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I'm thinking about breaking faith with the imperium and picking up some chaos space marines. But I was wondering which god to pledge my spike boys to. I like the look of the thousand sons, but what do chaos players think is the best? Which do you like fluff wise and on the table?

 jetstumpy wrote:
I'm thinking about breaking faith with the imperium and picking up some chaos space marines. But I was wondering which god to pledge my spike boys to. I like the look of the thousand sons, but what do chaos players think is the best? Which do you like fluff wise and on the table?

I reckon Khorne might be the outright easiest choice. very simple ethos- Close Combat. They also suit simpler (more aggressive) tactics, that scale up with the experience and knowledge of the player.

The best overall god would probably be Nurgle, because the MoN gives everyone awesome survivability. T5 troops with blight grenades (defensive and offensive grenades) and a 4+ poisoned plague knife, along with Feel No Pain makes them extremely resilient and very deadly. Plus, you can take two special weapons at minimum squad size. Nurgle bikers are T6, making them bloody hard to kill and can easily overrun an IG gunline since lasguns can't kill them and you get a jink save against AP3 weapons. Typhus is a monster, Blight Drones are awesome, and allying with Epidemius turns all your guys into juggernauts.

Thousands Sons are okay. They're really expensive, but have AP3 bolters with Soul Blaze and a 4++, as well as getting a free Sorceror with every squad. Lack of wargear options hurts, though. Ahriman is an insanely powerful Sorceror, but his lack of Spell Familiar means it's very possible that he brains himself trying to fire all three of his powers. EDIT: Thousand Sons also lose a lot because of their Slow and Purposeful debuff. Sure, they can move shoot and assault, but so what? You can't overwatch, they don't have heavy weapons, and you don't WANT to be in close combat with them. Plus, they're stupid expensive. 2/10 would not bang.

Noise Marines make Dark Eldar cry. Salvo 2/3 bolters that ignore cover? A Basscannon that laughs at your night cover? So high on COCAINE! that you get to hit first against MEQs? Fun stuff. Too bad they have to upgrade to get FNP, though. Lucius is okay, not amazing but not terrible.

Berzerkers are kinda lacking, though. Sure, they're WS5 and S5 (I believe), but they're not that great. The chainaxe "upgrade" is hardly worth it unless you're fighting guardsmen, and they lack the survivabilty of Plague Marines, who are almost better IMO, because of their Plague Knives and FNP. Kharn will tear you a new behind, however. And don't be afraid of his "Hits his friends on To Hit rolls of 1", because his Hatred (EVERYTHING ALL THE TIME!) should take out most of that.


In the end, Nurgle is the best god overall, since he makes all your units really, really hard to kill.

 xSPYXEx wrote:
The best overall god would probably be Nurgle, because the MoN gives everyone awesome survivability. T5 troops with blight grenades (defensive and offensive grenades) and a 4+ poisoned plague knife, along with Feel No Pain makes them extremely resilient and very deadly. Plus, you can take two special weapons at minimum squad size. Nurgle bikers are T6, making them bloody hard to kill and can easily overrun an IG gunline since lasguns can't kill them and you get a jink save against AP3 weapons. Typhus is a monster, Blight Drones are awesome, and allying with Epidemius turns all your guys into juggernauts.

Thousands Sons are okay. They're really expensive, but have AP3 bolters with Soul Blaze and a 4++, as well as getting a free Sorceror with every squad. Lack of wargear options hurts, though. Ahriman is an insanely powerful Sorceror, but his lack of Spell Familiar means it's very possible that he brains himself trying to fire all three of his powers.

Noise Marines make Dark Eldar cry. Salvo 2/3 bolters that ignore cover? A Basscannon that laughs at your night cover? So high on COCAINE! that you get to hit first against MEQs? Fun stuff. Too bad they have to upgrade to get FNP, though. Lucius is okay, not amazing but not terrible.

Berzerkers are kinda lacking, though. Sure, they're WS5 and S5 (I believe), but they're not that great. The chainaxe "upgrade" is hardly worth it unless you're fighting guardsmen, and they lack the survivabilty of Plague Marines, who are almost better IMO, because of their Plague Knives and FNP. Kharn will tear you a new behind, however. And don't be afraid of his "Hits his friends on To Hit rolls of 1", because his Hatred (EVERYTHING ALL THE TIME!) should take out most of that.


In the end, Nurgle is the best god overall, since he makes all your units really, really hard to kill.

A good overall write-up of the various elites/marked troops - But I still think that if you're looking to create a unified army beyond this, Khorne may be the easiest to wrap your head around.

Khorne is probably one of the more simple armies to play, since their whole ideology is RUN FIGHT KILL OFFER SKULLS REPEAT, but I still think Plague Marines and Noise Marines are better for general use since they can hold objectives pretty easily.

 xSPYXEx wrote:
Khorne is probably one of the more simple armies to play, since their whole ideology is RUN FIGHT KILL OFFER SKULLS REPEAT, but I still think Plague Marines and Noise Marines are better for general use since they can hold objectives pretty easily.

Indeed, I concur wholeheartedly.

