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The title says it. Basically, I know they're small arms fire sponges and that they fare better against blowing themselves up with plasma guns. But what do you equip them with to get the most bang out of them and why?

I equip my plagues marines with any of the two special weapons as pairs and a champ with pf. If I go plasma, I give the champ a plasma pistol as I feel like the extra shot helps out. They always are in a rhino and I never run anything but 7 man squads. Fluffy number and economic. They can take a withering amount of firepower and usually deliver as a solid troop choice. Just remember that they only deliver threat in the short to mid range and that in combat they tend to grind down their opponents rather then sweep them quickly. Hidden powerfists will always be a threat and you should gauge if the target is worth the effort.

Mostly the same as above, I run 7, 2 plasma guns, champ with powerfist, in a rhino usually with combimelta.

In armies where there are other troops, it doesn't matter, sit them on objectives. You'll have it for the entire game

If your entire army is full of them, like mine, give them different loadouts for different roles. I never take Champs. It's just CC upgrades for something you don't want to be getting into CC (seriously, Initiative 3). Take Plasmas for objectives campers, flamers for hordes, and meltas for everything else. It's quite simple.

I actually run my Plaguers as objective takers. I run them 7 strong, in a Rhino, with 2 Meltaguns, an Icon and a Champion with a combi-flamer. Flamers, I find, only get fired once into a horde right before the assault while Meltaguns need to be fired multiple times to drop some of the more stubborn tanks; I need both of them, so I'm willing to pay the extra 5 points.

I actually run my Plaguers as objective takers. I run them 7 strong, in a Rhino, with 2 Meltaguns, an Icon and a Champion with a combi-flamer.

That's a good configuration.
Additionally, you need units able to give fire support while the Rhinos advance.
Obliterators are ideal in this respect.

Yeah, I have a Greater Daemon, Lessers and a pair of Obliterators in reserve, although not necessarily for them. Usually my Sorcerer (MoT, Warptime, Doombolt) runs with them to fight off the odd close combat, especially after I've deployed the daemons. If I've played my cards right, the opponent should be too damaged to fight them off their objective around turn 4. They replaced my Berserkers early on because they aren't as durable and can't fight back in the end game if you've only got a tenuous grasp on victory.

IMO:

7-10, 2 special weapons, Rhino, fist.
That's the basic outline.

I go with 10 PMs as they are big beefy squads, but 7 is the more economical.

Any of the special weapons find good homes on the plague marines, while plasma pistols are a poor choice in general (when you have acces to meltas).

Darkhound has a good thing going there. I use two squads with the same equipment. The 2x plasma or melta give them a nasty anti-MC and Terminator bite and meltas obviously give you an option to roast a tank or two. The powerfist champion isn't losing much with his I of 3 and the strength 8 attacks always help swing combats with the already relatively tepid fighting ability of the Plague Marines. The combi flamer is a cheap weapon that you will almost always find a good use out of if the squad is in Rhino. Plague Marines, while not terrible in close combat, don't have the sheer numbers to plow through horde units offensively. An extra flamer shot against bunched up Orks/gaunts that aren't catalyzed/guardsmen helps to tip the ensuing assault in your favor. Those 5 points are definitely worth the utility it gives the squad. Tough objective takers and vehicle/creature hunters with a nice one off flamer/rapid fire attack to blunt hordes.

i have been running death gaurd in one form or another since 1999...in 5th edition we are back to are 3rd edition strength.

now that there are no cults i dont mess around with non-existent rune numbers. i take 5 man squds. do the math. they are as survivable as 10 standard marines...stronger in some places weaker in others on basic damage absorption.


i take a fist/champ combi-melta squad takes a melta and flamer

after extensive play testing i found that i only ever get an oppurtunity to fire the 2 meltas at once, once per game so that fact that one is a combi weapon is meaningless. chaos rhinos only have 1 fire point...hense you can only fire the one melta from the hatch anyway. you have to disembark to fire both meltas....than you get charged anyway. Having an actual flamer is crucial in games against horde armies...u basically drive around in ur rhinos 6 inches while firing flamers from the hatch turn after turn...untill they finally wreck it...than you fire it one last time b4 assaulting.

at 1750 i take 4 rhinos with squads loaded out this way...and the rhinos take extra armor , dozer, blade and combi-melta....since the game is about KPs and not VPs no worries over 60 point rhinos....also it doesnt hurt to through in 6 oblits cheers

@Darkness:

Please reread the rules/faq, the Rhino has 1 fire point where 2 models can shoot out of.

