Can marines take assassins?

[chapter master 454]

Well I personally love the look of some of the assassins and the vindicare strikes me as the most comical of the lot (callidus about to kill an enemy when the vindicare pops the targets head with a grin on his face and the callidus shouting 'kill steal!') however I am yet to know of if these crew of assassins can be taken with marines, vanilla marines while I'm on that topic. I've been on the recieveing end of them several times (callidus moving my stuff from where I want it) and the vindicare getting the luckiest shot of all time (turbo penetrator taking down my venerable dread in turn one) and to be honest I've never heard of a marine player use them except a few BT and some talk of the puppies taking a vindicare for a remote detonation lukas.

 

On that matter which one is your most recommended one? I mean the eversor looks cool but I don't know his tricks nor do I know the brainy boy one ether, I know the callidus and vindicares tricks though (calli likes to play with necron stuff and move my units about while appearing like sly marbo from no-where while the vindicare takes 3 rounds, 1 of a type kind and has some funky shooting protection and aides) so for someone who likes royally do over eldar, guard and marines which one would you recommend if I can take one?

[Grey Mage]

Yes, but you have to go to the Witchhunters or Daemonhunters codices, take an inquisitor lord, and then the assassin.

 

And I recommend the Vindicaire and Calidus- both are good, though the calidus suffers from a distinct lack of grenades.

[KhorneHunter57x]

Yes, any Imperium army may take an Assassin.

 

I think that they are all equally good. Which one I recommend depends on what you want it to do.

 

Take a Vindicare to support the rest of your army. He is terrible when he is alone, but he makes the rest of your army a lot better when used right.

Take a Callidus when you want to mess up your opponent's battle plan (and be sure to mention how she deploys).

Take a Culexus when you face psykers regularly.

Take an Eversor when you want a nasty close-combat beast.

 

I have a Vindicare that I sometimes call up to help my Marines. He is pretty fun to use.

 

Personally, I would suggest taking a good retinue for the required Inquisitor Lord.

[Frosty the Pyro]

As stated marines cannot take assasins within their own codex, however utilizing the allies rules and either deamon hunters or which hunters you can, this will require you to purchace the HQ inquistor (inquisitor lord I think). All the assasins hace a purpose, Calidous assasins ignor inv saves for example, vindicare pick of heavy weapons and/or power fists, eviscors though downgraded in 5th ed is still a solid CC monster, and of course, and the last one (culexus) is beat on wheals against psykers, holy cow. However you CANNOT have 2 assains on the same force for any reason whatsoever.

[chapter master 454]

As stated marines cannot take assasins within their own codex, however utilizing the allies rules and either deamon hunters or which hunters you can, this will require you to purchace the HQ inquistor (inquisitor lord I think). All the assasins hace a purpose, Calidous assasins ignor inv saves for example, vindicare pick of heavy weapons and/or power fists, eviscors though downgraded in 5th ed is still a solid CC monster, and of course, and the last one (culexus) is beat on wheals against psykers, holy cow. However you CANNOT have 2 assains on the same force for any reason whatsoever.

 

I did have an eversor model once, where it is now is beyond me. Well it's a shame I'm not allowed two but then again I think 3 vindicares is more cheese than most armies can handle (hello power claw, bye bye power klaw, hello tar-pit!) and the callidus is a pain (however it is worth mentioning it was funny to disarm her with a c'tan in a game!) however I have heard culexus royally screw over pykers so bad their home world feels it, and since I hate eldar so much I would find it giggles to do such a thing (My vendetta against eldrad will never cease! He is the reason I got the nickname sweary, well him and yriel). So whats the deal with inquisitor lord? 100pt sink or there about if unequipped? Just send him with my terminators and make him the sarge (this means the first lascannon goes to him! well unless I can get him to carry a chainfist or something equally bulky and makes power-gamers squeal at how it wouldn't work but I make it work!)

[Deus de Mortalis]

Back in the old days it was fun to take an assassin with codex assassins. But since the witch and daemonhunters codices,were released, I just don't feel that it's worth it with having to throw an inquisitor lord into my army as well. I would do it if I thought that an inquisitor could be an asset, but they just seem sucky compared to what I can get in the marine codex and its points I'd much rather spend on something else.

