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Alright people. Lets come together and make a competitive list for the boys in blue! UM (Ultra Marines) can take pretty much any tank, vehicle, infantry, bike, etc. So with WS being arguably the most competitive SM chapter, what list can we make up? I know that there are many different types of builds you could go for like, flyer spam, tank rush, etc. Now lets make a tournament level competitive list. So what do you think? Post below and share your best Ultra Marines list!

I reckon Ultramarines lists are good in that there is no single right way to play them. White Scars are, arguably, exclusively for bikes and possibly a Rhino rush, Imperial Fists are, arguably, exclusively for Devastators and Tactical Marines (etc.). However, the good thing about Ultramarines is that the Chapter Tactics will always benefit regardless of the list you run. For example, everybody can benefit from the re-rolls in the Tactical Doctrine, however a gun line White Scars army will not benefit (in any way) from the Chapter Tactics. However, general tips with Ultramarines are:
-Take Tigurius. He is one of the best Psykers available - he is cheap and has insanely good prescient abilities. You can always include him in friendly and competitive play.
-Take Tactical Marines. Arguably the best Combat Doctrine is the Tactical Doctrine, and to be able to make the bulk of your army twin-linked and the rest kinda twin-linked is priceless. Take advantage of it by having at least 25 Tactical Marines (I have 3 10 man squads and a 5 man camo scout squad).
-Do not immediately disregard Calgar. He may look like a point sinkhole, but his abilities are great, especially when combined with many Tactical Squads. Always repeat the Tactical Doctrine, so for about 1/3 of the game, your Tactical Squads are twin-linked!

Ultramarines are fairly hard to play, in that you have to make Tactical Decisions during the game, rather than just having abilities allocated to your army during list-writing (from Fists or Scars). Good luck with your competitive play.
Heirophant

I've got a tac list that uses Marneus Calgar and a few devastator squads. I really love his flexibility and room for being able to outplay your opponent. The poster above pretty much nailed it, tigurius is the best HQ in the dex and should go with a really heavy hitter. Thunderfire cannons and storm talons are amazing for their costs and sternguard are really the only elites choice worth taking. Oh, and drop pods.

Two questions, how many points were you thinking? And would you include allies? Most competitive lists these days don't have a single codex

Well, we have a player who plays UM by heart. But he has definitely no idea how to play them competitively.

He's often asking for hints to improve his army, but he usually doesn't obey them.

Well is it just Ultra Marines or are Allies allowed?

I mean just starting off we'd need to look at the HQs , the most powerful one would be CM w/ the usual TH, SS, SE, etc..

So yeah. Start with six grav cents, and in Tiggy, a chapter master, and perhaps Coteaz.

Martel732 wrote:
So yeah. Start with six grav cents, and in Tiggy, a chapter master, and perhaps Coteaz.

Our local UM player has Cents with lascannons. Certainly the 2nd best choice.

Yeah, but the grav cannons lets you burn down Seer councils through their 4++ rereollable. And burn down pretty much anything else.

An interesting experiment is placing centurions in a land raider crusader and then using them as a massive dakka eraser. Erasing whole blobs from existence. And when their down they pile back in and go again

Martel732 wrote:
Yeah, but the grav cannons lets you burn down Seer councils through their 4++ rereollable. And burn down pretty much anything else.

This does sound quite fun, burning down Seer Councils. Why centurions? I thought that the general consensus was that they weren't that good, and that they waste points for what you are getting. Although they do sound like they are good specialized units, what do you think? I'm a totally wrong on this?

I really like this list:


HQ — Chief Librarian Tigurius — 165 Points

Troops — 10x Tactical Squad — Grav-gun, Combi-grav —drop pod— 200 Points
Troops — 5x Tactical Squad — Grav-gun, Combi-grav —drop pod— 130 Points
Troops — 5x Tactical Squad — Grav-gun, Combi-grav —drop pod— 130 Points
Troops — 10x Tactical Squad — meltagun, Combi-melta —drop pod— 195 Points
Troops — 10x Tactical Squad — meltagun, Combi-melta —drop pod— 195 Points

Heavy Support — 10xDevastators— 4 multi melta, combi flamer— droppod— 215 Points
Heavy Support — 10xDevastators— 4 multi melta, combi flamer— droppod— 215 Points
Heavy Support — 5xDevastators— 4 multi melta — droppod— 145 Points

1590 Points

Normally I would like to include a space wolf runepriest with greyhunter + droppod to make it a solid 1850 point. But if you want a 100% ultra marine list you could add another tactical squad with droppod.

That is a lot of drop pods. Use it with combat doctrines and it will mess stuff up no doubt about it. The 260 points left will get you a pair of deadly talons for some air support.

I d maybe spend the 260 points on marneus Calgar for double doctrine, and take out tigurius, who also can't cast when he drop pods, if using div

Centurions in groups of six, because that's the most AP 2 dakka you can get in one squad to be all buffed by one psyker.

Yeah competitively Ultramarines are the go to Chapter if Forgeworld is not allowed. Start with 6 Grav Centurions add Tigirius, beat stick Chapter Master and Buffmander. Then you're on the right track.

 FlingitNow wrote:
Yeah competitively Ultramarines are the go to Chapter if Forgeworld is not allowed. Start with 6 Grav Centurions add Tigirius, beat stick Chapter Master and Buffmander. Then you're on the right track.

