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I have posted a few CSM Khorne lists on here recently, and have made a lot of changes based on advice from guys on here, and I feel like I'm finally getting there with a final list. Just want some help/advice and some suggestions, and an opinion on how good/bad this list is.

For reference, I'm pretty keen to not take cultists and Hell Turkeys, and I WILL NOT TAKE DIFFERENT MARKS OF CHAOS. It is purposefully a Khorne themed list.

For instance, I did have an Icon of vengeance on the CSM to make them fearless and not run from the objective they're designed to hold, but that would also mean they're not allowed to go to ground, which could be useful and I can't decide what route to take. Its quite self explanatory, the CSM will sit and hold an objective, the zerkers will both go in the raiders, and along with the fiends and the DP's will all run forward as fast as they can and try to get choppy choppy, and smashy smashy!

Here it is:

2000 Pts - Codex: Chaos Space Marines Roster

Total Roster Cost: 2000

HQ: Daemon Prince (1#, 265 pts)
1 Daemon Prince + Power Armour + Wings + Daemon of Khorne
1 The Black Mace

HQ: Kharn the Betrayer (1#, 160 pts)
1 Kharn the Betrayer (Warlord)

Troops: Khorne Berzerkers (8#, 189 pts)
7 Khorne Berzerkers + Chainaxe x3
1 Berzerker Champion + Chainaxe + Plasma Pistol

Troops: Khorne Berzerkers (8#, 171 pts)
7 Khorne Berzerkers + Chainaxe x2
1 Berzerker Champion + Chainaxe

Heavy Support: Chaos Land Raider (1#, 240 pts)
1 Chaos Land Raider + Dirge Caster + Combi-Bolter

Heavy Support: Chaos Land Raider (1#, 240 pts)
1 Chaos Land Raider + Dirge Caster + Combi-Bolter

Heavy Support: Maulerfiend (1#, 125 pts)
1 Maulerfiend

Black Legion Allies

HQ: Daemon Prince (1#, 295 pts)
1 Daemon Prince + Power Armour + Wings + Daemon of Khorne + Ichor Blood
1 The Skull of Ker'ngar
1 The Spineshiver Blade

Troops: Chaos Space Marines (10#, 190 pts)
9 Chaos Space Marines + Veterans of the Long War + Plasma gun + Autocannon
1 Aspiring Champion + Power Axe x1 + Veterans of the Long War

Heavy Support: Maulerfiend (1#, 125 pts)
1 Maulerfiend

REMEMBER - It's Khorne themed! Hence the axe on the CSM..... But suggestions are welcome, along with ratings and all......

I love the list. It's powerful and themed... not something you see every day.

What is your primary source of anti-air firepower? From looking at the list I do not see anything with Skyfire or twin-linked high strength shots. Perhaps I overlooked it?

 Gorgosaurusrex wrote:
I love the list. It's powerful and themed... not something you see every day.

What is your primary source of anti-air firepower? From looking at the list I do not see anything with Skyfire or twin-linked high strength shots. Perhaps I overlooked it?

CSM doesn't have anything in its codex with skyfire unless you get a Heldrake with Hades. I think he'll mainly be ignoring air/ use vector strike from DP's

Yeah that's the plan. I think havocs with flakk missiles are too expensive, and don't fit my theme. In my local meta (which is where this list will see 99% of its action) fliers are very very rare. There is 1 sun shark bomber, and 1 storm raven and that's about it. I will vector strike with the DP's if they become a pain, and as a very last resort the 2 raiders have 4 TL Lascannons. But my primary tactic is to ignore them.

Put it this way, the 2 FMC's in my list is the the highest number of fliers in my local meta!

Thanks for the response though, it has been so so so hard to find the balance!

Oh, I hadn't even considered the TL Lascannons on the Land Raiders. That combined with vector strikes should be enough to take down a single flyer in a turn. Sunsharks and Stormravens aren't high-priority targets, though.

I really want to see a pic of your army, assuming it's painted

Haha, it's not, not yet! It's not even all bought or built! I've literally just started kharn, a single fiend and a single DP. I've also only just finished modelling the first squad of zerkers with the forge world world eaters bits!

However, I can photograph the progress and send them if you like? Thanks for the positive response bud!

I understand your situation, Khaine. I've been very annoying as of late as well, making lots of posts trying to rest my mind with making a Thousand Sons list. They're also very fluffy, and rather underwhelming compared to the mighty nurgle/slannesh CSM units.

Hopefully I can give you some feedback to help your restlessness

Things I like about the list:
-2 DPs. Lots of people will take 1 because the guy is just awesome, he will kill 1 unit of anything in 1 turn then get shot up after leaving CC. The more you take, the less likely this is. 2 is good.
-Land Raiders. They're great for khorne beserkers because they are cheap compared to things like thousand sons and they need to get into CC. AV14 is rare now a days so your opponent will likely have few if any ways to deal with two land raiders coming at him.
-Maulerfiends. Its good that you're taking two. Redundancy is key with CSM. Just like your DPs, take two. They're excellent at taking out tanks.
-Your troops will survive until turn 6. two of them are in land raiders, and the other is in the backfield playing it safe.
-The ability to attack many different squads at once. You have a lot of threats on the board.

