++ Tactica Thread - Red Corsairs ++

[TrawlingCleaner]

*Engines Revving*

As with the similar tactica threads for other legions, this is aiming to be a one-stop-shop for Red Corsairs 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?

What Characters work well with the Legion Trait?

How have your games fared?

Have you got any tips new players to the faction?

[gaurdian31]

Still waiting on my codex to come into my FLGS but I plan to have a base of 2 CSM squads, 1 Cultist Mob a Sorcerer and a Hellbrute. I've only been getting in campaign games so I think that will be pretty good. the CSM will be melee focused, the cultists to cap objectives, Hellbrute will be anti-tank and Sorcerer to give out some MWs. 

[Bloodcrusade]

My initial list I have put together since getting my codex includes a maxed out 9xBiker squad with Chainswords, MoT, Icon, and 2xCombi-Plasma.

The unit comes out to 300 points exactly. Each model has 4xStr4 AP -1 attacks in melee, moves 14" at T5 3xWounds, and can get a 4+ Invul for being Tzeentch. The unit pumps out 32 Str4 AP -2 shots at 30", as well as 4 Plasma shots, if you use the Daemonshell stratagem. When you also factor in AoC, ignoring the first failed save per turn from MoT, and the ability to use Secure the Prize and the situational The Hounds of Huron, I feel like they are overall a premium unit and well worth the price.

[Prot]

Tonight might be my first Red Corsairs game. The Iron Warrior game was quite good, but I don't want to commit until I try these guys as well.

 

Definitely a BIKER squad is in the mix... Battlescribe won't let me give chainswords to bikers with a Combi melta (I won't use plasma personally) and it looks like I can do it in the codex, so I will arm 2 w/Combi Melta. Give the squad the MoT/and Icon as it feels better with bolter units and a potential to save a bike on a stronger gun. The Hounds of Huron Strat seems fun and the combo with the Move/shoot/move WL trait could work here.

 

Not sure what else to use though. MoP seems almost auto take in any list I make. I think this might be the spot for a Maulerfiend too even though the Heavy Slot is quite packed with goodies now. Thankfully the Venom Crawler moved, but I'll be trying to see what I can get out of the Elites, which is the true challenge here.

Possessed are auto include for me, but maybe they need more support? Not sure what to do here. I think they are max 5 to a Rhino, but I'll probably still use one.

I want to take a Termie Sorc because the Relic Armour of Badabb (?) is great for imbedding in a squad of termies for the 4++. That and Armour of Tzeentch perhaps? Or even MoN? 

[Pirate Empress]

21 hours ago, Prot said:

Tonight might be my first Red Corsairs game. The Iron Warrior game was quite good, but I don't want to commit until I try these guys as well.

 

Definitely a BIKER squad is in the mix... Battlescribe won't let me give chainswords to bikers with a Combi melta (I won't use plasma personally) and it looks like I can do it in the codex, so I will arm 2 w/Combi Melta. Give the squad the MoT/and Icon as it feels better with bolter units and a potential to save a bike on a stronger gun. The Hounds of Huron Strat seems fun and the combo with the Move/shoot/move WL trait could work here.

 

Not sure what else to use though. MoP seems almost auto take in any list I make. I think this might be the spot for a Maulerfiend too even though the Heavy Slot is quite packed with goodies now. Thankfully the Venom Crawler moved, but I'll be trying to see what I can get out of the Elites, which is the true challenge here.

Possessed are auto include for me, but maybe they need more support? Not sure what to do here. I think they are max 5 to a Rhino, but I'll probably still use one.

I want to take a Termie Sorc because the Relic Armour of Badabb (?) is great for imbedding in a squad of termies for the 4++. That and Armour of Tzeentch perhaps? Or even MoN? 

I'd say take a Slaaneshi Chaos Terminator Squad with the Black Rune of Damnation and a Sorcerer in Terminator Armor with the Armor of Badab casting Delightful Agonies on them. Your opponents will have a lot of fun trying to shift ten of them on a main objective.