Ah, you have found this thread. I do value your advice from my previous Tau threads. So care to explain a little more about your thoughts? From what general consensus I have heard is that White Scars are the go to chapter. Interesting that you think its UMs. Why if FW isn't allowed?

P3rtur4bo wrote:
That is a lot of drop pods. Use it with combat doctrines and it will mess stuff up no doubt about it. The 260 points left will get you a pair of deadly talons for some air support.

Rather pick more Devastator bodies. This list is all about getting as much space marine bodies in their face. And don't forget the mission, you can lose a lot of marines and still dominate the objectives. With the devastator doctrine you can really hurt those flyers with all those reroll-snap shot multi melta's.

 Rupertrampton wrote:
I d maybe spend the 260 points on marneus Calgar for double doctrine, and take out tigurius, who also can't cast when he drop pods, if using div

True, but you really need that reroll- reserves and I really like the flexibility with tigurius. Nothing more fun then to puppet master an imperial knight.

Most times i don't really need the extra combat doctrines because Tigurius can use his warlord skill to let one unit reroll next turn.

 Commander_Farsight wrote:

 FlingitNow wrote:
Yeah competitively Ultramarines are the go to Chapter if Forgeworld is not allowed. Start with 6 Grav Centurions add Tigirius, beat stick Chapter Master and Buffmander. Then you're on the right track.

Ah, you have found this thread. I do value your advice from my previous Tau threads. So care to explain a little more about your thoughts? From what general consensus I have heard is that White Scars are the go to chapter. Interesting that you think its UMs. Why if FW isn't allowed?

Scars for the army, UM for the Deathstar.

Deathstars are what wins top tier events. UMs build the best Deathstar if you don't have access to Severin Loth. Gravstar or GraVesastar are the best builds for Space Marines right now and both use Tigirius if you can't take Loth.

By putting the units I mentioned before together you get a Deathstar that moves 24" a turn shoots 2 different targets and has 30 Ap2 shots and a S10 Ap2 large blast once. It is twinlinked and ignores cover with everything and even has hit and run should you catch it in combat. You just bounce around killing 2 units a turn with near impunity.

No Grav Cents are the best option there is a reason why all the top tournament armies use them. Lascannons and MLs are only worth it on IF cents.

 FlingitNow wrote:
Deathstars are what wins top tier events. UMs build the best Deathstar if you don't have access to Severin Loth. Gravstar or GraVesastar are the best builds for Space Marines right now and both use Tigirius if you can't take Loth.

By putting the units I mentioned before together you get a Deathstar that moves 24" a turn shoots 2 different targets and has 30 Ap2 shots and a S10 Ap2 large blast once. It is twinlinked and ignores cover with everything and even has hit and run should you catch it in combat. You just bounce around killing 2 units a turn with near impunity.

GraVesastar? So what would be the main component of that? Obviously a Buffsuit, O'Vesa, Grav Cents, what else specifically? That actually runs right into my wheel house due to the fact that I have a pretty good Tau collection. (4 Riptides, 9 Broadsides, etc.) I also noticed that if you are including O'Vesa, you cant have a Buffmander. No C&CN, MSSS, PENchip because if your allied is SM then you have to take Farsight Enclaves as primary for O'Vesa, no Buffsuit. Is it just 3 Riptides, and not O'Vesa?

What would be your tournament gravstar? I took a first shot at it, but I'm sure its no where near close.

GraVesastar is Farsight, Torchstar, O'Vesa, Loth and Grav Centurions. Basically min troops and as much AT as you can fit in after that (the star runs well over 1k). Some people like to chuck a Divination Inquisitor or Coteaz in there too but that runs into rules debates. You need Omniscope on the Cent Sergeant so O'Vesa can target a different unit.

So here is what I have come up with at exactly 1750:

Yes I did include all of the wargear on some of the list although some people really don't like that. Just thought it was necessary at some parts. Thoughts?

Personally I think its too expensive for a deathstar, but it would be really fun!

Yeah looks about perfect. People won't be able to deal with the Deathstar. Whilst you kill 2 units a turn with it.

So are we past the day of Rhinos being useful for tactical squads?

I had thought of bringing my Ultras to a tournament soon. Typically I run 3 Tactical Squads in Rhinos, but I'm having second thoughts.

The tournament does allow stronghold assault fortifications, and it had crossed my mind to bring a bunker network with Battle Cannond and a VSG. Could be difficult to dig out.

What is the idea on an 1850 with no forgeworld escalation tournament setting using massed tactical marines in pods?

I had though of tiggy and 60 marines with melta/combi melta in drop pods (yes I have the models) being supported by 2 ravens and other assorted cheap units.

 FlingitNow wrote:
Yeah looks about perfect. People won't be able to deal with the Deathstar. Whilst you kill 2 units a turn with it.

Great! So I am going to be entering a GT in my local area soon, and I'm not sure what to run. I was thinking using some UM as allies for my Tau, but my first thought was gun line Tau with 4 Riptides. Would running a GraVesa star be more effective?

Play with the GraVesastar and see. Very very few lists can deal with it at all.

 FlingitNow wrote:
Play with the GraVesastar and see. Very very few lists can deal with it at all.

Ok. WIth no FW allowed I go with Tiggy then? Oh and its a 2K double force org. tournament (if that changes anything)