Returning to the hobby: Primaris vs Firstborn

[BLACK BLΠFLY]

Outriders are crap because geedub made them so - capped at three models per unit and no power weapon options for the sergeant.

[Medicinal Carrots]

From a gameplay standpoint, both firstborn and Primaris are viable choices, as is mixing them together. In general, firstborn have more maneuverability and flexibility, while Primaris have less dead weight within a squad and some truly great units.

For HQ, if you want fast or deep striking characters, go firstborn. If you want a lot of customization, firstborn. If you want a baseline "there to do a job" leader, Primaris. And special characters are going to be chapter dependent, but can be great as well.

For troops, Intercessors should be the default, but they all have their uses. Tacticals can make a good backfield camping unit with a heavy weapon. I personally like 2 Intercessor and 1 Tactical squads.

Elites have awesome units and stinkers from both. Aggressors, Redemptors, Bladeguard, Vanguard, Terminators, and Relic Contemptors are all generically good. Reivers, Vet Intercessors, and Scouts suck. Aside from Apothecaries in some builds, characters are lackluster. The rest can have their uses, and can be good or worthless depending on what you want to do.

In fast attack, Inceptors can put out some decent firepower, Attack Bikes and Land Speeders are good fast melta platforms, and Assault squads are cheap and mobile.

Heavy support has Eradicators which are the talk of the town. Elimintors can be nice cheapish backline pingers, and can be surprisingly mobile with a carbine. Devastators have a few tricks up their sleeves to be useful. The rest are probably best forgotten, and none of the tanks are currently worth it.

The only transport really worth taking are Drop Pods, and even those are very dependent on what your plan is.

 

Overall, though, the objectively best choice is to just build and play what you enjoy. All Primaris, all firstborn, mix and match, doesn't matter as long as you're having fun. Whether your choice is made for aesthetics, power on the table, units that are taken for the challenge, what you think the future will bring, a theme, fluffiness, or just plain what you happen to own, whatever you want to do with your plastic toy soldiers is a good enough reason to do it.

[Jorin Helm-splitter]

On 8/16/2022 at 2:17 AM, Keifer0999 said:

Title says it all....been on a break of several years, have not played 9th, and I may skip it since it seems one huge mess.

Going forward, What are the thoughts on going with firstborn Marines vs Primaris? I have a ton of both, much of which is unbuilt. Will it be worth the time and effort to finish my firstborn stuff? I was thinking of just assembling it all and then selling it off....

Just not sure where I want to go with this hobby.....

 

 

If you do decide on selling the firstborn stuff, I wouldn't recommend assembling it if it's still in the box or sprue. You'll get more money for the unbuilt stuff in my experience. If you are talented at conversions, painting, or miss the hobby side of 40k it still may be worth it to assemble them, but it may take longer to sell. It is also a lot easier and cheaper to ship models that aren't built.