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Space Marines are my first army that I am buying, but since there is so many units, I've decided to go purely Primaris. That being said, I was wondering what units to buy, how many of them, what weapons should I give them and why? Money isn't an issue and I eagerly await the new Primaris models seen on Warhammer TV. I've already started off with:

3x Primaris Captains
1x Primaris Apothecary
1x Primaris Chaplain
1x Primaris Librarian
1x Librarian in Phobos armour
1x Lieutenant in Phobos armour
3x10 Intercessors
1x Redemptor Dreadnought
1x3 Eliminators
1x3 Suppressors
1x10 Infiltrators

You've made a great start already.

You should buy two Repulsor Executioners to supply you with anti tank firepower and some armour.

10 Hellblasters are also useful and have very impressive firepower. The standard Plasma Incinerator is best.

You should equip your Dreadnough with a Heavy Gatling Cannon, a Gatling Cannon and two Storm Bolters. Effective and cheap with good rate of fire.

Intercessors are best with the standard bolt rifle. Three squads of 10 is a good number and you can run them as Veterans making their shooting and combat very effective. Give the Sgts swords or Fists.

Eliminators are good and useful, a few squads can be effective.

The Captains, Lieutenants and Librarians are effective HQs. What chapter are you thinking of doing?

Most of these don't have that many options; in the case of Intercessors and Hellblasters the Rapid Fire version of their weapon is superior to the Assault or Heavy version 97% of the time, especially with Bolter Drill on the Intercessors. I find taking a Redemptor in the first place to be a mistake; it's forced to buy an expensive melee weapon and an expensive ranged weapon where a normal old-school Castaferrum Dreadnaught can specialize and have two gun arms.

Consider running your Primaris army as Deathwatch; Mission Tactics means you don't have to manage Lieutenant auras alongside Captain auras and frees up more points for more bodies/other HQs, Special Issue Ammunition and the +1 to wound stratagems dramatically improve the underwhelming damage output of your Troops, mixed squads prevent your opponent from picking out and destroying all your heavy weapons while leaving your bolter troops untouched and allows you to mix Fly into basic squads so they can walk out of melee, and the Teleportarium stratagem mitigates your lack of mobility and allows you to preserve whole squads to attack rather than getting blasted off the table immediately.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Ishagu wrote:
...Intercessors are best with the standard bolt rifle. Three squads of 10 is a good number and you can run them as Veterans making their shooting and combat very effective. Give the Sgts swords or Fists...

Clarification/expansion: "Veteran Intercessors" is a stratagem in Vigilus Defiant that allows you to designate a unit of Intercessors as Veterans, giving them +1A/+1Ld, and access to three 1CP stratagems, each of which improves one possible weapon option (Target Sighted allows Stalker bolt rifles to function as sniper rifles, Bolt Storm allows auto bolt rifles to auto hit at half range, and Rapid Fire allows standard bolt rifles to fire at Rapid Fire 2).

These are situational upgrades and expensive to pull off; you need to spend 1CP to make your detachment an Indomitus Crusaders detachment, then you need to spend 1CP per Intercessor squad (if you make just one Intercessor squad Veterans your opponent can just kill them first), and then you need to spend 1CP on actually doing the stratagem, so in practice you're blowing at least 3CP (possibly as much as 5CP) out of your usual total of 8 (one Battalion detachment) to make one unit shoot twice with small arms once. It's much cooler on paper than it is in practice.

How the heck did you wind up with three Captains and no Lieutenants?

The grenade launcher is a free upgrade for the Intercessors. Also, splitting them into 6 squads of 5 is probably better than keeping them as 3 squads of 10 (true for all the squads, actually). If you haven't assembled them yet then trading for a couple of Power Fists and/or Power Swords wouldn't hurt anything.

There's honestly not that much in the Primaris range yet, and if money isn't a concern you'll probably want Inceptors eventually. I haven't found the points for the plasma version yet, but having 18 S5 Ap1 shots that can Deep Strike in and fire without penalty has been very useful.

Aggressors are a harder sell, the shot output can be frankly stupid but it's hard to get the full potential out of them.

And again, if money isn't a concern you might as well get a Repulsor while your at it if only for hauling bigger Aggressor squads or Intercessors and the Gravis Captain.

 Ishagu wrote:
What chapter are you thinking of doing?

I was thinking of doing Exorcists because they have no chapter tactics, therefore I can pick and choose what chapter tactics they have. That and I gain access to characters like Marneus Calgar, Roboute Guilliman, etc.

