Strongest Units in 40k as Voted on by the Community

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**FTGTEvan**

A little while ago, I posted up a survey to gather peoples' opinions on the strongest units in 40k. I've finally had a chance to analyze some of the data and put together a top ten list, which you can see here: http://ftgtgaming.blogspot.com/2015/11/top-10-strongest-units-in-40k.html

**jreilly89**

That is actually really cool you put that together. Bravo

Also, unfortunately, it's exactly what I expected. With Scatterbikes and Wraithknights taking top 2.

**Martel732**

That was a really good list with good analysis.

**FTGTEvan**

Thanks, @jreilly89 and @Martel732!

**nudibranch**

Surprised Chapter Master Smashf----r didn't make it on the list. Yeah, it's a specific build for a unit, but so are Flyrants. Thought more people would vote for him. Nice list and write up though!

**niv-mizzet**

The only thing I'm really surprised about is that people still think IK's deserve to be anywhere near the top units. I can only presume a lot of their votes came from people who hate superheavies in general and don't care about the individual performance of any of them. (And probably always play with a no super heavies rule in addition.)

Everything else was business day in and day out. Except the tau'nar. Lack of exposure is keeping it hidden, but if the thing started seeing more tables (like if ITC allowed it,) people would start realizing that it's undercosted by SEVERAL hundred points, which makes the WK's undercost look tame in comparison.

**FTGTEvan**

nudibranch wrote:
Surprised Chapter Master Smashf----r didn't make it on the list. Yeah, it's a specific build for a unit, but so are Flyrants. Thought more people would vote for him. Nice list and write up though!

Thanks! He got a few votes, but I think overall was dilluted by the units he runs with. There was a bit of interpretation, but I avoided lumping ICs with Stars that may or may not include them.

**oz of the north**

I would be intrigued by if you did another survey looking at deathstars, or faction combos.

**nudibranch**

FTGTEvan wrote:
nudibranch wrote:
Surprised Chapter Master Smashf----r didn't make it on the list. Yeah, it's a specific build for a unit, but so are Flyrants. Thought more people would vote for him. Nice list and write up though!

Thanks! He got a few votes, but I think overall was dilluted by the units he runs with. There was a bit of interpretation, but I avoided lumping ICs with Stars that may or may not include them.

Ah, guess that's why Tigurius/Loth aren't on the list either.

**Lammikkovalas**

All the units I voted for made it into the top 10, do I get an award or something? \o/

**Baldeagle91**

Haha a lot of people I know seem to think the Wyvern is overpowered.... until they shoot at them and find out how easy they are to kill.

**master of ordinance**

The Wraithknoght made it to first place, with Scatbikes a close second..... Well then

**Martel732**

master of ordinance wrote:
The Wraithknoght made it to first place, with Scatbikes a close second..... Well then

Was there ever a question? You didn't really expect any marine unit other than grav cents in there did you?

**vipoid**

The issue of speed is an important one, I think.

IMO, big units like Wraithknights, Imperial Knights and other SH/GHs simply shouldn't be able to move faster than 6". They're already better armed and armoured than anything else in the game, give them a weakness for feth sake.

It's especially frustrating when DE pay a premium for speed, but these massive, heavily-armoured units are just handed it for free.

**Vector Strike**

Nice list! I agree with most of it.

niv-mizzet wrote:
Everything else was business day in and day out. Except the tau'nar. Lack of exposure is keeping it hidden, but if the thing started seeing more tables (like if ITC allowed it,) people would start realizing that it's undercosted by SEVERAL hundred points, which makes the WK's undercost look tame in comparison.

Nah, it's the other Titans who are overcosted (especially Chaos and Tyranids). 600p is okay-ish for it.
But I agree it shouldn't be used in any game people don't bring Warhounds and similars.

**cosmicsoybean**

Goes to show the community doesnt know about whats op then lol

**Lammikkovalas**

cosmicsoybean wrote:
Goes to show the community doesnt know about whats op then lol

Enlighten us then, sensei. Is the correct answer Tactical Marines?

**Quickjager**

Hmmm Dreadknight made barely made top ten. Didn't expect that.

**nudibranch**

Lammikkovalas wrote:
cosmicsoybean wrote:
Goes to show the community doesnt know about whats op then lol

Enlighten us then, sensei. Is the correct answer Tactical Marines?

Nah, it's obvious, isn't it? Pyrovores!

**Lammikkovalas**

nudibranch wrote:
Lammikkovalas wrote:
cosmicsoybean wrote:
Goes to show the community doesnt know about whats op then lol

Enlighten us then, sensei. Is the correct answer Tactical Marines?

Nah, it's obvious, isn't it? Pyrovores!

According to strict RAW they might be. Suicide bombing pyrovores FTW!

**the Signless**

Lammikkovalas wrote:
cosmicsoybean wrote:
Goes to show the community doesnt know about whats op then lol

Enlighten us then, sensei. Is the correct answer Tactical Marines?

Haven't you read any of the Jancoran threads? It has been proven to be close combat blob IG with all the heavy weapon upgrades. It won't die to anything except blatant list tailoring*.

*list tailoring includes bringing 20 scatterbikes, 3 squads of space marines with no upgrades, or any anti-infantry weapons.