[Bloodcrusade]

On 7/8/2022 at 10:15 AM, Prot said:

I want to take a Termie Sorc because the Relic Armour of Badabb (?) is great for imbedding in a squad of termies for the 4++. That and Armour of Tzeentch perhaps? Or even MoN? 

My initial reaction was to put in a full 10xTermies squad with a Termy Sorc with the relic as well. I think it's quite potentially really strong, but I think I was valuing the 4++/5++ too much and I don't think Termies need the babysitter which is why I'm more tempted by the bikers instead. And if I'm bringing the Sorc to babysit termies, I'm probably not going to be putting the 5++ to good use, which only come into play against -4 AP attacks on basic power armor bodies anyway thanks to Armor of Contempt.

Skeins of Fate has an 18" range, so bikers can zip around the board and every psyker, including Legionaries squad with MoT+Balefire Tome, can cast it on them as they push forward.

With that said I agree with Pirate Empress; Delightful Agonies, 2+/4++, 3xWounds and you can pop Secure the Prize to give them insane staying power. I think they just fundamentally fulfill two separate but similar roles and I'm looking forward to using both unit combos.
 

Both units are bonkers with Black Rune as Pirate mentioned. Bikers turn Str4 to wounding on 6's, you have to start using anti-tank weapons to start even putting a dent into them.

Edited July 11, 2022 by Bloodcrusade

[Angelus Nex]

I like a slaneeshi Master of possession, with 10 possessed, with the black rune and flesh pact. And in some buddy legionaires with MoS, put fnp on the legionairies, stab the legionaires for +2 to cast and maybe save 1 or 2 MW on the delightful agonies. And now you can make your possessed +1 to wound, bring models back to life on T5, 3wounds 5++ and -1 to wound. Pretty nice.

Also I want some khornate bikers riding around, 1 with the black mace and some meltas the bike squads. 

[Prot]

I see this slipped to page 2 already.

A lot of the ideas here are good, but a lot of them are generic, or would work fine, sometimes better, in other legions.

I'm struggling a bit with the Red Corsairs, but I want to give them another shot.

Unfortunately some units I can't live without:

Huron (I have the metal one painted. lol)

Disco Lord. (Great unit, but even better with Corsairs I believe).

Master of Possession. Great with anyone really.

I'm stuck on the list, as it doesn't have the shooting I'd like, but that's my Iron Warrior side coming out. Also let's be honest, the Bikes should be a staple, but mine struggle to do damage. Especially with AoC so I will be probably moving to MoK for some added AP. (I'd LOVE to put the Black Mace on the Champion and finally he might be worth putting in a chunky squad).

Venomcrawler is another must have for me in RC's. He pairs very well with the Disco Lord.

For shooting, I tried Oblits, and they are great, but really just so expensive it leaves me a little dry on the hard hitting units. So far I'm using Havoks, with Lascanons and they use Move/Shoot/Move with Dark Raider WL trait. 

I'm also finding a Rhino almost mandatory. I just like the Chosen Models but they're viewed as a high value threat, and it's these guys or Terminators, but everytime I size them up, the Termies win out once you include the Rhino cost... I'm still just not getting the whole "chosen are awesome" vibe from them.

Finally, I have to use Warp Talons. I just love them, and they're painted red/gold so they work for aesthetic reasons! (Probably a second Venom Crawler would be huge).

Things That aren't working so far:

- Oblits. Fantastic, but too expensive in this list.

- Maulerfiends. They are okay, but a Venomcrawler is just really decent for a bit cheaper. 

- Raptors. Tried several games, they are just really assault marines and no one's using those for a reason.... They are okay for scoring, but honestly I feel like our Fast choices are at a priority. (IE: I'd rather put Spawn back in my list... very underrated unit in my opinion.)

- The Chapter Trait. Yes, I know this sounds horrible, but I think to a large degree it is a trap. It makes the average Red Corsair player salivate at charging the opponent and while some great matchups exist, I don't think it's a great default method to play them. I fell into this trap... last edition. We had this for all warband Chaos but no one seems to remember that because... well it wasn't that game breaking. (I used it to some success in tournaments, but felt it to be more of a 'gotcha' than anything else).

