This is something me and my friends talk about, we each like most 40k factions for different reasons and all agree that certain chioces, vehicles, troops, etc. ake certain forces look "complete" some have more than others, some just have that one quintessential unit that "makes" that army, and if we were to field such an army we would try to include it despite not nessecerily being the best option.

I'm not talking Space Marine tactical squads or ork boyz, becuase they are a given (unless you are also mentioning specific equipment) you should probably have the anyway. i also dont mean that auto include because its so damn hard (i.e. heldrake, anni barge etc) I mean something that visually and thematically makes that army.

I was wondering if anyone has such feelings and if so please post them here.

I'll start with a fairly obvious one to get the ball rolling:

An Imperial Fist Army is not complete without a Vindicator, nothing says masters of siege warfare like a vindicator!


So what are your thoughs, Dakka? should your eldar have a certain aspect unit? should orks be taking to skies in bombers and koptas? let us know below!

For my Orks, the army isn't complete without a mek.

Gotta have some kind of mek in there.

For my Nurgle daemons it's Nurglings. An all nurgle force without Nurglings just feels off..

Sisters of battle and an Exorcist or 3. Can you hear the organs play?

An Ultramarines army isn't complete without some Sternguard, kitted out to kill Tyranids. Tyrannic War Veterans are a must in my eyes.

All of my armies need Centerpiece models. Something that stands out and just makes my whole army just pop once it's all on the table. It's hard to explain, so here are some examples:

In my Tau, I've three centerpiece models, My Ethereal Kitbash who prior to 6th, was a objective marker, and my two riptides. They look amazing alongside the Broadsides, Crisis Suits, Hammerheads, Pathfinders, and Fire Warriors.

In my Chaos army that I'm working on, the Centerpiece models will(hopefully) be my Dark Apostle kitbash, Bloodthrister(gonna go all out and get the FW guy) and Soul Grinder. Once again, with all the cultists, Traitor Marines, ect, these models will hopefully make the whole army kinda just.... pop once they are all deployed.

Grenadiers or Artillery Carriages

My army is no complete unless a vindicator is in it

Some great suggestion, love the Tyranic war Vets for ultramarines and totaly think a Riptide has become a must for a tau force, they look awesome along side battle suits.

I always end up with a small squad of scout snipers in all my lists for my ultra, i just cant shift the little buggers! ultramarines really should have a ML/ flamer squad in a rhino too just to be ultra classic and codex.

Necron forces (1500+) should have a Monolith!

And do i need to say it... GUARD NEED A RUSS (or 10)

I play Crimson Fists and I simply don't leave home without at least one Squad of Sternguard, and the same goes for at least one unit of scouts

After Rynn's world the Crimson Fists are low on regular troops, and heavy in vets and new reqruits. Plus, its effective, fluffy, and fun to play

Marbo, because he was already there, i just didnt know it

Chimerae. Without them the table just looks funny.

My Fire Warriors. My Tau army isent complete without them, I got three groups of 12, Might get more ^_^

Dark Angels seem incomplete without having both Ravenwing bikes AND Deathwing Terminators - unless you play only Ravenwing bikes OR Deathwing Terminators.

For daemons, it's flamers, at least the infantry version, but preferably the burning chariot too. BIt of a pyromaniac when it comes to my daemons.

For my Grey knight's, its just a brotherhood banner. It just seems really cool to me, reminds me of the dawn of war opening where the blood raven is carrying the banner up the hill, it's very cinematic to me, and I love to see him and 4 others marching forward with his banner held up into a fight with a huge horde of tyranid's or something

Heldrakes

Paint.

I have to say, Vindicators for Imperial Fists make little sense at all. They're supposed to be siege defence specialists, with the Iron Warriors being the siege offense specialists. The Vindicator doesn't seem like a vehicle that's made for defensive operations to me.

 AlmightyWalrus wrote:
The Vindicator doesn't seem like a vehicle that's made for defensive operations to me.

Why not? The enemy is coming close with the heaviest armor and biggest guns they can find. Park a Vindicator in the breached wall and shoot anyone trying to get through.

Spetulhu wrote:

 AlmightyWalrus wrote:
The Vindicator doesn't seem like a vehicle that's made for defensive operations to me.

Why not? The enemy is coming close with the heaviest armor and biggest guns they can find. Park a Vindicator in the breached wall and shoot anyone trying to get through.

