Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Ultamarine Army-

Captain: plasma pistol 120pts
lightning claw

Dreadnought: Twin-linked Lascannon 135pts
Missile Launcher

Sternguard Veteran Squad(5): Combi-Flamer 135pts
Sgt. w/ Combi-Melta

Tactical Squad(10): Flamer 145pts
Sgt. w/ Bolt Pistol, Chainsword

Tactical Squad(10): Flamer 145pts
Sgt. w/ Bolt Pistol, Chainsword

Scout Squad(5): 5 snipers 70pts
Camo Cloaks


I love the dreadnought and sternguard miniatures so I had to have them in my army. I will have the Captain run with the sternguard vets. I also am more of a fan of ranged attacks than the assault types. Please give me your advice on how to improve the army list, or if its just a terrible list all together. I haven't bought the models yet so its just a blueprint of what I want. Need help.

If you are not an assault fan, I would drop all the flamers. You will have to be close to use them. In fact you might even look at straight bolters. Then add a second combi-melta or combi grav to the sternguard. Drop the scouts, and pickup either 2 rhinos or rhino and drop pod.

2 rhinos give you some mobile cover and let you race squads in to position, just don't expect a lot of game time out of them. The rhino/drop pod is nice as it still draws some fire off the dread and lets you put the Stern and Captain right were you need them first turn.

Get some transport for your guys, rhinos are pretty much the best option especially for 750. Also don't mix the combi- weapons on the sternguard squad it limits their fire power and they usually don't survive very many turns to be able to fire at a lot of different targets. Good thing the box comes with two of each combi weapon. Only give them combi-meltas if they are in drop pods because that is the best way to get them in close.
Other then that I suggest no combi-weapons or combi-plasmas. Also drop the flamers on the tac squads (as noted above) and take out the lighning claw and plasma pistol on the captain. That should give you enough points to give your tac squads lascannons, which are perfect for staying in the back and popping tanks. Honestly I know you love the dreadnought but you might want to consider taking it out to get some better upgrades for your captain and a few more marines, or rhinos.
One last note a bare bones sternguard squad is 130 points with 10 points per combi-weapon, so you're squad is actually 150 points.

Ultraboiii11 wrote:
Ultamarine Army-

Captain: plasma pistol 120pts
lightning claw

Dreadnought: Twin-linked Lascannon 135pts
Missile Launcher

Sternguard Veteran Squad(5): Combi-Flamer 135pts
Sgt. w/ Combi-Melta

Tactical Squad(10): Flamer 145pts
Sgt. w/ Bolt Pistol, Chainsword

Tactical Squad(10): Flamer 145pts
Sgt. w/ Bolt Pistol, Chainsword

Scout Squad(5): 5 snipers 70pts
Camo Cloaks


I love the dreadnought and sternguard miniatures so I had to have them in my army. I will have the Captain run with the sternguard vets. I also am more of a fan of ranged attacks than the assault types. Please give me your advice on how to improve the army list, or if its just a terrible list all together. I haven't bought the models yet so its just a blueprint of what I want. Need help.

First, Welcome to Dakka. And the Ultramarines

How are you planning on acquiring the minis? Ebay second hand, new in box? What kind of budget are you working with? While it’s one thing to put together a theoretical list, it is another to actually collect the minis and put things together. Your list has a lot in common with the SM Strikeforce (2xTac, dred, snipers, captain) so if you were planning on buying new, for an extra $60-ish bucks, you get a razorback, drop pod, assault marines, and command squad. But little things like the fact that the venerable dred kit does not have a ML arm would require tweaking the list. Something to keep in mind.

What is your long term goal? Is this a 750 one-and-done list, or are you planning on working up to something larger? There are units that work fine in low points that are shelf warmers in larger ones. Something to keep in mind as you grow your collection.

On to your list.

Plasma pistols are overpriced. I would never recommend taking one. If this guy if going to be hanging out with the sternguard, I’d go with a c-plasma/lightning claw. Or just a bolt pistol and power sword. Artificer armor is a good investment, but at low point values I can see why you’d have to skimp.

I like dreads, and field one like you describe from time to time. Not a bad option, if a little overpriced for what you get. Fluffy, fun, and cool looking though.

Sternguard need a way to get to optimal rapid fire range. I like them in a drop pod, but a rhino/razor can work. I like them with minimal gear, the special ammo is enough for most occasions. If you want to give them a toy or two, heavy flamers are fun, or a c-melta or two just in case you need to crack open a tank. They also work much better in larger squads.

My 1,500 lists are formed around 2 full tac squads and a 5 man sniper squad. Your list is half that size, with the same troops. A good rule of thumb is one troop pick per 500 points. You can afford to drop a tac squad and use those points to buy some more toys. I’m terribly old fashioned and like both the special and the heavy in 10 man squads. ML/F is iconic, is possibly not worth the points. You should buy them a rhino as well.

You don’t have a good answer for how to deal with flyers, and only the dread to deal with any sort of vehicles. If you want to make a more TAC list (like all good ultramarines should) you need to have something to address these threats. The dread is a good start, but you should avoid having all your eggs in one basket. Adding a dev squad would help a little bit with that. It also helps with my personal philosophy of “take something from every FOC slot"

 Nevelon wrote:

My 1,500 lists are formed around 2 full tac squads and a 5 man sniper squad. Your list is half that size, with the same troops. A good rule of thumb is one troop pick per 500 points. You can afford to drop a tac squad and use those points to buy some more toys. I’m terribly old fashioned and like both the special and the heavy in 10 man squads. ML/F is iconic, is possibly not worth the points. You should buy them a rhino as well.

You don’t have a good answer for how to deal with flyers, and only the dread to deal with any sort of vehicles. If you want to make a more TAC list (like all good ultramarines should) you need to have something to address these threats. The dread is a good start, but you should avoid having all your eggs in one basket. Adding a dev squad would help a little bit with that. It also helps with my personal philosophy of “take something from every FOC slot"

At 750 where you are likely only facing a stormtalon, Tacs with Flaks would work, if expensive. If you are running Ultra, having a heavy in the Tac squad is not to bad with Tac and Dev doctrines.

Captain: 125 pts
Power sword, bolt pistol.Artificer armour

Sternguard Veteran Squad(5): 130 points

Venerable Dread: 155
ML, TL las cannon, Venerable.

Tactical Squad(10): 170 points
ML, Plasma rifle
Tactical Squad(10): 170 points
ML, Plasma rifle

Please do note that I'm building on your list which didn't have anti air to begin with. You will need the dice gods on your side if you face a flyer.
Rerolling the exploding penetrating hit can be a real life saver. I'd also consider getting a Motf with a conversion beamer in the back instead of the captain but that would make the