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I play Tyranids and I love bringing the biovore. It's not that it's strong, or accurate, or made its points back for me, I just like the play of it. I started using it last edition when had a blast template for hitting, and would bombard with multiple biovores whenever possible. The spores being created if you miss is cool, because it adds another twist to the game (do I shoot the mine, run away from it, or risk getting blown up?).

It hasn't, however, been the best performing unit for me. That would now be my genestealers. But when building a list, I will always try to find a way to include at least one biovore.

Do you have a unit or model that you always include just from a 'cool' or fluff perspective and not specifically because of its abilities or power on the field?

I always try to bring a superheavy, or a company, if my opponent lets me.

My army's fluff is that it is a superheavy tank regiment of the IG, and I even have the whole TO&E filled out with models (though some are in need of repair!) and regiments really aren't allowed to use anything outside of their assigned area, though I field attached troops and air defense assets and whatnot once I've completed a company (3 vehicles).

But I usually try to get as close to a company as possible.

My options are:

1st (Line) Company, 3 Baneblades. 2nd (Assault) Company, 3 Stormswords. 3rd (Line) Company, 3 Baneblades. 4th (Assault) Company, 3 Stormswords. 5th (Breakthrough) Company, 3 Stormhammers. I also have a regimental command vehicle (a sweet Stormlord), regimental commander (Katerina Malinenko) & retinue, and a smattering of support units (IADS, whatever.).

I would like to add a 6th and 7th company with 3 more Stormhammers (because they are so awesome!) and 3 Shadowswords (as a Tank Destruction company).

I generally do the opposite; some unit catches my fancy and the entire army ends up being built around it or something similar.

I literally started wordbearers because I liked possessed, even though they've been trash since the dawn of time (or at least 3.5 edition).

Well my favorite models that I own are, in order, Saint Celestine, my Shadowsword, Exorcists, and Leman Russ Vanquishers. Fortunately, two of those are very good, one of those is medicore, and the last can be a Pask Battle Tank and Battle Tank Tank Commanders.

Back when it was a thing, I also really liked Chenkov and Conscripts, but we can't do that anymore. Conscripts are definitely good though.

Well, it used to be Screamers. I have over 30 of them.

Now... not so much.

Old One Eye. Always Old One Eye. Ever since 3rd edition.

I always really liked my admech rangers, even though they've never been a stand out unit. I just like their design.

It's also not a unit exactly, but for my CSM I always liked having rocket launchers. Fit the feel of my army better than the other (generally better) options.

Chaos Space Marines. Because there's something wrong about the idea of playing a Chaos Space Marine army without any Chaos Space Marines.

None of my army is built for domination...of any sort. So my armies are all pretty "must include" when I feel like it. I run an army because it looks cool and has a fluffy appeal...and then get thoroughly trounced. But it sure looks pretty on the way down.

My main auto-include models are all HQs of one sort or another. Usually conversions.

For my Necrons, it's my Destroyer Lord:



For my IG, it's my 'Fallen Angel' Living Saint:



I know they're not amazing conversions or anything, but they're about the best I can do and I enjoy using them.

To be honest, I actually wish St. Celestine wasn't so powerful - as it is I feel guilty whenever I use her.

A Dominion squad with four flamers in an immolator with flamers. This is a hold over from Codex: Witch Hunters when I could pop them out and use an Act Of Faith to give the flamers Rending.

To be honest, 6d6 auto-hits is still a lot of fun.

I don't have one for my nids funnily enough, despite having played them longer. I am very fond of the Screamer-Killer carnifex though.

Russ Vanquishers. For some reason I just love that Russ variant.

For my tau it's always been long strike. I've never played a game without him. Absolutely LOVE having him buffed to this level though - so much fun!

Back in the days of fourth edition I played orks exclusively, and in every game I brought a ten strong mob of megaarmored nobz, led by a Thraka model modified to have a Black Orc banner pole for a head.

They were glorious overkill, costing way too many points and doing way too much damage to what ever they fought. Nothing I ever fought could stand up to them, until the day they met a Dark Angel librarian who proceeded to kill just enough to keep getting himself out of combat before the power klaws could swing. (No pile in back then - or we weren't doing it right, could go either way really) After that, that librarian (and all force sword users) became their favorite, most hated, most feared, most respected enemy, and they slew many and were slewn (slewn?) by even more.

I sold the army years ago, but I still have the warboss, awaiting the day I start another ork army, and buy back his ten drinking buddies.

Scarab Occult Termies for me. Their ability to come in and instantly delete a horde is wonderful, they're definitely the best TS unit available. Honorable mention goes to Ahriman, the only reason he isn't an auto-include is because he conflicts with Magnus (and to be frank, I make more lists with Ahriman in them than I do Magnus).

@vipoid: I still love that destroyer lord conversion, if I still played Necrons I would totally steal the idea.

Krieg Grenadiers when I run a Krieg army, otherwise, Scions have such a small pool of units that it is hard not to use all their rooster.

I have one or two humble Eldar Guardians squads on foot in probably 3/4 of all games played. Since their 2nd ed incarnation (to accompany D-Cannon support platform back then). Many times as Storm Guardians with mixed weaponry. I have old metals (Rouge Trader era leads, carefuly painted to my back then highest standards) and "new" plastics (it was THE KIT back when they came out, so many options for cool poses and customisations, they looked totally bad ass). Just something in their 2nd ed Codex entry made them a fundament of Eldar feel for me since the begining. And back then there were very few units in the entire codex that wore actual Craftworld's colour scheme.

