and support your army by getting in their shorter range ap 3 precision shots. What do you guys think? Have you ran purely footslogging Reavers or have you paired Tacticals and Reavers or do you find it better to give them rhinos or assault packs? (This post is in pieces because my iPad likes to time out before I post)

Unfavoured son. Mortal herald of nurgle. Host of the destroyer hive..... Typhus is a lord of contagion Plus. He is a pysker and has a shooting attack from his destroyer hive Also has a lead role in the Terminus Est army list. So plague brethren - have at him!

Last night I got absolutely spanked by an Emperor's Chosen army - if you're unfamiliar, their rules allow them to ignore moretal wounds (from any source) on a 4+, and then reroll one failed hit or wound (!) roll per unit. As you can imagine, these rules cripple TS that need MW output to keep up with other armies, and this is before you get to most of their weapons being D2 to ignore all is dust. Normal custodes are tough, but manageable with MW output, but these are off the scale. How would you approach these in terms of trying to win the game, not necessarily kill Custodes. Last night I played abandoned sanctuaries, with mutate, stranglehold and to the last. I got 9, 3, 0 respectively for these, however O did push out to try and claim objectives. I might have had much more success with banners and T The Last (TTL), keeping the majority of my stuff hidden, basically playing the waiting game of holding 2 objectives then trying to stay alive. Though I was playing duplicity, not time, which TTL is maybe better for What secondaries would you pick v custodes to try and stay in the game? What cult would they be for? Would duplicity be better served by things like Engage/Nachmund data? TL:DR If you were playing against the Emperor's Chosen Custodes, what secondaries would you pick, and how would you play that game?

As it says on the tin - these are awesome models, but are they any good on the table? Snipers are traditionally not great, however they seem to have great speed and the scout ability is insane. Nachmund in particular is very generous to bikes, allowing them to perform the data action - could these be gamewinners for that and engage? Would you need 4+ of them to still score engage even if they suffer a loss?

++Thousand Sons Unit of the Week++ ++Maulerfiend++ New codex, new discussions about units! As we already have in other faction sections, this is the Thousand Sons Unit of the Week series, where each week we select and dissect a datasheet found in the book, and discuss how we use the unit in-game, favoured loadouts and combos, essentially how to use these units best. What have you found that works, and what doesnt? Please try to stick to the idea of making the unit in question work, as opposed to pointing out other units that might do a better job - we'll get to those in time! This week, we will be discussing the Maulerfiend. With better WS and BS than last edition, have you been using them in games, and how have you used them? Th Mauler fists in particular have great damage potential at D3+3, and with a move of 10", the fiend is capable of getting into combat. What are you thoughts, and how best would you use the unit? To compliment a list, or to build a list around? Will you be running multiples? What <GREAT CULT>, loadouts, spell relic and Stratagem support do you prefer and how much does it depend on the above choices? Are you buffing this unit, and if so, how? Are you building as a damage dealer or buff-provider? Uses in Matched, Narrative and Open Play How have they fared for you in-game? Over to you. ++Thousand Sons Unit of the Week Index Link++

Goodmorning, The start of the week heralds a new We had some HQ, Melee and shooting units. Time for a psychic powers heavy unit. The zoanthrope / neurothrope. I must be honest , I haven’t run them since 8th ed came out. I made a new test army list with them in a adaptation fleet detachment to see how they fare. How many would you run? 3 or the full 6? Is it worth running them with the new adaptations you think? Anyone tested them yet? Love to heat from you all And have a merry biomass!

++Scythed Hierodule++ We have a new unit of the week! Having already discussed all units in the standard codex, we're moving on to Forge World datasheets. This week it's the massive point beast the Scythed Hierodule. What are you thoughts, and how best would you use it? To compliment a list, or to build a list around? Will the beta rules affect your list(s)? What size unit? Will you be running multiple units? What Hive Fleet Traits, Adaptative Physiologies and Stratagems do you prefer and how much does it depend on the above choices? Are you buffing this unit? If so, how? Uses in Matched, Narrative and Open Play Over to you. Tyranids Unit of the Week Index