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I'm looking for some advice about the Salamander Army I am trying to put together. I am new to playing SM of any kind so this will be the first list of me trying them out. So far the list I have is:

HQ
Forgefather Vulkan He'Stan

Elites
5x Terminators w/Thunder Hammer & Storm Shield

5x Terminators w/Thunder Hammer & Storm Shield

Terminator Squad -
1x Terminator Sergeant w/Heavy Flamer
4x Terminators x/Chainfist

Troops

Tactical Squad
1x Space Marine Sergeant - Combi-Flamer, Melta Bombs, Power Fist
9x Space Marine - Lascannon, Plasma Gun

Tactical Squad
1x Space Marine Sergeant - Combi-Flamer, Melta Bombs, Power Fist
9x Space Marine - Lascannon, Plasma Gun


Heavy Support

Venerable Dreadnought (Heavy) - Extra Armour, Twin-Linked Lascannon, Dreadnought Close Combat Weapon, Heavy Flamer


Any comments or suggestions would definitely be appreciated.

Why take Vulakn you arent even using his abilities at all. And how are you getting a venerable dreadnought as a heavy choice?

Forge father != master of the forge.

It's a fun list what With the terminator pain train. But those poor guys are going to be scattered all over the place without some kind of guidance or transport. Have you upgraded to 6th ed codex yet? Vulkan changes quite a bit in that.

Just some thoughts.

FM Argos

Forgemaster Argos wrote:
Forge father != master of the forge.

It's a fun list what With the terminator pain train. But those poor guys are going to be scattered all over the place without some kind of guidance or transport. Have you upgraded to 6th ed codex yet? Vulkan changes quite a bit in that.

Just some thoughts.

FM Argos

Im pretty sure he just means Vulkan.

If this is a casual list its ok i guess, any fliers will really hurt your army seeing how you have no answer for them other than 3 LC & 2 PG. If this is a competive list you are going to have a hard time against any army w/ allies. IMO 10 TH/SS Termies arent as good in 6th as they were in 5th i would go as far as to say they are pretty bad. With overwatch you run the possiblity losing 2-3 models b4 they even get there and then you have to weather the storm of their attacks b4 yours. In all honesty i would be surprised if they wiped out a full unit and extremely surprised if they can make it to a second one.

Also i just realized you dont have the SM squads in rhinos i would defently invest the points in them. @ 1500 this is my list:


Vulken He’stan 190

Dreadnought 140
Heavy Flamer
Drop Pod

Scouts x 5 75
Sniper Rifles x 5
Camo Cloaks x 5
Melta Bomb(Master Crafted)

Tactical Squad x 5 95
Meltagun
Combi Flamer
Melta Bomb(Master Crafted)

Tactical Squad x 10 210
Meltagun
Multi Melta
Combi Flamer
Melta Bomb(Master Crafted)
Rhino

Tactical Squad x 10 210
Meltagun
Multi Melta
Combi Flamer
Melta Bomb(Master Crafted)
Rhino

Assault Marines x 5 100
-Jump Packs
Flamer x 2
Melta Bomb(Master Crafter)
Rhino

Thunderfire Cannon 100

Thunderfire Cannon 100

Stormraven Gunship 205
Lascannon
Multi Melta
Extra Armour

Ordo Malleus Inquisitor 74
Empyrean Brain Mines
Servo-skulls x 3
Psyker
Force Sword

 Nettik189 wrote:

Forgemaster Argos wrote:
Forge father != master of the forge.

It's a fun list what With the terminator pain train. But those poor guys are going to be scattered all over the place without some kind of guidance or transport. Have you upgraded to 6th ed codex yet? Vulkan changes quite a bit in that.

Just some thoughts.

FM Argos

Im pretty sure he just means Vulkan.

If this is a casual list its ok i guess, any fliers will really hurt your army seeing how you have no answer for them other than 3 LC & 2 PG. If this is a competive list you are going to have a hard time against any army w/ allies. IMO 10 TH/SS Termies arent as good in 6th as they were in 5th i would go as far as to say they are pretty bad. With overwatch you run the possiblity losing 2-3 models b4 they even get there and then you have to weather the storm of their attacks b4 yours. In all honesty i would be surprised if they wiped out a full unit and extremely surprised if they can make it to a second one.

