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Hello
So recently I started Chaos Space Marines again and managed to get myself 4500 points worth of models.
Although I am massively happy with them I'm needing more (signs of an imminent bank balance crash).

Anyway I have taken quite a liking to Chaos Daemons and more specifically, Khorne Daemonkin. Almost 1000 points are devoted to Khorne Berserkers and I need to know are there any special rules for Khorne Berserkers and other Khorne Daemons in the Daemonkin codex?

Also can anyone recommend using Daemons alongside Chaos Space Marines? I know Greater Bloodthirster is an absolute nutcase but I don't know enough about them to dive in and get several thousand points of Daemons or Khorne Daemonkin

All comments are greatly appreciated of course

Khrone Berzerkers, as much as it pains me to admit, are terrible. They have been rather poor choices for a few editions now, and many Khorne players (myself included) were very hopeful that the Khorne Daemonkin codex would solve some of the problems associated with them (high cost, few natural attacks, no transportation to close combat, etc.). Alas, our hopes were dashed when the new Codex was released that did next to nothing to solve their uselessness.

Instead of directly buffing the unit, we were instead given the Blood Tithe table, a mechanic that allows players to expend their tithe points (gained whenever a unit is wiped, friend or foe) for benefits. Some of these are simply Special Rules like Feel No Pain that benefit the army. Others allow the player to summon new units.

There are some cool benefits that the book also received, like Daemons becoming Fearless (instead of a crippling Special Rule they had before) and allowing for some interesting Independent Character combinations with some previously unavailable units. Last, there was the inclusion of helpful Formations- ways a building an army that give extra benefits for following a template of units.

However, with all that said, Khorne Daemonkin has some problems. Most importantly (to me at least) the Daemonkin book removes a great number of Chaos Space Marine units. Things like Chosen, Havocs, and Predators were staples in armies I used to build, but are not available at all in the book.

If you inherited a bunch of only Khorne units, then try out Daemonkin as they are a ton of fun and you generally build armies that fit the theme pretty well. If you have a bit of everything, used the Chaos Marine Codex. I think you'll have a better time figuring out your play style and potential units that would be fun. Importantly as well, Khorne Daemonkin has ZERO psykers. So if you enjoy the idea of using psychic units, then you will be unable to do so. Daemon kin is great if you know how you like to play already, and don't mind the loss of some units.

With the Chaos Marine Codex, Daemons are battle brothers, meaning you can ally them to each other no problem. Daemons from the codex complimenting a Chaos Marine force are useful, just remember they have some rules that prohibit the combination of units between your armies. That means that the two codecies aren't synergistic with each other the way many other armies are, but can still be useful to each other. Generally, you're going to want to pick either the Daemons or the Marines as your Primary army- where most of your points are- then pick and choose units from the other codex that compliment the main army well. It's difficult to do a Chaos army that is an even split of Daemons and Marines.

Lastly, because you asked about them: Just due to the "Rewards" system of upgrades the Codex: Daemons get, a Bloodthirster from that codex will be better than Daemonkin. That doesn't mean the Daemonkin ones are bad, they just aren't as capable of being combat monsters. Then again, that rewards system doesn't guarantee good rewards,so it's a toss up. Codex Daemons Bloodthirsters also have a Special Rule that will murder them if they lose a combat which you would have to be wary of.

Basically what I'm saying is I recommend Codex Chaos Space Marines because it allows more play styles, more units, easier to use effectively, still ally able with Daemons, and Daemonkin does nothing to help Berzerkers in a meaningful way.

If you really want to use berserkers there is a cool formation with a forgeworld droppod and a full 20 man squad, if the drop pod lands on something it (the enemy) gets hit with the D and the drop pod immobilised.

Some argue that you can assault the turn you deepstrike but that discussion is for another part of the forum. It's an interesting way to run them and even though it uses FW models the formation was released by GW.

I am a little bummed that the Berserkers are quite bad seeing how I have 39 of them
But here's hoping the new codex will help them out

Thanks for the comments

I know how that feels, man. I don't quite have 39, but when I started I specifically wanted to play a World Eaters army. I took Kharn and a bunch of Berzerkers, and would lose in spectacular fashion most of the time. Then Daemonkin came along, and I kept them in there, but I realized my most recent lists don't have any Berzerkers at all. Guess that's just how it goes.

It really doesn't help that 6th made MoK do the same thing as 5th, but worse.

 KharnsRightHand wrote:
I know how that feels, man. I don't quite have 39, but when I started I specifically wanted to play a World Eaters army. I took Kharn and a bunch of Berzerkers, and would lose in spectacular fashion most of the time. Then Daemonkin came along, and I kept them in there, but I realized my most recent lists don't have any Berzerkers at all. Guess that's just how it goes.

It really doesn't help that 6th made MoK do the same thing as 5th, but worse.

This pretty much describes my experience completely as well.