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This is a very subjective question but based on your experiences with 8th edition so far what armies do you find the most challenging to play with? Do you feel any army has a particularly high skill ceiling or a lot of cool combos and buffs, or even a devastating turn 1 charge you have to pull off?

I ask because I often get bored with armies very quickly, however 8th edition has me interested in 40k after a long absence and I'd like to stick around with my choice as long as possible.

Deathwatch feels like playing the game on hard mode. Some very satisfying drop/shoot/charge combos with kill teams and teleporter homer shenanigans though. But the low model count is extremely unforgiving of bad rolls/positioning.

Rewarding I'd say Sisters, because it's hilarious to see people look down on them and then get crushed for it.

Challenging, I'd say non-horde Orks. Because you're frakkin' boned by bad stats, shooting rules that hurt you more than they hurt anyone else, and overpriced everything.

Agree on the challenge of fielding an Ork Force without every thing other than Command Units being large mobz of Boyz. Lost every battle when I tried to field elites or heavy support...

CB

Every elite army is challenging to play.
Examples are GK, DW, RW, and whatnot.

RogueApiary wrote:
Deathwatch feels like playing the game on hard mode. Some very satisfying drop/shoot/charge combos with kill teams and teleporter homer shenanigans though. But the low model count is extremely unforgiving of bad rolls/positioning.

Totally agree with this especially since DW have no relics or special weapons yet. They are super fun to play if you're looking for that challenge. GK are fun but again small squads and low number counts will be hard to over come.

I find it very rewarding to play Eldar nowadays. They have become mid-tier (at best) in 8E, so there is a bit of a challenge to get a good list up against some of the top tier armies, but they aren't so bad that it feels like banging my head against a brick wall.

It also helps that I've been playing Eldar since 4th ed and they are my favorite faction, so there is some satisfaction there.

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I Play and like Eldar (not played 8th yet).

But some of the funniest moments come from Hand to Hand because Eldar are not associated as being good at it.

Blob of Guardian vs Blob of Orcs - Some one thought they had it in the bag until the Farseer and warlock tipped the scales in the other direction.

Greyknights Terminators Vs Banshees - A small amount of luck and you get a blood bath. This actual suck if it happens to much. (Glad to see they have multiple wounds in 8th).

Tyranids - This is always a good challenge. Except one time when the Harlequins were re-introduced to the game way back. I took them complaining to the Tyranid payer how they were not as good a banshees but hay what the hek. One unit of Genestealers a Carnifexe and a Hive Tyrant later we were both wondering what the hell just happed. Lets just say the next time they were primaried and blown off the table.

Well, for me it has always been Eldar, my favorite faction.
Speed allows to outmaneuver the enemy and firepower allows to stay at arm's length.
I'm a bit sad that the Seer Council doesnt work as it has been in previous incarnations.

I honestly don't think 40k is a deep enough game to have any faction that feels more rewarding than others. I don't dislike 40k, I enjoy the game, but it's not a game where I feel like I outsmarted someone when I win a game.

In Malifaux you can throw feint tactics or pin down enemies in a way that feels much more rewarding when you play it right.

 Galef wrote:
I find it very rewarding to play Eldar nowadays. They have become mid-tier (at best) in 8E, so there is a bit of a challenge to get a good list up against some of the top tier armies, but they aren't so bad that it feels like banging my head against a brick wall.

It also helps that I've been playing Eldar since 4th ed and they are my favorite faction, so there is some satisfaction there.

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Harlequins is hard mode Eldar, Eldar still has all the tools and great units, they even has some of the best units in game currently, just b.c some of their weapons and units are over costed (looking at your Heavy Hover tanks and WKs) doesnt mean they are hard to play. With Wave Serpents being hard really hard to kill compare to other transports and Ynnari Sword Wraiths for insane hoard clearing plus those great fliers. With their codex out soon, we will see some good price changes for them.

Quins on the other hand lack real AT and AA, many players went to Ynnari Fusion spam, but that still doesnt work as well as dedicated AI/AA, they also low in numbers/wounds, one wrong move with them and the units is wiped.

Sisters for rewarding. Nothing like kicking the ass of an opponent who calls my army the "bolter bitches".


As for challenging, I don't know. Most armies I can take a cursory look at their book and have a good idea of what I want to run and how I expect it to perform. I'd probably nominate Grey Knights or Talons of the Emperor for that title.

The most rewarding faction? Imperial Guard, all the way. It's just always so much fun to lead normal human beings to victory when their enemies are super soldiers, scary aliens and supernatural forces.

Though I wouldn't call the guard challenging to play. That's not because it's intrinsically easy to play but because I like to think that I have a good grasp on the strengths the guard possess and the guard's playstyle suits me. I'd have a harder time with a faction that I don't get this well.

I'd actually say ynnari, setting up little wombo combos as one unit kills another setting off an action for a second etc. It can be extremely fun and rewarding from what I've seen, and probably requires the most thought and decision during play out of most armies. The fact you have some of the only reactive abilities which allow you move/shoot/etc during your opponent's turn also adds another layer.

I'd don't play them myself, but they certainly seem like a complex but rewarding army from having played against them.

My secondary vote probably goes to CSM right now, just because all of our best units, builds, and stratagems are based around really nasty alpha strikes. But that's also probably some bias due to knowing more about them as an army than GK/SM, while other armies lack many of the tools the codex armies have.

For rewarding it is the AM. Nothing is better than standing up to all the nasties of Milky Way, with nothing but courage and numbers.

Challenging, it would have to be Drukhari. They are so much the paper tigers faction. Playing to your strengths and nullifying your opponents strengths, that shows real mastery of the game.

Inquisition, as an army it has been shredded and torn apart since tge Daemonhunters Codex. Winning with, or even having a good showing, an Inquisition army just makes me feel good inside.

As a personal second... Blood Angels. Winning a game with them made me so incredibly happy. They feel like hot garbage right now.