Here’s my top 10 changes for Space Marines for the base Space Marines Codex!
The new Marine Dex is a HUGE boost for Space Marine players. This is the biggest and most flavorful codex I’ve ever seen, packed with powerful combos. There’s a lot to take in so I decided to give you my top 10 changes in the base Codex to give you an idea of what to expect and help taking in all of this information a bit easier. So, let’s do it!
- 10.) More Relic Options and more Relics in an army! There are now twice as many Relic options for generic Marines which when combined with the relics in each Chapter Supplement, you’re spoiled for choice as a marine player. And many of them have been tuned up such as the excellent Teeth of Terra which is now a flat +3 attacks, Str+1, AP-2, 2 Damage. That means a Smash Captain with the relic has a whopping 8 attacks on the charge! And there are many more like this that have gotten buffs to make them more appealing. Plus, thanks to the Relics of the Chapter strat, you can take as many Relics as you want for 1CP a pop! Still only 1 per Character but that is awesome. On top of this, the Chapter supplements also have Special-Issue Wargear which add even more options, some of which can be given to Sargents in units thanks to the Honoured Sargeant strat (although, those are technically not in the Core dex but hey, it’s on topic!).
- 9.) More Strats! Marine players now have a plethora of starts to choose from during games. Between the 4 pages of them in the Dex and the additional 2 pages per supplement, you’ve got twice as many tactical options as you did previously and many of them are incredibly good, or are old favorites that have been tuned up. For example, Honour the Chapter, which previously only worked on Infantry or Bikers, now works on any unit. Bobby G, hoooo! Chapter Master is now only 2CP, etc. One of my favorites is Hero of the Chapter which for 1CP gives you another Warlord Trait on a Character who’s not your Warlord. As there are so many new Warlord Trait choices in that department now this adds loads of customization to your army. Another great one is Gravitic Amplification, which for 1CP lets you re-roll Grav-cannon wound and damage rolls! That should get your Grav Centurions off of the shelf in a hurry.
- 8.) Litanies of Battle: Chaplains get a face lift in the Marine dex with these abilities for Chaplains, some of which are very strong. Catechism of Fire for example, gives a unit within 6″ of the Chaplain +1 to wound in the Shooting Phase if they shoot at the closest enemy unit. Recitation of Focus gives a unit within 6″ +1 to hit in shooting, etc. You can also just turn your Chaplain into a beatstick with Mantra of Strength which gives him +1 strength, melee damage and attacks. Combined with all of the other buffs available, you can make a fearsome Chaplain. This breathes new life into Chaplains who haven’t been seeing the table top much in recent years.
- 7.) More unit options: we’ve gotten a slew of new options for units from the Invictor Warsuit, the Repulsor Executioner, to the Incursor Squads, we’ve got a host of new ways to play our army. Many units also have more or altered wargear options now such as Thunder Hammers for Intercessor sarges, or a host of new weapon options for units like Eliminators giving even more variety.
- 6.) Null Zone has gone from a “hail marry, maybe it works once in a blue moon” to a tier 1 psychic threat. The subtle change to Warp Charge 7 and it effecting units, not models combined with the various ways Marines have to deliver a psyker into the thick of an opponent’s lines and you can absolutely devastate key units. As someone that has won multiple games on the power of old Null Zone, the impact the new version can have when played correctly (and a little luck) is game winning.
- 5.) Reduced points for many underused units such as Centurions, Phobos units, Land Raiders, etc. to make them more appealing and get some table time!
- 4.) Increased stats on units or wargear that in many cases were struggling. Centurions and Aggressors both got +1 attack and wound (as did some other characters) and are now VERY appealing units sure to get table time outside of a few niche lists. Centurions are straight mean now, and in some Chapters are going to be terrifying units. But the bump to 4 wounds particularly puts them out of reach of flat 3 damage weapons and the bonus attack on their profile and from Shock Assault makes Assault Centurions vastly better. Aggressors likewise are so much more appealing and will be a cornerstone unit in many Chapters, particularly with the Chapter buffs they can get. Plus, Drop Pods now being able to ignore Tactical Reserves is HUGE. These just went from never seen to mega popular in a hurry. Some wargear got better as well, such as Auto Bolt Rifle which is now Assault 3, or the Stalker Bolt Rifle which is now Damage 2. These subtle alterations add up to big changes.
- 3.) Angels of Death: you now get a massive boost for playing Marines! ATSKNF, Bolter Discipline, Shock Assault (+1 attack when you charge, are charged or heroically intervene) and if your army is entirely Space Marines, you also get Combat Doctrines which are very powerful, granting increased AP to weapons. In the Devastator Doctrine you get an additional -1 AP to Heavy and Grenade weapons, in the Tactical Doctrine you get an additional -1 AP for Rapid Fire and Assault weapons and in the Assault Doctrine you gain the bonus for melee and Pistol weapons. This really cranks up the lethality of Marines. It gets even better if you are purely one chapter but even just this level of the rule is massively useful.
- 2.) Chapter Tactics and Angels of Death working on Vehicles! It’s been a long time coming and now that we have the ability to apply Chapter Tactics to Marine vehicles they are vastly improved, which combined with +1 attack on the charge for things like Dreads, and increased AP for vehicles plus all of the various other buffs the Chapters provide for going pure, we’re going to see an entirely new dimension of list building options become available to Marine players.
- 1.) Buffed Chapter Tactics: Space Marines and CSM were pretty lacking in this department generally speaking, and now the Marine version at least are most assuredly not. Every Chapter got a bonus to their Chapter Tactics, and are much more appealing.
What are your favorite changes to the new Marine dex so far? Did you have any questions about specific units, items, etc.?
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