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.

Been playing Carcharodons all summer long, so I thought I'd take the time to share what I've learned about it for those interested in playing them.

First, and this is a reoccurring theme of many of my games - nobody has a clue how to deal with them. A regular tactical squad from another chapter can usually tie up the majority of units in the game for a couple turns but never reliably do anything past that. Carcharodons don't just bury things in a tyranid sized pile of dice, they win. A lot. And once they win, they beat things faster. My gaming group hasn't figured out how to reliably deal with that yet, because nobody builds a list to deal with that much assault coming from a marine army. The theme change to the whole codex makes things just generally hard to deal with. Which brings me to my next discovery...

The chapter tactics open up a giant list of options normally considered either subpar or just plain awful. This isn't my first marine army, so I can say with confidence that the level of variation available to list building a space shark army is absolutely enormous. Wanna make your sergeants veterans and give them a power weapon? Go for it. Shooty terminators? 12 power fists on the charge turns into 16 after you've picked up rage. Heaven help anything you catch with 16 power fists. Like dreadnoughts? They got a lot better with squadrons, AND they now get chapter tactics, in case you wanted to see what a squad of 3 Ironclads with RAGE can do.

The final point I'd like to make is also the most important, at least to me. It is, by far, the most fun I've ever had playing a Marine army, and many of opponents have said that it is great one to play against as well. With Space Sharks, every phase of each turn has something important happening. You get to shoot things in the shooting phase, and then you charge things in assault knowing you're actually going to get somewhere with it. Its a very satisfying army to play with, and to anyone thinking of starting a new one, I highly recommend them. You won't regret it.

I just wish that a Tactical Marine squad could take two Melta Guns per squad, and therefore would allow them to charge after firing maybe.

I have found Fear to be overall useless.

Due to how easily Bikers can almost wipe out squads with their firepower, I've found it easy to get Rage from using them. If you actually LOVE to charge things, Carcharodon Bikers aren't bad sometimes. Especially if they get the +1S from Tyberos. If they had access to buy CCW's like Tacticals, they'd be Chaos Bikers but better in every way.

Tyberos is a cool dude, but he's too easy to kill. If he had an Iron Halo or EW to compensate, I'd be happier with him. His Warlord Trait is solid though, and helps Terminators and Assault Centurions with their main weakness: larger amounts of enemies.

Overall I find them to be fun, but they're easily one of the weaker CT to choose. I find even Minotaurs to be stronger, especially with Asterion and the Chap dude being badass for what they bring. There's also the matter of how they treat allies, since you can't add in Space Wolves/Blood Angels/Dark Angels for different tools. I mean, Logan tanking wounds for Tyberos? That'd be awesome.

I've been running a full bike command squad with 4 grav guns, 2 storm shields, 2 lightning claws and 2 power axes, with an apothecary. Then a Bike Chapter Master in artificer armour with a storm shield and the burning blade.

Gladius lists also help. The tactical doctrine gives rerolls in both phases, for everything, which translates to a whole lot of rerolls all over the place.

I agree that they're likely not a standout competitive army, But I DO really really love charging things with marines. As far as the double special weapon thing, totally agree. I'd kill for a pair of plasma guns in my squads (rerolling 1s makes this pretty safe)..