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.

I'm planning on getting back into 40k after a few years out (Played Space Marines, sold the models when I quit), and having trouble deciding what army to start with. I've been working on a Tau list, and I like it, but I can't get over the fact that my whole army is crap in CC. What would you guys recommend? My thoughts on armies are listed below, I'm leaning towards Tau, Eldar, or Witch Hunters.

Tau - Have a list, like the JSJ tactic with battlesuits, but the troops choices seem lackluster. Would like something with decent saves that doesn't roll over and die in CC.

Eldar - Look really, really fun, but also crazy specialized. Only army I have any significant experience with is SM, and I haven't played since 3E, would they be too hard to use?

Witch Hunters - Love the fluff, they seem like a bitch to play well. If I went with them, it would be an Adepta Sororitas-heavy list. They do like mech, though, and I guess that's a winning tactic in 5E?

Necrons - Do they do much other than march forward and shoot?

Space Marines - Been there, done that. It doesn't look like they've changed a whole lot since 3E. All-jump Blood Angels sound interesting, but everybody and their grandmother is going to be playing BA when the new codex hits, and I'd like to play something unique. Passing on Space Wolves for the same reason.

Daemonhunters - See "Space Marines."

IG, Tyranids, Orks - 90% of the lists in that section seems to be one of these, so I'd like to steer clear. That, and straight-up mob tactics don't seem too exciting to me. IG seem like they'd be more fun to play than the other two, at least.

Dark Eldar - Lol. They're using the same codex they were when I first started playing.

CSM/Daemons - Never really thought they were all that cool fluff-wise, are they any fun on the table?

I'd say start by picking up the codexes of the armys you want to play. Ignore the people who go with what ever is new, they always switch armys so fast. Watch a lot of online battlereports and read them. Take your time and look over everything before getting back into it. Eldar are fun, but tricky to use. Demon Hunters don't have a lot of variety in their units so I'm avoiding them. Necrons are the same way in my opinion, but I haven't tried playing them yet. So what ever that's worth.

Yeah, I'm gonna drop 25 bucks on each of three or four codices. I'm borrowing from friends the ones they have, that's how I made my Tau list, but I'm not gonna buy anything until I know what I'm gonna play.

Mr. Bluesky wrote: I've been working on a Tau list, and I like it, but I can't get over the fact that my whole army is crap in CC.

I'm leaning towards Tau, Eldar, or Witch Hunters.

WH don't help in CC, whereas Eldar have decent CC.

But if you like Tau, then just get more Kroot for HtH - they're not actually terrible.

Judging by all your comments you should be playing SM's or CSM's. Since you don't seem to want to do space marines again take another look at Chaos. My Chaos marines wreck and table people on a regular basis, the models look fantastic, and it always feels good to say " Death to the false Emperor".

Today I wiped out Calgar and a retinue, a tac squad and a rhino with one squad of Khorne berzerkers lead by Kharn. Oh did I mention that 14 demons popped down next to Kharn before the charge?

Don't know what it is about the fluff you don't like but if you didn't like the legions of the 3.5 dex its now more about renegades.

I never actually disliked the fluff, it just didn't stand out to me.

Regarding SM, I looked at a friend's 4E Marines Codex just for kicks. I wish Lysander still had the "Bring all your Termies in at the same time" rule. I would so play that - 2 scout squads, some speeders, and Terminators raining from the sky. But alas, none of the new Chapter Tactics are that cool. Maybe I'll look at CSM again, thanks.

I'd probably go with CSM. They seem to almost be becoming a 'Cult Army' in a sense because a lot of people aren't seeing them as competitive. (I might be wrong but I see a lot of this talk on the forums, I don't believe it to be true.)

One thing cool about CSM is that you can really take advantage of every phase of the game and drop the hurt. Also, it'll be familiar to you with it MOSTLY being the same, but different in enough ways to just make it fun again (hopefully).


Eldar are fun, but most people kind of play them as a skirt around style, denying objectives and being very fast.

Don't count out WH though. I think they have a codex that has held up very well over time. They have hard hitting units and using acts of faith they aren't pushovers by any means.

All IMO

eldar is guite good and you can make list that works and is unique
void shard list ftw

Are Thousand Sons any good? I like the models and the fluff. They seem like they're pretty effective at being shooty, with S4 AP3, but they can also stand up to some CC, especially with a properly-kitted Sorcerer. Expensive, but probably worth it.

Mr. Bluesky wrote:Are Thousand Sons any good? I like the models and the fluff. They seem like they're pretty effective at being shooty, with S4 AP3, but they can also stand up to some CC, especially with a properly-kitted Sorcerer. Expensive, but probably worth it.

not really expensive and have worst psykers in the game witch makes them guite bad

Devastator wrote:not really expensive and have worst psykers in the game witch makes them guite bad

Can you elaborate? Yeah, they're expensive, but they can move and shoot full rapid fire, get an extra d6 for their S&P, and pierce MEQ armor. What makes the Sorcerers so bad?

EDIT: Whoa, just made a list. They're not just "expensive," they're really expensive.