That's assuming there's space to put a tank inside the defensive perimiter to start with. Things like Thunderfire Cannons make way more sense IMO, since they don't have to be in the breach to defend it.

 conker249 wrote:
Sisters of battle and an Exorcist or 3. Can you hear the organs play?

Its the Penitent Engine for me.

Orks aint nothing without a proppa stompa!
I got one just for the sheer fun of the thing

 conker249 wrote:
Sisters of battle and an Exorcist or 3. Can you hear the organs play?

I can hear the music of Bequa Kynska's greatest hits......

For me I need the plague zombies. By far, not the most important unit, but zombies!

Dark Eldar are nothing without a superevilsuperOMFGvillian archon leading them or a haemy. Chaos daemons are not complete without at least 1 greater daemon (preferably a bloodthirster) and tyranids are not complete without a flyrant, tervigons and zoanthropes.

I always try to work in a Leman Russ or Commissars into my IG army. They are just super iconic IG units.

 AlmightyWalrus wrote:

Spetulhu wrote:

 AlmightyWalrus wrote:
The Vindicator doesn't seem like a vehicle that's made for defensive operations to me.

Why not? The enemy is coming close with the heaviest armor and biggest guns they can find. Park a Vindicator in the breached wall and shoot anyone trying to get through.

That's assuming there's space to put a tank inside the defensive perimiter to start with. Things like Thunderfire Cannons make way more sense IMO, since they don't have to be in the breach to defend it.

imperial fists can just make the breach big enough for one and as the tank can move easily it will get there. It would be better than a thunder fire in this case because it would actually block the breach with heavy armour and a dozer blade instead of trying to block it up with precious marines. Plus the cannon is much better than the one on the thunderfire.

Blood Angels are not complete without a Jump Pack Priest.

Personally, I also think necrons look great with a squad of destroyers (5 regular, and/or 3 heavies)

For Chaos Daemons I say no army is complete without Fateweaver. The 1x reroll per player turn is such a quintessential part of daemons for me that i hope they just include it along with the warp storm table in future codices.

For Space Marines it's imho obviously the Dreadnought, followed closely by a squad of tactical Terminators.

For my Tau - my beloved Railhead

For my BA - Death Company in some way / shape / form, i must have me some DC

 AlmightyWalrus wrote:
That's assuming there's space to put a tank inside the defensive perimiter to start with.

Well, from reading some German texts they fooled the Red Army in some places by having a civilian tractor push a disabled tank around. A tank, even in limited space, is a major threat. It has a huge gun and is almost invulnerable to standard infantry weapons. Truly, it's a major threat. At least to people who don't blow them up as a part of their business.

Imperial guard are nothing without some variant of Leman Russ

Spetulhu wrote:

 AlmightyWalrus wrote:
That's assuming there's space to put a tank inside the defensive perimiter to start with.

Well, from reading some German texts they fooled the Red Army in some places by having a civilian tractor push a disabled tank around. A tank, even in limited space, is a major threat. It has a huge gun and is almost invulnerable to standard infantry weapons. Truly, it's a major threat. At least to people who don't blow them up as a part of their business.

The thing about most tanks is that they've got turret mounted weapons, though. The Vindicator doesn't. It's more or less a self-propelled gun. It's probably an excellent piece of hardware for destroying walls and fortifications, but not for defending them.

Trygon or a hive tyrant

I don't play Tyranids, but no Swarm is right without a Carnifex. Every nid swarm needs a Carnifex.

For Orks, Looted tanks are a MUST! Looted anything really.

Blood Angels Sanguinary Priests are a must for me.
Vanilla Marines need a Techmarine
Dark Angels need Chaplains
Templars aren't compkete without a Land Raider Crusader

And if I ever start playing Grey Knights, I will NEED the guy with a ForceSword impaling a Daemon's head.

And nobody can field a fluffy Chaos army without one Spawn model. (Just in case your Lord turns into one!)

For Eldar, at least 2 squads of different Aspect Warriors. If you play any craftworld other than Ulthwe and you include no aspects, you're doing it wrong.

I never use my daemons without some form of flying monstrous creature (usually a bloodthirster or two).