My second must-have is Harlequin troupe, that also originates back in 2nd ed and my Rouge Trader era lead minis... They are true veterans by now

Back in 6th and 7th I never wrote a single list above 1000 points that did not include a 3 man Crisis Team with dual FB and 2 TLs. It was a workhorse unit that always performed well in games, whether it was popping vehicles or assassinating characters. My warlord was also almost always the same; Crisis Commander with 2 MP, Shield Generator, Stim Injector, and Iridium armor. Nice, beefy HQ choice that put out some good firepower, excellent to pair up with a Broadside Team and just lay down some S7 hate anywhere on the board.

In 8th, I'm still feeling it out a bit but thus far I have yet to play a game without my Coldstar Commander, and I do not plan on leaving him home anytime soon. I love the model and the idea of a Coldstar suit and now he actually has good rules! I can't not take him. I'm also starting to get the feeling from playing that I won't be leaving home without a 6 man Stealth Team with 2 FB either. They're simply too good right now.

As far as individual models go, there is one who is always on the table for me. Stubby, the Little Marker Drone that could. Earned his name when, en route to his first game, his antenna snapped off and I didn't have any glue on me to fix it. During said first game, Stubby, by himself (his unit was wiped out fairly early into the game), tied up a SM Attack Bike in CC for 3 game turns before killing said Attack Bike in CC. In his next game his Drone Team was again assaulted, this time by a Tactical Squad. This time, Stubby bagged himself 2 kills in CC, one normal dude as well as the Sergeant who failed his look out sir. To date, Stubby has killed 9 Space Marines in CC, including the aforementioned Attack Bike, Sergeant, as well as a Deathwing Terminator (I always make sure to roll him separately now in order to keep his tally accurate). He is absolutely my favorite model and watching his legend grow has been one of my favorite parts of this hobby. I always make sure to include at least a min sized Drone Team in all of my lists and I never leave home without his model. And no, his antenna has never been, nor ever will be, reattached.

Windriders have been a 'must-take' unit since I started Eldar in 4th ed. They were competitively a 'must-take' last edition, but even with the massive nerfs they have received, they will continue to be "must-take" units for me....

....unless I am running a crazy list like 3 WKs or something

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I am a second for the Scarab Occult Terminators. I always bring them, not just because they are good, but I love the models and the ones I got are painted gorgeously. I also always bring at least one squad of Rubic Marines, because really if you don't bring at least one squad are you really playing thousand sons? (no judgment if you don't, it is just how I feel). I also bring Ahriman 99% of the time because he is my favorite fictional character of all time. So if you play me you know you will face him, some rubrics and SOT.

My Khyribdis Assault Claw. After using it in most of my 8th games and having it be a beautiful fire support + anvil unit, I just can't see a list without it. Especially after the success of 20 berzerkers plus warptime plus prescience plus a lord nearby for re-rolling 1s all in your opponent's face turn one.

Exorxists. Theyre bot as effective as they once were, but i love the model and will always include at least one in my lists. 3 if the points allow.

Karamazov is another when i have enough points. Yes he lost his cool blowing up allies to hit the enemy rule, but agaon, a really cool model i love.

Incubi, they never perform well. I just love them.

Same thing with Chaos Marines, they're pretty garbage. At least nobody really targets them.

I always try to squeeze in paladins when playing GK.

They seem to be pretty good in 8th so far!

Shining spears since always, and finally now they are brutal!, and a wraithlord because I like the model too much

Saint Celestine is one of the better units in the entire game and Dominions have been a 'max out your FA' unit since 5th.

Ahriman and Rubric squads. Always at least two squads of Rubrics. I've loved the TS ever since the 3.5 'dex back when I first started playing, and they've been a mainstay of any CSM list I've ever ran. Now that they're even better, I can actually not feel totally gimped by bringing them. Ahriman has always been one of my favorite models and in the first game I played him after I painted up the old metal model, he killed Ghazzy, most of a unit of MANZ (all in CC!) and actually ended up being the only surviving model on the table at the end of the game. He, and his 'Lieutenant', Azkoth Vryce (a Sorc in terminator armor, and force axe) that I created for a narrative campaign a few of my friends and I created and played in 5th ed, have been my HQ's for every CSM army I've put on the table for almost a decade now.

Interrogator-Chaplain on a bike is something I have in just about every single one of my DA lists. Let's just hope that the Mace of Redemption makes a comeback in the future codex. For Admech the boring answer would be Cawl, Kastelans or Onagers... but in truth, not one of my lists feels complete without a full squad of both Vanguard and Rangers.

For my AdMech it'll be the Onager Dunecrawler. I still have to repaint mine (soon !) but I love that model and the firepower it brings rarely disappoint, can't wait until I buy him a friend so that they can vaporise everything together ! I love my Kastelan Robots too, they're my favourite models of the AdMech range and I love the fluff behind them, nothing like bringing 20,000 year old robots to the battlefield. Sicarian Ruststalkers are starting to make their marks too, fielded them once and they were great, we shall see after more games.

I'm starting a Drukhari army too and I'm eager to have it completed to play games with it, I think the vast majority of the model range is magnificent, especially the Scourges, the Raiders and the Haemonculus Coven units, just love their theme.

For Space Marines? Some kind of Land Raider. They're big stupid tanks with big stupid guns and big stupid angry men inside. What's not to like?