The advance/charge is good, but White Scars have it too, and they aren't winning anything anymore. (I also play White Scars ironically). So we have to actually be very cagey with this.. not expend the tactic too early. I've lost too many games like this last edition.

The bottom line for me is there is no sense in getting to the fight first, if you're going to lose it. We have horrible match ups in: Death Guard (almost an auto loss for my RC/WS). Also the other legions that fight in CC very well will outmatch us.... Emperor's Children are viscious, and can mimic RC's in the turn they need to. Black Legion will often hit harder, and can also mimic RC's for a turn. Creations of Bile will welcome us getting their sooner with stronger possessed and always getting in a punch or two when dead. 

So that's why I build the lists now more around a complete game. I am sure when the full World Easters come out, RC's will be hard pressed to keep up with them in melee.

So in the meanwhile if you guys are finding something cool in the details that has been working, I'd love to hear it. I'm still trying with these guys, and trying not to just give it up for EC's, because there is some cool tricks RC's do. Let me know what you think.

 

[TrawlingCleaner]

I played at a FLGS 1000 point tourney (Tempest of War) with RC, I took:

 

Huron Blackheart

 

8 Marines - 6x Chainswords, Power Sword, Heavy Chainaxe, Icon and MoK

5 Marines - Balefire Tome, Chaincannon

 

5 Bikes - 2x Plasma gun, Power Sword, Icon and MoT

5 Bikes - 2x Melta, Power Fist, Icon and MoT (Blackrune of Damnation)

Venomcrawler

 

Rhino

 

I played against: Death Guard, Eldar, Necrons, Chaos Knights

What worked in the list? Pretty much all of it to be honest, the only thing I think I would change is to make the chaincannon into one of the other heavy weapons. The Bikes were great for zipping up the board and pumping lots of shots into something and charging it if I felt the need to. The MoT Icon on Melta and Plasma is great, especially when you roll up into AoC targets, popping Daemonshell on bikes is also worth it into all targets IMO, ap-2 on 20 shots isn't something to sniff at (especially with Prescience or Huron's CM). The Blackrune made the Melta unit incredibly difficult to shift  and also, hilariously made Mortarion Perils once a turn for 2 turns and twice on the 3rd turn (managed to kill him after he took 7 wounds from perils, ironically)

I'd argue that the Balefire Tome is almost mandatory on at least one Legionnaire squad, having a clutch deny is big and also a bit more difficult to un-entrench from a unit. As I said above, another one of the heavy weapons or even a plasma gun may have done me better in the smaller squad. Something like a Missile Launcher or a Lascannon would have been a bit better for more AT.

The Khorne Marked Marines were definitely one of the MVPs. +1 Strength and AP on the charge is huge and managed to take  down an Armiger Turn 1 very easily with some good rolls. The weight of AP 2 attacks really just overwhelmed most targets.

The other MVP was Huron. I think he's honestly one of the best utility characters out there at the moment as well as being able to slam into combat. Full rerolls on a unit is big, reroll ones to hit is handy, gaining a CP on a 4+ is really nice but the kicker is the once per game psychic power. A clutch Death Hex is so bloody handy to have in the back pocket to turn off invulns (Morty, C'tan, Wraithblades and Abominant all came up). It also helps that Huron is a beast in combat. In the 'cron game he just sat in a big blob of Warriors by himself, and cut through them in 2 rounds of combat. 14 attacks is no joke!

 

[Prot]

Thanks for the quick run down.

I have bounced between the MoK bikes and MoT bikers. The problem I was having was they kind of bounce in close combat, so I went with the relic Black Mace (with carry over wounds). It really didn't work great for me, but against lower level stuff the bikes just ripped stuff apart. However they did fade at 2K where the opponent squares off against them when they realize how annoying they can be. For this reason, I think if I don't use a big termie blob, I'll go back to Black Rune on them. Just to make them more annoying to clear out.

That's great to hear about the extra perils... I always forget about that feature!

And I agree... if you take a Psyker in a list, then I definitely include a Balefire Tome. It looks cool, it feels chaos like and it can make a big difference.