I would try to get my hands on 6 more eliminators. I'd also probably pick up 2-3 repuslors executioners (they are really your only good anti tank option in a full primaris army)

We are also about to get a lot of new units so even though money isn't an issue you might want to hold off on buying for 3-4 months until we see what we are getting. The one unit I would ignore right now is reivers.

 Psionara wrote:

 Ishagu wrote:
What chapter are you thinking of doing?

I was thinking of doing Exorcists because they have no chapter tactics, therefore I can pick and choose what chapter tactics they have. That and I gain access to characters like Marneus Calgar, Roboute Guilliman, etc.

Do you really just like the Exorcists, or would you consider a custom chapter? The same rules apply.

 Apple Peel wrote:

 Psionara wrote:

 Ishagu wrote:
What chapter are you thinking of doing?

I was thinking of doing Exorcists because they have no chapter tactics, therefore I can pick and choose what chapter tactics they have. That and I gain access to characters like Marneus Calgar, Roboute Guilliman, etc.

Do you really just like the Exorcists, or would you consider a custom chapter? The same rules apply.

So far as the actual rules are concerned you can paint them straight-up Ultramarines 2nd Company and still use them as whatever vanilla marine chapter you want so long as you put a different chapter icon on them. You could even use them as a Dark Angers/Blood Angels/Space Wolves successor. (Normally I'd add a proviso about Centurions, Ironclad Dreads, etc, but you're building a pure Primaris force and none of that applies.)

 Ishagu wrote:

Do you really just like the Exorcists, or would you consider a custom chapter? The same rules apply.

Yeah, I mean they seem pretty cool with initiation rites and being “invisible” to daemons after they get possessed and expel them. Though I am brewing up some ideas for a custom chapter like the Australian Aborigines, Slavs, etc.

I always recommend doing a custom chapter, you get to define your own paint scheme and you can weather the shifts from edition to edition/codex to codex.

I would recommend to wait a little for multipart Eliminators. They are ought to get some las fussils which will be some kinda of AT weapon.

might be worth snagging a second dreadnought. they're only around 150 points each and having multiples means you're not going to see an entire armies worth of anti tank firepower aimed at one.

Gnollu wrote:
I would recommend to wait a little for multipart Eliminators. They are ought to get some las fussils which will be some kinda of AT weapon.

That's true about the Suppressors too, and you're almost certainly going to want another squad of those as well. Not the bit about the alternate weapon; we have no idea what they're going to get, or if they're going to get a second option at all. They're worth getting a second squad regardless, but not worth buying a second Shadowspear box for.

BrianDavion wrote:
might be worth snagging a second dreadnought. they're only around 150 points each and having multiples means you're not going to see an entire armies worth of anti tank firepower aimed at one.

Yeah, I thought about getting another Redemptor, but with the macro plasma incinerator, fragstorm grenade launchers and the onslaught gatling cannon. Is that a good loadout? Or should I just do a carbon copy of what the other Redemptor has?

 Psionara wrote:

BrianDavion wrote:
might be worth snagging a second dreadnought. they're only around 150 points each and having multiples means you're not going to see an entire armies worth of anti tank firepower aimed at one.

Yeah, I thought about getting another Redemptor, but with the macro plasma incinerator, fragstorm grenade launchers and the onslaught gatling cannon. Is that a good loadout? Or should I just do a carbon copy of what the other Redemptor has?

the fragstorm grenade launchers won't work as good as stormbolters and are more expensive, I'd keep with stormbolters. I belvie the mathhammer types have said the heavy gatling canon is the better choice, but the plasma incinerator isn't bad and the points are, effectively even, so going with 1 for varity is proably fine

BrianDavion wrote:

 Psionara wrote:

BrianDavion wrote:
might be worth snagging a second dreadnought. they're only around 150 points each and having multiples means you're not going to see an entire armies worth of anti tank firepower aimed at one.

Yeah, I thought about getting another Redemptor, but with the macro plasma incinerator, fragstorm grenade launchers and the onslaught gatling cannon. Is that a good loadout? Or should I just do a carbon copy of what the other Redemptor has?

the fragstorm grenade launchers won't work as good as stormbolters and are more expensive, I'd keep with stormbolters. I belvie the mathhammer types have said the heavy gatling canon is the better choice, but the plasma incinerator isn't bad and the points are, effectively even, so going with 1 for varity is proably fine

Ok, cool, thanks for the help! I appreciate it!

Wait for the rest of the new stuff before buying anything else. It might take longer but you'll have several other choices for primaris only.