 

Besides the 4 main assassins, there are death cult assassins which are tooled for CC, independent, cheap, and three per elites slot. However, they extremely weak on their own and might have trouble reaching the enemy. For a time I considered switching to daemonhunters and taking my space marines as allies just so I could have a load of assassins. Might be neat, but I couldn't conjure up any viable list around it.

[greatcrusade08]

Try Telion hes a pretty good killer!

 

Gc08

[KhorneHunter57x]

So whats the deal with inquisitor lord? 100pt sink or there about if unequipped? Just send him with my terminators and make him the sarge (this means the first lascannon goes to him! well unless I can get him to carry a chainfist or something equally bulky and makes power-gamers squeal at how it wouldn't work but I make it work!)

Unfortunatly, you must take a retinue for the Inquisitor Lord. He is about a 70 point sink with a cheap retinue and no wargear, but then you are just giving your opponent a free kill point.

 

I think that if you do decide to take an Inquisitor Lord (which is required to take an Assassin), then I would get the Daemonhunters version. He has, IMHO, the better retinue and wargear options. I kit mine out with a Null Rod, Bolt Pistol, Auspex, Mystic, 3 Gun Servitors and a couple of Acolytes with Storm Bolters and use them as an anti-infantry Devastator squad.

[Grey Mage]

Dont be a silly get- take some cool guys for his retinue. One of the most common setups is a pair of mystics and some gun-servitors, and an Auspex. Dare your opponent to infiltrate/deep strike near your forces.

[chapter master 454]

Try Telion hes a pretty good killer!

 

Gc08

 

I hate that over-rated wind-bag of a marine. Seriously, he's more used than vulkan for salamander armies that have so much melta and flamer weapons they would be banned from forums the moment they joined. Besides the vindicare comes with the mask, -1 to cover save (get back to the standard 4+ telion like everyone else!) and needs night fighting to see him, thats a lethal combo and with 3 round types (from memory): shield breaker forcing re-roll on successful invunerable save, turbo pentrator (3D6 penetration on armour, effect on infantry unknown, I assume is a re-roll to wound) and a third I think I've never suffered from (but I know he has one of each). Well while my chapter isn't too keen on the inquistion due to their continous fighting of chaos I think giving them a Quiz boy wouldn't be too bad for the fluff of them (might consider a unit of grey knight terminators too, those models are cool as hell!). Anyway, cheers for the reponses. I'm sure I'll be having lots of fun with the assassins!

[Frosty the Pyro]

Turbo pen does two wounds to infintry, the third type is hellfire (wounds on a 2+). The vindicar is one of the two ways to intentionaly fire into a melee (the other being spore mines). If you want to be tricksy you could hunt down a copy of the old codex cus it lets ANYONE take an assassin, including xenos. It would however be akin to using 4th ed marine codex. Though it can still be worth it to find one though, good pics and neat scenarios, I picked one up for $2 at a used bookstore.

[greatcrusade08]

Try Telion hes a pretty good killer!

 

Gc08

 

I hate that over-rated wind-bag of a marine.!

 

Hes Sooo NOT over rated.. IME he always does well, and far less expensive than that vindicare pansy!

 

Gc08

[KhorneHunter57x]

Try Telion hes a pretty good killer!

 

Gc08

 

I hate that over-rated wind-bag of a marine.!

 

Hes Sooo NOT over rated.. IME he always does well, and far less expensive than that vindicare pansy!

 

Gc08

 

Telion is not over-rated, but comparing him with an agent from the Vindicare temple is like comparing apples and Grey Knights. The Vindicare is an expert sniper, whose training goes purely towards being an excellent marksman. Telion must train Astartes scouts in every facet of combat.

 

 

Rules wise, the Vindicare is tougher and better at picking off Power-armored and Tactical Dreadnought-armored models. Also remember that the Vindicare's rules are from 3rd ed, where Telion's are from 5th ed.

 

However, that said, there is no Marine that comes close to any of the other three Assassins.

[Frosty the Pyro]

Try Telion hes a pretty good killer!

 

Gc08

 

I hate that over-rated wind-bag of a marine.!

 

Hes Sooo NOT over rated.. IME he always does well, and far less expensive than that vindicare pansy!

