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Hello all.

In my group, we are all pretty casual but run lists that are effective but not WAAC. We're all adults and we can have a laugh. Unfortunately, I have MASSIVELY upset the balance.

Now, I run custodes, but not super serious. But in my last 10 games, I have won 8 of them. 5 of which were tabling the opponent. Due to the fact we usually play 1500 point games, it makes my custodes even more dangerous as they physically can't fit in enough multi wound weapons due to model or points limits. I've weathered scions, death guard, mechanicus, Marines, alderi, Drukhari and T'au. Increasing board size has been considered, and tried, but all it did was make the game a turn longer.

Well, I'm deciding to branch out into Primaris. I like the models and with the dark imperium offering a fantastic start for essentially peanuts, I'm jumping on the marine band wagon. However, I still want to know the most optimal load outs for each type of Primaris model, from the multiple HQ choices all the way to the repulsor. While I want to tone it down, I don't want to just hand them a win!

So DakkaDakka, what exactly is the optimal load outs for each Primaris model?

Raven Guard are probably the best Chapter for a pure Primaris army as it increases the resilience of the expesnive multi-wound models. Raven Guard are also best placed to taek advantage of Boltstorm Aggressors by making use of the "Strike from the Shadows" stratagem to get them in range before the game starts and then double-fire on Turn 1.

The Redemptor Dreadnought is not amazing but the RG trait also aplpies to it which will help make it a bit more durable. The choice between plasma and heavy onslought gatling cannon is largely down to you and what sources of anti-infantry and anti-tank you have elsehwere in your list.

Hellblasters are one of the best Primaris units and work well with an Ancient (available in the box set), a Captain (to reroll 1s when overcharging) and an Apothecary to resurrect slain models. If you overcharge and roll a 1, you can reroll thanks to the Captain. If it still dies on a 4+ it can make a final shooting attack. Next turn, the Apothecary can bring it back on a 4+.

Both flavours of Inceptor are very good IMHO. Pure Primaris cannot run a Jump Pack Captain so I would lean towards bolter Inceptors as plasma are too risky to overcharge without a source fo rerolls.

Intercessors are solid objective holders, particularly RG. I have no experience of Reivers.

I'd say deathwatch do primaris better. But pure primaris isn't as ideal.

Also unless you are just spamming jetbikes, it seems odd that pure Custodes are giving everyone such trouble.

jcd386 wrote:
I'd say deathwatch do primaris better. But pure primaris isn't as ideal.

Also unless you are just spamming jetbikes, it seems odd that pure Custodes are giving everyone such trouble.

Its simple, pure weight of fire. My opponents cannot field enough multi damage weapons to kill my troops. Add in the vexilla cover, storm Shields and high damage, and toughness, it simply overwhelms them.

I fought primaris at 1500 points, and tabled him in 4 turns (maybe 3) he did have a land raider and Girlyman which were big points sinks. Blasters are made to pop land raiders.

i would be curious to know what the Eldar and Dark Eldar lists where. Eldar in any form shouldn't have much trouble dealing with multi wound models.

I haven't started and probably wont start Primaris so i wont try and make a suggestion. However, if you like your Custodeus guys maybe your buddies can take a look at their lists.

jcd386 wrote:
I'd say deathwatch do primaris better. But pure primaris isn't as ideal.

Deathwatch and Raven Guard are both black. Paint your Marines appropriately and you can run them as different armies on different days.

Blood angels have some nice primaris tricks - Intercessors with red thirst are actually decent in CC; Inceptors can redeploy at a moments notice with the wings of fire stratagem. I wouldn't go *pure* primaris, though, if only to fit in captain slam.

Still, Deathwatch is the way to go. SIA make your troops sooo much better; you can mix hellblasters in with your intercessors for ablative wounds, and so on. The only downside is that you're somewhat limited on the D6 damage front without spamming ven dreads, even more so for pure primaris.

Deathwatch would be my go to for Primaris and without taking to much dead weight i would probably do this:

HQ
Watch Captain: Thunder Hammer, Storm Shield, Dominus Aegis
Watch Master: TotE, LoHK

Troops
5x Intercessors Bolt Rifle, 5x Aggressors AutoFragStorm
5x Intercessors Bolt Rifle, 5x Aggressors AutoFragStorm
5x Intercessors Bolt Rifle, 5x Aggressors AutoFragStorm
5x Intercessors Bolt Rifle, 5x Hellblasters Incinerator
5x Intercessors Bolt Rifle, 5x Hellblasters Incinerator
5x Intercessors Bolt Rifle, 5x Hellblasters Incinerator

Combat squad Hellblasters and Aggressors as needed.

Intercessors
Holds objectives, screens and whatevers else needs to be done.

Aggressors
Moves up with Watch Master deleting units with rerolls and stratagems

Hellblasters
Deploys using Teleportarium along with Watch Captain who jumps with them then deletes armor and similar tough units.

The DI release happens to have the best weapon loadout for both Hellblasters and Intercessors. These two units seem to be the all stars of the Primaris release. The rapid fire variant is widely considered the most versatile load while remaining the cheapest across the board. Auto Bolt Rifles and Assault Plasma Incinerators have their place (w/ DW), and the heavies should rarely be considered. Add Auxiliary Grenade Launchers to an Intercessor per squad and toss a sheathed chainsword or power sword on the sarge, and you've got an optimized squad. (I used Tartaros grenade launchers to bash mine)

As said above, Inceptors are good in either loadout, but optimizing plasma requires a baby-sitting captain or sitting still as DA. Redemptors are best with max dakka in the form of Onslought cannons with a shout out to the plasma decimator as a viable anti-armor option, but are not terribly competitive overall. Flamer Aggressors are considered bad, while Boltstorm Aggressors are considered great. The Repulsor is decent in any configuration for garage games but not overly competitive in any of them. Reivers are widely considered lackluster in either configuration, but they do have some neat shenanigans involving Deathwatch SIA, making insane charges by 'ignoring height', and/or charging with a Chaplain Dread to be a cheapish viable CC unit.

For HQ's, the Gravis Cap is the killiest but has has transportation issues, as does the Apothecary and the Chaplain. The Librarian would fall in the same trap but is very point efficient compared to a regular Libby so may be worth considering. The standard Primaris Cap is a solid mid/back gunline buffer and most seem to favor the stalker rifle unless playing as DW. The general consensus seems to be to avoid Primaris HQ's if possible.

Did I miss anything?

18 boltstorm Aggressors + DW Watch Master or RG Chapter Master.

Either Raven Guard infantry spam - 50 primaris bodies in 1750 points is no joke, especially with infiltrated boltstorm aggressors.

Or deathwatch, where special issue ammo and mixed squads make up for a lot of the primaris problems. My fave all round squad is 5 intercessors, 2 aggressors and 3 hellblasters (intercessors and hellblasters with assault variant). run with no penalty and hella dakka.