Huron cut down a blob of crons is good, but I can't believe the opponent was complacent in keeping a total non-thread Warrior unit tied up with a fairly decent CC character. That's an interesting decision. (I play crons, and I know I'd be out of there first opportunity). I love his once per game Psychic power too... I'm playing Custodes soon... guess which one he'll be using... (insert maniacal laugh).

I played my first game the other day with my RC's using a 6 man Khorne squad much like you had, although I had a fist. I definitely enjoyed it. I also do like the mark of Slaanesh.

Great job

 

[Squike]

So this is the list I'm working towards, It starts with 0CP which is a problem I think, I think the double relic on the termi sorc could be dropped, as not sure if the 4++ aura is needed with AOC around and the relic melta was just to have some anti-tank up front with the termi's. I'm also unsure about the single mauler and forge fiend, should I run just two maulerfiends and put some fists in the termi squad? Iwas thinking taking 3 venomcrawlers could be good instead but cant fit them and the bike squad in the fast attack....

+++ Red Corsairs (Warhammer 40,000 9th Edition) [106 PL, 2,000pts] +++

++ Battalion Detachment 0CP (Chaos - Chaos Space Marines) [106 PL, , 2,000pts] ++

+ Configuration +

Battle Size [6CP]: 3. Strike Force (101-200 Total PL / 1001-2000 Points) 

Detachment Command Cost

Gametype: 4. Chapter Approved: War Zone Nephilim

Legion: Red Corsairs

+ HQ +

Lord Discordant on Helstalker [10 PL, -1CP, 190pts]: 3-4. Angel of Hatred, Aspiring Lord, Baleflamer, Bladed limbs, Bolt pistol, Frag & Krak grenades, Impaler chainglaive, Mark of Khorne, Mechatendrils, Techno-virus injector

Master of Possession [7 PL, -1CP, 120pts]: Bolt pistol, Cursed Earth, Eye of Tzeentch, Frag & Krak grenades, Mark of Tzeentch, Pact of Flesh, Smite, Staff of Possession, Stratagem: Relic

Sorcerer in Terminator Armour [7 PL, -3CP, 130pts]: 1-2. Reaver Lord, Armour of Badab, Combi-melta, Diabolic Strength, Force stave, 2x Gifts of Chaos, Maelstrom's Bite, Mark of Slaanesh, Prescience, Smite, Stratagem: Warlord Trait, Warlord

+ Troops +

Legionaries [6 PL, 110pts]: Chaos Undivided
. Aspiring Champion: Astartes chainsword, Boltgun, Frag & Krak grenades
. 3x Marine w/ astartes chainsword: 3x Astartes chainsword, 3x Bolt pistol, 3x Frag & Krak grenades
. Marine w/ balefire tome: Balefire tome, Bolt pistol, Frag & Krak grenades, Prescience

Legionaries [6 PL, 110pts]: Chaos Undivided
. Aspiring Champion: Astartes chainsword, Boltgun, Frag & Krak grenades
. 3x Marine w/ astartes chainsword: 3x Astartes chainsword, 3x Bolt pistol, 3x Frag & Krak grenades
. Marine w/ balefire tome: Balefire tome, Bolt pistol, Frag & Krak grenades, Prescience

Legionaries [6 PL, 110pts]: Chaos Undivided
. Aspiring Champion: Astartes chainsword, Boltgun, Frag & Krak grenades
. 3x Marine w/ astartes chainsword: 3x Astartes chainsword, 3x Bolt pistol, 3x Frag & Krak grenades
. Marine w/ balefire tome: Balefire tome, Bolt pistol, Frag & Krak grenades, Prescience

+ Elites +

Chaos Terminator Squad [19 PL, 345pts]: Mark of Slaanesh
. Chaos Terminator: Accursed weapon, Combi-bolter
. Chaos Terminator: Accursed weapon, Combi-bolter
. Chaos Terminator: Accursed weapon, Combi-bolter
. Chaos Terminator: Accursed weapon, Combi-bolter
. Chaos Terminator: Accursed weapon, Combi-bolter
. Chaos Terminator: Accursed weapon, Combi-bolter
. Chaos Terminator: Accursed weapon, Combi-bolter
. Chaos Terminator: Accursed weapon, Combi-bolter
. Chaos Terminator: Accursed weapon, Combi-bolter
. Terminator Champion: Accursed weapon, Combi-bolter

