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I know that CSM are low on the competitiveness matrix, so while I'd like to play my little force I've got no qualms about just aligning them roc whichever god is best for gameplay purposes so they aren't dead weight.

So of these troop types:

Chaos Space Marines
Cultists
Raptors
Daemon Prince
Lord

Which alignment should I use. Also, Ahriman-is he usable? I heard good things here and there about his power as a caster, is it doable?

CSM are usually blank, nurgle or khorne

Cultists are usually blank, kept dirt cheap as objective sitters.

Raptors have no real "right" god, as they dont really work as blanks or as any god.

DP and lords are almost always nurgle


Nurgle is just superior nowdays :\

Rapors are somewhat fine as melta/plazma drop in a min-squad. No mark needed ofc. But they compete for a fast atack slot with spawns, drakes and bikes. While terminators are doing suicidal drops just as fine as raptors.

 koooaei wrote:
Rapors are somewhat fine as melta/plazma drop in a min-squad. No mark needed ofc. But they compete for a fast atack slot with spawns, drakes and bikes. While terminators are doing suicidal drops just as fine as raptors.

Yeah. Only reason I'd be using raptors is I created them as a modeling project more than a "I want this in game" thing. They came out sooo pretty....but they're sooo useless...

Okie doke, so basically just nurglify everything, got it.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Also, if I may ask a follow up question:

I have a model that I can use as a Defiler, Forgefiend or Maulerfiend. Am I correct in assuming Forgefiend is the way to roll?

Maulefiend is pretty good too...Ive seen some players use 2-3 and they just wreck vehicles. Forgefiend is good, I had a lot of fun using it; it was basically my anti air unit, or just tank hunter.

Obliterators, Mutilators, and Chaos Spawn should always be Nurgle.

Nothing else that isn't an Independent Character should ever buy a mark.

Chaos lord on a jug.....

I have a lot of fun with them.

The Forgefiend is kinda awful in all honesty... It's 8 shots at BS3, sure strength 8, but to average 4 str 8 shots on a 175 point model just isn't viable. Maulerfiends are a REAL threat to anything with an Armor Value, or building / fortification. And if you get into CC with a pack of infantry or MC, unless they're str 6 base, they can't really hurt you with AV12. Your Magma Cutters hit automatically with str 8 ap 1 and you still have your 5++. All for the low low cost of 125 points.

If you have a model that can be played as one of the CSM larger walkers, play it as a Plague Hulk, or Decimator. Plague Hulks are cheap versions of Defilers / Soul Grinders, with better ranged capabilities. A large Blast AP3 weapon, AV13 and 4 attacks with an upgrade to take a Warpsword for master Crafted, these things are terrifying. 150 points base!

Decimators can bring a lot of "Decimation" to your opponents lines. Being a Vehicle which can be upgraded to a Daemon of a patron god, Nurgle stands out clear above the rest as simply obnoxious. Park him in cover with a Heavy Conversion Beamer, you have a 2+ Cover save and IWND on an AV13 model which spits out a str 10 ap 1 large blast at anything trying to hide far across the board. Alternatively, these things are freaking terrifying in CC as their melee weapons have built in Heavy Flamers. a Str 8 Walker with 4 attacks, 2+ cover save in any form of 4+ Cover due to being Shrouded, that has IWND punching transports and buildings while roasting people inside is a terrifying sight.

 GoliothOnline wrote:
The Forgefiend is kinda awful in all honesty... It's 8 shots at BS3, sure strength 8, but to average 4 str 8 shots on a 175 point model just isn't viable. Maulerfiends are a REAL threat to anything with an Armor Value, or building / fortification. And if you get into CC with a pack of infantry or MC, unless they're str 6 base, they can't really hurt you with AV12. Your Magma Cutters hit automatically with str 8 ap 1 and you still have your 5++. All for the low low cost of 125 points.

If you have a model that can be played as one of the CSM larger walkers, play it as a Plague Hulk, or Decimator. Plague Hulks are cheap versions of Defilers / Soul Grinders, with better ranged capabilities. A large Blast AP3 weapon, AV13 and 4 attacks with an upgrade to take a Warpsword for master Crafted, these things are terrifying. 150 points base!

Decimators can bring a lot of "Decimation" to your opponents lines. Being a Vehicle which can be upgraded to a Daemon of a patron god, Nurgle stands out clear above the rest as simply obnoxious. Park him in cover with a Heavy Conversion Beamer, you have a 2+ Cover save and IWND on an AV13 model which spits out a str 10 ap 1 large blast at anything trying to hide far across the board. Alternatively, these things are freaking terrifying in CC as their melee weapons have built in Heavy Flamers. a Str 8 Walker with 4 attacks, 2+ cover save in any form of 4+ Cover due to being Shrouded, that has IWND punching transports and buildings while roasting people inside is a terrifying sight.

I thought you still have to roll for the maulerfiends extra attack?

 GoliothOnline wrote:
The Forgefiend is kinda awful in all honesty... It's 8 shots at BS3, sure strength 8, but to average 4 str 8 shots on a 175 point model just isn't viable. Maulerfiends are a REAL threat to anything with an Armor Value, or building / fortification. And if you get into CC with a pack of infantry or MC, unless they're str 6 base, they can't really hurt you with AV12. Your Magma Cutters hit automatically with str 8 ap 1 and you still have your 5++. All for the low low cost of 125 points.

