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So in all of your guys opinion, ranked 1 to 5, what are the most competitive marine chapters? I am relatively new to the hobby and have enjoyed playing vanilla space marines quite a bit, now i'm wanting to create a new much more competitive army for a league coming up at my local GW. I was specifically liking the idea and fluff of a DA deathwing army or a BA assault army but I would like to know your guys opinion. Should I just build up a more competitive vanilla space marine list or switch? I would enjoy playing and painting any chapter.

I was looking at this myself for a long time before the new DA codex came out. In 6th BA took a big nerf with the furious charge not buffing initiative anymore. therefore other MEQ hit at the same time.. Death company got buffed with the rage special rule being changed. but they are really expensive.

I think Deathwing is pretty awesome. also Grey Knights are a great choice. They are not as cheesy as in 5th due to the new wound allocation rules. Black Templars are completely dead and will maybe be included in the new marine codex. but as for now they are basically unplayable.

So I would say either DA or GK will work. but the vanilla marines still count as one of the best MEQ armies. Vulkan is really competetive.

Go, then SW/DA, then Vanilla, then BA then Templars.

IMO

1) SW/DA/Vanilla with IG
2) GK with Necrons
3) Ravenwing
4) SW
5) GK
6) Vanilla
7) Mech Spam BA
8) Deathwing
9) BA
10) Templars

It's hard to say, imo, the various marine chapter ranks outright, esp. considering allies, etc. If we discount allies it's still difficult, various chapters can be really scary depending on the list or points value; even Black Templars can do some seriously terrifying things. Blood angels, too, can be pretty dang ferocious.

What it comes down to is more "difficulty of building a strong list."

With that in mind I'd probably say that in terms of difficulty to make a strong Tac list (easiest to hardest):
1) GK/DA
2) SW
3) Nilla
4) B/A
5) BT

In my opinion

1. DA/GK - Solid armies with great elite/troop options.
2. SM/SW - Really well rounded armies that shine overall.
3. BA/BT - Armies that can do good, but require more luck than skill against most decent opponents.

We won't be able to have any consensus on this until all the codices are updated to 6th.

If I was going to collect any at this point it would be vanilla SM. Their new book is likely to bump them up a significant notch.

but for ranking current i would say

1. GK / DA
2. SW / BA
3. vanilla
4. BT

BA are mid-tier, around as good as Vanilla marines.its hard to make a good TAC lost with BA, but our tailor lists can be amazing.

Lucarikx

1: GK
2: SW
3: DA
4: BA
5: SM
6: BT

I feel I need to qualify my list before I give it. I don't believe that any army is inherently more powerful than the others (to any degree which is statistically relevant). I think the misperception that some armies have a power imbalance (or are more competitive) stems from the fact that some armies are easier to learn how to use, since the tactics that work best with them are simpler. So, with that in mind, here is my list of the five Space Marine chapters whose play style is easiest to learn.

1. Grey Knights.
2. Dark Angels.
3. Space Wolves.
4. Blood Angels.
5. Salamanders OR Crimson Fists.

 Jimsolo wrote:
I feel I need to qualify my list before I give it. I don't believe that any army is inherently more powerful than the others (to any degree which is statistically relevant). I think the misperception that some armies have a power imbalance (or are more competitive) stems from the fact that some armies are easier to learn how to use, since the tactics that work best with them are simpler. So, with that in mind, here is my list of the five Space Marine chapters whose play style is easiest to learn.

1. Grey Knights.
2. Dark Angels.
3. Space Wolves.
4. Blood Angels.
5. Salamanders OR Crimson Fists.

Play Tyranids against Venom spam DEldar, cry. Or compare the GKs and DA s to the Black templars, cry some more,

BLOOD RAVENS!!!!

 Lucarikx wrote:
BA are mid-tier, around as good as Vanilla marines.its hard to make a good TAC lost with BA, but our tailor lists can be amazing.

Lucarikx

That makes BA bad, not mid-tier.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Jimsolo wrote:
I feel I need to qualify my list before I give it. I don't believe that any army is inherently more powerful than the others (to any degree which is statistically relevant). I think the misperception that some armies have a power imbalance (or are more competitive) stems from the fact that some armies are easier to learn how to use, since the tactics that work best with them are simpler. So, with that in mind, here is my list of the five Space Marine chapters whose play style is easiest to learn.

1. Grey Knights.
2. Dark Angels.
3. Space Wolves.
4. Blood Angels.
5. Salamanders OR Crimson Fists.

You would be wrong about that. BA and BT are hard to use because the math is against you in a straight-up mathhammer situation.

I'd recommend GK or DA because they can take terminators as troops. Heldrakes are common and demolish power armour.

anonymou5 wrote:
IMO

1) SW/DA/Vanilla with IG
2) GK with Necrons
3) Ravenwing
4) SW
5) GK
6) Vanilla
7) Mech Spam BA
8) Deathwing
9) BA
10) Templars

If not exactly correct, this is pretty damn close to the truth of the current situation I think.