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So to me the Murder Sword seems like a total waste of time. Only application I can think of for it is to put on a cheap character to try and hunt your opponents warlord. But after paying for the mobility to put the user into assault with the target, theyre not gonna be cheap...


Can anyone think of a decent use for the Murder Sword? (Bored at work this is just something I'm pondering)

Maybe against monstrous creatures?

I guess I meant to say when is it ever viable to take it?

Against 'nids, the Avatar of Khaine (although you should really shoot that), Ork warbosses. Anything with above average toughness, or if you need to instant kill something nasty in your opponents army.

it ends up being a better option than an AoBF or SC if you really want something to die. MoS and Murder Sword will kill most HQs and MC before they get to strike.

Also note that the sword procs if you are in BTB, you dont have to target the model.

In actuality though, it ends up being a keep away stick. You give a guy the murder sword, you tell your opponent who you want to murder, and then he keeps whatever model you named as far away from your murderer as possible the whole game.


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also in small games, it becomes comical. Your opponenet cannot avoid it and you are getting ID powerfist at initiative for practically the same cost as a power fist.

It isn't. It's a power weapon that is useful against 1 model on the board for more than double the cost. Plus your opponent can keep away from it, even if your lord is mounted he can throw a unit in the way and it'll take you a while to get through it.

It is simply a bad weapon, take an Axe of Blind Fury (if you're Khorne) or a Murder Sword instead.

On a melee monster lord, if you give him a power axe and the murder sword, he can actually mulch through anything. Also, going after the enemy super killy IC just got easier. This still gives you the bonus attack, and is available to any lord with any mark.

You also have to think that since your opponent will want to stay the hell away from it...It gives you a bit of control over the board.

Not really, they're only going to be keeping 1 model away from it. Which isn't to big a factor in terms of gaining board control, as the rest of his army won't care.

And yes, him with a Power Axe and a Murder sword will hurt a little, but then why not just give him a Power Sword and a Power Axe? And yes, he'll go through quite a bit. Except when you hit a large squad that'll take you a pretty long time.

 Rampage wrote:
Not really, they're only going to be keeping 1 model away from it. Which isn't to big a factor in terms of gaining board control, as the rest of his army won't care.

For the most part, that one model will be in a squad. That squad will not want to tackle your Murderer for fear of a 'free' Slay the Warlord. So in a 1500pt game, which I've seen usually average 10 units per player, you're esentially gaining a 1/10th board control advantage over your opponent.

It gives you the bonus attacks of a Daemon weapon no matter where the enemy ic you targeted is and you don't need MoK for it and it's cheaper than the Black Mace so all in all it's okay for its price.

 Shadox wrote:
It gives you the bonus attacks of a Daemon weapon no matter where the enemy ic you targeted is and you don't need MoK for it and it's cheaper than the Black Mace so all in all it's okay for its price.

Except, the murder sword is not a daemon weapon, so no extra attacks there.

 Sasori wrote:

 Shadox wrote:
It gives you the bonus attacks of a Daemon weapon no matter where the enemy ic you targeted is and you don't need MoK for it and it's cheaper than the Black Mace so all in all it's okay for its price.

Except, the murder sword is not a daemon weapon, so no extra attacks there.

Hm okay that makes it different. Now I have to apologize to my last opponent

 juraigamer wrote:
On a melee monster lord, if you give him a power axe and the murder sword, he can actually mulch through anything. Also, going after the enemy super killy IC just got easier. This still gives you the bonus attack, and is available to any lord with any mark.

on a melee monster it is probably better to have fist+LC(or daemon weapon) and T5 to ignore str8 ID


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 Rampage wrote:
It isn't. It's a power weapon that is useful against 1 model on the board for more than double the cost. Plus your opponent can keep away from it, even if your lord is mounted he can throw a unit in the way and it'll take you a while to get through it.

It is simply a bad weapon, take an Axe of Blind Fury (if you're Khorne) or a Murder Sword instead.

and if that one model is a 200+ point combat nasty that can be very useful.

Heartless wrote:

 Rampage wrote:
Not really, they're only going to be keeping 1 model away from it. Which isn't to big a factor in terms of gaining board control, as the rest of his army won't care.

For the most part, that one model will be in a squad. That squad will not want to tackle your Murderer for fear of a 'free' Slay the Warlord. So in a 1500pt game, which I've seen usually average 10 units per player, you're esentially gaining a 1/10th board control advantage over your opponent.

No, because most of the time you're going to be taking a HQ choice that is not a close combat beast to hide at the back of your army and deny 'slay the warlord', like a rune priest, so you're not going to fear slay the warlord. Sure, choose a model to murder that is not an independent character, and is part of a squad. But then I won't care too much if he dies.

Exergy wrote:

 juraigamer wrote:
On a melee monster lord, if you give him a power axe and the murder sword, he can actually mulch through anything. Also, going after the enemy super killy IC just got easier. This still gives you the bonus attack, and is available to any lord with any mark.

on a melee monster it is probably better to have fist+LC(or daemon weapon) and T5 to ignore str8 ID


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 Rampage wrote:
It isn't. It's a power weapon that is useful against 1 model on the board for more than double the cost. Plus your opponent can keep away from it, even if your lord is mounted he can throw a unit in the way and it'll take you a while to get through it.

It is simply a bad weapon, take an Axe of Blind Fury (if you're Khorne) or a Murder Sword instead.

and if that one model is a 200+ point combat nasty that can be very useful.

And half the time that 200pt beasty is going to be beating you down anyway provided they have a high enough initiative. Although I don't have my Chaos Codex on me right now.

 Rampage wrote:

No, because most of the time you're going to be taking a HQ choice that is not a close combat beast to hide at the back of your army and deny 'slay the warlord', like a rune priest, so you're not going to fear slay the warlord. Sure, choose a model to murder that is not an independent character, and is part of a squad. But then I won't care too much if he dies.
And half the time that 200pt beasty is going to be beating you down anyway provided they have a high enough initiative. Although I don't have my Chaos Codex on me right now.

Support characters cannot be that far back or they cant use their powers, but yes if you are going up against an army that has no worthwhile characters like IG then it is a waste, as any combat monster upgrade or character is a waste in those circumstances.
Chaos lords have init5, init 6 with MoS. A lot of combat nasties have powerfists(or PK), thunderhammers or strike at init5. So more than half the time you are going to get your ID attacks in before the other guy gets to strike.

Well the Rune Priest can sit at the back presciencing your Long Fangs. This is actually what I do. Ok, I see the problem with the initiative, thanks for the stat reminder.

However, the Murder Sword being useful is predicated on 1, your opponent not having large units, 20+ models, and your opponent also having a close combat beasty.

Plus your Lord needs to be durable enough to take any shooting that is aimed at him before he can get to work with his Murder Sword and fast enough to catch this individual model.

 Rampage wrote:
And half the time that 200pt beasty is going to be beating you down anyway provided they have a high enough initiative. Although I don't have my Chaos Codex on me right now.

What strikes before I5/6 except Archons and Halberd GKs?

 Shadox wrote:

 Rampage wrote:
And half the time that 200pt beasty is going to be beating you down anyway provided they have a high enough initiative. Although I don't have my Chaos Codex on me right now.

What strikes before I5/6 except Archons and Halberd GKs?

Please read my above post, also please read the last sentence that you quoted. Although you are right, not much.

What strikes before I5/6 except Archons and Halberd GKs?

necron shakle overlords/lords ? but its more like you hiting yourself