**Lammikkovalas**

the Signless wrote:
Lammikkovalas wrote:
cosmicsoybean wrote:
Goes to show the community doesnt know about whats op then lol

Enlighten us then, sensei. Is the correct answer Tactical Marines?
Haven't you read any of the Jancoran threads? It has been proven to be close combat blob IG with all the heavy weapon upgrades. It won't die to anything except blatant list tailoring*.

*list tailoring includes bringing 20 scatterbikes, 3 squads of space marines with no upgrades, or any anti-infantry weapons.

Bringing anti-infantry weapons is list tailoring? Ok.

Btw, that IG blob with Azrael (choosing the warlord trait that gives his unit FNP when within 3" of an objective) and a few ministorum priests is indeed almost impossible to remove from the table. 50+ dudes with 4++ rerollable and FNP is no joke.

**jreilly89**

Lammikkovalas wrote:
the Signless wrote:
Lammikkovalas wrote:
cosmicsoybean wrote:
Goes to show the community doesnt know about whats op then lol

Enlighten us then, sensei. Is the correct answer Tactical Marines?
Haven't you read any of the Jancoran threads? It has been proven to be close combat blob IG with all the heavy weapon upgrades. It won't die to anything except blatant list tailoring*.

*list tailoring includes bringing 20 scatterbikes, 3 squads of space marines with no upgrades, or any anti-infantry weapons.

Bringing anti-infantry weapons is list tailoring? Ok.

Btw, that IG blob with Azrael (choosing the warlord trait that gives his unit FNP when within 3" of an objective) and a few ministorum priests is indeed almost impossible to remove from the table. 50+ dudes with 4++ rerollable and FNP is no joke.

Yes, but that's A) a pretty pricey unit. Azzy is 230 on his own. and B) they're kind of static. I wouldn't expect them to do much.

**vipoid**

Lammikkovalas wrote:
the Signless wrote:
Lammikkovalas wrote:
cosmicsoybean wrote:
Goes to show the community doesnt know about whats op then lol

Enlighten us then, sensei. Is the correct answer Tactical Marines?
Haven't you read any of the Jancoran threads? It has been proven to be close combat blob IG with all the heavy weapon upgrades. It won't die to anything except blatant list tailoring*.

*list tailoring includes bringing 20 scatterbikes, 3 squads of space marines with no upgrades, or any anti-infantry weapons.

Bringing anti-infantry weapons is list tailoring? Ok.

Btw, that IG blob with Azrael (choosing the warlord trait that gives his unit FNP when within 3" of an objective) and a few ministorum priests is indeed almost impossible to remove from the table. 50+ dudes with 4++ rerollable and FNP is no joke.

Where does the reroll come from?

**the Signless**

Lammikkovalas wrote:
the Signless wrote:
Lammikkovalas wrote:
cosmicsoybean wrote:
Goes to show the community doesnt know about whats op then lol

Enlighten us then, sensei. Is the correct answer Tactical Marines?
Haven't you read any of the Jancoran threads? It has been proven to be close combat blob IG with all the heavy weapon upgrades. It won't die to anything except blatant list tailoring*.

*list tailoring includes bringing 20 scatterbikes, 3 squads of space marines with no upgrades, or any anti-infantry weapons.

Bringing anti-infantry weapons is list tailoring? Ok.

Btw, that IG blob with Azrael (choosing the warlord trait that gives his unit FNP when within 3" of an objective) and a few ministorum priests is indeed almost impossible to remove from the table. 50+ dudes with 4++ rerollable and FNP is no joke.

His impossible to remove blob was pure IG codex with a boatload of priests, psykers, and commissars attached. The strategy is that it advances while forming a conga line to allow the heavy weapons to keep firing until it reaches combat. According to his battle reports, it is effective against guardian spam and people who forget that they have tanks in reserve.

**Mantorok**

I dunno, I always thought it was pretty balanced.
Certain things defeat certain troops.
Vehicles and Superheavies fall to Melta, MC and GMC fall to grav, and infantry falls to low strength blast.
Like rock paper scissors.

**vipoid**

Mantorok wrote:
I dunno, I always thought it was pretty balanced.
Certain things defeat certain troops.
Vehicles and Superheavies fall to Melta, MC and GMC fall to grav, and infantry falls to low strength blast.
Like rock paper scissors.

I've underlined two problems right there.

A lot of armies don't have Grav at all, nor anything even remotely comparable. There are also some armies which either don't have meltas, or else are very limited in either selection or delivery. e.g. maybe 2 units in the entire DE codex can take meltas, and their meltas are also arbitrarily worse than those of other races. I'm not sure Orks have any meltas at all.

The point is, you can't say that things are balanced because solutions exist, unless every army has equal access to those solutions.

**Frozocrone**

No, but Orks have Armourbane which is essentially the same thing.

Grav I completely agree though.

But hey, like DE have Lance. That's kind of the same thing according to GW.

**vipoid**

Frozocrone wrote:
No, but Orks have Armourbane which is essentially the same thing.

What has Armourbane in the Ork book? I cant think of anything offhand, but I'm probably forgetting something obvious.

Frozocrone wrote:

But hey, like DE have Lance. That's kind of the same thing according to GW.

I only wish that was less true.

**Frozocrone**

Killsaws on MA guys have Armourbane.

Tankbustas take the cake though, Melta Bombs on each guy, with Tankhunters!