Things I don't like about the list:
-You have a lot of small upgrades like VoTLW on the csm squad, a plasma pistol on a zerker champion, and seemingly randomly placed chain axes. Do you need these? I know you want a chainaxe on the CSM leader for fluff, but why 3 in the zerker unit? Why not 4 or 2? Just something very small to think about that might give you the points to take a larger CSM squad

I'm not sure about the other stuff but he needs the VotLW to take the BL supplement allies

 Gorgosaurusrex wrote:
Sunsharks and Stormravens aren't high-priority targets

YES.

Yesyesyesyes.

Smartest thing I've heard all day.

Ok, the VotLW is vpbecause I have to on the CSM squad. The plasma pistol is in the squad kharn won't go in, it means both squads will have one - should drop a wound just before the charge, and the remaining axes are because I had points left over. I know I could take another CSM or something, but in trying to keep fluffy and stick with my theme I went for axes! Nothing says Khorne more than chain axes!

I'll be honest, if that's all you don't like then I am really really pleased!

It seems people don't have an issue with the I ichor blood upgrade? I've never used it before. I also plonked combi bolters on the LR just in case of that 'weapon destroyed' result.

Please keep reviewing? I'd like more negatives! So I can adjust tactically. Playing farsight enclaves today! One of the few lists I'm concerned about!

If you want some tactics id suggest using the land raiders and daemonprinces to back up each others weaknesses. The Daemon Prince is resistant to small amounts of powerful guns and the Land Raider is resistant to large amounts of weak guns.

Use the Land Raiders to block Line of Sight on the DPs by mass small arms fire. Lets say you have 40 or 50 guardsmen hitting your DP on a 6+ because hes flying. Still thats a lot of grounding tests, one of which you are bound to fail. Stick a Land Raider inbetween them. Bam.

All of a sudden, on your way up the board, 5 Legion of the Damned deep strike in in a drop pod with 4 melta guns to blow up your Land Raider. Your daemon prince choppes em up in one round of combat. Bam.

Its important to have a reactionary unit in some cases. Both DPs and Maulers have the speed to be reactionary, but only your DPs have the firepower. Dont always run them straight up the board.

I intended to keep the DP's in the air turn one, and ideally I want them hitting combat turn two.

In a perfect world I'd have both DP's, both squads of zerkers, and both maulers hitting combat turn 2. I should then be able to tear the proverbial heart out, and then work on other units.

Like I said, playing farsight bomb today. My EW DP is going to hunt o'vesa, my LR's will shoot at the broadsides that are guaranteed to be there, kharn and the other DP may attempt to hit his other riptide, have to be careful though as he can ID my non EW DP.

Just so you know, he has 2 riptides (inc o'vesa), 4 broadsides, farsight, and a load of crises suits filling his remaining 2k points......I might struggle.

I...like this list? What is this strange feeling...

I've been thinking heavily on the use of Land Raiders for my World Eaters army as well, in an attempt to make them work. I reckon this list might actually do well in my meta, so I might actually try something similar.

Only problem is the use of two Artefacts on the BL DP. A model may exchange one weapon for one artefact, and you have two. Not to mention that the DP only starts with one weapon anyway.

A couple of other things could be dropped as well, but I otherwise like it.

I'll look into it. I assumed as the skull wasn't actually a weapon that it wouldn't replace the CCW. Like the scroll or the key in the normal CSM dex.

I'll do some reading now.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
OK, so with no FAQ I think it's up for debate personally, I'll throw it in the YMDC section..

I'd put the AoBF on the DP instead of BM. LRs need XA and Dozer blades (nothing like getting immobilized in dangerous terrain or Stunned by shooting).

I think the black mace is much much better. The AoBF only gains 1 extra attack, and makes the DP easier to hit in combat with a +2 strength,

Without it he is strength 7 on the charge anyway, with only 1 less attack. Plus the chance to ID everything he hits, and wound models with 3", if I want the extra strength I just smash attack and I only lose 2 attacks for that.

 Cheexsta wrote:
I...like this list? What is this strange feeling...

I've been thinking heavily on the use of Land Raiders for my World Eaters army as well, in an attempt to make them work. I reckon this list might actually do well in my meta, so I might actually try something similar.

Only problem is the use of two Artefacts on the BL DP. A model may exchange one weapon for one artefact, and you have two. Not to mention that the DP only starts with one weapon anyway.

A couple of other things could be dropped as well, but I otherwise like it.

The BL supplement does not have the same restrictions concerning artefacts due to having different wording. And I agree, this list is quite appealing, Khaine has been working on it for a while and I think he's done very well.

Ok guys, I've just played my first game with it against a friends farsight list.

To say it went well is an understatement, we got to turn 6, but in turn 6 I removed his last model from the board! A complete whitewash! Plenty of blood for the blood god!

