10 man Terminator squads

Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you:

No adverts like this in the forums anymore.
Times and dates in your local timezone.
Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance.
Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely.
Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net.

If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

**minigun762**

I briefly mentioned this is another topic but I thought it might be worth a topic of its own.

Is there any situation where dropping 10 Terminators onto the battle is a good idea? I'm thinking particulary of Chaos but Codex Marines could work too.

**Shelegelah**

It's a horrible horrible point sink (Even I recognize this as one of the most casual players out there), but if you equip them with the Icon of Tzeentch or Nurgle and a close-combat setup, you can rest assured that whatever you charge WILL die. The only problem is getting them there....

What I particularly like about ten man squads is the second weapon. I've got a massive woody for those Reaper Autocannons (which is probably some pretty clear-cut latent homosexuality, but hey, I'm playing Slaanesh), and bringing two of them makes my Battle Sisters opponent cry. His Rhinos just can't take the abuse. Give the rest of them combi-plasma for even more points-sinking, and you've got a horrifying shooting squad that can more than handle itself in close combat and simply will not die easily (especially if you put the Icon of Nurgle or Tzeentch on them, depending on what you're facing.)

So yeah, it's probably not your most efficient use of points, but I use it regularly just to see the horrified look on my opponent's face when ten Chaos Terminators packing scary weapons materializes behind their favorite tank with a Termi-Sorcerer sitting in the middle spewing death along with his hulking compadres.

It's delicious.

**Cpt. Icanus**

Speaking of loyalists the only sense I could see would be to combat squad two cyclones into one squad and use the other one for cc/tank hunting with CFs. But the access to a second weapon is too expensive imo, when that cc squad could be ass termis with Stormshields...

**minigun762**

Cpt. Icanus wrote:Speaking of loyalists the only sense I could see would be to combat squad two cyclones into one squad and use the other one for cc/tank hunting with CFs. But the access to a second weapon is too expensive imo, when that cc squad could be ass termis with Stormshields...

With Loyalists, you have the advantage of range. 10 Terminators with 2 CML can punish the player from 24"+. Against infantry thats 20 S4 shots + 4 S4 blasts at turn. Against the MCs its still fairly likely to take off 2+ wounds just from the Missiles and the Stormbolters add almost another wound on average as well.

The main bonus with Chaos is that you're cheaper then Loyalists (before upgrades atleast). The squad from above will set you back 460 points but you can get a tough Chaos version of 2 Heavy Flamers, 8 C-Melta and 3 Fists for 80 less points. You lack any kind of long range threat but deepstriking next to something and you can consider that unit toast.

**nintendoeats**

Us orks do it all the time. Their called Nobz. Of course, taking tactical advice from an ork is like taking cooking lessons from a washing machine.

**doubled**

hey orks have tactics, they got the bosspole idea from watching commisars shoot people to make them stay and fight, they tried it and kept missing so they swwitched to the bosspole

**nintendoeats**

So the most advanced example of an ork tactic is "Instead of smacking dems' I'll smakc 'im to make i'm shoot dem! Eureka!"

-Note: Orks do not say Eureka-

**Iron_Chaos_Brute**

CSM? No. Never. Unless you want to do some weirdass 30 Terms/Abbadon/Typhus build (I think it's 40Kenthusiast who run something like that sometimes).

Loyalist? Hell yeah. 10 Terms, 2 CMLs, 2 CF, Libby, GoI, Null Zone is one of my favorite units out of Loyalist.

**Bramnero**

The problem is, if they land outside of the board, you've instantly lost atleast 400 points. I'd just stick with the 5 man squads

**wuestenfux**

Well, 10 loyal Termies with 2 cyclones advancing with Lysander punches holes in the enemy ranks
thanks to bolter drill.

A larger Termie squad is a shock & awe unit the enemy has to deal with.
Sometimes I go out with 10 Chaos Termies with combi-weapons.
They never disappointed me game-wise.

**DarkHound**

Whee, double post!

**Shelegelah**

I thought he was focusing mainly on Chaos? Most of these suggestions seem to be for loyalists.... I'm interested too, because as someone who regularly runs this, I wouldn't mind some advice either.

**wuestenfux**

Well, I ran a 10 men Chaos Termie squad with 2 reaper autocannons and IoGC in the GT final last year.
In this year, if I pick CSM, then I'd eventually go out with 10 Termies with IoGC and combi-weapons.

**minigun762**

Shelegelah wrote:I thought he was focusing mainly on Chaos? Most of these suggestions seem to be for loyalists.... I'm interested too, because as someone who regularly runs this, I wouldn't mind some advice either.

