How to equip Khorne Terminators

[ChainMachete]

I haven't played 40k for a few years, but I do have quite a decent sized 30k Word Bearer army (including toys like a Spartan, Leviathan & Whirlwind Scorpius). I also have some forge world Khorne Terminator (x1) and Berzerker (x2) upgrade sets sitting unmade at the bottom of my bit drawer. And two three man Khorne melta bike squads and Zhufor. So I think it's time to put together a proper 40k chaos army.

 

Not sure if I'll have separate Word Bearer and World Eater detachments, or just run everything as a renegade chapter. The Khorne bikers and Zufor are already built. The Berzerkers will almost certainly have axes & chainswords (with the champion having a fist & chainsword), just need to decide if I want to replace some of those axes with plasma pistols.

 

However, other than the mandatory Icon of Wrath, I'm really undecided about how to equip my five Khorninators. Four combi-plasmas, heavy weapon and fists look like they may be quite effective, but not sure if they are very Khorne themed and can be quite expensive in points. Even combi-flamers sound quite fun since I can always fire the boltgun in addition to the flamer and not worry about penalties to hit with the flamer component. Never had much success with dual lightning claws in 30k, though they do look very cool, so are they any good in 8th edition 40k? I'm also used to having one chainfist per five terminators in 30k, but not convinced it's worth 10 extra points over the fist, so have pretty much discounted that. Also which heavy weapon - Heavy Flamer or Autocannon? I'm not into magnetising non-vehicles, so need to make the right decision before I start gluing everything together. Here's my choices so far:

 

1. Icon, 4 x combi-plasma & fist, 1 x autocannon & fist.

2. Icon, 4 x combi-flamer & single lightning claw, 1 x heavy flamer & fist.

3. Icon, 4 x dual lighning claws, 1 x heavy flamer & fist.

 

They will either deep strike with Zhufor (probably proxying him as a Chaos Lord with Axe of Blind Fury and combi-bolter rather than using the Zhufor rules), or will be deployed inside my Spartan.

 

Any advice or suggestions would be most welcome.

 

[MoK]

I've got 5 Terminators armed with Combi-bolters and Power axes. That's about as close to 30k Red Butchers as you can get. These guys run around with Zhufur, they were his bodyguard, when he could still have one.

[Brother Aiwass]

I'm going to run mine with icon, 5 meltas, 4 axes and a chainfist. If you have a support sorc for warptime, they'll going to bring some pain.

[OnboardG1]

I think it depends on your target. Do you need them to kill heavy infantry, MCs, vehicles? Are they going to drop backline to shoot or are they riding in the transport? If they're going to be beelining for assault in a transport I'd take the heavy flamer. For deep striking I prefer giving everything melta and plasma (or just combi if I'm cheapskate mode). The assault cannon is good for footsloggers but if you're teleporting in then the range isn't strictly relevant. Melee weapon is up to you really. I'm debating between lightning claws and power axes at the moment. 

[ChainMachete]

So unless I'm running them in a transport or using a Warptime Sorceror, combi-flamers and heavy flamers are largely wasted points then? Shame because 5D6 flamer (or heavy flamer) shots plus 8-10 bolter shots on the drop would be really nice.

 

Do like the sound of 5 flamer termies, 8 berserkers and a character or two in a Spartan though. Certainly more than the dual lightning claw alternative. The termies should be able to clear out any infantry bubble wrap to ensure the termies and berzerkers have something useful to charge. In which case perhaps 3 lightening claws and 2 power fists would be a good mix (or 2 & 3?). Or perhaps swap the berzerkers of ~10 possessed (will be using Gal Vorbak models) and put the 2x8 berzerkers in rhinos. 

 

I've got no intention of footslogging, but don't really know if I'll be deep striking or putting them in a Spartan at the moment - I fully intend to try both, but not sure which I'll end up with. For the reaper autocannon, I'll hopefully always be starting < 12" from enemy models, so combi-plasma (or melta) is always better than the reaper?

 

So now coming down to:

 

1. Icon, 1 x combi-flamer & fist (champion), 1 x heavy flamer & fist (icon bearer), 3 x combi-flamer & lightning claw (274); or

2. Icon, 1 x combi-plasma & fist (champion), 1 x combi-plasma & fist (icon bearer), 3 x combi-plasma & lightning claw (288).

 

Against guard, cultists, orcs, random bubble-wrap, etc option 1 is better, against MEQ, termies, etc option 2 is better. With option 1 the unit will only be really effective if I put them in my Spartan. With option 2, they will also be effective if I deep strike them. Anything else I should be thinking of?