With the new edition of Warhammer 40000 coming later this month, I decided to take a look at the current state of each of my armies at the end of 8th edition and what I’m looking forward to for them in 9th edition.
Deep down, my biggest problem with Warhammer 40000 is that I want all of the armies. I love collecting and painting different factions. I like having the opportunity to try out different rules. I spend my time tinkering with lists tailored to match both the mechanics and story of different armies.
I’ve been indulging in the hobby since the launch of 8th edition and building up different forces, but I think the launch of 9th edition is a great excuse to start building yet another new army. I’m excited at the possibilities of Combat Patrol and Incursion sized games as an opportunity to try out new armies without committing to a whole 1500-2000 point army project.
Drukhari Raiders
I bought the Blood of the Phoenix box last year, so I have the Drukhari portion sitting in a box right now. That included Drazhar, Incubi, Scourges, Hellions, and a Venom. If I invested in them as a full army then I’d definitely go the route of having a Kabal patrol, a Wych Cult patrol, and a Haemonculus Coven patrol. With the Raiding Force rule, that setup ends up not costing extra command points and I think it would be fun to play with that unique setup. I’d also want to ensure the force is mobile with Raiders and Venoms available to carry every infantry unit.
I’ll definitely work on the models I already own, but I’m not sure I’ll go ahead with building out the whole army yet. I might just collect enough for smaller Combat Patrol games with a wych cult detachment. That initial foray will let me get in some games with them and decide if I want to keep expanding up to a Strike Force sized army.
Szarekhan Dynasty
With the Silent King being released in a cool new model, I’m tempted to build a second necron army around him. In addition to the Silent King, there are other necron models, both new and old, that I don’t feel like fit in my existing army’s theme. For example, Ghost Arcs and Tomb Blades seem a little silly when my infantry can use their translocation beam ability to advance quickly. I also think Triach Praetorians and Stalkers would be a fun addition to a force led by Szarekh.
If I go this route, I’ll likely try to get my existing army to about 1500-2000 points and then start painting new models in the Szarekhan Dynasty colors. The big unknown for me is what that dynasty’s rules will look like, so I wouldn’t start this project until after a new version of Codex: Necrons is available.
Talons of the Emperor
The Adeptus Custodes are the ultimate elite force and I feel like they would offer a unique play experience. They also are a low model count army, so they would be relatively easy to build up to a playable army. For example, I think just a single box of Custodian Guard and a Sisters of Battle box would get the army to more than enough for Combat Patrol games. Then I’d definitely want to add Vertus Praetors and a Contemptor Dreadnought, but every unit in their line seems like a great option. Forge World also offers a lot of cool units for the army.
A New Chapter
I have a few space marines models that I haven’t allocated to either my Space Wolves or my Fulminators. That set is mostly characters, but I also have a second Redemptor Dreadnought kit waiting for a home. I’m also getting the Indomitus box later this month. I plan to add some of those models to my existing armies, but I don’t necessarily want to add them all to those lists.
Black Templars
Some of the new models from Indomitus feel like a perfect match for Black Templars. The Assault Intercessors, Bladeguard Veterans, Captain, Lieutenant, Ancient, Chaplain, and Judiciar could all fit perfectly into a Black Templars army. With that core, I’d probably keep the army as purely primaris. I’d add a couple of squads of Intercessors with bolt rifles to make them a battalion, a Repulsor to serve as a transport, and probably some Aggressors with flamers to burn the heretics.
My biggest reservation with this army is that I already have a melee-focused space marines force in my Space Wolves. I’m not sure the Black Templars would offer a distinct enough style of gameplay to warrant a new army. Combining them with an Adeptas Sororitas detachment would be a way to make them more distinct, but that would cost some command points with the new edition’s detachment rules.
Imperial Fists
I think the models that I have available seem like they could be a good fit for an Imperial Fists army with more of a defensive gunline theme. This army could use the Redemptor Dreadnought, Primaris Captain with a power fist, and Primaris Lieutenant with a stalker bolt rifle that I already own. Then I would want to use Intercessors with bolt rifles and stalker bolt rifles as the Troops options. Aggressors, a Repulsor Executioner, Eradicators, and the previewed Firestrike Servo-Turret all seem like they would be good choices for a siege-focused army. The Hammerfall Bunker could even give the Sons of Dorn a strongpoint to defend. I’d also consider mixing in some older pre-primaris
My biggest reservation about starting an Imperial Fists army is that I’d have to paint a ton of yellow. At small scale, I think they’d risk playing similar to my Fulminators force, but I think the different chapter-specific rules and unit choices would make a full-size army feel sufficiently different while playing.
Raven Guard
I haven’t added any of the vanguard primaris models to my existing armies yet, and while I might add a squad of Infiltrators or Incursors, I’m unlikely to go much beyond that with either the Fulminators or Space Wolves. If I wanted to focus on those models, I’d want to do it in an army that was almost entirely vanguard units, and I think Raven Guard would be the perfect chapter option for that. If I went this route, I’d pick up the Start Collecting: Vanguard Space Marines box as a starting point. Then I would add some units like Incursors, Reivers with grav chutes, an Invictor Tactical Warsuit, and Inceptors to stick with the theme.
None of the models I have waiting around would contribute to this army, but the Start Collecting box offers a discounted entry point.
Blood Ravens
The last space marines idea floating around my head is building a purely firstborn army out of nostalgia for the classic units that I liked when I first started playing. I think I would go with the Blood Ravens chapter from the Dawn of War games if I went this route. Towards that theme, I’d have at least two librarians in the army to give them more psychic potential. I’d then want to make sure the army featured Tactical Squads, Assault Squads, Terminators, a Dreadnought, and probably a Predator. I’d also be able to pick up the Gabriel Angelos from Forge World to lead the army.
The biggest drawback to this project would be that I suspect support for the firstborn marines in the game will gradually vanish as more and more primaris units are introduced. That probably puts a limited lifespan on the force. I also have most of the units that I’d want for this army in my old Iron Wardens, so this force wouldn’t necessarily bring much unique to the table.
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