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I bought a command squad boxes but I'm not sure how to outfit. Should I keep them with pistols and chainswords or upgrade to power weapons or bolt guns or combi bolters. I'm going for an all comers list if that helps.

Well it really depends on what codex you are using and what the rest of your army looks like. Lacking in anti armor? Maybe load them up with meltas and stick em in a drop pod/land raider/rhino.

I like to outfit mine the same way I would a 5 man assault squad w/o packs. that way it is an interchangeable unit. The command squad box is one of the only boxes that comes with an extra set of legs also. so its easy to make that extra guy your apothecary or champion or banner bearer for when you are running them as a command squad. sorry I already know a lot of people are going to tell me its not the best use of the squad, but this way if you are on a budget you can use it for one of two units.

ex: I run one banner bearer, three BP/CCW, one duel lightling claws(sgt if AM), and a flamer guy.

Command squads are really hard to look at in a vacuum. There are so many ways to go, depending on the army, it's not funny.

Who's leading them? Or are you keeping the HQ separate? What does the rest of you list look like? What do you need/want/like? What does the rest of your collection look like?

It's been a long time since I fielded a command squad. That might change with the new codex. The two ways I have in mind are either special weapon spam in a drop pod, or a counter-charge CC unit in a LR. Both of which have very little overlap, model wise.

What I would recommend is magnetize if you can/want. But build the apothecary, champion, and standard bearer. You can put together special weapons and CC marines from a number of kits; this box is the place you get those three. And when they are sitting on the shelf with the rest of your company of marines, you will want them to be there. For the last two, it's up in the air. I might just build them for CC. I've got lots of spare melta/plasma gunners that could be swapped in, but non-HQ, non-jump pack marines are a rarity in my collection. YMMV.

IMHO the command squad is more of a modeling and fluff exercise then a game mechanic one. I can't think of any squad that has changed more with each edition then these guys. So just do something you enjoy, and plan on swapping as needed.

The box shows one marine with a plasma gun, but the codex only allows them access to the ranged and melee weapons. The plasma gun is in the special weapons category. So which is right.

 wowsmash wrote:
The box shows one marine with a plasma gun, but the codex only allows them access to the ranged and melee weapons. The plasma gun is in the special weapons category. So which is right.

The box, with an assist from the FAQ:

http://www.games-workshop.com/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m3450050a_Space_Marines_v1.0_SEPTEMBER13.pdf

ERRATA
Page 164 – Command Squads, options Add the following option to this list.
“Any Veteran may take items from the Special Weapons list.”

 wowsmash wrote:
I bought a command squad boxes but I'm not sure how to outfit. Should I keep them with pistols and chainswords or upgrade to power weapons or bolt guns or combi bolters. I'm going for an all comers list if that helps.

You should outfit it with magnets whenever possible.

In my local meta, 3+ armor and monstrous creatures are rather common. So I tend to pimp out my command squad with bikes and gravity guns.

15 attacks at 18'' that wound MC's and MEQ on a 3+ are a godsend. It's also usable against vehicles- though slightly less efficient.