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So I haven't really been playing 40k that long but I have been enjoying the lore for a while. I started playing the dark angels because of dark vengeance and I like them but I am thinking of trying something else out. ( I don't really like
Bikes and Plasma keeps killing me)

I just bought a blood angels codex and thought about playing some close combat awesomeness. I might play them, I might not.

However looking into the lore and armies I've decided I wanna play some more CC oriented marines. I love medieval and fantasy stuff so I figured a knight theme would be cool (yes DA have some cool stuff like the black knights but I don't like bikes or plasma so that isn't for me).

So my question is would you recommend the black templars or grey knights? Both tabletop and fluff, which army has a more knightly feel (or badass)? I know it's totally opinionated but I am just looking for something to sway me either way. I saw helsreach and the grey knights omnibus were cool books so I am thinking of picking one of those up too. I am also open up to other suggestions as well if there is some kick ass lore I don't know about. At the moment I am leaning towards the templars because the imperial fists sound cool too and they are in the same codex. Thanks guys!

Templars are definitely the most knight-ey chapter.

Their whole fluff is based off of crusading knights and the knights templar.

Also, for some reason the Crusader Squads can take a special weapon *and* a heavy weapon at 5 models, as well as replacing their Bolters with BP/CCWs - so you get big guns to shoot people with and sticks to beat the survivors to death..

Long story short, if you are going this route, you are doing it for the fluff and coolness factor of having a knight army. None of these armies are particularly effective on the battlfield, but you aren't going to lose the game if you take them.

Black Templars: Close combat oriented. Rely on overwhelming the opponent in Marines and multiple charges from land raiders. Probably the least effective space marine chapter trait on the table top. Also the coolest space marine chapter and my personal favourite.

Grey Knights: Combo Assault/shooting/psychic army. Relies completely on Dreadknights and librarians to keep this army afloat competitively. Also a very cool army and my second favourite space marine chapter.

You can't go wrong if you are collecting for fun and fluff. Competitively, these armies don't have much to offer.

You could also try a Black Templars army with Grey Knight allies. The theme could be that the Black Templars called in the inquisition to destroy a heretical cult that summons daemons.

It's hard to go wrong taking any Space Marine Chapter and taking a medievalist knight-esque approach, honestly. Unless it's the Raven Guard (sneaky little b*****s).

GK and BT are both sitting down in the rankings without enough stuff to do much and most of the effective Marine melee builds revolve around jump infantry, if it comes down to those two I suppose it'd depend on what your mental image of a 'knight' is. If it's more gritty/historical in tone you'd probably want to go for BT since you're not running off psychic powers, if it's a more high-fantasy Arthurian D&D-paladin sort of image you'd probably be better off with GK since they do the 'strength is as the strength of ten because my heart is pure' high concept more justice.

Neither one is really going to get you Bretonnia in space, melee bikes aren't really a thing outside of DA Black Knights. You could theoretically stick lances on Deathwatch Bikes but it's hard to build an army out of that.

Space Wolves mate!!!
Nothing in 40k screams Knight more than loudmouthed cavalry equipped with shields and armour charging into battle on their noble mounts!

Okay-okay, the loudmouths are Vikings and the noble mount is a slobbering mutt...but they're easily the most colourful non-traitor marines.

 Dakka Wolf wrote:
Space Wolves mate!!!
Nothing in 40k screams Knight more than loudmouthed cavalry equipped with shields and armour charging into battle on their noble mounts!

Okay-okay, the loudmouths are Vikings and the noble mount is a slobbering mutt...but they're easily the most colourful non-traitor marines.

That's an extra layer to the question, actually. Are these knights early medieval or late medieval? The earlier they are the more Space Wolves make sense.

Thanks for all the great replies guys! I think I am still leaning towards the templars. Though the grey knights are cool. I am thinking a little later in the medieval era. Knights Templar, King Arthur kinda look. Pretty much Dark souls/ Berserk kinda influence is how I'll be playing them.

I am thinking I'll start off as an ally attachment for my DA to get a feel for them. Is there any fluff for either chapter that teams up with the DA? Thanks!

That or you could have.,.... Knight... Knights... IN Space...

Giant Robots and all...



Rawr

Could always bring them along with the space marines.