If you have a model that can be played as one of the CSM larger walkers, play it as a Plague Hulk, or Decimator. Plague Hulks are cheap versions of Defilers / Soul Grinders, with better ranged capabilities. A large Blast AP3 weapon, AV13 and 4 attacks with an upgrade to take a Warpsword for master Crafted, these things are terrifying. 150 points base!

Decimators can bring a lot of "Decimation" to your opponents lines. Being a Vehicle which can be upgraded to a Daemon of a patron god, Nurgle stands out clear above the rest as simply obnoxious. Park him in cover with a Heavy Conversion Beamer, you have a 2+ Cover save and IWND on an AV13 model which spits out a str 10 ap 1 large blast at anything trying to hide far across the board. Alternatively, these things are freaking terrifying in CC as their melee weapons have built in Heavy Flamers. a Str 8 Walker with 4 attacks, 2+ cover save in any form of 4+ Cover due to being Shrouded, that has IWND punching transports and buildings while roasting people inside is a terrifying sight.

Alright, Maulerfiend it is! Works better too, since the model I'm using is a converted Fantasy Necrosphinx, and it's got those huge arm blades.

 GoliothOnline wrote:

Decimators can bring a lot of "Decimation" to your opponents lines. Being a Vehicle which can be upgraded to a Daemon of a patron god, Nurgle stands out clear above the rest as simply obnoxious. Park him in cover with a Heavy Conversion Beamer, you have a 2+ Cover save and IWND on an AV13 model which spits out a str 10 ap 1 large blast at anything trying to hide far across the board. Alternatively, these things are freaking terrifying in CC as their melee weapons have built in Heavy Flamers. a Str 8 Walker with 4 attacks, 2+ cover save in any form of 4+ Cover due to being Shrouded, that has IWND punching transports and buildings while roasting people inside is a terrifying sight.

As far as I can tell IA13 still has the weird clause that the decimator only counts as a Daemon of a specific god when it's is taken for codex daemons. So the CSM version is inexplicably worse, much so in the case of Nurgle. With the conversion beamer and dedication to Nurgle, you've invested a grotesque amount of points into one blast template that has to stay 42" to 72" inches away from its target. That decimator build is way over priced; more so than most, which is really saying something. The melee load out seems like the only way to even try the decimator but even then is underwhelming with WS3, S8, I3 and 4 attacks considering its almost as expensive as two maulerfiends.

I like the idea of a Contemptor of Khorne: Plasma Cannon, Chainfist; or in a Dreadclaw with DCCW + Chainfist. The Decimator seems like a transport killer that you need to be in a good position to use to its potential.

Khorne Lord on a Juggernaut is my favorite loadout on a Chaos Lord, and he is a beast in close combat. Spawn or Bikers are his escort. Lately I think I prefer the Bikers due to their ability to jink for a save against just about anything that doesn't ignore cover. They can also pack special weapons for anti-tank/challenge duty. Spawn require cover, conferred Shrouded, or Invisibility to really shine. And they can, especially when you roll a 6 for their number of attacks and they've all made it into combat. No challenges, no benefit to the Juggerlord other than ablative wounds from shooting. I dunno, it depends on the rest of your list. If I'm bringing Be'lakor, then I'll use Spawn and turn them into a death star. The only "problem" with this unit is the near guarantee to wipe whatever you're fighting in one turn, sometimes from the lord's attacks alone. Then they get shot to hell during your opponent's turn.

 BoomWolf wrote:
CSM are usually blank, nurgle or khorne

Cultists are usually blank, kept dirt cheap as objective sitters.

Raptors have no real "right" god, as they dont really work as blanks or as any god.

DP and lords are almost always nurgle


Nurgle is just superior nowdays :\

Nurgle is awesome. I hope you die a bloated and disgusting death for your hatred.

What hatred?

I am just sad that other gods don't get a chance to play around too...

I'm late to the party, but try out Slannesh on the Raptors. HoW at I10 and all their standard attacks at I5 means a lot of hurt before the standard enemy even gets to throw a punch. Use the squad right, to pick on weaker units such as Devestator Marines, Guardsmen, anything in small numbers or just plain wimpy and it can be a game changer. Mark of Excess to be annoying and FNP for more survivability on the Deep Strike turn they have to sit and wait but that's not as needed.

There are uses for all the marks.

Nurgle - the most obvious and popular mark - needs no explanation.

Slaanesh - used to get a FNP icon. And +1 ini is handy. If you're running a 20-strong squad and infiltrate/outflank it, consider MoS + Icon. If you're running a landraider with indep that's not nurgle or khorne, consider it on a chosen or marine retinue to add this extra durability. Abaddon with FNP? Yes, please.

Khorne - a bit tricky cause extra durability is usually more useful than extra damage output from fewer survivors. But there are situations when you have a Khorne indep like AoBF lord or Kharn who wouldn't mind a khornate retinue. Though, unmarked is not worse for saving points.

Tzeench - gives 3++ for your footslogging indep like a prophet or lord with a blob of unmarked cultists.