New rhino/razorback type thingy should be a good choice to move intercessors/hellblasters to where they need to be.

You need hellblasters! I havent used them in months but I have a mixed force so my antitank comes from elsewhere. If I do run primaris only they are an instant take. Inceptors as well.

Hellblasters are easy to get, but im going to dissent and say they are a trash unit. Going with suppressors instead.

Do larger squads make more sense for dark angels as well? It seems with them only losing max 1 model/turn to morals this might be the case?

Get a couple of the Power Sword Lieutenants from various boxed sets. They'll partner well with Calgar if you're planning to toss them into melee after some shooting.

Bear in mind by a strict reading of the Rules you can't use Calgar in a non UM detachment. Well you can, but all the special rules won't work. In the present rules you can't change the <Chapter> of a named character, so Calgar will always be UM, and will always affect only UM. Guilliman is in slightly better shape, with some abilities that affect IMPERIUM, but his main aura is still (stupidly) UM only. As if his successor chapter Nova Marines wouldn't respond exactly the same as his Ultramarines to being in their gene-father's presence.


The Phobos Lieutenant is nice as the only Primaris LT with deep strike so far. I don't think there is a Primaris Captain with Deep Strike making Captain support for Deep Striking Suppressors/Inceptors/etc problematic.

People have told you to get the Repulsor Executioner, but don't look past the basic repulsor. The Executioner transports 6, the Repulsor transports 10. Aggressors - which synergize well with Calgar - take 2 of those spots. Meaning the min squad of 3 Aggressors take up all 6 spots. Additionally, the Repulsor is a Dedicated Transport, while the Executioner is Heavy Support I think.

Most of the time taking just one BIG TARGET like a Redemptor or a Repulsor is counter productive. All the anti-tank fire will flow quickly and naturally to the only target they have. You want to divide and prevent the incoming fire if you can with multiple targets, and terrain, etc.

Edit to Add: Your local gaming group may let you run Calgar as a Counts As in your homebrew Chapter - which is why I mentioned you technically can't then continued on with the premise that you could - but they're much more unlikely to let you run homebrew Chapter Tactics and Calgar Counts As at the same time. They'll likely make you use UM Chapter tactics, stratagems, and Calgar's pre-selected Warlord Trait - for example, a lot of folks might want to run Calgar as an Imperial Fist with Siege Masters and Bolter Discipline but few would allow a Home Brew to Mix and Match like that.

 Ishagu wrote:

You should buy two Repulsor Executioners to supply you with anti tank firepower and some armour.

Breton wrote:
Get a couple of the Power Sword Lieutenants from various boxed sets.

People have told you to get the Repulsor Executioner, but don't look past the basic repulsor. The Executioner transports 6, the Repulsor transports 10. Aggressors - which synergize well with Calgar - take 2 of those spots. Meaning the min squad of 3 Aggressors take up all 6 spots. Additionally, the Repulsor is a Dedicated Transport, while the Executioner is Heavy Support I think.

Most of the time taking just one BIG TARGET like a Redemptor or a Repulsor is counter productive. All the anti-tank fire will flow quickly and naturally to the only target they have. You want to divide and prevent the incoming fire if you can with multiple targets, and terrain, etc.

What should the loadouts/weapons be on the Repulsor Executioner? Also, which box sets contain Primaris Lieutenants?

 Psionara wrote:

 Ishagu wrote:

You should buy two Repulsor Executioners to supply you with anti tank firepower and some armour.

Breton wrote:
Get a couple of the Power Sword Lieutenants from various boxed sets.

People have told you to get the Repulsor Executioner, but don't look past the basic repulsor. The Executioner transports 6, the Repulsor transports 10. Aggressors - which synergize well with Calgar - take 2 of those spots. Meaning the min squad of 3 Aggressors take up all 6 spots. Additionally, the Repulsor is a Dedicated Transport, while the Executioner is Heavy Support I think.

Most of the time taking just one BIG TARGET like a Redemptor or a Repulsor is counter productive. All the anti-tank fire will flow quickly and naturally to the only target they have. You want to divide and prevent the incoming fire if you can with multiple targets, and terrain, etc.

What should the loadouts/weapons be on the Repulsor Executioner? Also, which box sets contain Primaris Lieutenants?

Dark Imperium X2 Lt in Tacticus armour
Wake the Dead X1 Lt in Tacticus Armour
Shadowspear X1 Lt in Phobos Armour

The Executioner should probably always be carrying the Heavy Laser Destroyer, the choice on whether to take the Icarus Missile Pod and/or the additional Heavy Stubber is really a matter of whether you have the points.

