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Armored Battlegroup:
Imperial Navy Gunship Squadron
Kitted Vanquishers with Beast Hunter Shells
Siege Tank Squadron for cheap Thunderers.

Did I mention Imperial Navy Gunship Squadron?

Dark Angels:
Best:
1. Black Knights
2. Bikes

Worst:
1. Flyers

Imperial Guard

(If Apoc counting too)
Stormblade
Vulture with Punishers
Vendettas

;D

IG
1.Vendetta
2. Imperial guard 30 man block with SWS one MG one demo one PG
3. LRBT

Note: Are deathstar and good unit synonmous now? How is a Heldrake a deathstar?

CSM:
Lv. 3 Unmarked Sorc. (biomancy), Skarbrand
Termi Retinue w. MoTz, season to taste w/ combimeltas and fist, maybe a Reaper Autocannon.

Oblits behind an Aegis w/ MoN

Nurgle Bike lord w/ blackmace and several Nurgle Spawn

Not much Chaos deathstar material, at least compared to a Harlestar, Greyknights, etc.

From GK i would say (in no particular order):
- Coteaz
- Strike squad
- Dreadknight

Nids: #1 Tervigon (reliable,boosts herself or others with psychic powers,scoring, births more scoring, force multiplier with even more buffing of nearby littul 'uns, and if you go Tervifex style they will rip alot of stuff to shreds)
#2 Doom of Malan'tai (has the potential to turn a game around all on his own but isn't a reliable way to do so)
#3 Flyrant (reliable, shoots a bunch, can stomp some stuff, can boost with Old Adversary and even support a little with psychic powers)

DE
Venom
Ravager
Trueborn(even though I don't run them... )

Okay, I think I'm going to have to set the record straight on guard here:

#1.) CCS.

There is nothing this squad can't do. Defensively, you can take 4 BS4 plasma or meltaguns, and put them in a chimera if you like. Offensively, you can take a BS4 lascannon and officer of the fleet for pretty cheap. Plus, they can order themselves to be twin-linked against vehicles or monstrous creatures, and can force your opponent to reroll passed cover saves. That and it's one of the best places in the codex for a power fist, and can come with a "I did an extra wound this round *wink*" upgrade to help them win assaults. This tiny squad can pack a lot of punch for very cheap.

But it doesn't stop there. They are a great support unit, being able to rally broken units (even at less than 25%) with ease, while being able to take an upgrade that lets anything remotely nearby reroll their failed morale tests in the first place. They can make units nearby twin-linked against vehicles or monstrous creatures, and do the faux ignore-cover thing. They can make sure stuff gets a 6 on its run rolls, and give a ghetto version of bolter drill to lasguns nearby.

But that's not all! They also have more meta-influencing stuff, like the ability to reduce your opponent's reserve rolls by 1, or to increase yours by 1 and reroll where your outflankers come in from.

All this for a price tag that starts at 50 points, and rarely exceeds 100. It's possibly, per points, one of the best units in the game, much less the guard codex. It's only a shame that it doesn't quite dovetail with mech lists as well as you'd hope.

#2.) Conscripts with Send in the Next Wave!

They are an invincible scoring unit. Let me repeat that in case you missed it. Invincible scoring unit. Whenever you kill off a couple of conscripts, a few moments later they return to full strength and can teleport to anywhere inside of my deployment zone.

Every game, you just HAVE one objective, more or less, and your opponent is actually WORSE off for attacking them. There is nothing else in 40k even remotely like this.

#3.) Punishers.

Give them a pair of multimeltas and a lascannon, and they create a 30" bubble where they're going to absolutely ruin anything foolish enough to enter. Being a heavy 20 gun, they can handle things that are susceptible to volume of fire. Having two multimeltas and a lascannon, they've got the power to handle anything that isn't. There is nothing that your opponent can bring that gets within that threat range that a punisher can't at least somewhat handle, if not just stomp dead.

It provides great zone control on a really durable chassis, screwing up your opponent's movement in a difficult to dislodge way. Plus, on occasion, they count as scoring units to boot.

SW:
Lone Wolf
Grey Hunters
Rune Priest

Bonus:Rhinos for 35 points I can laugh at the heldrake, move up 18 inches, then hide behind them.

They have a turreted weapon, so hiding behind a Heldrake does nothing much xD

^i think he meant hiding behind the rhino

Anyway

Dark angels

Librarian
Whirlwind
Scoring, no scatter, mixed weapon, twin linked on first turn, ten man terminator units (with belial of course)

For my C:SM + BT allies;

70pt Landspeeder Typhoons
2x Assault cannon terminators
Love my land raider redeemer

I'll give this a shot for the two armies I play.

