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HQ

Abaddon the Despoiler
265

ELITE

Chaos Terminators x10
- Champ (Power axe)
- 9x power axe
- 4x combi melta
- 2x reaper auto cannon
- MoT
- VOTLW
462

TROOPS

Chosen x9
- MoT
- IoV
- 2x melta
- Rhino
260

Chosen x9
- MoT
- IoV
- 2x melta
- Rhino
260

Chosen x9
- MoT
- IoV
- 2x melta
- Rhino
260

FAST ATTACK

Heldrake
- Baleflamer
170

Heldrake
- Baleflamer
170

1847

Abaddon and the terminators will deepstrike while the rest move to take positions and the heldrakes take care of air and numbers.

It's a nice bold and quick list.
I think having over 50% of your list of the board in the first turn is a problem and with poor reserve rolls you could be hopelessly outnumbered for the first turn or so. A dakka list is going to quickly get the chosen walking. The Abaddon and the terminators will be a big blob to deepstrike and significantly increases the chance of a mishap as you will be into the second ring when you deploy them. For these two reasons maybe consider a landraider for Abaddon and a handful of terminators.

The chosen may benefit with turning one into a plasma unit + heavy weapon to allow it to go after an objective.

You aren't taking advantage of the fact that your chosen can take more than just 2 special weapons. Drop a squad of chosen and use the points to add more options to your squads, like some plasma. If you need another scoring uint add in a 10 man squad of cultist.

will 2 squads of chosen be enough to actually deal some big damage? I'm used to playing plague marines and having that insane survivability so this feels like a bigger transition than it is.

Abaddon isn't competitive, neither are Chosen, so it's not going to work. Deep Striking is the best option though, 10 termies is a pain and will get into close combat, unless the opponent has a silly amount of blast weaponry. Plagues remain the better choice in every conceivable way.

I might not be the best player or a CSM expert, but I have tried to use Abaddon and his Chosen for better or for worse.

If you run your chosen like you are right now, you might as well just call them regular CSM. You are paying 3 more points for +1 Ld and Attack.

Fill those two special weapons slots with at least more of the same or double flamers. 2 more of the same to make it extra specialized or adding 2 flamers in conjunction will provide decent anti horde and over watch capabilities for 10 points.

I would drop the mark of tzeentch on chosen because it only provides a 6++ invul save. I might as well use those points for VotLW, but MoN maybe a better choice. Keep the IoV because they will be taking many moral test since they are not as tough as plague marines.

I would split the termi squad in 2 groups of 5 so I can get 1 more champion and be able to shoot at 2 targets. I would opt for a heavy flamer for the one squad Abaddon is deep striking with. You may run the risk of scattering more or not having both come in the turn you want. However, if you can form a pincer with the 2 squads then you can squeeze the enemy into the open for the rest of your army to shoot at or force them to stay in cover so you can assault them. You want Abaddon to make his point back but that only happens when he is in close combat and not shooting his TL bolter.

If that doesn't work so well try MSU of Chosen so that its just
5 Chosen (4+1 Champ), No Marks or Icon, 4 Special weapons, Rhino (if Chosen have 4 Melta guns, then get a HML, if not then get combi melta on the rhino and try to pop that first to open a transport so your Chosen can mow the unit inside down with plasma guns or flamers)

or as some one suggested to me my favorite set up:

5 Chosen, 3 flamers, 1 Las cannon, No Marks, No Icon, No Rhino (This combo can snipe tanks and deter assault units forcing the enemy to just shoot them to death)

If you field just 4 squads of Chosen at 5 men per squad then you may have plenty of points left over. I would spend those points to fill out 2 squads of 20-30 cultists.

First of all, Abbadon is a beatstick. Don't let anyone tell you he cannot be competitive. Abbadon beats the face of nearly every other IC in the game - though you want him focusing on the squads and not locked in a challange when possible. This is because you don't want to lose his attacks on a seargent, nor do you want him spawning or becoming a DP. Just challange with your commander and not abbadon.

Lets take a look at your list.

Chaos Terminators x10
- Champ (Power axe)
- 9x power axe
- 4x combi melta
- 2x reaper auto cannon
- MoT
- VOTLW
462

If Abbadon is going to hang with this crew, you don't want to give them VotLW. You should also drop the reapers. They are rather weak. I would also give 4 of them mauls and not axes -- to increase the versility of their threat.