There is however a change I'd like to suggest to see what people's thoughts are? The BL CSM sat at the back on an objective, and although they managed to keep the objective and take NO casualties, I feel they could have done better, managing to take a single wound all game, so, I am proposing this -

Drop the 10 x CSM
Drop the ichor blood
Drop the combi bolters on the raiders

That allows me 6 chosen as troops with VotLW and 5 x plasma guns with the champ with an axe (fluffy reasons). It halves my fire output BUT nearly doubles it's effectiveness.

I think this will work well, but am open to thoughts! It's only 4 less models, but they'll almost always be in cover, have more attacks if charged, put out 5 S7 AP2 shots, and have LD 10 too.

What do you guys think?


Automatically Appended Next Post:
I've also takin 2 chain axes off of one squad, and put them on the other, seems pointless mixing that much!

 Khaine's Wrath wrote:
Ok guys, I've just played my first game with it against a friends farsight list.

To say it went well is an understatement, we got to turn 6, but in turn 6 I removed his last model from the board! A complete whitewash! Plenty of blood for the blood god!

There is however a change I'd like to suggest to see what people's thoughts are? The BL CSM sat at the back on an objective, and although they managed to keep the objective and take NO casualties, I feel they could have done better, managing to take a single wound all game, so, I am proposing this -

Drop the 10 x CSM
Drop the ichor blood
Drop the combi bolters on the raiders

That allows me 6 chosen as troops with VotLW and 5 x plasma guns with the champ with an axe (fluffy reasons). It halves my fire output BUT nearly doubles it's effectiveness.

I think this will work well, but am open to thoughts! It's only 4 less models, but they'll almost always be in cover, have more attacks if charged, put out 5 S7 AP2 shots, and have LD 10 too.

What do you guys think?


Automatically Appended Next Post:
I've also takin 2 chain axes off of one squad, and put them on the other, seems pointless mixing that much!

If you can squeeze a Rhino in then I would go for it. Even dropping the Plasmas down to Flamers will pay for it, and that would be one nasty unit. Not much can withstand 5 Flamer templates. Great for taking objectives. As a Khorne player you should be putting objectives towards the middle of the board!

I would avoid the Special Weapon Chosen route without a Rhino, though.

EDIT: Also, grats on your win! More skulls for the skull throne.

Dude Im so happy it went so well. That gives me hope that my List can be great as well!


I would be careful about dropping your scoring unit there...Just because this match went well doesnt mean that next match your two zerker squads wont get blown up by vindicators in a single turn. Not sure if chosen are troops in the BL supp but you will be playing them aggressivly to get rapid fire and they're meant to kind of stay back. Up to you but once again I bet it feels great. I hope my thousand sons list will have a similar effect on people

I don't think the chosen will need a rhino, they will be his backfield objective holders- they are troops in the BL supplement

Maybe for the anti flyer you could change those maulers to forgefiends?

They are troops. My CSM unit managed to cause 1 wound all game. I won't change the way the unit will be used, they'll be designed to sit back on an objective. Just means if anything comes for them they'll get one hell of a hit.

As a Khorne player, I put one objective in my zone for said unit, I put the rest in the middle/enemy zone for rushing forward!

Let me put it this way, if I hadn't tabled him, I'd of won 10-4 on VP's.

I am listening to all thoughts on the chosen though. I'm not dead set on the change, I just think they'll do the same job better. I don't want the role to change.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
And I most definitely am not swapping the maulers out. Forges are 50 points each more. I don't have 100 points to spare.

Plus my flier tactic is simple at the moment - ignore them.

 Chaos Rising wrote:
Maybe for the anti flyer you could change those maulers to forgefiends?

He doesnt have a lot of fliers in his area. Hes just planning to ignore the ones he sees, which are few and weak.

 changerofways wrote:

 Chaos Rising wrote:
Maybe for the anti flyer you could change those maulers to forgefiends?

He doesnt have a lot of fliers in his area. Hes just planning to ignore the ones he sees, which are few and weak.

This!

I would not take 6 Chosen with 5 Plasma. Too fragile, and even on casualty will cost you ~35 points. More bodies is better for a home objective camping unit. Hell, even two units of 5 could be considered!

Interesting. Even though it's only 4 less bodies?

4 less bodies does make a pretty big difference in particular matchups (Tau and IG come to mind). I would playtest both options and see what you prefer... it is your army, after all

I also could be a tad biased, as whenever I make a list I must visualize how resilient the list is vs. 2 Heldrakes. That unit is really the only target you have for Heldrakes, which is why more models would be preferred. If you aren't expecting Heldrakes, the Plasma Chosen could be viable.

There are no turkeys - I'm the ONLY chaos player! as mentioned earlier, I regularly see a storm raven in a list, I rarely see a sun shark. Neither of which worry me at all. I think the chosen will do better against my local meta. This was never going to be a tourney list.

And the only tau player I faced normally plays farsight (sometimes he takes a normal list).....and I tabled him today.