 Brotheralexos wrote:
I don't play Tyranids, but no Swarm is right without a Carnifex. Every nid swarm needs a carnifex

once I would have agreed with you but now they suck so much they are only playable in one fashion and that is still terrible...

My IG are nothing without having at least 2 platoons. Always 2 platoons of 35 men. Never leave home without them. Everything else is optional.

BaconUprising wrote:

 Brotheralexos wrote:
I don't play Tyranids, but no Swarm is right without a Carnifex. Every nid swarm needs a carnifex

once I would have agreed with you but now they suck so much they are only playable in one fashion and that is still terrible...

Podded Dakkafexes are far from terrible. Right now, they seem to see more use than Trygons as well.

Personally, I'm all for large centerpeices. An army is complete when you've decided 'I've had enough of this small gak, I'm adding a Warhound'.

My Raptors never go to battle without 3 rapier laser destroyers. And for all my armies, FW models is required.

My Imperial Guard army is not without at least one Leman Russ.

My Space Marine army needs drop pods. No exception.

My Sisters aren't complete without Seraphim.

shock attack gun.

One of the first models I ever bought.

Cause removing terminators from play is freaking awesome.

There are just so many options, I don't know where to start!

For my orks, I am tempted to say it isn't complete until there is something looted from each faction out there. Preferably, you loot each one after a victory against it's corresponding army. Until you achieve that, all the SAG, meks, and stompas on Armageddon won't complete the army!

SM aren't complete until you have the Thunderfire canon. It is cheap as sin, but incredibly useful. I cannot think of a single model I have included in more games beyond ork boyz.

IG require a LRBT. Period.

-cgmckenzie

I'd say my DE are not complete without a unit of Incubi as well as a couple of Scourges, while my Craftworld Eldar definitely needs Dark Reapers with Tempest Launcher Exarch.

I can't bring my Necrons without taking my Deathmarks. They're such a hard-hitting unit that are incredibly dangerous and effective against just about anything I've put them up against.

 Marzillius wrote:
For Eldar, at least 2 squads of different Aspect Warriors. If you play any craftworld other than Ulthwe and you include no aspects, you're doing it wrong.

Iyanden ghosts and SaimHann wildriders disagree with you.

It's jump pack Death Company for me. They ALWAYS come along for the ride.

Necrons need Ghost Arks.

A warhost without Dire Avengers is a warhost with no heart.

Yes, I've fielded plenty of 'heartless' warhosts in my time.

For my tyranids it's the hive tyrant with wings. It is a fantastically good looking model and just completes the look of the army on the table.

My Guard need at least three Russes on the table. Preferably more.

Space Marines need Dreads and/ or Terminators. As many or as few as you want, but between them there's a 0-1 limit.

Necrons need a monolith.

And Chaos Marines should always bring a Sorceror for the ride.

Flyrants.

For my BA its now become assault marines, a Baal and a Vindicator. Last two probably are more left-field choices but they work for me.

For my IG (who haven't got out much for some reason!) its as many Chimera's as I have squads and as many Russes as I can get into the allowed point limit.

 AlmightyWalrus wrote:

Spetulhu wrote:

 AlmightyWalrus wrote:
That's assuming there's space to put a tank inside the defensive perimiter to start with.

Well, from reading some German texts they fooled the Red Army in some places by having a civilian tractor push a disabled tank around. A tank, even in limited space, is a major threat. It has a huge gun and is almost invulnerable to standard infantry weapons. Truly, it's a major threat. At least to people who don't blow them up as a part of their business.

The thing about most tanks is that they've got turret mounted weapons, though. The Vindicator doesn't. It's more or less a self-propelled gun. It's probably an excellent piece of hardware for destroying walls and fortifications, but not for defending them.

Tank destroyers traditionally don't have turrets but were always defensively minded.

Plasma weaponry. My Dark Angels don't leave home w/o some sort of plasma weapon (w/ the complimenting red dice).

It will be a cold day in Hell before I field my Necrons without:

- Annihilation Barges

- Mind-shackle Scarabs

- Resurrection Orbs

Eldar: Fire prism/Warp hunter

Black Templars: LRC

Tyranids: 60-90 Termagants

Grey Knights: 20 troop GKTs

Eldar: 3 Serpents (I only have 2 aspects if you count Hunters)

Sternguard. Always.

