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I'm looking to start a Codex Space Marine army, but I'm struggling for what constitutes a good or bad list. I only play Tyranids at the moment, and I usually just push through most MEQ armies without thinking, so I don't know what makes for a good marine list at the moment. This is what I have so far;

Two librarians, one as a termie; level 2 each, with some upgrades for fightyness
2 Terminator Assault Squds (TH/SS)
2 Scout Squads (5 man, Snipers)
2 Tactical Squds (10 man, Grav-Gun/Missile Launcher with Flakk)
2 Devastator Squads (4 Man Lascannon, 4 Man Plasma Cannon)
Aegis with Skyfire Gun

I have a good number of Tau players and Helldrake players in my meta. Staring at this list compared to what I usually play it just seems like it has no models and doesn't do much. I don't even know where to begin with Space Marine theory

You really should get Rhinos for your Tactical Squads if you see a lot of Heldrakes. You do not need 2 Librarians; 1 is fine.

Two important things when playing Marines instead of Tyranids are: 1. Mechanize most infantry (especially scoring units) and 2. Be very careful when selecting your special/heavy weapons, as they completely define the role for the squad. As it stands you do not have a reliable way to destroy AV14, for example (sorry, 4 Lascannons is hardly "reliable"). Missile Launchers are normally favored over Plasma Cannons for their versatility.

Do you have any models yet? Do you know what Chapter Tactics you are going to choose?

I haven't purchased anything yet, nor have I settled on Chapter Tactics. I'm also not sure if there's an effective way to incorporate Terminators or those new Centurions into the list either. I'm open to most anything, I just have no idea where to even begin.
For example, I hadn't realized how much marines need their Rhinos

What theme are you going for the list, right now looks like you want to use termies, I would recommend a land raider then, maybe a chaplain with the termies..


Automatically Appended Next Post:
If your a beginner I recommend starting with 500 point list and building up from there. Or maybe 1000 but not more.

Marines definitely need their rhinos. They not only offer mobility but they also offer resilience. Marines in Rhinos aren't afraid of Heldrakes!

Terminators are great, if they all have TH/SS. I like to run 2 units of 5 TH/SS Termies in Land Raider Crusaders at 1,850 points (using Iron Hands tactics). I either run two Land Raiders or none - a single Land Raider is a huge target for your opponent but few armies can deal with 2. If you want to run Terminators and Land Raiders then Iron Hands is the way to go (imo). I would not take Terminators without a Land Raider Crusader. Do not take normal Land Raiders... the Crusader is much better for the points!

Centurions are great with the Grav-guns. Otherwise I am not too impressed with them.

Let's see if I can cook up a list for you...

Space Marines- Iron Hands Chapter Tactics

Terminator Librarian (Biomancy)

5 Assault Terminators
-5 w/ TH/SS
Land Raider Crusader
-Multi-Melta

5 Assault Terminators
-5 w/ TH/SS
Land Raider Crusader
-Multi-Melta

Tactical Squad
-Meltagun, Multi-Melta, Rhino

Tactical Squad
-Flamer, Multi-Melta, Rhino

Scout Squad
-Sniper Rifles, 1 Missile Launcher, Camo-Cloaks

Devastator Squad
-4 Missile Launchers

Devastator Squad
-4 Lascannons

This list should be right around 1,850. I play a very similar list and LOVE it. See what other local marine players run in your area... I always try to play a unique army, which is why I like running dual Raiders so much. Maybe you would prefer to run an army of Bikes or Scouts with Land Speeder Storms (Scout company). I always like to have a theme to my lists when I am just starting an army.

That's an interesting list. In truth my interest in Space Marines comes namely from the Forgeworld Horus Heresy line of marines, so when I order its likely going to be from there.
I'm just trying to brew lists so that when playing with people not attached to my playgroup, I can run them out of the normal Codex.
With that in mind, I'm certainly not opposed to Land Raiders and the like. That's an interesting list. Are the Land Raiders primarily there for their transportation abilities, or are they also there to provide fire support?

crusaders are awesome for the fire power they can dish out and the transport capacity being able to take up to 8 terminator armoured models is very nice.

Personally I have gone towards Salamanders although in that I dont use terminators at all and my only vehicles are dreads and drop pods.

Vulkhan

5 man tac squad meltagun combi melta drop pod x6
5 man assult squad 2x flamers, drop pod x 3
thunder fire cannon, drop pods x3

and I can't remember how much that all comes to, I think there are some sterngaurd in there too or a libby in term armour with SS but its been a while since I've had 1850 to play with as the local meta play has dropped to 1500 for me so I've adjusted atm.

If you are going for Heresy-era Marines then Land Raider Crusaders do not fit the theme. Normal Land Raiders do. LRCs and Assault Cannons were not developed until after the Horus Heresy. Nor were Plasma Cannons and Land Speeders, IIRC.

You have told us your meta contains heldrakes, if that is so I would strongly suggest some AA. Either in the form of fliers or at least an aegis with quad gun and a few flakk missiles.

If you're running Sniper Scouts, Sergeant Telion can be pretty brutal, if run correctly.

And for AA, I would suggest Heavy Bolters. Lots of them.

Besides that, it looks good.

I disagree. Heavy bolters as AA is a woeful idea.

In the op he mentions heldrakes as regular opposition and Gorgeousrex goes and suggests a list with no AA.

Come on guys, shame on you.

If you went with Ultramarines, I'd consider some/all of these;

Tigerius

10 Sniper Scouts w/ Cloaks and Telion
Aegis Defence Line with Quadgun

10 Tactical Marines - Rhino
10 Tactical Marines - Rhino

3x Stormtalons
A Stormraven

Thunderhammer Terminators

What is great about Telion? It seems to me like hes an over priced scout that will always hit with his sniper rifle that still wounds on a 4+.

 ultimentra wrote:
What is great about Telion? It seems to me like hes an over priced scout that will always hit with his sniper rifle that still wounds on a 4+.

Yes and no.

Yes if you use him incorrectly.

No, if you place him on the Aegis behind the gun. Guaranteed (pretty much) all four s7 shots hitting. Plus he adds stealth to the unit. Giving them a 2+ cover save if your scouts take cloaks.

From experience, he works very well.

Huh, looks like I forgot to list Flakk Missiles on the Devastator Squad. I would even consider replacing the Lascannon unit with a unit of Missile Launchers with Flakk Missiles (on my original list, above).

Telion manning a Quadgun is gold.

Running 3 sqds of devestators all with missile launchers and flakk missles will make people sad, so put them behind agies line with quadgun, telion with scouts hold objective and telion shoots gun tact sqds in rhinos move to take postion behind terrain till they are needed as an HQ i would suggjest chief librarian Tigarius because hes a total stud.