Sisters of Battle
-Exorcists
-Heavy Bolter Retributors
-Celestine

Orks
-Nob Bikers
-Lootas
-Deff Rollas

For IG:

1) Vendetta. Absurdly cheap thanks to being priced as a 5th edition skimmer intended to sell the new Valkyrie kit, priceless dual-role AA/anti-tank that you can't get anywhere else in the codex, and fills the vital role of getting scoring units to objectives outside your own deployment zone. With IG the question isn't whether you're going to take multiple Vendettas, it's what you're going to put in the Vendettas you're taking.

2) Vulture (twin-linked punisher cannons). Trade the Vendetta's transport capacity for strafing run and vector dancer, so you're averaging 20 STR 5 hits per turn against most targets with the maneuverability to deliver it exactly where you need it. The Vulture kills hordes, kills elite infantry, and even kills vehicles (average of 6 HP per turn removed from AV 10 with vector dancer to reliably get into rear armor). It's hard to imagine an IG list that doesn't take at least one.

3) Sabre (twin-linked lascannons). Reasonably efficient shooting against ground targets, but interceptor and skyfire makes them absolutely terrifying for flyerspam players to see on the other side of the table. And on top of that they're a scoring unit with lots of T7 wounds, having your best shooting units also work well as objective campers frees up a lot of points to push forward aggressively and take enemy objectives (or just bring raw firepower and table them). The only real drawback is they commit you to having a static foot element (don't forget the prerequisite platoon), so you can't just throw them in every single list like the flyers.

 Ailaros wrote:
Okay, I think I'm going to have to set the record straight on guard here:

#1.) CCS.

There is nothing this squad can't do. Defensively, you can take 4 BS4 plasma or meltaguns, and put them in a chimera if you like. Offensively, you can take a BS4 lascannon and officer of the fleet for pretty cheap. Plus, they can order themselves to be twin-linked against vehicles or monstrous creatures, and can force your opponent to reroll passed cover saves. That and it's one of the best places in the codex for a power fist, and can come with a "I did an extra wound this round *wink*" upgrade to help them win assaults. This tiny squad can pack a lot of punch for very cheap.

But it doesn't stop there. They are a great support unit, being able to rally broken units (even at less than 25%) with ease, while being able to take an upgrade that lets anything remotely nearby reroll their failed morale tests in the first place. They can make units nearby twin-linked against vehicles or monstrous creatures, and do the faux ignore-cover thing. They can make sure stuff gets a 6 on its run rolls, and give a ghetto version of bolter drill to lasguns nearby.

But that's not all! They also have more meta-influencing stuff, like the ability to reduce your opponent's reserve rolls by 1, or to increase yours by 1 and reroll where your outflankers come in from.

All this for a price tag that starts at 50 points, and rarely exceeds 100. It's possibly, per points, one of the best units in the game, much less the guard codex. It's only a shame that it doesn't quite dovetail with mech lists as well as you'd hope.

#2.) Conscripts with Send in the Next Wave!

They are an invincible scoring unit. Let me repeat that in case you missed it. Invincible scoring unit. Whenever you kill off a couple of conscripts, a few moments later they return to full strength and can teleport to anywhere inside of my deployment zone.

Every game, you just HAVE one objective, more or less, and your opponent is actually WORSE off for attacking them. There is nothing else in 40k even remotely like this.

#3.) Punishers.

Give them a pair of multimeltas and a lascannon, and they create a 30" bubble where they're going to absolutely ruin anything foolish enough to enter. Being a heavy 20 gun, they can handle things that are susceptible to volume of fire. Having two multimeltas and a lascannon, they've got the power to handle anything that isn't. There is nothing that your opponent can bring that gets within that threat range that a punisher can't at least somewhat handle, if not just stomp dead.

It provides great zone control on a really durable chassis, screwing up your opponent's movement in a difficult to dislodge way. Plus, on occasion, they count as scoring units to boot.

I think I either mis-read this or that you misspoke, because there is no way you can leave the Vendetta off of a "best units per codex" discussion.

'Nilla Marines:

1) Land Raider
The classic, the killer, AV 14 all around, and a real pain to stop. Pretty much guaranteed to get its cargo where it needs to get, or soak up so much dakka that everything else gets where it needs to get.

2) Sternguard
They just kill things really well. Given the shootier, close-range nature of the marines codex, these boys are exemplary of short-range punishment. They may not last too long in all cases, but they exemplify the "jack of all trades" for current marines. Can take lots of wargear, will normally get their jobs done, and aren't outrageously priced.

3) Assault Termies
Without the Land Raider these would be only "meh." With a land raider they become death machines. A pain to kill, a pain to deal with, and the scariest assault unit the 'nilla marines can muster.

Honorable Mentions:
Rhinos.
Yes they're kinda bland, but for the sheer number of marines these things have saved over the years, they need a shout out. Cheap, reliable, cover and annoyance. Drop pods may work better for lightning attacks, razorbacks offer more firepower, but for cheap rugged defense + speed, you can't beat these versatile little bastards.

