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Hello all,
This will be my entry level force into the hobby and I am deciding upon what to get first. I want it to be a Thousand Sons style army, as I really like the fluff I have read about them so far. That being said it does come with its limitations, but I want to have fun as well as it being mildly competitive.

My first iteration for a 500 points list is as follow:

HQ
90 Chaos Sorcerer + Mark of Tzeentch + Aura of Dark Glory

Troops
150 Thousand Son Rubrics x 5
150 Thousand Son Rubrics x 5

Elites
110 Thousand Son Dreadnought/Helbrute + Reaper Autocannon

Total
500

Does anyone have any tips or suggestions for changing this entry level?
Strengths, weaknesses and which foes would be easier or harder to compete again?

Thanks alot for reading,
Op

Unfortunately don't expect a straight up 1k sons as troops army to last very long due to model count. At higher point values they tend to lose their efficacy faster than you can put bodies on the table, and even here this is apparent. Any army with a good number of troops will level you with weight of fire, and the 4++ won't do a darned thing about it. I might consider running CSM with a blue paint job as a better option, they are cheaper, and though they don't have AP3 weapons, you can make up for that with more shots (for 150 points you get 10 marines with a bit for special weapons). Maybe strike a balance between the two.

I love rubric marines. I think they are really fun but as the other poster mentioned not overly competetitve especially in low point games.

I would turn the dreadnought into 5 havocs with 4 autocannons. Almost same points cost and alot more dakka.

I would also consider changing the rubrics to 1 squad of maybe 6 or 7 (so they dont get wiped immediately) and adding some cultists to up the body count.

How about:

Sorcerer (as listed above) 90

T Sons (7) (correct me if I am wrong, I think they cost 23 each) 196

5 havocs with 4 autocannons 115

22 cultists 98

Thats 499

Added 24 boddies and 6 more s7 shots a turn.

You could keep the cutists in cover or behind the rubric marines for a cover save. You could also cut a few cultists and give them autoguns if you want more shooting but their shooting is pretty wesk

Hope this helps! CHAOS!!!!!!!!!!

As a Tzeentch player myself, Thousand Sons don't do too well at lower point levels unless supported. I agree with using plain CSM as they're cheaper.
If you want to stick with them, I'd drop the second squad and add men into one of the squads so you avoid the second sorcerer tax (Tzeentch powers in the CSM book aren't very good) and possibly up the mastery level of the sorcerer, I don't have the books near me for points values though so take it with a grain of salt


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I agree with the above suggestion strongly, it is a pretty strong list at 500pts

General Duf wrote:I might consider running CSM with a blue paint job as a better option, they are cheaper, and though they don't have AP3 weapons, you can make up for that with more shots (for 150 points you get 10 marines with a bit for special weapons). Maybe strike a balance between the two.

Icelord wrote:I love rubric marines Me too!

Icelord wrote:Sorcerer (as listed above) 90
T Sons (7) (correct me if I am wrong, I think they cost 23 each) 196
5 havocs with 4 autocannons 115
22 cultists 98

Thats 499

Thank you for the reply and advice! I'd love to include the havocs squad come to think of it, but how fluffy are they for Thousand Sons? During the rubric spell all their normal marines became the mindless suits of armour we see today, did Thousand Sons recruit more space marines after the spell had done its damage?

The Thousand Sons Dreadnought on forgeworld just looks so great, perhaps there's a way I can run it with the cultists using a different weapon on it (instead of the havocs)? I can paint the cultists in Prospero Spireguard colours, since I assume the regiment still exists on the Planet of the Sorcerors?

It's true it wasn't totally fluffy but you could use rubric marine bodies and give then autocannons. Easy to make autocannons from csm heavy bolters. Just extend the barrel and done!

It isn't totally fluffy but if you want to have a force that doesn't get wiped at 500 you need some leeway!

Thanks again all, I'll think of an excuse for them being there

ALL IS DUST!

Hello everyone again,

I have been thinking about how to keep it fluffy but make up for the fact Rubrics arent effective in a 500 point game... so I will be using Cultists instead (Prospero Spireguard).

HQ
180 Chaos Sorcerer + Mark of Tzeentch + Terminator Armour + Mastery Level 3 + Spell Familiar

Troops
100 Prospero Spireguard x 20 + 2 Flamers
145 Prospero Spireguard x 30 + 3 Heavy Stubbers + 15 Autoguns

Heavy Support
75 Predator

Total
500

I would use the Predator to distract my opponent, taking AP 2 lascannon or equivalent shots away from my Sorcerer or as a mobile cover platform for my Prospero Spireguard...

basic auto cannon pred?
and for the spire gaurd use Cadian models and paint them blue(maybe change the head)


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i ask bout the pred cause if you can afford a tank so can they so you need so AP13 killers.

Just the basic predator with single autocannon, no sponsons. Probably driving flat out to cause mischief. Relying on my Sorcerer to do everything really... Perhaps should drop some autoguns and spell familiar for brand*** if that is the case?

Yes. 500 points no restrictions so long as it follows the force organisation chart...

*edit*
Called Brand artifact a Baleflamer by accident