 

Gc08

He's not that much less expensive, 73 points vs 110. Vindicar is much more likely to wound (due to armor ignoreing and cover reduction, and special ammos). Telions only real advantage is he gets what is effctivly a retinue.

[Ice warrior]

Well to add something to this topic. You have little downgraded our little friend called culexus assassin. Thanx due WH Inquisitor lord and his "divine pronouncement"(DP). This combo is more than frightening, any unit without fearless rule is quite easy target. culexus dropping enemy units ld to 7 and when DP kicks in the unit has to pass ld 4 or run like hell... Other way, is to take "hammer of the witches" and drop pykers ld to 7 and force them to pass the perils of warp.

 

For me, my favorite is still callidus assassin and her "a word in your ear"... Is there anything better than move that annoying land rider front of your two predators armed with 4 lascannons :P And on field, bounce all over and torch some brains.

[greatcrusade08]

He's not that much less expensive, 73 points vs 110. Vindicar is much more likely to wound (due to armor ignoreing and cover reduction, and special ammos). Telions only real advantage is he gets what is effctivly a retinue.

 

I dont want to get into a massive debate, but the Vindicare is much more than 110 points, you have to include a HQ option just to take him!

[KhorneHunter57x]

He's not that much less expensive, 73 points vs 110. Vindicar is much more likely to wound (due to armor ignoreing and cover reduction, and special ammos). Telions only real advantage is he gets what is effctivly a retinue.

 

I dont want to get into a massive debate, but the Vindicare is much more than 110 points, you have to include a HQ option just to take him!

 

But you must take a Scout squad to take Telion, and if you kit out the =][= Lord right he can be worth his points.

 

Don't think of it as having to take an =][= Lord, think of it as "Yay, I get a anti-infantry Dev squad (and/or a powerful Psyker) that doesn't take up a Heavy Support slot!"

 

My favorite Assassin is the Culexus. He is a solid unit even if there are no psykers on the table, and his reduction of leadership can be fun, especially against Necrons.

[silversmith82]

What no love for the Eversor?? That guy is a freaking BEAST. Great to run up to armor and blow it all to hell, a monster in combat (+D6 attacks, possible 24" movement per turn, high initiative, always wounds on 4+ no matter what) and when he does die he detonates taking even more guys with him. I'd say he ties with the Callidus for most useful easily. The Callidus is just wrong when used properly and "word in your ear" is amazing, simply amazing. You don't just have to use it to move things out to shoot, you can move things into dangerous terrain, you can move that annoying devastator squad behind a wall etc... C'tan phase sword is the secks as well although don't ever try using one on the Deceiver/Nightbringer lol. Also... do not rule out the little used and much maligned Death Company Assasins. You get 3 of them for the price of 1 Temple assasin and they can deploy seperately. Deploy them well and your enemy is going to have to deal with them quick which gives the rest of your army time to do its thing. If he chooses to ignore them then he'll find out the hard way just how good much they can hurt.

 

As for the required =][= Lord... You want the very best possible "devastator" squad in the game? Take this guy. You want a cheap way to blow up those pesky podding dreads before they can even do anything? Take this guy. You want a 4th Land Raider in your big point game without having to go into 2 detachments? Take this guy! Gander over at the =][= board for options on kitting him out. People seriously have no idea how scary a proper Inquisitor can be.

[Resv]

Quick note on the Vindicar, he ignores all targeting normal restrictions. Lets just let that sink in for a moment... To clarify he can shoot anyone in his range, this means models engaged in assaults and even your OWN units. Want to take out that pesky Power Fist before it gets another chance to take down your HQ? BAM! Do you have one last hold out Fearless model keeping a giant horde of Ork Boyz from getting a Pie Plate to the face? BAM! Honestly I had to read the entry for this twice after I was informed of exactly how you could use your Vindicar to enact some very dirty tricks on your opponent.

 

As for taking an Inquisitor there is a ton of cool and very useful items that you can use improve your over all force.

[Deus de Mortalis]

Ok, this assassin thing has been on my mind non-stop. I picked up both a witch hunters and daemon hunters codex. :D Right now I'm thinking of a witch hunters list with a cheap shooty HQ, a couple of storm trooper squads in rhinos, two squads of CC scouts supported and covering 6 death cult assassins, an assault squad for support / tanks, and a bike squad and land speeder squad dedicated to tank hunting.