Possessed [14 PL, 280pts]
. 9x Possessed: 9x Hideous mutations
. Possessed Champion: Hideous mutations

+ Fast Attack +

Chaos Bikers [16 PL, -1CP, 280pts]: Chaos Icon, Mark of Tzeentch
. Biker Champion: Astartes chainsword, Black Rune of Damnation, Combi-bolter, Frag & Krak grenades, Trophies of the Long War
. 5x Chaos Biker w/ astartes chainsword: 5x Astartes chainsword, 5x Combi-bolter, 5x Frag & Krak grenades
. Chaos Biker w/ special weapon: Astartes chainsword, Combi-bolter, Frag & Krak grenades, Meltagun
. Chaos Biker w/ special weapon: Astartes chainsword, Combi-bolter, Frag & Krak grenades, Meltagun

+ Heavy Support +

Forgefiend [8 PL, 175pts]: 2x Heavy hades autocannons, Ectoplasma cannon

Maulerfiend [7 PL, 150pts]: Lasher tendrils, Maulerfiend fists

[Prot]

That is an interesting list. What is the goal with the three Balefire Tome's? I'm not sure I've considered that myself.

The bikes are good as always with Corsairs using some of the tricks, but you have a big enough squad there and including the relic, I think I'd give them something more. Usually I see the Termies take the Black Rune, but they are also very.. vanilla. There's nothing wrong with that, I've just never done this myself as both are decent plaforms for some special weapons of some sort.

The "Fiends" in general have not been my favourite units. I've yanked the Forgefiend from my IW lists, and yanked the Maulerfiend from my Red Corairs. I cannot for the life of me figure out why I struggle with those two units, and others seem to have success though. So I'm either experiencing very bad luck, or perhaps bad matchups. 

[Squike]

15 hours ago, Prot said:

That is an interesting list. What is the goal with the three Balefire Tome's? I'm not sure I've considered that myself.

The bikes are good as always with Corsairs using some of the tricks, but you have a big enough squad there and including the relic, I think I'd give them something more. Usually I see the Termies take the Black Rune, but they are also very.. vanilla. There's nothing wrong with that, I've just never done this myself as both are decent plaforms for some special weapons of some sort.

The "Fiends" in general have not been my favourite units. I've yanked the Forgefiend from my IW lists, and yanked the Maulerfiend from my Red Corairs. I cannot for the life of me figure out why I struggle with those two units, and others seem to have success though. So I'm either experiencing very bad luck, or perhaps bad matchups. 

 

so the 3 Balefire's are just to throw out smites to make the most of mortal wounds, as I tend to find the sorc and MOP have other power priorities.

When you say give the bikes something more? any ideas, I'm not really sure what else I could give them, I would like some AP-2 weaponry really as AOC exists but they are limited to chainswords apart from the champ.  The bikes with black rune means S4 weapons need 6's to wound so really only dedicated High S and AT weapons will do the damage. Icon of Tzeentch means bolters are AP-1, throw on daemon shells for a lot of AP -2 shots from the combi bolters, the two melta's as well for some AT

The Termi's would be the other choice for blackrune but I think a 2+ 4++ 5++ with the Armour of Badab and Delighfuly Agonies will be hard enough to shift. although again AOC makes the 4++ slightly less relevant, but I suspect they will attract the High AP stuff as people expect them to be tough with the other chaos lists around. the sorc with relic melta provides some AT punch with this group, altough if I had points I would probably put some chainfists in there as well.

I have yet to run any fiends, even with the old codex so I'm unsure on there potential, as i said i think i would prefer 3 venoms, but cant fit them and the bikes and I dont think 2 will cut it as there attacks output isnt as high, maybe 2 maulers instead of 1 each and add some weapon upgrades to the termi block?