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I recently purchased the Masters of the Chapter box and I was wondering which is most competitive.

None in that box, need a CM on a bike w/ shield eternal/TH

 FeindusMaximus wrote:
None in that box, need a CM on a bike w/ shield eternal/TH

What a helpful response, probably the best response to any question in the world, ever. We need to etch it in stone so that future generations would be sure to remember it. No, we need to go farther, we need to tattoo it onto everyone's forehead, such a helpful response should never be forgotten, ever. Surely everyone from now on will remember this moment, as such a helpful response surely marks that this is the return of Christ. Yea varily, for while I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no question, for surely helpful responses such as this are sure to come.

I hope the sarcasm came across, its hard to do over the internet.

This is what I would do with the box:
HQ:
Chapter Master in artificer armor, storm shield, relic blade
Honour Guard:
Chapter Champion with Thunder Hammer
2x Guard with relic Blade

Put them in a Drop Pod or a Land Raider if you want mobility.

EDIT: You could also upgrade the chapter master so he has "The Burning Blade" and "The Shield Eternal". Both are great, but I would be tempted to add more honour guard if you do.

 Ryan_A wrote:

 FeindusMaximus wrote:
None in that box, need a CM on a bike w/ shield eternal/TH

What a helpful response, probably the best response to any question in the world, ever. We need to etch it in stone so that future generations would be sure to remember it. No, we need to go farther, we need to tattoo it onto everyone's forehead, such a helpful response should never be forgotten, ever. Surely everyone from now on will remember this moment, as such a helpful response surely marks that this is the return of Christ. Yea varily, for while I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no question, for surely helpful responses such as this are sure to come.

I hope the sarcasm came across, its hard to do over the internet.

This is what I would do with the box:
HQ:
Chapter Master in artificer armor, storm shield, power weapon
Honour Guard:
Chapter Champion with Thunder Hammer
2x Guard with relic Blade

Put them in a Drop Pod or a Land Raider if you want mobility.

EDIT: You could also upgrade the chapter master so he has "The Burning Blade" and "The Shield Eternal". Both are great, but I would be tempted to add more honour guard if you do.

Well, competitively, he's mostly right. The SETH loadout is the only thing that actually contributes an effective addition to a high level list. Everything else is reasonably cool sounding and has the potential to do something nice but the SETH is the only real reliable one because of the 3++ EW and the ability to smash anything with the Thunder Hammer.

I wouldn't say the Bike is mandatory as such, though I'd strongly recommend it the higher up you go.

The other way to get the CM in the fight is by Scout on foot with RG or by cramming him in a scouting KWS Rhino or a drop pod squad. Bike still tends to win out though because you've got a Hammernator squad in one model (disregarding attacks) that can move 12+12'' a turn.

You could just hand swap the thunder hammer and the power axe.

Bamm, you now have a SETH CM.

The bike also gives +1T which is kind of important given how much you paid for the guy. Remember a 3++, T4 model is no sturdier vs. massed low str fire than 4 TAC marines (8 if you take AA).

Oh and the bike gives you a Jink save to help with low AP fire too.

So WYSWYG the box gives you:

Power axe/SS
powersword/powerfist
powersword/bolter
thunderhammer


To be honest, none of those really do it for me. Of the options, I might go with the plain axe/shield combo.

Now if we take a little artistic license, and stretch things a little, some more options open up. Call those swords relic blades and those two guys become a lot more viable. Both the RB and the PF are specialist weapons, so while expensive, it’s a variation on the LC/PF captain. You have the blade for mulching troops, and the fist for crumping tanks. Relic blade/bolter is not the best option, but if you call the bolter Primarch’s wrath, it becomes a generic TAC kinda build.

The basic guy with just the TH could work in lower point games. He’s in an odd spot of having an expensive weapon, but nothing else. If I was going bare-bones, I’d take less, if I was investing in a beatstick, I’d go all-in. He’s kinda in the middle. On the bright side, the hammer arm looks to be an easy shoulder swap, so you could kit bash him into something else.

Relic Blades aren't specialist weapons. They're two-handed.

 j31c3n wrote:
Relic Blades aren't specialist weapons. They're two-handed.

Woops. I stand corrected. Makes the powerfist guy mostly useless. Should still work for the guy with the bolter.

 FeindusMaximus wrote:
None in that box, need a CM on a bike w/ shield eternal/TH

Not even that, give him Gorgon's chain and LC instead of Shield eternal(for those who don't have clan raukaan supplement, gorgon chain doesn't take up weapon slot AND gives you following statline):
FULL WOUNDS+1 FNP 3++ EW
-1W 3++ EW
-2W 3++
-3W 4++
I wouldn't bother with decreasing effectivness as you take wounds since i usually go with chaplain and command squad with apothecary on bikes for T5,2+/3++ and 4+ FNP(3+(!!) if you roll a 3 on warlord trait that gives you +1 fnp)
Also the reason i repaint my BT into Iron hands ATM but you can go as well with C:SM and Clan Raukaan supplement(you can fluff it as other company since IH don't have chapter master) and you get an extra orbital bombardment along with this monster
EDIT: forgot to mention IWND from your chapter tactics also gives back the previous level of gorgon chain

I'd honestly go with the Burning Blade over the Relic Blade. Yeah it can turn around and bite you especially if you are rolling bad but it's one of the few weapons that has some serious bite to it in the Space Marine Codex. I am not a fan of swinging last personally and while AA and SE maybe combined with a bike make the CM much more durable, I am reluctant to let anyone get first swing in on me and then watch all of my saves fail before I have the chance to swing back.

Burning Blade & AA is a cheaper but still solid option.

AP2 @I5 is rare and powerful and gives you the offensive push to kill the target prior to them swinging

Thanks for all the help. I think I am just going to use them as inquisitors in my IG army. If I were to use a chapter master I would be inclined to use some form of power sword since I don't like the idea of having my opponent hit me first.