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TLDR: What is the shootiest Space Marine codex / chapter? So many of the non-vanilla SM Chapter codices are assault specialists it seems

I already have well over 2k in my Tyranids, and a few units away from being able to field a variety of lists. They're my first 40k love and I'll continue to pick up models, but I'm ready to pick up a 2nd army.

The main PURPOSE of my secondary army is to have a 1-1.5k list so that I can bring buddies over to play who aren't 40k players so they can get a feel for the game and have some fun. As such my criteria were the following:

1. Cheap $$-wise. I'm not looking to make the kind of investment I've made in my Tyranids by a longshot. Every dollar I spend on a secondary army is a dollar I could have put to my bugs. Since I've just recently come back to 40k, I'm buying AoBR to snag a rulebook, my friend who is playing Orks is also getting an AoBR box, so I'm giving him the Orks, he's giving me the SM's. Simple as that. Pick up some vehicles, some characters, and bits to add some flexibility to the vanilla AoBR models.
2. Shooty. I play Nids and so I wanted to focus on ranged combat
3. I'm planning on making a board as an "intermediate" infestation environment. With some of the new GW Imperial military building kits that should be fun and I'll be scratch building some Nid infestation terrain.

Do I really like the Space Marines? Meh, they're pretty overplayed. If snagging SM's weren't so flippin cheap I'd rather go Eldar, but again, refer to my #1 priority for this 2nd army.

So I'm going to do a custom Chapter, and from what I can tell they took the traits away in 5th edition, so really my only option is to just use a Codex and declare my army follows X or Y chapter codex & characters. So what I'm looking for is the shootiest Marine Chapter out there. I would love some input. Thanks!

Ironically enough, the same chapter that is the choppiest in assault.

Space Wolves.

Have you heard of the units called "longfangs" ya SW are pretty shooty with plenty of DAKKA.

Space Wolves have the best firepower marine infantry, but long fangs cost a million dollars because missile launchers cost $8 each because everyone wants them for long fangs.

The next most shooty is razorback marines of any flavor. This is also extremely expensive.

Mech anything will be way more expensive than not, so you could try black templars maybe? They can use las/plas squads.

I KNEW Space Wolves would be brought up thanks to the Longfangs, I just can't bring myself to play an army that is *intended* to be choppy. My chapter's flavor is disciplined, highly skilled ranged specialists... I suppose I can always play the SW codex under hugely different fluff.

I was also considering the route you mentioned ph34r, grabbing razorbacks for the tac squads, maybe a pred or 2.

Thanks

Sounds a bit like Imperial Fists to me, that is mainly because of Lyssie's bolter drill though.

Saintspirit wrote:Sounds a bit like Imperial Fists to me, that is mainly because of Lyssie's bolter drill though.

I considered that as well, I wish I could take that special ability and, well, put it on a more shooty model. A TH/SS terminator with a boltgun buff seems odd.

Perhaps, for fluff and cheapness sake, a Deathwing army made up almost entirely of "Tactical" terminators and not "assault" terminators?

Templars. Cheap Land Speeder Typhoons, tank hunter CML termies and lasplas squads. Spice with cheap trilas preds and shake.

With the latest FAQ giving their Cyclone Missile Launchers Heavy 2, Black Templars are now pretty shooty.

A squad of 5 terminators can bring a pair of Cyclone missile launchers AND take the Tank Hunters upgrade, giving you 4x S9AP3 shots per squad. It's like having a devastartor squad with 2+ saves and powerfists on every dude.

You can also field 5 man squads with a heavy and special weapon, take Vindicators with Power of the Machine Spirit, and give EVERY squad a Land Raider Crusader dedicated transport.

Also, we can make one dreadnought venerable and give it Tank Hunter. Load him up with a TL Lascannon and a Missile Launcher, and that's 1 S10AP2 twin-linked shot and 1 S9AP3 shot.

You won't get whirlwinds, thunderfire cannons, or StormRavens, though. Also, having to buy grenades for everyone sucks, and losing just 1 dude from a squad causes a morale check.

In a shooty BT list what vow should I take? In 4th edition the invuln save would seem the way to go, but with cover being so good in 5th that seems a little rough to lose cover saves.

fleetofclaw wrote:In a shooty BT list what vow should I take? In 4th edition the invuln save would seem the way to go, but with cover being so good in 5th that seems a little rough to lose cover saves.

I take AAC, NMTO in all my lists, shooty as well as assaulty. It makes people think twice about charging into your terminator firebases and kinda "builds in" counter-assault into the army.

Accept Any Challenge. Always.

kronk wrote:Accept Any Challenge. Always.

No Matter the Odds, Brother!

AlmightyWalrus wrote:

fleetofclaw wrote:In a shooty BT list what vow should I take? In 4th edition the invuln save would seem the way to go, but with cover being so good in 5th that seems a little rough to lose cover saves.

I take AAC, NMTO in all my lists, shooty as well as assaulty. It makes people think twice about charging into your terminator firebases and kinda "builds in" counter-assault into the army.

are people still kiting / luring BT with that though?

Templars can put out a fair bit of firepower and have some decent counter-assault to back it up, not a bad little codex that.

Kiting? Sure, it still happens. That that has nothing to do with the Vow Accept Any Challenge...

Righteous Zeal, a basic Black Templar rule, cause you to consolidate toward the nearest enemy when you lose a model from a unit and pass the morale test.

kronk wrote:
Righteous Zeal, a basic Black Templar rule, cause you to consolidate toward the nearest enemy when you lose a model from a unit and pass the morale test.

or use chaplains to gloriously initiate tactical withdrawals

EmilCrane wrote:

kronk wrote:
Righteous Zeal, a basic Black Templar rule, cause you to consolidate toward the nearest enemy when you lose a model from a unit and pass the morale test.

or use chaplains to gloriously initiate tactical withdrawals

haven't played marines since... '98, haven't fought BT since... 2006? How does that work? Is it through their ability to pick what unit they righteous zeal towards?

First of all, SW aren't supposed to be 'choppy'. They're a close quarters army. Most of their best work is done in the under 24 inch point. LongFangs and razorbacks notwithstanding. But with the proper build they can do shooty rather well.
Shootiest though, I don't know. Probably the Vanilla SM's. I know SW best.

fleetofclaw wrote:

EmilCrane wrote:

kronk wrote:
Righteous Zeal, a basic Black Templar rule, cause you to consolidate toward the nearest enemy when you lose a model from a unit and pass the morale test.

or use chaplains to gloriously initiate tactical withdrawals

haven't played marines since... '98, haven't fought BT since... 2006? How does that work? Is it through their ability to pick what unit they righteous zeal towards?

Chaplains give you the ability to advance towards any enemy, not just the closest. As such, it's kinda hard to use to retreat.


As for the kiting issue: No. Righteous Zeal is identical to a consolidation move, which means it's up to the distance rolled. You're not forced to move, thus can't be kited.

Space Wolves. Their tactical marine carry 2 bolters in battle, not to mention their devastators