Its true but as we're seeing its a better/easier idea to do with Loyalist Terminators instead of Chaos Terminators due to the weapon differences.

And while 8 Combi's is overkill against a variety of targets, you might not have more than a single chance to use them due to the short range.

I went into this assuming this would be the result but its always good to push for new ideas with people.

**rdlb**

10 tactical termies/2 assault cannons/librarian with Gate

Impossible to ignore and almost impossible to kill...

**labmouse42**

Add Shrike. Make them 8 TH/SS termies and 2 LC termies.
Inflitrate them 18" away from the enemy. Fleet them forward.

I played against that last week, and let me tell you -- its scary how fast those things can get in your face.

**Sanctjud**

On the flip side, if they sieze, they are facing alot of fire power.
Granted they are a great distraction, but then -- "It's scary how fast those guys can die"

I like it too, but losing out on Combat Tactics in general is sort of errr with my lists as my bikers don't benefit, hell only 2-3 units from the whole army list really would like fleet while most of the list wouldn't care and would actually be a downgrade....

So... there is an oppurtunity cost there.

**labmouse42**

Sanctjud wrote:I like it too, but losing out on Combat Tactics in general is sort of errr with my lists as my bikers don't benefit, hell only 2-3 units from the whole army list really would like fleet while most of the list wouldn't care and would actually be a downgrade....

I was playing against his army with my bike list, and here is what I discovered.

1) I had to pay attention to the terminators. Normally with bikes you can just ignore a unit like that and work around it, but with fleet I could not.

2) The termies have an effective range upgraded from 12" to 13"-18", a significant improvement on their area of influence.

3) 10 termies + Shrike run just under 600 points. In a 1750 game, I was forced to pay significant attention to 1/3 of his army.

4) He disengaged Shrike from the unit and used the 12" jump pack + fleet + assault move to tie up some bikes for a turn, allowing his termies to close.

5) Combat tactics is great against terminators, who cannot sweeping advance.

The rest of his army consisted of a few scouts to hold objectives, a few HB landspeeders, some sternguard, and a dread. Most of it was pretty ineffective against my bike army. I used my speed to try and split his army up, which worked with some success. When dealing with that army again in the future, I will try and hold back to force him to bring his termies up. When they get within 24" of me, I will move forward with all 42 of my bikes and rapid fire them to death with bolters.

**Sanctjud**

Believe me.
I use 10 Slogging Termies as a screen and they are decent already.
I know Fleeting/infiltrating termies would do better, but I do not want to rely 100% on them and another 190ish point IC.

Combat tactics has been used once in a while and has been good enough to keep around.
At higher points 2000+ I do reconsider losing it as not a huge problem (which is the points level you'd see shrike and Ass termies), but I'm not one to jump on that band wagon so easily.

Actually what you are talking about is one vs. the other, I think I'm takling about using both in the same army LOL

**minigun762**

Looking at it this way, is there anything that needs 10 C-Melta shots or 20 C-Plasma shots to kill off?

**ghastli**

Ive gotta say that 10 termies is a horrible point sink and not really that invincible. A lot of players look at termies and think: "lets ap those termies to death". Honestly i charged a shoota boy squad and a not quite pimped out nob squad at a ten-man assault terminator squad and whittled them down in about three assault phases. And for Chaos youd be better off getting more of the cheaper, more point effective, power armored cult marines who wouldnt get swamped as easy.

**Clthomps**

-Note: Orks do not say Eureka-

Italian Orks do...

**KOS**

Clthomps wrote:
-Note: Orks do not say Eureka-

Italian Orks do...

nope not even Italian Orks...

**Shaman**

AS the chaos codex is bankrupt of interesting effective choices beyond fzorgle and the hideous obliterators I say go for it.

I have run 10 chaos terminators before. Deep Striking them the first time I actually lost them. I would not recommend it for Deep striking. 400 + points in one unit is always a gamble. Also ten terminators fitting under a template is just painful. So much so I was having them run when they arrived to spread them out.

At the same time the list I intend to build has 30 chaos terminators. Just because I enjoy terminators and their fluidity, toughness and the ability to punch the gak out of most things they meet. But I intend to foot slog at least 50% of the time (I am fond of infantry far more then tanks attempts to build a mechdar list have shown me this).

Sub optimal choice at best. But lots of fun.

**Owain**

They can be scary and REALLY fun to play, but don't expect them to win a game on their own. They really aren't invincible...