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What do you think is the coolest looking model that actually does well in game?

Elegant in form, does it job on the table.

FW Relic Salamanders Legion Contemptor
New Dark Apostle
New Sororitas Imagifier

I love the Carnifex. Jes Goodwin absolutely knocked it out of the park with this kit. Its role on the battlefield has slowly changed from 'ultimate monster' to 'mid-sized', but it still does it well and with a ton of customizability.

As long as you can get him into combat before he gets shot to pieces, this guy is an absolute wrecking ball and looks totally awesome:

the new Abaddon the despoiler model is a top flight looking model and is pretty damn deadly in game.

IMO, the coolest sculpt might just be the worst TT unit in the game.

Zarakynel is gorgeous, but is also nigh-on 700pts of sheer futility.

Who's standards are we using to judge "and works well" by?

ccs wrote:
Who's standards are we using to judge "and works well" by?

The subject, open-ended nature of the topic is soliciting subjective, open-ended opinions. Does the model look cool? Subjective. Are the model's rules good value for their intended role? Also subjective and based on anecdotal evidence for sure.

I'll go with Custodes jetbikes as they're basically autoincludes in virtually every list. That and maybe the goofy GSC Kellermorph.

There are some models that fit one category but not both, e.g. Deathwing Knights who I think look amazing but require your opponent's active collaboration to get them into melee.

Contemptor Dreadnaughts. Tall, lanky, mean-looking, well-armed in a restrained and tasteful way rather than having random extra grenade launchers grafted on like the writers are celebrating the loss of the weapons-fired-per-turn restrictions, big enough (in the 12W/T7/2+ Relic Contemptor datasheet) to feel like a Dreadnaught should, fast enough to go places without a Drop Pod...I'm usually one of the grouchy ones with nothing good to say about anything but I really like Contemptors.

I like the primaris chaplain model, lots of great detail, a nice looking model and chaplains seems pretty useful right now.

Stealth Suits. The XV15 got me into Tau when they first came out, and I wasn't let down by the XV25 which were a nice evolution in terms of look. However, 8th edition after CA 2019 is the first time they'll truly be good units, having always been overcosted.

The second iteration of pewter Raveners for Tyranids were amazing and I'm lucky enough to have 9 of them. The newest plastic versions are lame as heck though.

Carnifex. Nuff said.

Vendetta and Valkyrie are probably the only non-Eldar flyers from GW that look good. They are also fantastic on the tabletop.

Kasrkin and Storm Troopers. So tacticool and good. The Scions are a downgrade in terms of looks but can be fixed with a few 3rd party bits. I don't mind their heads, legs or backpacks, but the fruity torso with the dumb bling goes in the garbage. Also violently oppose having to have the leader use lowbrow combat weapons. I houseruled that out. No stabby bits on my specops guys, kthanks sorry not sorry, do not pass go, don't come again.

Ghostkeel. Fairly decent now. Looks amazing, maybe even Games Workshop's best model ever. However, its box price keeps me away. It's hella not worth it.

And of course I have to mention the Vanguard marines, well at least the Infiltrators and Eliminators. Having been a marine hater for 25 years these were the first units to get me interested. Tacticool FTW.

 AnomanderRake wrote:
Contemptor Dreadnaughts. Tall, lanky, mean-looking, well-armed in a restrained and tasteful way rather than having random extra grenade launchers grafted on like the writers are celebrating the loss of the weapons-fired-per-turn restrictions, big enough (in the 12W/T7/2+ Relic Contemptor datasheet) to feel like a Dreadnaught should, fast enough to go places without a Drop Pod...I'm usually one of the grouchy ones with nothing good to say about anything but I really like Contemptors.

I love mine and my buddy who plays against it with his TS, BT, SaimHan, & Sororitas hates it. They wreck face & can take a hit w Relic of Ancient glory.

TheAvengingKnee wrote:
I like the primaris chaplain model, lots of great detail, a nice looking model and chaplains seems pretty useful right now.

All of the Primaris HQ units are pretty solid looking, I just put together the apoacathary and likewise it looks great.

Same answer as always, especially now that Chaplains actually do things again:

Honestly, this might sound a bit bland, but one of my favourite sculpts is the Skitarii Ranger. A bit of an underated troops choice imo. Certainly not OP but it isn't hard to justify including them at all. Their aesthetic is probably one of the main reasons I play Admech. What's not to love about robed cyborgs wearing gasmasks?

 AlmightyWalrus wrote:
Same answer as always, especially now that Chaplains actually do things again:

Spoiler:

yeah I'm soo glad chappies are good now, they've long been one of the best Marine HQs

Ulrik the Slayer. Especially if you convert him so he wears the helmet.

I think I'm going to go with the upcoming ADMech Archaeopter.

It looks so cool that I don't care what it actually does or how well it does it.

Gotta say: Probably one of the following:

Lord discordant. (especially if you give him a Shield.)

Terminator lords for chaos or just general Chaos lords, bonus points if you use an Abbygail for that to create something else.


Chaos marines. (yes really, at 11 pts and with a list centred around them you can wrong foot alot of people. Until you run into marines......)




Some of the smaller and bigger nids have great sculpts overall performance though i have no idea.

Lots of cool sculpts in both orks and death guard, but I think this one is the winner for the coolest.

Assault Centurion.

Admittedly a bit over the top, but hands down the coolest model in the Space Marines range.

 AlmightyWalrus wrote:
Same answer as always, especially now that Chaplains actually do things again:

Spoiler:

Great answer, I agree. Also a vote for the DA or BA chaplain.

T'au Army favorites:

Ghostkeel - I've always loved battlesuits, and the ghostkeel is a great blend of stealth aesthetics with size and power. The openable cockpit is a great touch.

Gnarloc Riders and Greater Gnarlocs - It shouldn't surprise anyone that I'm a Kroot fan, and Gnarlocs are my favorite Kroot Offshoot by a mile. They just seem built for being a jungle predator mount.

Ta'unar - it's big, it's beautiful, and it balances the T'au Aesthetic within its absolutely massive frame. Dem guns.

Other armies:

Njal Stormcaller - I like his pose, and I've always been a fan of Space Wolf aesthetics and psyker craziness (which may seem odd for a T'au player).

Daemon Prince - it's just so classic.

The Primarchs - they're all good dogs, Bront.

Sunny Side Up wrote:
Assault Centurion.

Admittedly a bit over the top, but hands down the coolest model in the Space Marines range.

I came in here to say this very thing, strictly because so many people despise that model and it's my second favorite sculpt.

Old school terminators are still amazing. They ARE 40k.

This is really subjected to each individual as different people find different models appealing and/or useful. For me as a CSM player, I gotta say abbadon is definitely up there. But with a little conversion, I think my current flavor of the month is the new chaos sorcerer sculpt.

I love my Blood Angels Chaplain model with his jump pack and elegant wings, bearing a more elegant crozius and unassuming inferno pistol. Has served me pretty well in most games, too.

The horrifying and infinitely customisable Hive Tyrant!

Coolest sculpts for me right now are the FW custodes contemptor dreads...basically all of them, but if I had to choose I'd pick the galatus. It fits the aesthetic of the faction perfectly and actually looks like proper armor.