 

What is really wracking my brain is eversor or vindicare. I wish you could take more than 1!

[Frosty the Pyro]

Quick note on the Vindicar, he ignores all targeting normal restrictions. Lets just let that sink in for a moment... To clarify he can shoot anyone in his range, this means models engaged in assaults and even your OWN units. Want to take out that pesky Power Fist before it gets another chance to take down your HQ? BAM! Do you have one last hold out Fearless model keeping a giant horde of Ork Boyz from getting a Pie Plate to the face? BAM! Honestly I had to read the entry for this twice after I was informed of exactly how you could use your Vindicar to enact some very dirty tricks on your opponent.

Yep he fast attack spore mines are the only things that can do this too, and the vindicar isnt a suicide option (so no automatic kill point given). Its an impressive amount of tactical aplications to being able to kill your own guys, and shoot into close combats.

[Reclusiarch Darius]

If you plan on taking an Assassin with your Marines, here is how I'd do it;

 

Inquisitor Lord w/psychic hood+3 x Mystics: Cheaper than a Librarian, and he grants a bonus that only Imperial armies can take advantage of. Try combining his 'detection zone' with a Landspeeder Storm, it completely wrecks any battle plan for Deepstriking armies.

 

Eversor: Cheap, kills things, Outflanks. He'll probably kill a tank or a unit, then get brutally slaughtered by enemy gun-fire/counter-assaults. He's more a terror weapon, forcing the enemy to deploy where you want, not where they want. That said, horde armies have a pretty easy time against him; they take 5-6 casualties, then bury him in numbers/dakka.

Culexus: Bit more expensive, totally useless except against psykers, he'll probably die fairly quickly before you can make use of the 'Animus Speculum' or the 'Soulless' aura. I'd pass, he's not completely crap but he's competing against worthwhile operatives for the same single Elite slot.

Vindicare: Firstly, abandon all ideas about killing enemy characters or monsters. He is a precision weapon for taking down 1-wound models: powerfists, Icons, Warlocks, squad leaders etc. He removes such problems for you, letting you expose weaknesses in the enemy army (without powerfists, Marines lose a lot of their hitting power in close-combat etc). Not a bad option, but like with the Culexus just weigh up whether that is what you need from your operative.

Callidus: The most often used, and for good reason. 'A Word In Your Ear' is worth her cost alone (even including the Inquisitor Lord), and remember you get to move the model chosen, not your opponent. Go round to the other side and move it yourself. Other than that, she's really just another terror weapon like the Eversor. Unlike the Eversor though, she can strike anywhere she wants. So, while units inside transports or in area terrain are safe (she doesn't have grenades, so in both cases she'll die pointlessly), everyone else is fair game. I'd avoid units with high Leadership or invulnerable saves, go after a shooty unit like Devastators or Lootas. She'll probably still die, but by mauling/disrupting that unit you get an advantage.

 

The two standouts are the Eversor (hands-down best close-combat model for his points) and the Callidus (still pretty good as a terror bomb, and 'AWIYE' is always helpful). Vindicare if you have a plan, Culexus if you know you'll face psykers.

[Ice warrior]

Inquisitor Lord w/psychic hood+3 x Mystics: Cheaper than a Librarian, and he grants a bonus that only Imperial armies can take advantage of. Try combining his 'detection zone' with a Landspeeder Storm, it completely wrecks any battle plan for Deepstriking armies.

 

Well Reclusiarch Darius said it all.

Though i wonder the idea of inquisitor lord, thats really easy kill point.

And you don't do much with 3 mystics without proper guns... Rhino perhaps?

[silversmith82]

For those of you wanting a shooty Inquisitor, take the DH Inquisitor. Actually the ONLY reason to ever take the WH variant is to get a 4th LR with PotM (DH one doesn't get it in the FAQ) or if you simply must have Crusader henchmen.

 

Gunline Inquisitor loadout is:

 

Inquisitor Lord w/psycannon, auspex, psychic hood, ccw

Retinue is: Plasma Cannon Servitor, 2 Heavy Bolter Servitors, 2 mystics, 2 sages, 3 acolytes, 2 familiars.

