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Hello Dakkaites,

Im relatively new to 40k (only been playing games for about a month) and as I was perusing through the various codices I wondered what was the most adaptable army in the game? I don't really have a preferred set of tactics. Sometimes I like charging in to assault and sometimes I admire and wish I had the range of the Tau or be able to field the impressive array of armor and units that the IG can.

From what I can tell by flipping through the codices each army seems to specialize in one thing. Tau are ranged combatants to the exclusion of melee. While DE are seemingly the inverse being excellent at CC while sacrificing in the ranged department. As for IG, Leman Russ spam seems to be the one and only Guard tactic. At least if what I'm reading on the forums is true. Im looking for an army that can do all these things and do them competently even if they cant do it as good as the more specialist armies. The various SM Marines chapters seem to be the closest to my ideals though most are a bit too assault heavy and seem to generally regard armored vehicles as transports rather than battlewagons. Grey Knights do pique my interest the most though from the many chapters.

So... what do you guys think? What's overall the most balanced and flexible army in 40k in your opinion?

SM. Tuff buggers with a cc kick and plenty of good sound guns.

Flexibility? I would probably give BA the crown, given that they can do almost any sort of marine build except biker army, and quite likely do it better. Tied for this would be SW.

DE are lacking in neither CC or shooting.
GK are lacking in neither CC or shooting.

IG Can do either CC or shooting, and can cause fear and panic either way. We have several powerblob users here on dakka, and many many IG players who use chimera vets and manticores. No leman russ spam in a lot of (and some of the most effective) corners for the IG. I personally hate using LRs in 5e.

DE are actually VERY good in shooting. It depends on the build. You can have wave after wave of wyches for CC or a lot of small squads of warriors for shooting.

Space Marines in general. They have avrage damage, they are good at range, good at melle, have solid tanks and powerful heroes.

The rest is what you like the most...

Sarakos wrote:As for IG, Leman Russ spam seems to be the one and only Guard tactic. At least if what I'm reading on the forums is true.

You can make infantry-based shooty guard, infantry-based assaulty guard, mechanized shooty, mechanized assaulty, etc. But in almost all good lists you will support your infantry iwth tanks, artillery, and/or sentinels.

Yup guard can do everything, hence the hate.

Best adaptable army for a starting player would be standard SM. You can start the army and find what you really want through playing them, then either stick with the SM book or get one of the other chapter codexes.

BA - shooty ,mech, assault...

Leman Russ spam the only Guard tactic? And you claim this is from your observations on this forum? That's VERY interesting, as Russes are generally looked down on at Dakka. The heavy support of choice for Guard around here is the Manticore.

To answer your question, probably one of the space marine chapters is the most adaptable. I've heard Blood Angels are highly versatile, but I've never played against them myself or looked at their codex so I couldn't say for sure.

creeping-deth87 wrote:Leman Russ spam the only Guard tactic? And you claim this is from your observations on this forum? That's VERY interesting, as Russes are generally looked down on at Dakka. The heavy support of choice for Guard around here is the Manticore.

I must not have lurked on the Dakka forums enough then.

None of the SM chapters appeal to me very much with the possible exception of the Grey Knights. I REALLY liked the IG fluff though and if they are one of the most flexible armies in game.... I'd better give their codex another look

Thank you for the help everyone

They are. I recommend asking on the IGMB if you feel that this forum is too biased towards one specific strategy though.

IG are very versitle and can change quickly. how many different builds are there to an IG army. about as many people who play IG. do you want:

gun line/power blob with artillery support
veteran meq
tank heavy (9 leman russes)
elites that can fullfill any purpose you want (ogryns, ratlings, storm troopers, pbs)
chimeras and artillery
even the creed build.

IG are the most versitle. now, can they change tactics during a game, not as well as others.

Black Templar can do both well.

Melee:
Everyone sans Neophytes have preferred enemy
Righteous Zeal helps to close gaps quickly.
Fearless
Great structure and choice in Crusader Squads, PW/PFs, Neophyte bullet sponge spam
FC on Ass Terms.

Shooting:
Tankhunter on Term CMLs and ACs (2 per squad)
70 pt Typhoon Speeders
Heavy wep and special wep per 5 Crusaders
POTMS Vindicators
Really Cheap Ven Dreads with Tankhunter str 10 tllc, pls.

I'd probably say IG, DE, BA and Eldar. Reason for this is all of them can have a decent amount of mobility and have a variety of builds. Essentially they can adapt while on the field, which is more important than being able to adapt while out of it which they're still capable of anyway.