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I have been putting together an army list for the next time I play Warhammer 40K. I want to go with a combination Black Legion with Fallen Dark Angels type list with Cypher in it. Like my model collection if it mostly built around the old Dark Vengeance box set as well as the Crimson Slaughter expansion and some extras.

Here is what I have to work with model wise:

HQ:
Chaos Lord
Exalted Champion
Sorcerer in Terminator Armor
Sorcerer
Dark Apostle
Cypher

Troops:
20 Chaos Space Marines
10 Fallen Dark Angel CSMs
30 Cultists

Dedicated Transports:
2 Rhinos

Elites:
7 Chosen
12 Fallen
10 Chaos Terminators
5 Fallen Chaos Terminators
1 Hellbrute

Fast Attack
5 Warp Talons
3 Fallen Chaos Bikers
10 Raptors

Heavy Support
Chaos Land Raider
Mauler or Forge Fiend (Work in Progress)

Here is what I am thinking with for my list to learn the game with what I have so far:

HQ: Chaos Lord with Plasma Pistol, Power Sword (Murder Sword)
HQ: Exalted Champion with Combi-Something, Power Axe
HQ: Cypher

Troop: Cultists x13 with Autopistols and Brutal Melee Weapons and a flamer
Troop: Cultists x13 with Auto-rifles and Heavy Stubber
Troop: CSM x10 with Plasma Pistol, Power fist, 4 chainswords, melta, flamer
Troop: CSM x10 with Plasma Pistol, Power Sword, Plamsgun, Heavy Bolter
Troop: CSM x10 with Plasma Pistol, 2 Plasmaguns

Elite: Terminators x5 with Power Sword, Reaper Autocannon, 1 Chain Fist, 3 Power Fists
Elite: Fallen x10 (haven decided on full loadout will have a few plasma pistols and power swords probably)
Eilte: Hellbrute with multi melta and Hellbrute Fist

Fast Attack: Chaos BIkers x3 with Plasmagun

Transport: Rhino with Havoc Launcher and Combi-bolter
Transport: Rhino with Havoc Launcher and Combi-bolter

If I have this figured correctly it leaves me with about 300 points. Even if I go over, I got no problem dropping the Cultists members or a whole squad if needed. I am thinking about using the remainder of my points to build another Chaos terminator squad. While this army list has huge weaknesses like anti-armor, I think it should be fairly straight forward to play and learn the rules while letting me see how to make the best use of what Cypher brings. Down the road I want to add Helldrake to my collection, but I haven't bought one yet as I still have some painting I want to get caught up on.

I am wanting a pretty easy to use/learn army list that might lose every game can at least hold out for a little while. I want to stay away from Psykers to start to keep things easier. I know I should probably double up on the special weapons in the CSM squads but I want to get all of them a go to see which ones I like (probably plasma). I also think have too much spent on troops, but I want the CSMs and at least try out the Cultists a little bit. I also think the fallen are a bad choice as I don't really know what I will use them for save supporting the cultists in the backfield. I could probably get rid of the bikers as three doesn't feel like they will accomplish much. I also have read that terminators aren't great, but I like them anyways. I don't know if I will like the Hellbrute, but he is further along in painting that much of my other stuff.

If anyone has some advice in my army lists given the models I have I would appreciate feedback. I am not really looking for a competive list, but rather, a list that it fairly easy to use while providing a least a little bit of a challenge to my opponent. I also wouldn't mind feedback on potential future purchases for either expanding my collection. Note: I do want to pick up Abaddon, but I am holding out for a new model.

It looks nice.

Fallen aren't really considered "competative" but if that's not your goal they should be ok.

Keep practising and working out what's good.

Don't rule out daemon allies down the line, as they have some great combos.

Also Abaddon is cool. His ability to make all heretic astartes ignore morale allows some good combos with other legions, death guard and possibly even thousand sons.

That is what I hear about Fallen. However, I don't see them being that bad. They are only a extra point over Chaos Space Marines, can't ride in transports and take an Elite slot to field. For me, I only have two rhinos and a land raider. I need to do a little more painting on the land raider so that just leaves the rhinos, so somebody is going to be walking anyways.

I am looking to get a few demons in the future even if it doesn't match my force's fluff. I guess I can just say that the dark forces have noticed the lip service of the chaos lord and is sending 'reinforcements' to keep them in line.

I have done a little more work on my list and this is what I plan on running for a while:

Faction: Black Legion Detachment: Battalion

HQ:
Chaos Lord with Plasma Pistol, Power Sword (Murder Sword) Warlord: Unholy Fortitude Trait
Exalted Champion with Power Axe
Cypher

Troops:
CSM x10 with Plasma Pistol, Power Fist, 4 Chainswords/Bolt Pistols, Flamer, Melta
CSM x10 with Plasma Pistol, Power Sword, Plasmagun, Heavy Bolter
CSM x10 with Plasma Pistol, Chainsword, 2 Plasmaguns
Cultists x12 with 11 Brutal Weapon/Autopistols, Flamer
Cultists x12 with Shotgun, Heavy Stubber, 10 autorifles

Elites:
Fallen x6 with Plasma Pistol, Power Maul, 3 Power Swords, Flamer
Fallen x6 with Plasma Pistol, Plasmagun, 4 Combi-Bolters
Chaos Terminators x5 with Power Sword, Reaper Autocannon, 4 Combi-Bolters, 3 Power Fists
Chaos Terminators x6 with Chain Fist, Heavy Flamer, 3 Power Axes, 1 Power Maul, 4 combi Bolters
Hellbrute with Multimelta, Hellbrute Fist

Fast Attack:
Chaos Bikers x3 with Chain sword, Plasmagun

Dedicated Transport
Rhino with Havoc Launcher, Combi Bolter
Rhino with Havoc Launcher, Combi Bolter

Basically, I have two of most units with one being melee focused and the other being ranged focused. I think the list is weak to very weak against armor. I think there is a good mix of movement, at least initially, but once the terminators hit the table probably in deep strike, it will be easy to get them spread out too thin and unable to close the distance to support each other. For Chaos Space Marine list I think it can handle hordes pretty well as I have a lot of boots on the ground for an elite heavy MEQ list.

I plan to have two my CSM make use of the Rhinos to either keep them safe or move them fast to where I want them. The third squad of CSM will probably be deployed middle table to foot slog to support either the left or right as needed or just draw bunch of fire and die off. The Cultists are for backfield objective holding and ground covering to prevent enemy deep strikes. The Terminators are for deep striking to tangle up my enemies back line or deal with their mid-level long range heavy support (I will probably ignore any heavy armor since I don't think I can do much to it). The Fallen are my flex, mid field support either move toward the enemy to support the CSMs or falling back to help out the cultists as needed. The Hellbrute is my distraction Carnifex. If it gets to do something great, but if can eat enemy fire for a couple rounds better. I don't really have a plan for the bikers except maybe as a diversion or tie up heavy hitters for a round. I don't know if they have resiliency to perform any hit and run moves. My Chaos Lord and Exalted Champion probably stay mid to backfield mostly looking cool and buffing squads where they can. Cypher will stay near at least one of the squads of fallen to buff them. Probably the one full of combi bolters.