I couldn't fathom fielding my Iron Warriors without at least one Vindicator, and no IG army is a proper army without a Leman Russ in my eyes.

A DA army without DSing terminators= A bad DA army.

For my space marines, it's sternguard.

For my imperial guard it's master of ordnance and proxy ratlings.

Ratlings got a lot better with the addition of snap shots and precision shots.

 -Loki- wrote:

BaconUprising wrote:

 Brotheralexos wrote:
I don't play Tyranids, but no Swarm is right without a Carnifex. Every nid swarm needs a carnifex

once I would have agreed with you but now they suck so much they are only playable in one fashion and that is still terrible...

Podded Dakkafexes are far from terrible. Right now, they seem to see more use than Trygons as well.

Personally, I'm all for large centerpeices. An army is complete when you've decided 'I've had enough of this small gak, I'm adding a Warhound'.

maybe not terrible but for me far from good enough (in comparison with their competition) to play with

 psychadelicmime wrote:
For my space marines, it's sternguard.

Without Sternguard, my Crimson Fists are just Space Marines. It's the Sternguard that really make that army!

 sing your life wrote:
A DA army without DSing terminators= A bad DA army.

Playing Devil's Advocate just because... what's your opinion on full-on Ravenwing? (I'm fully aware that Ravenwing beacons and DS'ing Deathwing is HORRIBLY effective.)

Three sisters answers and all wrong: St Celestine. Every time.

Wolves: Rune Priests

Necrons: Annihilation Barges

Grey Knights: Coteaz

Everybody says it's vendetta's for guard... but I really don't like them that much. I prefer a ground force

My CSMs need their Land Raider, despite the fact I play Alpha Legion and it is a Thousand Sons Raider ^^

My Templars just aren't angry enough unless there is a Reclusiarch to rile them up even more

Markerlights. Nothing says combined arms like lightly armed commando units with target designators

 TheKbob wrote:
Three sisters answers and all wrong: St Celestine. Every time.

THIS!!!

also a repentia squad. whats the point of having sister and not getting any flesh on the table.

for DA it has to be my deathwing knights with belial DS'ing all over the shop smiting filthy xenos

 Shadox wrote:
For Space Marines it's imho obviously the Dreadnought, followed closely by a squad of tactical Terminators.

I Could not agree more, kitted out to suit the chapter (AC for Ultra, MM/?HF Salamanders etc.)

 sing your life wrote:
A DA army without DSing terminators= A bad DA army.

Nah, a DA army without a Interrogator-Chaplain=uncool DA army.

 thenoobbomb wrote:

 sing your life wrote:
A DA army without DSing terminators= A bad DA army.

Nah, a DA army without a Interrogator-Chaplain=uncool DA army.

Also very true.

I really think Vanilla Marines should really have a captain or chapter master, but they just suck ass compared to librarians, chaplain, spec. characters.

have to admit, for tau (probably because i havent been playing solid tau long enough) i really dont have any units like that. Everything i take seems to me to be auto-include level rather than "It just feels right and makes sense"

Orks though, haha that can go on forever. But if i had to pick one, grotz. Not because of the cheap scoring unit but because why have a big blob of orks with no minions to punt around? they gotta have some little guy to pick on that cant fight back, or they'll clobber each other and i'll have a war in my own army

Nobz never leave home without their pain boy!

I never leave without my 6-man Noise Marine squad with sonic blasters, blast master and DOOOOM SIIIIIREEENNN.

My army is not complete without models!

..

..

On a more serious note, I never leave home without at least 1 Librarian!

Lucarikx

My Thousand Sons say Sorcerers, though its hard NOT to field CSM without a well kitted out Lord.

Spaces Wolves need a Wolf Lord on a Thunderwolf with a couple of Fenrisian Wolves to wolf wolf the wolves.
And a huge load of drop pods.

tommse wrote:
Spaces Wolves need a Wolf Lord on a Thunderwolf with a couple of Fenrisian Wolves to wolf wolf the wolves.
And a huge load of drop pods.

Do you reckon you need some wolves with that?

I'd have to say my Warboss, because if I let one of the Meks go at it alone, they might start to think too high of themselves and get bigger ideas than whats good for them

Besides, a "wise" (that means "Orky") Kaptin once said; "Dem Orks gots a Mek fer a Boss! Dat's jus' sad, dat is."

 stargasm wrote:


I really think Vanilla Marines should really have a captain or chapter master, but they just suck ass compared to librarians, chaplain, spec. characters.

