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So after much deliberation, I've decided that my 4000+ points of Orks is no longer warranting of true expansion and would like to start a second army, namely one under the Imperium. Now I'll admit I'm more into it for the Hobby than anything else, I've played 2 games of 8th and even in the waning days of 7th my interest was lacking, but having watched a number of battle reports from Winters SEO on youtube has really made me want to get back into the game, and I realize that I'm at a very good point to start a new army. Christmas is coming up and I could get enough to start with from gifts there.

All that said, if I am to get back into the game as well I don't want to just pick and choose seemingly at random. I want to build something a bit more... well not meta, but something enjoyable and not total trash on the tabletop. So I'm turning to you Dakkanauts after several years of absence. I'm asking for your help in choosing and building my new army. I'm going to pick Space Marines over anything else, because I already have one Horde Army, I don't need a second, and painting Vehicles sounds a chore so Space Marines it is. BTW yes, I remember the days back in 2013-14 in 6th ed when they weren't all referred to as their High Gothic title

So I guess... what's new? The lore I could probably catch up on myself, though I'd appreciate a quick rundown from those willing. I understand primarchs are coming back? Primaris are marines but better and the custodes are marching to war? Honestly I'm pretty out of the loop but I've always been a bigger fan of minis and tabletop over lore anyways, interesting as it is. Not to dismiss it, I've just always had a more hands-on approach towards 40k.

As for a Space Marine army, what's good? What's fun? What's enjoyable and strong without being cheesy? Should I start with a nice box of Space Marines and a Commander and go from there, or is there something else I should do? I guess I'd like some help before I start making lists, and without any clue as to the meta right now, I've no idea what's considered cheesy vs trash. Any recommendations on things to buy? To avoid? I thought doing a more infantry based list would be fun. Instead of having 100+ models, making my army between 70-80 if that's practical. Some of the new dreads I saw look pretty neat for example and Primaris, while the idea in my limited understanding seems dumb, they do look awfully nice...

So I implore you good people of dakkadakka, aide me in my goal to purge my Xenos army in the name of the EMPRAH! Lend me your words of wisdom, your harsh critique of my rambling post and your pleas to play anything other than Ultrasmurfs!

Space Marines just got a codex re-release along with a bunch of first founding codex expansions that dialed them up to 11.

Right now Salamanders, Imperial Fists and Iron Hands are pretty much OP.
All the others vary from strong to pretty strong.

In about 3 weeks GW should be releasing Start Collecting Vanguard Space Marines which contains most of the SM content from Shadowspear. Monopose but good units all around. Add a box of multipart Infiltrators/Incursors and you've got yourself a battalion. After that, the scout dreads are really good and fit the vanguard theme.

If you want to go with more Intercessors, try to track down the Apocalypse battalion for space marines - 30 intercessors, a captain and a dread.

On the vehicle side, Repulsor Executioners have a stupid amount of guns and the new Impulsor transport is quite good as it can do the job with a 4++ invulnerable save or bring a missile launcher to act as a hover Razorback.

After that it gets more chapter specific. People are drooling over Salamanders (successors) Aggressors with flamers because of army traits and strategems overlapping to make them insanely shooty.

All Codex Astartes marines are quite good at the moment. You can throw a dart and land on a useful unit (95% anyway).

Primaris are also quite cheap to collect if you like the models. If you dont have a local store ebay pricing is 15% off with free shipping.

Non Codex marines are still due an update. Bear in mind GW does tweak points often so what is strong today may be weaker in 6 months to a year, but it doesn't sound like that will affect you horribly.

Welcome back!

right now vanilla space marines are in an enviable position of "EVERYTHING IS GOOD" so go with what you want. I think the strongest troop choice is proably intercessors.

despite John saying slamanders, iron hands and Imperial fists are the big OP ones, really all the space marine chapters are good (each has their own supplement right now) and it'll depend on what you wan. since you mentioned not wanting to paint "a bunch of vehicles" I'd proably avoid iron hands. Ultramarines are good if you don't have a distinct build you wanna go with

Since you mentioned them in your initial post, I just want to throw it in that you can play Adeptus Custodes as their own army as well and without the need to include vehicles either.

They would be even more elite than Space Marines and you would have less to paint.

They are not Astartes, but close enough to appeal for similar reasons, imo.