Death Guard Infantry based lists

[Bloody Legionnaire]

I decided to kick off the new edition with a new army and have slowly been building up my Death Guard. The idea I have for my force is to go very fluffy and have lots of power armored infantry backed up by Dreadnoughts. So far I have a total of 24 Plague Marines between 2 PM box sets, the 7 man PMs from DV and the Plague Brethren set. I also have a Biologus Putrifier, a Malignant Plague Caster, a Lord of Contagion, and a Leviathan with Dual Grav-Bombard, and a unit of Deathshroud. I'm going to pick up Mortarion and I'm also thinking about adding in a few Contemptors for more fire power.

 

I'm not necessarily looking to build the most competitive list ever but I don't want a list that will get destroyed regularly in friendly games either. Between Morty and the Levi I feel like I'll have plenty of distractions and fire magnets. I don't think I want a lot of Rhinos as I've always envisioned Death Guard slogging up the board. I know I'm going to get a comment or two about using bloat drones for speed but when Contemptors move 9" I feel like I wont be missing out on much utilizing them. 

 

For you guys who have been playing Death Guard since their release would you mind providing some feedback on what lists I can build or what other units I can add to my force? 

[DuskRaider]

If you're going footslogging, I'd highly recommend Blight Haulers. What better way to get your infantry to the enemy then +1 Cover gifting gun beasts? I'd also recommend Bloat Drones to soften up targets, preferably with Plaguespitters and perhaps Flesh Mowers. 

[Bloody Legionnaire]

If you're going footslogging, I'd highly recommend Blight Haulers. What better way to get your infantry to the enemy then +1 Cover gifting gun beasts? I'd also recommend Bloat Drones to soften up targets, preferably with Plaguespitters and perhaps Flesh Mowers. 

2 Contemptors both equipped with x2 Kheres is going to have the same amount of shots but at range than bloat drones with Plaguespitters would and has higher strength that wont diminish. It wouldn't auto hit or have the rerolls of being a plague weapon but hitting on 2+ is good enough. Contemptors are arguably more survivable than Bloat-Drones and are cheaper. 

 

I don't own any Bloat-Drones right now and I'd rather go Contemptors. 

[DuskRaider]

True, but Bloat Drones have a habit of becoming bullet magnets, have high toughness, DR, and can usually start causing trouble for the enemy Turn 2 in their face. Having the Fly ability is also nice. I would still highly recommend the Blight Haulers.

[bozo69pd]

True, but Bloat Drones have a habit of becoming bullet magnets, have high toughness, DR, and can usually start causing trouble for the enemy Turn 2 in their face. Having the Fly ability is also nice. I would still highly recommend the Blight Haulers.

I felt like blight haulers played exactly like a helbrute that had 5++, DR, and gave +1 cover to nearby infantry. Do you like a helbrutes basic weapon kit? Haulers are almost exactly the same.

 

Spitter Drones are much much better. Theres a reason why many lists have 3+ of them. You rush them at threats alongside Mortarion and flying DP shooting then charging. If they are destroyed while being surrounded by enemy units you use the explode stratagem on them. I actually took out a hemlock and Yvraine with that tactic on turn 1... it was great.

[Prot]

I love the premise but I think it’s reslly hard without Blight Haulers. They aren’t cheap but in 3’s they do provide multi role benefits. So even if you don’t get cover, you still get some shooting we desperately need in the form of MM and krak missiles. Aside from that they are okay in cc and -1 to hit in cc. They move at a good pace.

 

I wish they could separate themselves as a squad like Astra stuff... that would make things much easier

 

The Bloat drones are just amazing though. I’m finding them a little expensive for my foot slogger lists now. It was different when I had no choices.

[Kilofix]

Couple things about the Drone:

 

1. Nurgle Heralds can heal them

2. They can leapfrog over screens to tie down vehicles in CC

[Myqalurgeur The Leper]

I have tried the some of the Elite Characters:

 

Plague Surgeon - might be handy if you are using large squads of Plague Marines, equipped with the Fugaris Helm. Not bad in CC, especially against Space Marines.