I would even consider removing the MoT. 310 points for a squad of them is very cheap for what it provides. Losing a 31 point model is a pain, losing a 46 point model hurts.

Chosen x9
- MoT
- IoV
- 2x melta
- Rhino
260

Chosen are awesome for MSU. Your not paying for the champion, so they save 10 points. When your paying 10 of them, your 'discount' is less. Marking chosen is tricky -- I'm not normally keen on it. Your paying 26 points a model for those guys, and plague marines would be much better for the same cost! In a similar way, I'm not sure the icons are hot.

One of the strong points of chosen is that you can bring 5 special/heavy weapons. I would take 5-6 chosen. 2 MGs, and 1 flamer. The flamer is a 5 point squad upgrade and it gives you some good flexability.

Strategy
Like others, I'm not keen on starting with half your army off the board.

How sold are you on the terminators being in one large squad? It might be better to use 3 squads of 3 of them as deep strikers. This lets you apply pressure where you need it.

Abbadon can work very well in a squad of 20 normal CSM. Add a cheap librarian to help accept challanges and to provide buffs. Noone will assault the CSM squad because Abbadon will wreck their face, and its tough to dislodge 20 power armored models + 2 terminators. The 20 CSM will cost less than one of your chosen squads.

Have you thoughts about bringing a squad of cultists as your 'deck chairs'? 50 points gets you 10 guys that can start in reserve, run on the board and just go to ground on an objective.

For your other troops, how about daemons? 40 plague bearers / daemonettes would add some punch. You could also bring a greater daemon in leau of the sorcerer mentioned above. Greater daemons are extremely good beatsticks on their own right.

Ho0opla wrote:
HQ

Abaddon the Despoiler
265

ELITE

Chaos Terminators x10 462


TROOPS

Chosen x9 in Rhino 260

Chosen x9 in Rhino 260

Chosen x9 in Rhino 260

FAST ATTACK

Heldrake 170

Heldrake 1701847

Abaddon and the terminators will deepstrike while the rest move to take positions and the heldrakes take care of air and numbers.

I agree with the Abaddon + Termies but I think the reapers are overcosted...
I would like a Termie Sorcerer with Biomancy to really improve your army.
Since we don't take the reapers, perhaps split it into a small termicide and then the rest in Abaddon's bodyguard.

Couple of options on the chosen... take 2 of them, put them in landraiders - emphasize assault rather than firing...
Make them multi-purpose rhino riders...

Abaddon: 265
Sorcerer: MoT, Sigil of Corruption, Lvl 3, Terminator, Force Axe, VotLW 155
I would take Biomancy and hope for Endurance and Enfeeble.

3 x Terminators: MoT, 3x CombiMelta 125
This one deep strikes in tight to a vehicle or MC and unloads its 3 melta shots... I would love for it to have a Chainfist so you can take out a dreadnought or landraider but it is liveable.

5 x Terminators: MoT, VotLW, 1x Combi-Melta, Power Axe: 202

2 x Heldrakes w Baleflamer 340
977 so 873 for Chosen

Either
2 x Landraiders 440
each with

2x8 Chosen: VotLW, MoK 4 flamers, 1x Combi-Flamer and 1 x Gift of Mutation on Champion

1849

The cool thing with this list is both your Chosen can assault so 5 flamer templates and then MoK charge.

or
3 x Rhinos with Combi-Melta and Dirge Caster 150
1x 8 Chosen: VotLW, Mon + 2 Plasma Pistols + 2 Melta Gun + 2 Flamer 244 each 488
1x 8 Chosen: VotLW, MoS + 2 Plasma Pistols + 2 Melta Gun + 2 Flamer 236 236
1x 8 Chosen: VotLW, MoK + 2 Plasma Pistols + 2 Melta Gun + 2 Flamer 236
This list can try to stay inside their Rhinos and fire the two that make the most sense.

1843

I can attest to the 5 Flame throwing Chosen in a Land Raider. I just never did 2 because I only have 1 Land Raider. It is truly amazing to bbq hordes trying to hide in cover. I usually kill so many that I fail to reach the charge distance needed.

I have not tried the alternative yet, but it looks promising.