Also i just realized you dont have the SM squads in rhinos i would defently invest the points in them. @ 1500 this is my list:


Vulken He’stan 190

Dreadnought 140
Heavy Flamer
Drop Pod

Scouts x 5 75
Sniper Rifles x 5
Camo Cloaks x 5
Melta Bomb(Master Crafted)

Tactical Squad x 5 95
Meltagun
Combi Flamer
Melta Bomb(Master Crafted)

Tactical Squad x 10 210
Meltagun
Multi Melta
Combi Flamer
Melta Bomb(Master Crafted)
Rhino

Tactical Squad x 10 210
Meltagun
Multi Melta
Combi Flamer
Melta Bomb(Master Crafted)
Rhino

Assault Marines x 5 100
-Jump Packs
Flamer x 2
Melta Bomb(Master Crafter)
Rhino

Thunderfire Cannon 100

Thunderfire Cannon 100

Stormraven Gunship 205
Lascannon
Multi Melta
Extra Armour

Ordo Malleus Inquisitor 74
Empyrean Brain Mines
Servo-skulls x 3
Psyker
Force Sword

Like I said, I haven't ever made a SM list before so it's new to me. It's more for casual play and most of the guys I play with around here do not have flyers and there are no people playing allies so that isn't as big of an issue compared to the majority of them who run mainly terminator armies. The reason I made the list in the way I did was after this past weekend watching a mainly Terminator DA army absolutely obliterate a similar build like this. The rhino's were gone in no time and the flyer did almost nothing. Perhaps they weren't being used to the best of their ability but from my perspective I didn't see the appeal in playing that way.

Also, The reason I put Forgefather Vulkan was because I copied and pasted my army list from Battlescribe without looking and venerable dreadnought is an option on that program to add to heavy support.

Anyway, I do want to build a list that can compete against a mostly terminator army considering that that is the main build of players that I play with while still able to handle other armies. I would like to utilize vulkan's abilities but wasn't sure how to really build the army around that considering I have never made a SM army. I wouldn't mind using Vulkan's abilities but I' curious how to use that to the best of their ability while still being a well built army.

Well if you dont wanna use flyers(following the salamanders fluff) not a problem. Tailoring a list against one specific army wont really help you in the long run. You should take and all comers list just my opinion.

If you wanna use Vulken and really wanna use his added ablities to its fullest i would suggest one of two things either Option A take a command squad and deck them out (SM bikes and Meltaguns & bombs for every model) or Option B Sternguard and giving them Combi-Melta guns/ Combi Flamers. W/ the salamanders Chapter tactics + Vulkens enhanced one you can make all the sternguards bolters(if you make them combi-flamer/melta) master crafted meaning you can reroll to hits which for Sternguard is amazing.

 Nettik189 wrote:
Well if you dont wanna use flyers(following the salamanders fluff) not a problem. Tailoring a list against one specific army wont really help you in the long run. You should take and all comers list just my opinion.

If you wanna use Vulken and really wanna use his added ablities to its fullest i would suggest one of two things either Option A take a command squad and deck them out (SM bikes and Meltaguns & bombs for every model) or Option B Sternguard and giving them Combi-Melta guns/ Combi Flamers. W/ the salamanders Chapter tactics + Vulkens enhanced one you can make all the sternguards bolters(if you make them combi-flamer/melta) master crafted meaning you can reroll to hits which for Sternguard is amazing.

I totally agree with you on having a well rounded list, I am just trying to think of what I will spend the majority of my time around and playing with which is almost nothing but heavy terminator armies and heavy defense.

I like the idea of using the sternguard but truthfully I don't know the correct build for them as far as how many of which weapon and I'm assuming they would take the place of one of the two SS/TH terminator squads.

Also, you don't seem too keen on terminators for salamanders, and it may just be this build or army, but do you mind if I ask why?

TH/SS Terminators used to be great, back in 5thi used to run 15 in my BT army. But now w/ 6th and overwatch you have to factor in what you normally will be assaulting. The major armies out there are Eldar and Tau, If you play Eldar you have a serious uphill battle. W/ protect/Jinx a warloc or spirit seer can make your 2+ save into a 3+ save and if they are running more that one they could make it even worse(i have done this a few times) Also not to mention most of their troop units cause rending hits so again its gonna make you take saves on a 3+ causing them to die faster.

As for if you play Tau, most all their units have supporting fire meaning if the terminators dont die walking across the field they will probli die from overwatch from the entire army shooting at you.

