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Trying to figure out the best list to run at 2000 points vs flying circus daemons.

The space marine list should include the following must takes, as they are a staple in my setup I want to run, unless I'm convinced otherwise.

I'd be running:
Tigurius
Chapter master with 2+\3++
5 th/ss termies with CM
Land raider
3 dev centurions with ML/HB

I'm considering including an aegis defense with quad gun, but who knows.

For you more experienced SM players out there, how do you deal with flying circus?

It's usually something like:
Fateweaver
Keeper of secrets
3 daemon princes
Daemonettes

The thing about invul saves is you usually can bypass them except by sheer volume of fire. So what little advise I will give is just pour a lot of fire into the parts that matter.

I have played numerous daemons/CSM list with the FMC, have you ever used the hyperios luanchers from FW? They are great for a very low point cost.
Also try focusing on one at a time if you can. Drop one from the sky and focus fire when he's down and kill to avoid him from taking flight again. One wound here and there won't help much.

Pretty much 50% of your points are tied up in your "staples" and the only auto-take unit in there is Tigurius. Most of those units I might even recommend NOT taking, but I'm not going to rain on your parade if you enjoy those units. Just wanted to point out how silly it sounds to say something like "Mandrakes are auto-include unless you convince me otherwise."

One thing I have found after playing circus daemons is that the best way to win is to focus them one at a time. If one of mine gets badly wounded I just make a fresh one look like the most dangerous at the time, and so on. Usually people take the bait.

Do yourself a favor and give grav cannons to your centurions.
CM + Termies + land raider is much of a point sink and flying MC take evade them.
You need reliable firepower to take demons down. Razorbacks with assault cannons, sternguard, stormtalons, ravens and centurions a your best bet.
As above, pick one, ground it and kill it.

If you don't mind allies, then SW with a runepriest or 2 will often mitigate a lot of flying circus damage and protection.

2 Rune priests with 2 squads of grey hunters are hell for daemon players to deal with, especially if they set up in cover (no daemon grenades + runic weapon wounding on 2+ + counter attack has a good chance at ID any prince who charges them).

Push these 2 squads towards the centre of the board and you will make a huge bubble of 50% psychic power failure. They are very difficult for normal daemon troops to remove and are also scoring.


Tau allies are also a good choice. Skyfire, str 6 & 7 fire, massed firewarrior shots as well as SMS shooting out of LoS all cause problems for flying circus (along with many other armies).

Maybe ally in tau for some broadsides with skyfire. Fire warriors with strength 5 shooting ain't bad either. Storm talons are cheap and can easily cause a grounding test and probably tack on a wound or two. Dev squads with flak missiles.

THERE IS NO HOPE AGAINST THE FORCES OF CHAOS! THERE IS ONLY

DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMM





Bolters! lots and lots and lots of bolters! Or skyfire. Force weapons are good too. If you SM folk have something that is S10 thats great too