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Hey everyone, my local group are having a campaign day this easter, we have teams of four which are
Imperium: sm, sm, sm and sob
Xenos: necron, tau tau and chaos sm (me)

It'll be the first time i use my chaos army, which has a bit of everything. My question is, i read alot about how worthless thousand sons are, but are they worth taking when i'm guaranteed a endless wave of 3+ saves? I have a squad as i like the fluff and the look.

Yes.
Mother of all that is unholy and holy, YES.
XD
They would make me cry if I didn't play as Iron (Back)Hand(s).
Just remember they're Slow and Purposeful. A lot of people I know seem to forget them.
I dunno what their points cost is or upgrades etc, since I'm an Imperium player; but they sure as hell make Space Marines cry to the EMPRAH.


Take more squads if you can.
But don't overload on them if they're expensive.

242pts for the squad of 9 incl sorceror, so not super cheap. Good to know from a sm player though at 1850 pts per side i will likely take the one squad to march behind the living meat umbrella of cultists i have. The 4++ will hopefully make the whole blob just a bit more survivable, while being able to mete out a good volume of ap3. Its a real shame they cant take heavys, being slow and purposeful and all.

Tsons suffer the problem that most AP3 units do.


Essentially, if they catch a MEQ unit in the open at optimal (12" and under) range, they'll put some unholy hurt on them. Against just about anything else or under any other circumstances, or if they get stuck in CC, then they're likely not particularly effective.

 Vaktathi wrote:
Tsons suffer the problem that most AP3 units do.


Essentially, if they catch a MEQ unit in the open at optimal (12" and under) range, they'll put some unholy hurt on them. Against just about anything else or under any other circumstances, or if they get stuck in CC, then they're likely not particularly effective.

Not to mention they have to roll on the Tzeentch chart, so you won't be getting much in the way of effective psyker abilities, it's been noted that basic CSM outperform them in any other category per point unless you are within 12" no cover.

 Vaktathi wrote:
Tsons suffer the problem that most AP3 units do.


Essentially, if they catch a MEQ unit in the open at optimal (12" and under) range, they'll put some unholy hurt on them. Against just about anything else or under any other circumstances, or if they get stuck in CC, then they're likely not particularly effective.

And they are MUCH too expensive to need incredibly specific situations to win.
No, they're not worth it unless you face other thousand sons. Because then you know they won't have anything but stuff that you will be good at hurting.

Even against Marines, they are pretty lackluster. It's so easy to see the AP3 as some kind of godsend, and yet totally ignore the squad coming in at the same cost as double the number of regular Marines.

Even in your example, 242pts could get you 9 Rubrics and a Sorcerer, or it could get you a unit of 10 CSM, a second unit of 5, and then get 3 Plasma Guns mixed in. You'd match them for firepower under the Sons best situation, being Marines out of cover. However you'll rocket past them as soon as the target gets some cover, or packs numbers instead of a 3+ save, or tries to hide in a vehicle, or runs at you in assault. You don't have the 4++, but you do have far more bodies spaced across 2 squads. You aren't Fearless, but you do have the ability to assault and Overwatch.
Finally, they are Scoring without splurging out on the extremely inefficient Tzeentch Sorcerer to lead the army.

Basically, Sons have a single role. It is niche, overly-specific, hard to execute, puts them at risk of folding to assault, and they aren't even terribly good at it.
If you want AP3, just take the 'Drake. It's not a weakness that CSM struggles with.

They are a bit more durable though, I think that's a 4++, so you take a decent cover with you, even out in the open.

The 4++ only really helps if cover isn't abundant, which it should be available on most boards, and the enemy is using AP3 and lower weaponry against you.

That and their banner is terrible.

If you are going to be up against MEQs Noise Marine blastmasters are WAAAYYY better. They remove ALL saves. Rememeber that most SM bikes you'll be up against will still have a 4+ cover save, which really depletes the usefulness of AP3.

Blastmasters will make them cry.