As for the other competitive armies people like to spam, deamon will destroy you in assualt and you can hurt a necron flying list. And SM grav spams gonna force you to take those 3+ saves killing you faster. Even against Ork(My main army) if you assault a 30m Blol squad thats 60 overwatch shots and i go first in assault w/ 60 attacks(2 base)

The reason DA termies are better is bc they are their troops and he can give them weapons like CML's to make them a decent shooting threat as well.

As for sternguard, I honsetly dont know. IMHO they are a waste of points thats why in my Salamander army i dont run any. for the same price as 1 decked out Sternguard squad ~240pts(which is low) i can get:
Dreadnought, Heavyflamer(replace stormbolter) Drop Pod 140
Assault Squad, minus jump packs, flamer x 2, Meltabomb MC (sergeant) droppod 100pts

I can definitely see that. My only concern is how effective is an assault squad against what I will be playing against? I don't want to thin out anything too far and make an army that can't handle itself against what I am playing against, hence why I put the terminator heavy list in initially.

well look at it this way turn one your dreadnought comes in, pops a tank (Master crafter Meltamelta & Reroll armour pens Heavy flamers) then in your opponents turn you know that they are going to try and kill the dread so they will either assault it and blow it up or shoot it to blow it up but they probli wont spread out to do it. then turn 2 hopefully your assault marines come in and can flame a unit w/ reroll to wound. and even when they get assaulted you can do the same thing. granted you arent ignoting their armour saves completely, you are just forcing them to take alot of saves.

I really like that idea. Thanks for the help on making the list. I will definitely try to work all that in. I'm still new to making the lists for SM so I appreciate the help.

As an experience space marine and Salamander player let me give you a few tips.
Vulkan is a great HQ choice so if you're running with him make the most of his army bonuses. (also he doesn't count as MoTF, forgefather is an honorary title)
If you're going for the terminators id combine the hammernators into one ten man squad and keep the five man squad w/ heavy flamer and deep strike.
would also consider taking dread. or ironclad in drop pod w/locator beacons so something for those termies to lock onto.
for the tactical squads i'd max. them out with meltas (play this myself) and drop pods.

for a list like this some minor long range support might not make much of a difference so might as well form your army around getting up close and personal.
also might consider some speeders with heavy flamer and multimelta works really well keeping up with the army.

TFC are great for some support, and VS TEQ units forces them to take tons of saves which is nice. Also a stalker is worth it for so little points you get some good AA (after all your not playing Eldar).

 spacemarinehero wrote:
As an experience space marine and Salamander player let me give you a few tips.
Vulkan is a great HQ choice so if you're running with him make the most of his army bonuses. (also he doesn't count as MoTF, forgefather is an honorary title)
If you're going for the terminators id combine the hammernators into one ten man squad and keep the five man squad w/ heavy flamer and deep strike.
would also consider taking dread. or ironclad in drop pod w/locator beacons so something for those termies to lock onto.
for the tactical squads i'd max. them out with meltas (play this myself) and drop pods.

for a list like this some minor long range support might not make much of a difference so might as well form your army around getting up close and personal.
also might consider some speeders with heavy flamer and multimelta works really well keeping up with the army.

I can definitely understand this build and appreciate the help. Thanks

Salamanders are a close quarters army. If you don't bring tons of flamers and meltas (if you bring Vulkan), you should probably play another chapter.

I'd go with a drop pod assault and ram some heavy hitting dreads down your opponents throat. Keep the tacs for seizing objectives. Put vulkan with a drop podding assault squad with two flamers. It's cheap and will rip through infantry. If you want your dreads as heavy support, take a MotF and put him on a bike, if you don't have a better use for him.

Whether you're taking dreads or terminators, bring as many as you can. The more you can bring, the better.

Just my 2c.

blackforge wrote:
Salamanders are a close quarters army. If you don't bring tons of flamers and meltas (if you bring Vulkan), you should probably play another chapter.

I'd go with a drop pod assault and ram some heavy hitting dreads down your opponents throat. Keep the tacs for seizing objectives. Put vulkan with a drop podding assault squad with two flamers. It's cheap and will rip through infantry. If you want your dreads as heavy support, take a MotF and put him on a bike, if you don't have a better use for him.

Whether you're taking dreads or terminators, bring as many as you can. The more you can bring, the better.

Just my 2c.

Turthfully, we don't play any objective games around my group of friends, only casual games. My issue has literally been how to deal with heavy hitting defensive armies. I agree with the idea of the flamers and meltas with vulcan and will definitely be doing that but as far as the rest, is that a good build for what I am trying to build?