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I've been reading a couple of threads recently that sort of offhandedly presume that CSM is a dex that's past it's time. That this dog can't hunt.

I can't get behind that meme. Last year the CSM dex accounted for a plurality of entries to the Invitational (I think it was 8 out of 18? Something like that), and the final match was CSM vs. CSM. It was an absolute rockstar of a dex. Even at the Big Waaagh it was kicking trash and taking names.

It's also a personal favorite. I'm the exact opposite of those who pine for the dex of the past. To my mind, the current book is awesome, flexible and powerful, the very distillation of power armored excellence.

To that end, here are some lists that I've seen at top tables at various tourneys, along with my commentary on them.

Player A's Twin Lash CSM:

Lash Sorcerer w/wings, meltabombs
Lash Prince w/wings
PM's in Rhino w/twin meltas, Pfist champ, rhino has combi melta
Zerks in Rhino, Pfist champ, rhino has combi melta
Zerks in Rhino, Pfist champ, rhino has combi melta
Zerks in Rhino, Pfist champ, rhino has combi melta
3 Obliterators
3 Obliterators
Defiler

Commentary: This won the Invitational, as well as numerous local tourneys in a fierce meta. It's an ordinary incarnation of the 4 rhinos + strong HS + twin lashes build that everyone thinks of when they think of CSM. I've seen numerous lists in this vein, never seen their users disappointed.

It has trouble with gunlines, but does extremely well against enemy Mech assault lists. It slaughters footslogger lists.

List I ran into at the Big Waaagh, Rhino/Melta Spam

Lash Sorcerer
Lash Sorcerer
3 x Chosen squads w/meltas, rhino w/combi melta
6 x CSM sqads w/meltas, rhino w/combi melta
2 Vindicators

Commentary: This list is simply an armored blitz, gets you out of your vehicles with copious meltas, then template/melta/lashes you to death if you are fighty guys, or fights you to death if you are shooty guys.

List I used to save myself in a campaign, Iron Warriors

Lord w/ no wargear
5 CSM
5 CSM
3 x 3 Chaos Terminators w/melta guns w/Chaos Land Raider w/dozer blades
3 Chaos Land Raiders w/dozer blades

That's the 1850 version, at 2k you can get some wargear, cult up the troops, get a lash, whatever. You just sit there and shoot twin linked lascannons. Then as the game comes to an end you drive onto the objectives, or just win by KP's. I've won more than a few games without taking a casaulty. Originally built to save myself from an Eldar foe in a campaign, I brought it to a tourney and won once.

List i've seen at a few tourney's: Monster mash

Lash Prince w/ wings
Lash Prince w/wings
3 Defilers w/cc upgrades
3 Dreads w/cc upgrades
Greater Daemon
3 Zerker squads in rhinos

The funniest thing I've ever seen this list do was table a Nob Biker list without taking a casualty. I've seen it on top tables a couple of times, with slight variations, and I know of at least 3 folks who play version of this. Lash and Fleet really makes the fighting walkers have a very different game profile from my own Pain Train, and Smoke on all those vehicles is annoying if your method of vehicle killing is shooting.

List I won a Circuit event with: Traitor First Company

Abaddon
Typhus
3 x 10 Terminators, a Nurgly shooty unit, a Tzeentchy shooty unit and a Slaaneshy fighty unit
2 x 5 CSM w/Icon of Chaos Glory, one has rhino

This list catches a lot of people off guard, but I've won a tourney with it and have a great win/loss record. Basically it wins KP by Death Star, and wins objectives by sending Terminators to take their long range threats out while the scorers wait in reserve. Once delivered, Abaddon and Typhus wreck face. I think the list would be stronger with a Lasher for Typhus, he could have Terminator armor to keep the theme going.

List I've beat Guard with: Anti-gunline

Abaddon
Kharne
20 Plague Marines
5 PM's
5 PM's
5 PMs
Land Raider
Land Raider
Land Raider

I explained this one in the anti-CSM thread, but it's proven highly effective vs. gunlines, and adequate vs. assault lists (anything with Abaddon and Kharne will, really). Has trouble with multi-objectives.

Aside from these there are the cult lists (6 of one of the cult units in rhinos, appropriate boss, some HS or a Greater Daemon, depending on points), the gunline, the Mech Abaddon list...I guess what I want to say is that it's a big book, and there are a lot of themes you can explore in it. Don't write CSM off just yet, they've got a great record, and you'll see them at any tourney you hit.

I'd just like to point out that the people that have the biggest problem with the latest csm dex have a problem with the units it has cut out or dumbed down and the lack of fluff behind them. The ability to perform on the table is secondary for most of them.

I've never understood the negativity towards CSM myself either. They have the tools to handle any sort of problem any other list might throw at them.

Some of my hardest games have been against CSM....

My biggest gripe is the number of "toys" that we get compared to what everyone else has. We have stupid dreads, possessed, and way-too-expensive-comparatively bikes. That doesn't mean you couldn't run any of the afore-mentioned stuff, but what's good and cool and "usable" in the traditional sense is on the low percentage. The lists you gave all took something and maxed it out. That's kinda lame and wouldn't be fun for me personally to play.