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Ok, my current 1500 Chaos Marine list has been perfoming brilliantly. The list revolves around Abaddon and a squad of 15CSM backed up by additional CSM units, and allied Guard with a Vulture. Therefore I'm now thinking of upgrading the list to the 1750 point level, which has got me thinking wherever it would be worth investing in a couple of Predators. Aside from the Vulture my list has no armour at all so I'm thinking it'll be a wise addition to take some of the heat away from my gunship, but the real thing that's holding me back would be the movement rules, as I can only fire 1 weapon at full BS even if I move 6".

210 Points would get me 2 Predators with Autocannon turrets and Lascannon sponsons, which I feel would give me considerable anti-armour weaponry. This means I have another 80 points to blow as my original list only came to 1460. What would you guys recommend: should I go with the Predators or something else entirely?

Chaos Predators are primarily anti-tank units, so it really depends on if you feel that you need more tank-busting capacity. If so then go for the Predators. Another option may be a Havoc squad with autocannons/missile launchers for light armour and a Vindicator for dealing with those pesky TEQs.

I'm a huge fan of vindicators if for no other reason that people tend to be terrified of them which will focus a lot of firepower away from the rest of your army. There are so many choices in the heavy support slots that its hard to know what to pick. I did once have a Maulerfiend that devoured a landraider much to my opponent's dismay

I'm not really a fan of the Maulerfiend if I'm honest, mainly as it only has 2 attacks, can easily be bogged down by hordes. I suppose a Vindicator would be a good alternative, could even have a Vindi and a Predator supported by the Obliterators I already use.

I seem to remember it can get extra attacks thanks to the magna cutters and the demonforge ability can do some decent damage

It has three attacks thanks to two power fists.
Magma cutters only help on models already hit so it doesn't add anything for horde.

Your math is wrong. 2 x Preds with Laz sponsons will come in at 230 points. If you want to keep mobile shooters 2 Preds with twin Laz turrets and dozerblades will come in at 210. They can zip around with the added benefit of being twin linked.

Daemonforge isn't actually that useful. Firstly you have to declare it at the start of the phase when it's not guaranteed that you'll actually hit anything with your puny WS3. Secondly you're already wounding on 2+ most of the time due to your Power Fists, far less useful than originally made out to be.


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Suppose I could go down an alternate route and invest in a Manticore for the allied IG?

Daemonforge is just a little insurance for the kill.
Since you're typically trading your maulerfiend for a high value target, you want as high of a chance to destroy as possible for that turn.

I have 2 predators I infrequently use as I have 12 havocs carrying auto cannons giving me 3 squads of havocs with 4 ac each. Luckily I had magnetized the predators so that I can swap out options and downgrade into rhinos to carry my troops.

Like I said before though, you might not even get any hits when you declare the 'Forge. If they made it so you can declare it after hits, then it'd be a much better choice. Even with the 12" move it'll take a turn or two for it to get there, and a single Immobilised result will completly ruin its day, whereas Havocs, Obliterators, Predators, even a Forgefiend can continue to blast away at range. That's another point actually, you're charging this thing forward...right into the enemy Meltas and Plasma: not going to last long really.

True it doesn't last long but its relatively speaking really cheap and fast. Which can all divert attention from other elements

The only heavy support in Chaos that is remotely worth anything.......Obliteraters. They're pretty obscure, you've probably never heard of them.

I believe that the predator is extremely good, but you need a focus on armour saturation in your army. A couple of rhinos or helbrutes do the trick and you need the search light for negating that horrible night fighting.
As I've said before 140 points of pure long range goodness.