TFC
100pts. for a 75 pt. Techmarine and a gun that fires 4 nasty small blast templates. It's so efficient, it makes you wonder if it's actually for current C:SM. It's not always helpful, but it's cool and has a cool model.

Tyranids:

Tervigons, no question whatsoever. Theyre our only "great" unit, but not quite broken I think.

Ymgarls: Yup, I put these guys ahead of the Doom. Their abilities are just invaluable, they terrify people way past their points and can still nail vehicles.

Tyrants: Wings upgrade is what makes them good, but their pricyness makes them a bit below Ymgarls to me. Still auto includes.

Honorable Mention: Doom of Malan'tai, then Biovores.

Tactical_Genius wrote:
Just wanna point out to all the Templars players that they can have assault marines with storm shields for 25 points per model, and meltabombs at an extra 2 ppm...
Mini-Deathstar?

If you check the BT faq it says to alter all point values for the storm shield upgrade to 15pts so those assault marines would actually cost 37ppm minimum

https://www.games-workshop.com/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m2940040a_Black_Templars_v1.2_JANUARY13.pdf

In terms of specialized FW lists:

IG: Armored Battle Group

1. Vanquisher Leman Russ with Beast Hunter Shells: Av 14 BS 4 with STR 8 AP 2 small blast with Instant Death. These things are great for the heavy MC filled environment we are seeing.

2. LRBT: (all variants) + Thunderers as Troop choices, in squads of up to 3.....need I say more

3. Vendettas or Vultures

LValx wrote:I think I either mis-read this or that you misspoke, because there is no way you can leave the Vendetta off of a "best units per codex" discussion.

The vendetta shows up late, spends only half the game on the board, is vulnerable to interceptor, has limitations on its mobility, and causes anybody transported inside to die a horrible death, even if the vehicle is just wrecked, not exploded.

The vendetta is nice because it is a cheap source of lascannon fire (with skyfire to boot), but given that you can't alpha strike with it, I'd rather go for a more expensive form of long-range anit-tank that actually get to start the game on the board, shooting from turn 1.

It didn't make the list, because it's not actually that good. People grossly over-fear it, and it's hyped so far beyond its actual capabilities that it almost puts Marbo's ludicrous reputation to shame.

 Ailaros wrote:
It didn't make the list, because it's not actually that good.

I guess we'll just forget how you've said that you hate how overpowered Vendettas are and if the only way to win with IG in 6th is to use them you'd rather quit 40k?

Speaking of which Marbo should be on the list. If only for coolness reasons.

Intentions for this thread was to compile a top-five-from-each-codex list (assuming people wouldn't 100% agree on the same three units for each codex).
...
but even at top five, it still looks like it might be a tough call for some of these armies...

At the Vendetta's price point, and the way the IG plays, only getting 3/5 Vendettas turn 2 will not kill you. If you really fear this, use the commlink on the aegis line. It's not like you need the gun with all the Vendettas flying around.

Imperial Guard
Vendetta
Infantry Blob
Leman Russes(variants depend on what your list lacks)

SW
Grey hunters
Long fangs
Rune priest

Tactical_Genius wrote:
Just wanna point out to all the Templars players that they can have assault marines with storm shields for 25 points per model, and meltabombs at an extra 2 ppm...
Mini-Deathstar?

Storm Shields are 15ppm. They FAQd it up.

Tyranids (no SCs)

Tervigon
Flyrant
Zoanthrope

Tyranids:
Doom of Ma'lantai
Flyrants with Devourers
Tervigon

Necron:
Nightscythes
Annihilation Barges
Wraiths

GK:
Coteaz
Dreadknight
Psyfledreads

Chaos:
Helldrake
Spawns w MON
Lord with brand

Allow me to explain my choices.

Tervigon: scoring monstrous creature and dealer of buffs for pretty cheap prices. They also spawn free models that can score, can roll for silly biomancy powers, and with crushing claws they can crack open tanks in melee with one round of "TERVIGON SMASH!" About the only thing they lack is an option to take armored shell.

Flyrant: Trolls fliers all day long, can glance or even pen light vehicles into dust, vector strike for more lulz, and can roll for biomancy to fly around with IWND and FNP or Iron arm. Or both if you have a caster free to give him endurance.. He's also the only way you can seriously threaten fliers and provides synapse. However one good shot can make him crash, and he isn't' cheap.

Zoanthropes: Cheap, with perhaps the best shooting in the book and make land raiders craps themselves or toss a Pilate that makes marines cry. Also carries synapse and SITW to shut down enemy psykers and can roll for nice powers to become a buff and debuff brigade. Also reasonably resilient with multiple wounds and a 3+ invulnerable save.