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Greetings. I will try to keep this short and simple. I started playing 40k when T'au first was introduced.
And stopped playing around 2011-2012. I was interested to start a new army again several times in 7th
edition (since I had sold everything). But I just found the rules too much. I just couldn't find the time and
energy to get into it. Now when 8th hit I was hooked instantly. Have been playing Age of Sigmar and really
enjoy it. So perfect time to get into 40k. I bought the Dark imperium box on release and was thinking that I
would build and paint the Death guard, learn how to play and then later on start a full force. Sounds simple
enough right? But as I opened the box (who was just pure awesomeness) I just couldn't choose. The Primaris
marines suddenly looked very appealing too.

Started to think how you could expand the forces from the Dark imperium box. To make it easier to choose.
How would the army look at 1500 points, and 2000. What do you guys think? I don't have any Index books yet
so would appreciate all the help I can get.

 Gharnukk wrote:

Started to think how you could expand the forces from the Dark imperium box. To make it easier to choose.
How would the army look at 1500 points, and 2000. What do you guys think? I don't have any Index books yet
so would appreciate all the help I can get.

Probably best to get a 2nd Dark Imperium box and sell off the rulebook. That will give you the most bang for your buck, and you'll need plenty of Death Guard and Poxwalkers anyways. Double the Primaris Marines probably won't hurt either.

Both primaris and death guard are getting more releases this year. So I might hold off on going crazy buying other things to use with them. You might spend your money now and find you wish you'd held off and bought the upcoming stuff instead. However 10-20 more poxwalkers couldn't hurt too much.

The new codexes could change point costs, special rules, add several new units etc.

There is only one way to build the DI set models and they have limited options, so i'd build and paint those and don't overwhelm yourself with an even bigger pile of plastic to build and paint.

Ok. I am going for the Primaris marines. Will try to get another set of the units from the Dark imperium box. And then what? Looking at Ultramarines and the things I think is cool. But I want a really competitive army. Suggestions?

It's too early to say what will be competitive. There hasn't been any major events yet and the best players are probably keeping their lists pretty close to the chest.

From talk I've heard so far you'll probably need a way to deal with all three of a) armies with armour like two or more knights or a bunch of razorbacks or whatever b) horde armies with loads of pox walkers or cultists or orks or whatever that won't be losing many models at all to battleshock and c) close combat/short range shooting armies that are on you very quickly.

I have no idea how one possibly builds a list that deals with all of that.

 Gharnukk wrote:

Ok. I am going for the Primaris marines. Will try to get another set of the units from the Dark imperium box. And then what? Looking at Ultramarines and the things I think is cool. But I want a really competitive army. Suggestions?

Don't use Primaris. Existing marines can easily fill the same limited roles as the Primaris units for significantly less, and bring more firepower, and usually an equal number of wounds. [The exception is basically sternguard, who are only slightly cheaper, but bring -2 Ap rather than -1]
For example, Company Veterans can bring the all plasma unit, at 10 points less per model.

And in general 'old' marines can go beyond the limited roles Primaris can't even dream of.


If you were going for fun, it isn't a big deal. But 'really competitive' and Primaris seem mutually exclusive.

one thing to keep in mind is Primaris Marines can "plug into" a general marines army. so if you have a buncha money burning a hole in your pocket and you want to buy stuff for your army NOW! PRONTO PRONTO PRONTO! you have a TON of options.

I've been using the Betrayal at Calath pack to start a mixed Blood Ravens Battle company.

The non transport Rhino variants, the Stormhawk and Stormtalon and all the Dreads have no visible crew members(or in the Stormtalons case one that is easily hidden). No idea if they are the best choices "tactically" but IMO currently they are the best fits visually and all work fine alongside the Primaris keyword. That said I'd be surprised if we don't see stand alone kits for new Primaris units by the end of next month.