It's nice to agree with someone on the internet for once! ;D

just glancing it over i like the forgefiend. 8 strength 8 shots is nice, too bad the ballistic skill sucks. i hate the model though. i would probably proxy forgeworld dreads w/ autocannon arms for it. would people have an issue with that?

i like the raptors too. 2 specials + combi per 5 man squad. does the champion sacrifice his CCW for taking a combi weapon?

the helldrake is good but too ugly and stupid for me to consider buying.

kb305 wrote:
just glancing it over i like the forgefiend. 8 strength 8 shots is nice, too bad the ballistic skill sucks. i hate the model though. i would probably proxy forgeworld dreads w/ autocannon arms for it. would people have an issue with that?

i like the raptors too. 2 specials + combi per 5 man squad. does the champion sacrifice his CCW for taking a combi weapon?

the helldrake is good but too ugly and stupid for me to consider buying.

Just ask the opponent before playing your dread/fiend conversion and I doubt it would be much of a problem, though normal acutocannons won't look dakka enough to be the Heavy8 autos. Convert a bit

I've never seen a forgefiend or a maulerfiend do anything good on the table.
Personally I love the look of the heldrakes. They're a big reason why I want to go to chaos.

Rustgob wrote:

kb305 wrote:
just glancing it over i like the forgefiend. 8 strength 8 shots is nice, too bad the ballistic skill sucks. i hate the model though. i would probably proxy forgeworld dreads w/ autocannon arms for it. would people have an issue with that?

i like the raptors too. 2 specials + combi per 5 man squad. does the champion sacrifice his CCW for taking a combi weapon?

the helldrake is good but too ugly and stupid for me to consider buying.

Just ask the opponent before playing your dread/fiend conversion and I doubt it would be much of a problem, though normal acutocannons won't look dakka enough to be the Heavy8 autos. Convert a bit

i was going to use the twin linked forgeworld autocannons and maybe add some chaos bits to them. I think they will look okay.

I love mailer fiends for my noise marines. I run 3 of them with some nurgle spawn as a screen and cheap cc threat. I love my helldrakes but do not use them in friendly games unless my opponent has flyers or has a cheese list as they make power armor armies without a counter to flyers completely useless.

krazykishere wrote:
I love mailer fiends for my noise marines. I run 3 of them with some nurgle spawn as a screen and cheap cc threat. I love my helldrakes but do not use them in friendly games unless my opponent has flyers or has a cheese list as they make power armor armies without a counter to flyers completely useless.

That's very sportsmanly. There's a gentleman at my flgs that likes to run two of them. He's the reason I had to order a mortis contemptor.

can the helldrake vector strike ground infantry fully in cover?

if so that's pretty cheese

Thousands Sons are okay. They're really expensive, but have AP3 bolters with Soul Blaze and a 4++, as well as getting a free Sorceror with every squad. Lack of wargear options hurts, though. Ahriman is an insanely powerful Sorceror, but his lack of Spell Familiar means it's very possible that he brains himself trying to fire all three of his powers.

I'm sorry but the sorcerer is NOT FREE, it is a near 60 point cost tax on the unit!

if it wasn't for that Sorcerers Cost, the Thousand Sons might even be usable, it costs near a bare bones HQ sorcerer without ANY of the perks or stats, I have no clue what Kelly or anyone was smoking when they designed that sorcerer tax on the unit.

 ZebioLizard2 wrote:

Thousands Sons are okay. They're really expensive, but have AP3 bolters with Soul Blaze and a 4++, as well as getting a free Sorceror with every squad. Lack of wargear options hurts, though. Ahriman is an insanely powerful Sorceror, but his lack of Spell Familiar means it's very possible that he brains himself trying to fire all three of his powers.

I'm sorry but the sorcerer is NOT FREE, it is a near 60 point cost tax on the unit!

if it wasn't for that Sorcerers Cost, the Thousand Sons might even be usable, it costs near a bare bones HQ sorcerer without ANY of the perks or stats, I have no clue what Kelly or anyone was smoking when they designed that sorcerer tax on the unit.

Warp dust.

 jetstumpy wrote:
I've never seen a forgefiend or a maulerfiend do anything good on the table.
Personally I love the look of the heldrakes. They're a big reason why I want to go to chaos.

Your in luck! Not only do they look awesome, they also wreck face!

Seriously, your practical options are nurgle or slaanesh.

I think Nurgle is a bit better, but I can see the allure of slaanesh.

Well, I'd go either with Nurgle Marines or normal CSM units eventually upgraded to veterans. Noise Marines are too expensive for what you'll get.

kb305 wrote:
can the helldrake vector strike ground infantry fully in cover?

if so that's pretty cheese

It can vector strike - which ignores cover. Then it can leave a str6 ap3 template behind it as it flies off. Which also ignores cover...

A very easy list to play at 1750 might be something like:
Chaos lord, Bike, Brand, MoN, Power Axe, 4++, Gift, Melta Bombs: 185
15 Cultists
15 Cultists
7 Plague Marines, 2 plasma, combi plasma
7 Plague Marines, 2 plasma, combi plasma
5 Bikers, MoN, 2 flamers, power weapon, vets
Helldrake, baleflamer
Helldrake, baleflamer
3 Oblits, MoN
6 Autocannon Havocs, vets
6 Autocannon Havocs, vets
1747

For a beginner force I'd start with something like:
7 Plague Marines, 2 plasma, combi plasma
7 Plague Marines, 2 plasma, combi plasma
6 Autocannon Havocs, vets
6 Autocannon Havocs, vets
Helldrake, baleflamer
Lord, MoN, Fist, Brand
Which is just under 1000 points

Nurgle and Slaanesh are the best gods. Try to build shooting since shooting is much stronger than CC in 6th.