Sort of on topic; I haven't had much success with Aggressors, but I haven't really committed to them either. I've been adding the odd minimum squad, I get the impression they might be a unit that you need to take 10+ to get them to work properly.

Anyone had success with them?

The Newman wrote:
The Executioner should probably always be carrying the Heavy Laser Destroyer, the choice on whether to take the Icarus Missile Pod and/or the additional Heavy Stubber is really a matter of whether you have the points.

Sort of on topic; I haven't had much success with Aggressors, but I haven't really committed to them either. I've been adding the odd minimum squad, I get the impression they might be a unit that you need to take 10+ to get them to work properly.

Anyone had success with them?

You got it right. The most success I've had with them is taking 2 repuslors and starting 2 5 mans in them at the start of the game. Advance them both into the middle of the table so you have 5+3+d6 move so you should be able to get to a decent place on the map. Youll get almost 100 shots out of them if they can get into range then you have a decent multi threat of 2 repuslors and 2 aggressors your opponent has to deal with. Works great with gman. If you are facing a horde is pretty much over for them at that point. Just to overwatch from those units is enough to decimate a charging horde unit if you are rerolling everything. You are incredibly frail to shooting though so put the ancient banner there to really take advantage of them.
I've even considering bringing 3 units with 3 repuslors. However now possibly 9 agressors in 3 units plus 3 executioners might work best as it gives you better anti armor ability.

My local group tends to play in the 1000 point range to get more games in, putting two Repulsors in a list is kind of off the table at that point value.

I gave two 5-man squads a try today in a Raven Guard list, they were brutal. Full list was:

Phobos Captain, Precepts of Deceit.
Phobos Libby, Shrouding, Scryers Gaze, Tome for Veil of Time.
2x 5-man Intercessors with PF.
5-man Scouts with Heavy Bolter
2x 5-man Aggressors
2x Eliminators.

Being able to guarantee the Aggressors were exactly opposite the units I wanted dead turn one and advancing them with the RG strat before the game starts is just ugly. Ten models throwing 190 shots is enough that even T7 armor starts sweating, and they erase infantry units.

Of course, if you don't get to go first or you run into a real armor skew a list like that is going to fall on it's face.

I'd also recommend a primaris ancient. Works well with the aggressors.

 Psionara wrote:
[

What should the loadouts/weapons be on the Repulsor Executioner? Also, which box sets contain Primaris Lieutenants?

They should be magnetized. People have been doing that for years- you put a couple rare earth magnets in the mix between the plastic parts, and use that to create the temporary yet final joint so you can just pull one bit off the model, and replace with another bit. The difference between the two options on an Executioner are pretty minor in the mid range, but expand when you get to the extreme edges. Basically 9 times out of 10, it doesn't matter. But Magnetize for the 1 time out of 10 it does. Plus rules and stats change from edition to edition and the Laser Destroyer may suck next time making you wish you'd have put the Plasma on. Magnetize so you can do both. I'm not sure there's a Youtube guide yet for the Repulsors, but you should easily be able to find a guide to magnetizing Predators and Land Raiders that will give you the gist.

Breton wrote:

 Psionara wrote:
[

What should the loadouts/weapons be on the Repulsor Executioner? Also, which box sets contain Primaris Lieutenants?

They should be magnetized. People have been doing that for years- you put a couple rare earth magnets in the mix between the plastic parts, and use that to create the temporary yet final joint so you can just pull one bit off the model, and replace with another bit. The difference between the two options on an Executioner are pretty minor in the mid range, but expand when you get to the extreme edges. Basically 9 times out of 10, it doesn't matter. But Magnetize for the 1 time out of 10 it does. Plus rules and stats change from edition to edition and the Laser Destroyer may suck next time making you wish you'd have put the Plasma on. Magnetize so you can do both. I'm not sure there's a Youtube guide yet for the Repulsors, but you should easily be able to find a guide to magnetizing Predators and Land Raiders that will give you the gist.

You basically don't even need magnets on the Executioner, the top shell of the turret is a close enough fit to the base once it's painted that you can just not glue that part down. Just close the two parts around the gun you want to use and it will stay in place just fine. And the Stubber easily pops on and off of that mount if you don't build it with the Marine sticking out of the hatch.

(The same is true of the base Repulsor for that matter.)

Step One: Don't.

LunaWolvesLoyalist wrote:
Step One: Don't.

yeah man buy the models LWL likes not the models YOU like. after all, why should you spend your money on what you like when you can get approval and validation from some stranger on the internet!