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Hi there,

So I’m really struggling with my emperor’s children these days, even though AFAIK they are supposed to be a very good army at the moment. My only recent victory was against guard using their old codex, and even then it was on points rather than carnage.

At the moment it feels a bit like my terminators are rock solid, but everything else dies fairly easily.

The secondaries I go for are warp ritual, banners and either long war, no prisoners or grind them down, depending on what my opponent has brought.

My initial thoughts on areas for improvement:

1. Maybe it’s time to accept that I need to bring Abaddon.
2. In my last game, I allowed my terminators to become separated from the characters, which weakened both, so maybe that’s part of it.

Anyway, here is the list, thanks in advance for any tips.

++ Battalion Detachment 0CP (Chaos - Chaos Space Marines) [108 PL, 1,996pts, 2CP] ++

+ Configuration +

Battle Size [6CP]: 3. Strike Force (101-200 Total PL / 1001-2000 Points)

Detachment Command Cost

Game Type: 4. Chapter Approved: War Zone Nephilim

Legion: Emperor's Children

+ HQ +

Daemon Prince with Wings [11 PL, 170pts, -2CP]: 1. Flames of Spite, Malefic talons, Mantle of Traitors, Mark of Slaanesh, Stratagem: Relic, Stratagem: Warlord Trait, Warlord, Warptime, Wings

Dark Apostle [6 PL, 110pts]: Illusory Supplication, Mark of Slaanesh
. 2x Dark Disciple: 2x Close combat weapon

Master of Possession [7 PL, 120pts, -1CP]: Gifts of Chaos, Liber Hereticus, Mark of Slaanesh, Mutated Invigoration, Pact of Flesh

+ Troops +

Cultists Mob [5 PL, 100pts]
. 19x Chaos Cultist w/ cultist firearm: 19x Cultist firearm, 19x Frag & Krak grenades
. Cultist Champion: Cultist firearm

Cultists Mob [2 PL, 50pts]
. 9x Chaos Cultist w/ cultist firearm: 9x Cultist firearm, 9x Frag & Krak grenades
. Cultist Champion: Cultist firearm

Noise Marines [6 PL, 145pts]: Icon of Slaanesh
. Marine w/ blastmaster: Blastmaster
. 3x Marine w/ chainsword: 3x Astartes chainsword, 3x Bolt pistol, 3x Frag & Krak grenades
. Noise Champion: Astartes chainsword, Doom siren, Power fist

Noise Marines [6 PL, 145pts]: Icon of Slaanesh
. Marine w/ blastmaster: Blastmaster
. 3x Marine w/ chainsword: 3x Astartes chainsword, 3x Bolt pistol, 3x Frag & Krak grenades
. Noise Champion: Astartes chainsword, Doom siren, Power fist

Noise Marines [6 PL, 145pts]: Icon of Slaanesh
. Marine w/ blastmaster: Blastmaster
. 3x Marine w/ chainsword: 3x Astartes chainsword, 3x Bolt pistol, 3x Frag & Krak grenades
. Noise Champion: Astartes chainsword, Doom siren, Power fist

Noise Marines [6 PL, 145pts]: Icon of Slaanesh
. Marine w/ blastmaster: Blastmaster
. 3x Marine w/ chainsword: 3x Astartes chainsword, 3x Bolt pistol, 3x Frag & Krak grenades
. Noise Champion: Astartes chainsword, Doom siren, Power fist

+ Elites +

Chaos Terminator Squad [19 PL, 425pts, -1CP]: Mark of Slaanesh
. Chaos Terminator: Chainfist, Combi-melta
. Chaos Terminator: Combi-melta, Power fist
. Chaos Terminator: Combi-melta, Power fist
. Chaos Terminator: Combi-plasma, Power fist
. Chaos Terminator: Combi-plasma, Power fist
. Chaos Terminator: Power fist, Reaper autocannon
. Chaos Terminator: Power fist, Reaper autocannon
. Chaos Terminator: Accursed weapon, Accursed weapon
. Chaos Terminator: Accursed weapon, Accursed weapon
. Terminator Champion: Black Rune of Damnation, Chainfist, Combi-melta, Trophies of the Long War

Possessed [14 PL, 168pts]: Possessed Champion
. 5x Possessed: 5x Hideous mutations

Possessed [14 PL, 168pts]: Possessed Champion
. 5x Possessed: 5x Hideous mutations

+ Fast Attack +

Venomcrawler [6 PL, 105pts]

++ Total: [108 PL, 2CP, 1,996pts] ++

Created with BattleScribe (https://battlescribe.net)

This is pretty similar to tournament winning EC lists.

I think maybe the 20 Cultists, the Possessed and the Venomcrawler don't show up. I also think the Plasma/Repears on the Terminators are a bit unusual. But, none of that seems too excessively off the usual lists.

I would guess it is a question of skill, practice and whether the army fits your playstyle.

Also sometimes in tournaments just getting a lucky/unlucky pairing can really alter your run.

My last tournament I got a really lucky 3rd pairing (almost an auto win against a much better player with the wrong faction) and then got an unlucky 4th pairing (all the other 3-0 options apart from him were running exactly what I wanted to play).

EightFoldPath wrote:
This is pretty similar to tournament winning EC lists.

I think maybe the 20 Cultists, the Possessed and the Venomcrawler don't show up. I also think the Plasma/Repears on the Terminators are a bit unusual. But, none of that seems too excessively off the usual lists.

I used plasma because I couldn’t get any more meltas in. I took the reapers for their range, though I can see the argument for heavy flamers.

I took 20 cultists because it came in at 1950 points and I wasn’t sure what else to spend them on.