I think every marine player should have a captain on his shelf, even if he never hits the table. The only thing they need to have on the table is tactical marines.

The problem with a vanilla marine army is there are so many ways of building one. So it's hard to point a finger at a "must have" unit. Once you have your core of troops, you can add whatever you want, and still be a full and fluffy army. For me, I try to make sure I have something from each FOC. That, I think, embodies the TAC nature and balanced force of a marine army. You don't need a dread if you have terminators, or assault marines if you have bikes, but need something from column "A" and something for "B"

For me it is my Eldar and Farseers. I think they are the epitome of the Eldar race and their non-human capabilities.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 stargasm wrote:

tommse wrote:
Spaces Wolves need a Wolf Lord on a Thunderwolf with a couple of Fenrisian Wolves to wolf wolf the wolves.
And a huge load of drop pods.

Do you reckon you need some wolves with that?

Don't forget wolf regalia. Add a Wolf Tooth Necklace, mebbe some Wolf Pelts. 40k is Grimdark, so you need skulls. Add some wolf skulls.

Space marine bikes (for obvious reasons)

For my Imperial Fists, (I had no idea they were so popular) I have to take the Master of the Forge. I take him every battle and run a bunch of Dreads. I save Lysander only for the really big battles.
For my Sisters of Battle, St. Celestine. She's the heavy hitter of the SOB. The heart and soul if you will.

When i use my guard i don't feel right unless my deployment zone is completely filled by tanks or infantry, Im talking 200 men or 20+ leman russes, it just gives me the real imperial guard feel! i love it, i also love really big scenario games in which i can field that much in one game. or in a 2500 point game its hilarious to see your opponents jaw drop when you put 200+ men on the table and no tanks... it usaully makes for a fun and bloody game haha

if i had to pick one unit though to go with original idea it would be a command squad with the regimental flag!

 fullmetaljacket wrote:


if i had to pick one unit though to go with original idea it would be a command squad with the regimental flag!

i love the look of a regimental standard in guard armies with lots of troops. some really good suggestions here and not just a tonne of powergamer spam stuff either!

I have never played my tyranid army without a Trygon

For my orks it's gotta be a dakka jet or maybe gazzy

My new Eldar will not be complete without a Wraithknight.

Imperial Guard can't be complete without 3+ Leman Russ

I play SW.

I love running (as in 2 of them) Dual TL Lascannon Dreadnoughts. They roam in front of my Longfangs, smashing face, taking names, and promptly forgetting them because of all the super-mead.

COME AND HAVE A GO IF YOU THINK YOU'RE HARD ENOUGH ETC.

My army is not complete without the Emperor's Champion. Literally.

Double Post.

I Like bringing Arjac in my space wolf army, preferably leading 4 other wolf guard terminators in a drop pod. That unit will seriously mess up the opponents battle plan.

For my imperial guard (vostroyans!) I will have to bring some artillery, probably the Armageddon Pattern Medusa from forgeworld.

I just cant see fielding a tyranid army without atleast one unit of tyranid warriors, theyre the iconic tyranid unit.

I play Grey Knights and while Psycannons are great, I always take Incinerators. Whether on Purifiers or a Purgation squad, I love to toast my enemies.

And for my Tyranids, my beloved Tervigon. How pretty she is. Making my scuttling swarm swarmier while suppporting with psychic powers and a large blast.

All with the Land -prefix!
The Long-range Land Speeder Typhoon squadrons, and the mighty Land Raider. There's nothing more joyous than seeing your opponent's face as long as the Land Raider is on the table - it seldomly carries anything that can't be considered a threat.

Also, the sniper scouts.

Space wolves, Long Fangs 15 of them maybe

Sisters, ST CELESTINE

Nids, 5 Tervigons

 strybjorn Grimskull wrote:
Space wolves, Long Fangs 15 of them maybe

Sisters, ST CELESTINE

Nids, 5 Tervigons

Maybe? There is no maybe. There is only definitely.

My Space Wolves never take to the field without at least twnety or thirty Grey Hunters backed up by my Thunder wolves, same goes for my two COntemptor Dreadnaugths. So much epicness watching them rip Orks, Sister Of Battle and traitors appart.

