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As much as I hate to make a thread just for me, I am really struggling in games. My opponents play Xenos army's: Tyranids, Orks, and Dark Eldar (called something else now but that's what I remember them as).

I don't have access to much, and know I need to pick up a Librarian. Still, running two Tactical squads and two transports just isn't cutting it. My biggest issues are that my opponents are stacked with negating my saves with mortal wounds or high AP weapons. Additionally, deep strikes are killing me because I can't flood the area and deny space while also being able to cover the squads on the outskirts denying from the front lines.

All-in-all, I need to know where I should take my army, and what I should start to focus on. I absolutely love painting them, so they look amazing on the table. But they also look amazing as I pile up their bodies next to the playing field.

Below is a list of everything I own. For those who take the time, thanks immensely for the help.


HQ
Vulkan He’Stan
SM Captain from AoBR box set (Bolt Gun and Power Sword)

Troops
3x 5-man Tactical Squads with 2 Lascannon and 1 Heavy Bolter

Elite
1- Sternguard Veteran Squad w/ 3x Combi-Melta, Combi-Flamer, Heavy Flamer
1- Dreadnought w/ Heavy Flamer
1- Easy-Build Redemptor Dreadnought
1- 3-man squad Flamestorm Aggressors
2x 5-man Terminator Squad from AoBR (storm bolter power fist)

Fast Attack
1- 3-man squad Assault Bolter Inceptors

Heavy Support
2- Land Raiders of varying options (I realize no one ever uses these)
1- Castellan Whirlwind
1- Vindicator

Transports
3- Rhino Transports
3- 2x Razorback with Twin Lascannon, and 1 Twin Heavy Bolter
1- Drop Pod (also realize these are used few and far between)

If DS and screening is an issue, there are a few ways to enforce a 12” no drop bubble (interceptors, phobos captain) or just get more cheep bodies on the table (scouts can deploy outside your start zone to help screen farther out, cost peanuts)

If hordes are a problem, there are a number of ways to deal with them. TFCs are a good heavy pick, and have strats to shoot twice and to slow down the incoming tide. Another good option would be just to get more boots on the ground and rip out a solid round of bolter fire into the filthy xenos masses. Intercessors are a solid troop pick, and the different gun options all have a place. The basic bolt rife is still the generalist winner IMHO, but you can mix it up if needed. Getting more boots on the ground will also help with the MW spam. Many of those are short ranged and/or need to target the closes unit. If they want to spent the effort to blow one of the wounds off an intercessor, more power to them.

One thing about 8th is auras (particularly re-rolls) and stratagems. Now as a Salamander, you don’t need the re-rolls quite as badly as other chapters, but they are still nice to have. I’m not that familiar with your chapter specific ones, but give them a good look and see if any could be useful. They have the ability to catapult a mediocre unit to game-winning if used at the right time.

If I were you, I’d look into picking up the marine half of either the Dark Imperium or Shadowspear boxes. You can get most of the goodies from the shadowspear box in the new SC: vanguard marines box, but you miss out on some of the characters (which you want)

The DI box gets you more troops, which you need, more HQs, which help, and some very nice support units (banner, hellblasters, inceptors) Solid value for the money, and will beef up your collection.

The Vanguard box gets you a unit of interceptors, to help screen, eliminaors to snipe things doing MW to you, a LT for buffs, and the suppressors to just pour fire into things. The full Shadowspear box adds a captain and librarian to that, both of which would be very useful.

A few questions to OP so that we can help you better.

Are you willing to buy new models to fill in gaps? As said above, having 2-3 squads of basic scouts would help with your screening problems.

Secondly, are you using a predictable list against an opponent who changes their list/army regularly? If so, you may want to change things up. If you regularly bring a lot of 3+ infantry, it is easy to build a counter to it. You have a lot of heavy armor in your collection, it may be advisable to switch things up for a game and try to bring mostly vehicles. Should throw your opponent for a loop.

Lastly, talk to your opponent after your match. They should be willing to discuss the games mistakes and MVPs, which should help you learn to counter you opponent.

But you seem to have already learned the best lesson of all: this is a game. If your models look great on and off the table, and you are having fun, then you already won at life

If your opponent is okay with proxying things, try using your Sternguard as a set of Stormbolter/Stormshield Veterans. 3++ on a unit with 4 shots per model is just plain good. (Sadly your Sternguard are also armed wrong for this edition to use as Sternguard, they want a straight set of Special Issue Bolters and no other upgrades. That gun is very good with the strategem they have.)

Having said that, I'd second the recommendation to get some Infiltrators for the 12" Deep Strike denial, and Incursors are pretty good vs Eldar since they ignore both to-hit and cover penalties.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Oh, you probably want to consider a Repulsor for your Aggressors. Deploying them into flamer range and then using the strats to count them as stationary and then guarantee the full 24 shots per model will make people rage-quit if you can pull it off.

I would recommend the primaris vanguard SC box.

You get an Infiltrator squad, Suppressors, Eliminators, & a Phobos Lt. a decent bang for your buck and give you varied deployment options. Add a Repulsor and you'll have most of the tools to adapt what you have into a force that can deal with a wide array of targets & scenarios.
etb flame aggressors to fill out the capacity on the repulsor is another inexpensive add.

the drop pod full of sternguard with the Forgefather is a pretty potent combo.

Hellblasters and chapter ancient. 2 units that will always have a use.

For the board control you seek, scouts are a cheap option. Personally, I like to run 2 squads in land speeder storms if I’m not in a tournament setting.

Amazing advice thanks!

Looks like the Shadowspear isn't available from GW anymore but I can at least pick up from Amazon. For the price, it's much cheaper just due to the Librarian and Phobos Captain being included. Also the Repulsor, I hadn't even looked at before.

To answer Fisheye's comment, yes my list is rather predictable. Mostly due to trying to get as much cheap stuff on the table, which i'm finding harder to do with Marines. As a Guard player as well, I'm definitely fielding much few models, and I want the most bang for the points cost. I'll also look at finishing up my Drop Pod. I don't like to field models that aren't finished/painted to my standards, and that one has been kind of a PITA.

So -

Shadowspear; Repulsor; Scouts. And maybe some Hellblasters. I'll start putting this to use!! THANKS!