I would guess it is a question of skill, practice and whether the army fits your playstyle.

I feared this might be the case 😂

Also sometimes in tournaments just getting a lucky/unlucky pairing can really alter your run.

My last tournament I got a really lucky 3rd pairing (almost an auto win against a much better player with the wrong faction) and then got an unlucky 4th pairing (all the other 3-0 options apart from him were running exactly what I wanted to play).

True.

I probably wouldn't run so many powerfists on the Terminators.

I probably wouldn't run my possessed in units of 6, 5 is good enough.

I would probably save 50pts on cultists, 58pts on possessed, a few points on terminators and put in another unit.

Personally I really like venom crawlers, but a cheap unit of havocs isn't horrid either.

20 Cultists is pointless. They exist to hold objectives, do actions and screen. It may only be 50 points, but it's a waste that could be better spent elsewhere.

The Terminators are a little over-equipped. Most successful lists will maybe have some melta in there, but 2 plasma and 2 Reapers is not necessary. I'm also not sold on the Doom Sirens in the NM squads. They're potentially great, but in reality they are at odds with the role of the unit, which is a Blastmaster caddy.

Possessed are fine - fast, killy and fairly durable. They can also do actions like Raise Banners in the early game, which makes them quite useful. 6 is the wrong number, though. At 6 models you need to worry more about coherency and you are potentially vulnerable to Blast weapons. You don't gain anything by having that extra model so I'd drop them. 2 units is possibly overkill as well.

Coincidentally, if you drop a unit of Possessed, reduce the other to 5 models, half the Cultist Mob and take out the extraneous wargear in your Terminator and NM squads, you end up with enough points for Abaddon. As much as I hate auto-include characters, he's pretty much mandatory in any successful CSM list right now (one or two notable exceptions aside).

It's probably worth noting that there's a points change coming very soon. I wouldn't be surprised to see Abaddon get more expensive. You may want to wait until then before finalising any changes to the list.

- IMHO drop the demon prince and bring Abaddon... ^^' I know... i know... but still... do it

- I see the urge to equip the Terminators to the teeth, but i actually would keep them simple (otherwise they are a bottomless pit for points )
Give the seargent a kombi-melter and a chainfist (like you did), keep the rest with kombi-bolter (let the galaxy burn etc. helps here) and accursed weapons. Black Rune *thumbs up*

- Drop the cultists and go noise marines with Blaster Master (5 Man Squads for example) with basic equiüment (even though i like them with all sonic weapons xD)
Maybe a min. Squad Legionairs with Tome for +1 to hit buff.

- I run the Possessed in groups of 10. But that might be my bad luck with Invul. Rolls... ^^

- I dont know much about the venomcrawler to judge its usefulness.

Hope this helps a bit...

++ Battalion Detachment 0CP (Chaos - Chaos Space Marines) [96 PL, 2,000pts] ++

+ Configuration +

Detachment Command Cost

Game Type

Legion: Emperor's Children

+ HQ +

Chaos Lord [6 PL, 125pts]: 2. Intoxicating Musk, Bolt pistol, Mark of Slaanesh, The Endless Grin, Thunder hammer, Warlord

Lucius the Eternal [5 PL, 120pts]

Master of Possession [7 PL, 120pts]: Infernal Power, Mark of Slaanesh, Pact of Flesh, Possession, Warp Marked

Sorcerer [6 PL, 110pts]: Death Hex, Diabolic Strength, Mark of Slaanesh

+ Troops +

Noise Marines [12 PL, 290pts]
. Marine w/ blastmaster: Blastmaster
. 8x Marine w/ sonic blaster: 8x Bolt pistol, 8x Frag & Krak grenades, 8x Sonic blaster
. Noise Champion: Doom siren, Power fist, Sonic blaster

Noise Marines [12 PL, 295pts]: Icon of Slaanesh
. Marine w/ blastmaster: Blastmaster
. 8x Marine w/ sonic blaster: 8x Bolt pistol, 8x Frag & Krak grenades, 8x Sonic blaster
. Noise Champion: Doom siren, Power fist, Sonic blaster

Noise Marines [12 PL, 295pts]: Icon of Slaanesh
. Marine w/ blastmaster: Blastmaster
. 8x Marine w/ sonic blaster: 8x Bolt pistol, 8x Frag & Krak grenades, 8x Sonic blaster
. Noise Champion: Doom siren, Power fist, Sonic blaster

+ Elites +

Master of Executions [5 PL, 80pts]: Mark of Slaanesh, The Warp's Malice

+ Fast Attack +

Chaos Spawn [1 PL, 25pts]: Chaos Spawn

+ Dedicated Transport +

Chaos Terrax-Pattern Termite [10 PL, 180pts]
. 2 Terrax heavy flamers

Chaos Terrax-Pattern Termite [10 PL, 180pts]
. 2 Terrax heavy flamers

Chaos Terrax-Pattern Termite [10 PL, 180pts]
. 2 Terrax heavy flamers

++ Total: [96 PL, 2,000pts] ++

Created with BattleScribe


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Just for fun list. Three termites and everyone packed inside (except for one possessed). These are very tough transports and have 5x melta shots, heavy flamers, and the drill absolutely wrecks vehicles in melee. Turn 2 you deploy 30 noise marines and a bunch of melee characters that are pretty brutal.

You have to have at least half your army on the board during deployment.

They all start off on the board. Then they submerge turn 1 and re-emerge turn 2.

warpedpig wrote:
They all start off on the board. Then they submerge turn 1 and re-emerge turn 2.

How? I don’t see any rule letting them do that.