 

This maxes his retinue out at 12, gives him plenty of ablative wounds, the acolytes can take 15 pts of wargear each so they can get storm bolters or combi weapons. The 2 mystics (only availalbe on the DH Inquisitor which is why you take him and not the WH) give you a free round of shooting at whatever deep strikes within 4D6 of the Inquisitor OR you can "give" the shots to any unit within 12". So useful it is insane. Auspex allows you to pie plate infiltrators with the plasma cannon, heavy bolters and psycannon. 36" range all around and the 2 sages give +1 BS to the Inquisitor and re-rolls to any one roll per shooting phase. So if you roll a 1 on the cannon re-roll it OR re-roll the scatter dice! The Inquisitor Lord also has the same ability as Calgar where he can choose to pass or fail any leadership test. Did I mention the DH/WH psychic hoods are unlimited range?

 

What this gives you is a crazy high powered shooting unit that will never run from shooting casualties and is very very hard to remove with proper support (don't let it get assaulted!). Keep a melta unit handy for the first turn as that is when the podding Ironclads always show up and shoot them in the face with a multi melta before they can do anything. Any infantry units showing up get a plasma plate dumped on them.

 

Sorry for going off topic but people still seem to think that the Inquisitor Lord requirement for taking an assasin is a drag. It isn't. Kit him out like this and watch your opponent just stare incredulously while his entire deep strike gets shot to hell as it arrives. Heck, even the cheap "bunker Lord" (Lord with 2 mystics and a MM servitor in a Rhino) can ruin someone's day.

[chapter master 454]

From what I'm understanding here, Mystics give a form of deepstrike protection by going "eh, sir, those spanners over there just deep struck and they messed up your lawn" which the inquisitors then goes with his unit to blow the ever loving hell out of them with any weapons the squad has. Sages are able to grant some form of shooting bonus in the form of re-rolls or BS boost. My gripe isn't the fact I don't like the inquisitor lord it's just the models suck, I ain't going to hide those models look terrible and I wonder whose more evil: dark eldar or inquisitors (I mean naked babies with wings carrying some book). The inquisitor models look cool (and the one I want most is the WH one however some conversion can turn it into a DH inquisitor) but the retinues are just such a rubbish lot to look at, and this is supposed to be the 'Good' side (note inverted commas). Not sure but is there any models that I can use to counts as the retinue without having to get those rubbish looking things. Shame is, i can't get the inquisitor model I want this way but I am more than happy to settle with roman the inquisitor (sorry. Armour is just too similar!)

 

So generally people seem to be saying to take 2 plasma cannons (what is that the limit on the quis boys too? only 2 gun serv?) plus a few sages here, a few mystics here and maybe give the quis boy some gear to make himself feel big (I don't doubt their damage potiental with plasma cannons, I just feel that it defeats the purpose of these assassins if the boy who sends them has to go with them.

 

Traitor guard1: hey look, an inquisitor lord is with them space marines. Wonder what he's doing

Traitor guard2: -checking through a thin, mainly black coloured covered book- seems thats legal but for what purpose he is here I don't know

Traitor guard1: well whyever he's here it can't possibly be to take an assassin, because that defeats the purpose

Traitor guard3: -walks up to the other two having their conversation- whats the talk about allied inquisitor for an assassin?

Traitor guard2: well it says he if you take an inquisitor lord, you an take one of the 4 assassin types, I mean how silly is that, nearly as silly as that calliduses armour

Traitor guard1: yea, I hear that. I mean why would you put breast-forming armour on it, I mean that would just catch bullets worse than us

Traitor guard3: -now a little self consious and now a little ticked and voice changes to a female- HEY my armour is not that bad

Traitor guard1&2: what th...oh-

Callidus assassin kills both guardsman while they both wallow in their own blood over the irony of the event

Callidus to inquisitor: so why can't I go out on my own

inquisitor: I told you, your not old enough yet. Look at you, your still a growing girl

Callidus: I hate you, why do you do this to all of us, I mean look at culs over there!

Vindicare: Just deal with it callidus

Callidus: Shut up you camping git, you don't mind because you can suck up to inquisitor while doing your profession

 

(yea, I'm bored so I wonder if the inquisition will ever learn why assassins are so deadly, tends to be because they aren't any signs of them!)