5 man squads are meh in terms of number/durabiliy for points/kill points. 7 is the economical number and a great balance of bodies/durability/cost.

Pairs of weapons are 4 times better, so keeping that around (even if it's combi) is good.

MSU can work, but not for everyone.

GW faq?oh sweet.


as for squad size do what ever...i have had massive success in 5th edition with 5 man units

Darkness:

You didn't know about the Rhino's two-fer-one firing point? The notion of taking 5-man squads is a good one though, as it maximizes the number of units you can take, and having more units is better, particularly if those units are like Plague Marines and require specific weapons like Plasma Cannons and Power Weapons to remove.

ZacktheChaosChild wrote:In armies where there are other troops, it doesn't matter, sit them on objectives. You'll have it for the entire game

If your entire army is full of them, like mine, give them different loadouts for different roles. I never take Champs. It's just CC upgrades for something you don't want to be getting into CC (seriously, Initiative 3). Take Plasmas for objectives campers, flamers for hordes, and meltas for everything else. It's quite simple.

I usually find that melta guns are all purpose. I don't think you need flamers for hordes. T5 and FNP is usually a good thing to stop hordes. That and just plain old bolters and defensive grenades.

Overall, sound advice.

i almost ALWAYS use 2 squads of 7, usually with 2 plasma guns or 1 PG and one melta gun, usually in rhinos, if i got the points i'll add a champ with power weapon.

@Nurglitch i guess i should read more haha


@imweasle ur right about that...well untill tervigon:gaunt combo came out..... the gaunts will seriously kill the hole squad b4 you swing back and if they have multiple tervigons....its even harder

Darkness wrote:@Nurglitch i guess i should read more haha


@imweasle ur right about that...well untill tervigon:gaunt combo came out..... the gaunts will seriously kill the hole squad b4 you swing back and if they have multiple tervigons....its even harder

Gaunts have no frag grenades .

tokugawa wrote:

Darkness wrote:@Nurglitch i guess i should read more haha


@imweasle ur right about that...well untill tervigon:gaunt combo came out..... the gaunts will seriously kill the hole squad b4 you swing back and if they have multiple tervigons....its even harder

Gaunts have no frag grenades .

or FNP, or T5

Defensive as best offense vs Guants is all well and good, but flamers have their place, I generaly go with 2:1 melta:flamer ratio with my PMs.

It's only when I get to a forth unit that I go plasma.

As for 5 man squads, MSU has it's place, but I find it just doesn't make as much sense as other armies to perform it as they have more economical options.

As for power weapons on plague marines, IMO, utter fail.

I run six squads of seven Plague Marines in my Death Guard army - three foot-slogging squads with 2XPlasmagun, champ and Power Fist to camp on objectives and deliver mid-range firepower, and three Rhino-mounted squads, two with 2XMeltagun, champ and Power Fist and the other with 2XFlamer, champ and Power Fist. It's been fun so far, but I'm seriously considering mounting up the Plasma Plaguemarine squads as well - the prospect of driving up within 12", hopping out and double-tapping an enemy unit with bolters and plasmaguns is just too darned attractive...

Mech will always be attractive...at least until GW decides to break it in a new edition...

i played a tri tervagon list .....there were over 100 gaunts on turn one....90ish with FnP and furious charge

thats disgusting ahha

check out this link to my DG http://40kwreckingcrew.aceboard.com/forum2.php?rub=5782&cat=3058&login=331128&page=0#id23331

Wow,, that army looks really good! Nice work!

Darkness wrote:check out this link to my DG http://40kwreckingcrew.aceboard.com/forum2.php?rub=5782&cat=3058&login=331128&page=0#id23331

you know those DP's with jetpacks could make VERY ggood nurgle warptime wing DP's

@ Ironfrontalex:that was the original thought...but i have been running them as lash latly ... thanx for the comments.... those squads are the load out i have been preaching....it takes a little more planning during the game with only 5 man units but tons of success

eh i find nurgle DP's to be MUCH better

i always play a pair; so perfect agaisnt combat squad space marines.

5 attacks on the charge at I5
reroll hits/wounds

bye bye squad

Put on objective -> They do not die -> You win!

oh i love nurgle dps! but a charge range of 25inch (average) is amazing too