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So I've been wondering as I haven't played for a long time and hear a lot of things on this forum, what would approximately represent an average army list?

I appreciate its a very open question and hard to really answer, but if I was to try and get back into gaming I would like some kind of ideas of the average.

Like in the past a marine army might be:
Character
Sub character optional
2-3 tactical squads (or other troops)
Some transports
A couple of heavy/elite options (i.e. tanks/dreadnoughts/devastators)
about 1500 points

Would this be a good approximation of an average list?

Another way to put it could be, 'if i was to build this kind of list would it be sort of average?'

~1500 Tau
Farsight
2 dual fusion suits, 2 dual plasma suits, support suit (MSSS and C&Cnode)
2 x 12 man firewarriors 1 with devilfish
10 man kroot with hound
Riptide
Skyray
2 x 5 man path finders
3 man broadsides

As many superheavys you can fit in a the list with any troops with low AP weapons and psykers who can use daemon summoning powers to fill in the excess points , I guess [haven't played a game of 40k since about may last year]

Well.. firstly you would only buy the minimum troop requirement unless you were playing malestrom.

This edition's introduction of IK's has introduced a lot of anti tank to many a competitive meta. That, and the mild buff to non open topped vehicles in regard to the vehicle damage table, has contributed to this.

Also, codex wide it seems GW doesn't want any unit to flexibly get into assault easily. Infiltrate, scout, deep strkke, getting between hove, swooping, or zooming all grants a penalty to assault.

They want you to shoot until turn five, then assault for an objective, unless you are playing maelstrom.

Lots of cheap units made as mobile as possible with as low AP as possible IMO.

Look at Eldar, Tau and Marines and they all have these characteristics in droves which is why they do so well.

It's hard to define an 'average' list. I've seen all kinds of different arrangements at my local tournaments and casual/pick-up games.

Some people go for infantry-heavy lists, while others concentrate their points into one or two big expensive units. Heck, a few weeks back, I once observed an Unbound game where one player had multiple Dreadknights and Imperial Knights.

But those are extreme examples. I'd estimate 90% of players I've encountered go for a healthy mix of unit types. Things are not as bad as other posters have said.

And a vast majority of lists would be generally similar to your generic one, with a few variations. It's a good thing to have more than the minimum troops, as there will be times when you don't know ahead of time what kind of game you'll be playing.

For your Tau list, I think that'd be pretty good as a starting point, if you're looking to start playing them. It will, as it is for everybody, come down to your playing experiences. What others in your local playing community commonly play, and what units you think are cool or what you find to be underperforming will effect your list.

I guess it's a little different for all codexes, Mine usually looks like:
2HQ
1-2 Elite
2-3 Troop
2 Fast Attack
3 Heavy


If you're just starting up again, take some safe choices and play some games, you might lose but at least you'll see "oh I need more anti-infantry" or "nono, more anti tank". Every meta is different and it takes a lil bit to readjust.

So much depends on your local group. I know my FLGS is not nearly as competitive as some, so my average list is not nearly as cut-thought as it could be. There are going to be some stores where if you don’t bring a tournament caliber list, you are going to get curb stomped.

Here is the list I brought to the last doubles tournament at my store:
1,200 points Ultramarines
Cassius
5 man assault squad, 2 flamers, vet w/axe, pod
10 man sternguard, 2xC-melta, 2xHF, pod
10 man tactical, MM/M, c-melta, pod
5 man scout, 2 shotguns, vet sarge w/meltabomb, LSS (w/HB)
Talon w/skyhammers
Raven w TLMM/TLAsC