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Ok, so my FLGS has a nice mix of players, to the point where we have almost one of every army.
The problem I'm having with my CSM, is that if I play against a MEQ codex, I'm generally in the clear.
I can bring down landraiders, termi-blobs, bolter bikes etc. My codex has answers for practically anything a loyalist could throw at me.
However when it comes to Xeno armys I always get crushed.
Now none of these players are running spammy lists (our eldar only has 2 serpents, tau only takes a single riptide etc) but I constantly find that I can't deal with Monstrous creatures, at all.
The biggest culprits are the wraithknight, the riptide, tervigon hive tyrannt.
I've read my codex front to back multiple times and really I can't find any reliable way of dealing to them short of sinking a ton of points at dealing with them.
Every special character (excluding abby) dies 1 hit and usually only deals a few wounds.
Abby is a pretty solid way of dealing to them, but is very slow. Unless you take a Landraider, but thats coming in at 500 odd points before youve bought a retinue for him.
Daemon princes are quite good at dealing damage. However, if you opponent is in cover, don't even try, you'll get instant deathed before you strike (even tau riptides can out CC you)
Also even with the Black mace or Blinding Axe, you still don't guarantee the kill. (esp if you roll a 1) as on average the mace gets 9 attacks = 6 hits = 5 wounds = dead daemon prince.
Axe gets on average 11 hits which will kill the nids, Usually the Riptide (if it doesn't have 3++ and FNP) but not the wraithknight. Either way hes one dead prince.
Is there anyway we can compete in a Monster rich meta? Is a 10 man tzeentch PF terminator squad the only way?
Seriously guys, even with 3 heldrakes these monsters are kicking my ass!

Any help is appreciated

I can relate to the problem with the new MCs being far too tanky for such shooti armies and arguably the armies who by all rights shouldnt have them, do..

Nids for instance, everything rolling Biomancy running around with Iron Arm... It's disgusting...

You start fighting Riptides and you're wondering why the crap your only MC, the Immortal Daemon Prince, doesn't even bloody have Eternal Warrior, has a crappy Invuln save, is expensive and simply IS a troll pick for gimping yourself... (At least the Chaos Space Marine variants of the Daemon Prince)

My usual way of dealing with Riptides, however, include spawn, Plague Marines, or abusing cover... Cultists are a must, park them behind ADLs or in forests and go to ground wherever possible, your plague marines will Poison 4+ on higher toughness targets like Nids, who generally have poor armor saves on their MCs (3+) but Riptides, you will need Tri-Las-Preds from my experience.

1 Tri-Las-Pred gets you 3 shots, ignoring armor altogether, and forcing the invuln save. If you bring 2 - 3 preds you force the Tau player to WANT / NEED for the increased Invuln save... Unless he wants it to simply soak up fire, which has happened a few times in the past...

I dislike the Riptides, mostly because I believe they should be Vehicles... or bloody walkers at least...

Combi-plasma terminators.

Power mauls work great on mc. They come free with your termies

The Black Mace on a Daemon Prince wounds everything on a2+. Think your Iron Armed Great Unclean one is invincible? Think again.

 Eldarain wrote:
Combi-plasma terminators.

Deep striking them? You better hope and pray they aren't flying and you don't scatter > 12 away.

Spawn seem to be the only way to take them on. But still since they have no AP you really need to get the charge off for the rage. Without that and without MoN they can get smashed pretty quickly (you can only get 5 in a squad).

Cast Invisibility on them and they actually have a chance to do a lot of damage cause your opponent with need 5's to wound.

But for the love of god don't be as stupid as me and leave your Sorc in the unit when it charges. He will get challenged (if opponent is a Chr) and stomped on leaving your raged Spawn with their wangs in their hand.

Nurgle Marines have poison but A) they are pricey for it and B) Normally not in big numbers.

Also depends on if its a shooty MC or a stabby MC. Riptide isn't too tough if you can force him to make that leadership. The stabby ones will have a higher Int and a butt load of attacks. We have no real way to shoot down a stabby FMC.

Forge-fiend w/ Hades Autocannons?

Turkey can always vector strike them @ STR7 AP3