 

Tallyman is ok if he is close to CC orientated Death Guard (Deathshroud/Blightlord Terminators/large squad of CC orientated Plague Marines).

 

Foul Blightspawn - may not seem much when reading his characteristics (he is the last of the Elite Characters I have tried) but can be absolutely awesome. Mine (I am starting to use two now) have performed exceptionally well. One killed off a 6 man squad of Grey Knights as he advanced to within range, then killed off a 5 man Grey Knight Terminator squad when they charged him next Turn (automatic hits on Overwatch is fantastic) in a 1,000 point battle. In another battle one killed off a Grey Knight special character (with 5 wounds) with one very toxic spray!

 

I have also found the Plagueburst Crawler to be pretty effective; consider taking 2. One with Entropy cannons and the other with Plaguespitters (this one advances into range to get the Plaguespitters working well). Defilers are also good in this role. I think your Contemptors are filling these roles, but a Daemonic 5+ Invulnerable save coupled with 5+ Disgustingly Resilient T8 (Crawler) can take a lot of punishment.

 

Blightlord Terminators - one with a Flail of Contagion, remainder with Baleswords and a couple of combi-plasmas, backed up with a Lord of Contagion (with the Arch Contaminator Warlord Trait) have also been pretty effective for me, especially when they Deep-Strike in.

 

I have only played games up to 1,500 points, most of my opponents have been Space Marines (Grey Knights, vanilla Primaris or 1 Imperial Fist) and an assault Khorne themed Renegade Chaos Space Marine army.

 

Otherwise the only other bit of advice I can offer, is to have 1 or 2 Plague Marine squads with 5 men, 1 Plasma and 2 Blight Launchers (to sit back and hold objectives in your rear; and 1 or 2 larger squads of 7 - 9 (again 1 Plasma and 2 Blightlaunchers) with either CC weapons or boltguns (in the right circumstances could be good to use with Biologus Putrifier and Blight Bombardment Stratagem .....exceptional at killing low T low AS enemies).

 

 

 

Regards.

 

[Prot]

Oh I love a lot of those characters for less serious games.

 

My Foul Blightspawn just had a stellar game. I didn’t take a DP and I didn’t have an answer for this flyer that kept circling and picking me off. Sure enough the Flyer came in for a bombing run. The Blightspawn ran out and leveled the flyer with his sewer cannon. My opponent was in shock..... as was I. Moral of the story is, never underestimate a dude with a drum of fart gas on his back.

 

Plague Surgeon is also fun but his range is incredibly short for such a mediocre power, however if he gets in on Astartes he’s got some potential.

 

Tallyman is a favourite of mine. Games where I earn back more CP’s than Guilliman is pretty funny. I do always seem to get mileage out of his cc buff.

 

Very fun characters.

[Kilofix]

I know it’s about 15% but I can’t ever seem to roll a 7 with Tally - even though all my units have 7 models.

[Prot]

Well it’s a fun choice to be sure. I guess I just get lucky but I have yet do have a game without one recovery. I know it’s a matter of time, but fun while it lasts.

[Charlo]

Aye I think the DG support characters are what make massed Plague Marines really shine - especially if you're going a close combat build.

 

I do love the Ghost-buster, Nurgle heavily encourages crossing the streams where possible.

[Prot]

Aye I think the DG support characters are what make massed Plague Marines really shine - especially if you're going a close combat build.

 

I do love the Ghost-buster, Nurgle heavily encourages crossing the streams where possible.

 

Absolutely. I don't think it's 'competitive' per say but talk about character. I think it's actually spoiled me to some degree. Thousand Sons really don't have that character enrichment anymore. It might happen again, but for now the supporting cast in the codex for Plague Marines is a lot of fun. It's very rules intense; there's a lot to remember and sometimes my opponent's are scratching their heads with questions like: what does that guy do again?

 

But overall the enrichment and feeling of 'playing Death Guard' is pretty cool. I do get this from my Ultra's, but it's obviously quite different. It does show me what they could do if they revisited Chaos or other codexes with this ideal. I love it.

[Charlo]

It's as awesome as Consuls when you first start playing 30k