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Hey guys,

I got a few questions about Primaris Psykers.

(1) Does anyone have any inclination about how rare Primaris Psykers actually are?

Because it's indicated in many articles that their rare, but I figured (but wasn't sure) that's a relative term.

(2) Is it unheard of for a Primaris Psyker to work without a Battle Squad?

I know they don't necessarily have to be attached to one, but from what I've read, it seems to me that they almost always work with other sanctioned Psykers.

(3) For a Primaris Psyker and his/her Battle Squad, how many Commissars are usually assigned to them? Is it typically one Commissar per Psyker? One per Battle Squad? Or does it vary?

(4) In a one-on-one fight between a Possessed Chaos Space Marine and a Primaris Psyker, is it possible for them to go toe-to-toe in a melee fight with each having a reasonable chance of winning?

Cheers guys.

1) I don't have any numbers, but it probably is a 1/10000 or 1/100000 out of all psykers scale.

2) I think so.

3) Probably one Commissar per squad.

4) If the Primaris Psyker strikes first, he probably wins. Otherwise, he's not durable enough to win against a Space Marine in a longer fight.

I can see how being less durable would definitely be a downfall, but assuming they were a skilled and/or powerful Biomancer, Telekenetic, or Pyromancer (or some other type of combat-centered discipline), couldn't their abilities make up for their lack of durability?

An as far as not taking a battle squad being unheard of, would it be plausible for the Primaris Psyker to operate without one for a period of time before commanding one? For example, if the commander of the Regiment he/she is attached to insists on the psykers in the Battle Squad being from the same system as the Primaris Psyker (for whatever fluff reason you want), then it could take some time to create the Battle Sqaud if the system's population is not known for its abundance of psykers (due to small population and/or genetic traits etc).

Forgive me if I'm grabbing at straws on the topic of the Battle Squad. I just want to be sure about it.

 IllumiNini wrote:
I can see how being less durable would definitely be a downfall, but assuming they were a skilled and/or powerful Biomancer, Telekenetic, or Pyromancer (or some other type of combat-centered discipline), couldn't their abilities make up for their lack of durability?

I don't know about the others but for this one absolutely. Primaris Psykers will vary significantly in power (and which powers in particular they are gifted at) so it's entirely possible one could take a Possessed Chaos Marine in a fight (whilst another might fail). Biomancy and telekinetic shields should be capable of increasing their toughness sufficiently.

SomeRandomEvilGuy wrote:

 IllumiNini wrote:
I can see how being less durable would definitely be a downfall, but assuming they were a skilled and/or powerful Biomancer, Telekenetic, or Pyromancer (or some other type of combat-centered discipline), couldn't their abilities make up for their lack of durability?

I don't know about the others but for this one absolutely. Primaris Psykers will vary significantly in power (and which powers in particular they are gifted at) so it's entirely possible one could take a Possessed Chaos Marine in a fight (whilst another might fail). Biomancy and telekinetic shields should be capable of increasing their toughness sufficiently.

Logically, I definitely agree. I also get the feeling that Pyrokinetic Primaris Psykers may be able to trump the PCSM, but it would depend heavily on all of his power, his skill, and how he uses his abilities. It could work, but as what you said suggests, Biomancers and Telekinetics would do it better.

It depends on the psyker and the marine, to be honest.

My chaos army doesn't include any Chaos Marines - all of my Sorcerers, Warpsmith and Aspiring Sorcerers are cultists in power armour using physical enhancement sorcery to achieve Marine levels of physical combat ability (if not the special tricks).

 IllumiNini wrote:

Logically, I definitely agree. I also get the feeling that Pyrokinetic Primaris Psykers may be able to trump the PCSM, but it would depend heavily on all of his power, his skill, and how he uses his abilities. It could work, but as what you said suggests, Biomancers and Telekinetics would do it better.

I was addressing the durability point specifically. A pyro Psyker could well be capable of taking down the Possessed Marine. As Furyou Miko, it depends on the Psyker and Marine (and Daemon inside the Marine I guess). It's worth noting that in the background Psykers are necessarily bound by the abilities or disciplines given in the books. A Psyker who is most powerful in fire based powers could also feasibly be competent in other areas as well.

I believe that a Primaris Psyker could maybe defeat a CSM in HtH combat, depends on if he can get a blow off first, and if he can use his powers to enhance himself.

I have no idea how rare low lv psykers really are but you can order them by the thousands if you have the right connections.

 IllumiNini wrote:

(1) Does anyone have any inclination about how rare Primaris Psykers actually are?
They don't seem to be too uncommon, I wouldn't expect to see more than 1 or 2 in an IG battlegroup, but there's a lot around.

(2) Is it unheard of for a Primaris Psyker to work without a Battle Squad?
A lot of them get used in an advisory role, or as a bodyguard for the battlegroup commander. They probably do some freelance writing about their battle experiences, too. Given that there's only a couple of them at most in a battlegroup, they probably have some rather varied roles.

(3) For a Primaris Psyker and his/her Battle Squad, how many Commissars are usually assigned to them? Is it typically one Commissar per Psyker? One per Battle Squad? Or does it vary?
It's probably however many Commissars it takes to shoot them all in under two seconds. So... It depends on the Commissar's weapons.

(4) In a one-on-one fight between a Possessed Chaos Space Marine and a Primaris Psyker, is it possible for them to go toe-to-toe in a melee fight with each having a reasonable chance of winning?
Your BL book may vary. If its from the IOM's perspective in fluff, expect the Psyker to either instantly become possessed, or he'll wipe out whole squads. From a CSM perspective, the dewd is foolish and weak. TT-wise, he could kill a squad with mind-bullets (psychic shriek).

Cheers guys.
YW.