My army is not complete without symmetry. If it does not contain symmetry, OCD kicks in. And when it kicks, it kicks hard.

 Tehjonny wrote:
Maybe? There is no maybe. There is only definitely.

I concur. My Vanilla mehreens would also like some devastators with such cheap missile launchers, and an ability to split fire.

Meanwhile, my jack-of-all-trades army pays more from devastator weapons than assault oriented BA. Who the thought that it's logical?

 Tigramans wrote:
Meanwhile, my jack-of-all-trades army pays more from devastator weapons than assault oriented BA. Who the thought that it's logical?

If Dark Angels are anything to go by - not for long, they don't.
However to answer the question before recent rumours, Devastators are arguably more useful in a gunline style army with a lot more firepower going on. They are less valuable in an assault army where they will be alone and not supported by anything else. However, the problem lies in BA still being able to put together a fairly decent firepower army.

Imperial Guard are not complete without 3+ artillery units.
Chaos Space Marines are not complete without a Daemon Prince.
Necrons are not complete without at least 60 Necron Warriors.
Just my thoughts on the matter.

Dice. . . .my army is not complete without dice.

In all seriousness, I have certain dice for each army. Colors that best match them, and even Ork Glyph dice for my Orks.

After that, so far I can't find myself making a Daemons list without Flickering Fire. Be it Horrors, Fateweaver, or Daemon Prince Is got to have the flickering fire. As for Orks, so far it's a themed army with lots of conversions.

for my space marines, it's a toss up between drop pods and dreadnoughts. nothing says "space marine" like arriving on the battlefield via a cramped metal container shot out of a strike cruiser in orbit and having your barely living remains locked up in a giant robot so you can keep fighting the good fight!

 varl wrote:
for my space marines, it's a toss up between drop pods and dreadnoughts. nothing says "space marine" like arriving on the battlefield via a cramped metal container shot out of a strike cruiser in orbit and having your barely living remains locked up in a giant robot so you can keep fighting the good fight!

Sooo, how about a dreanought in a drop pod? A barely living ancient warrior in a cramped metal warmachine in a cramped metal box drop from an orbiting strike cruiser... Ticks all your boxes and only takes up one FOC slot.

For my eldar it would have to be just plain old guardians. They tickle my tummy

Cultists, how else will I capture objectives for KAYOOOSSSSS

But seriously I love those little guys

Stealthsuits!!!!!!!

For my Grey Knights it is Inquisitor Fletcher (Me ) and his trusty retinue from Heroscape made of Ninjas and Zettian Guard. Kudos to whoever knows what those are.

My Ork army isn't complete until there are no units that aren't bikers or not mounted up in a vehicle.

Space Wolves, ain't complete without some actual wolves. (got 3 old wolf models with my Logan Grimnar). Black Templars arn't complete without a LRC, FW BT Dreadnought, and Emps Champ.

 Justicar Cliesthenes wrote:
For my Grey Knights it is Inquisitor Fletcher (Me ) and his trusty retinue from Heroscape made of Ninjas and Zettian Guard. Kudos to whoever knows what those are.

Yes love heroscape! I like to use airborne elite as veterans and Drake Alexander as my heroic company commander. Great great game!

When I run IG, the only must have for me is my single, solitary Griffon mortar. I love that fething thing! It's not the most powerful or effective artillery piece going, but it just works! I need more of them, the only problem is the large Forgeworld price tag... They get enough of my money as it is! (Heresy-era World Eaters are expensive )

Since I started working on my DA sucsessor chapter I have found myself feeling a bit empty when my army takes to the field without a squad of Ravenwing bikers

My Orks never leave home wivout da Big mek! He is a given...

My Crons? Lords...lords with orbs!!!

Despite them not being all that great i really can't field my crons without my 5 destroyers... i really need to be less attached since there are sooo many better options.

You got tp spend 3k trying to build a good army o

This looks like even less effort than your last pearler. Reported

Edited by AgeOfEgos

It wasn't even english.

"You got tp spend 3k trying to build a good army o"

9 words, 1 misspelt word, and a letter. You agree to abide by the rules of the forum and post legibly when you sign up. But I'm going to back off a bit, because I may have jumped the gun a bit in reporting a single post of yours. It is just incredibly frustrating seeing a user continuously posting without trying.

Done