I re-joined the hobby in 2020 like so many others, splitting a Tempest of Souls with my wife. To my surprise she took the Nighthaunt leaving me with Stormcast. Fast forward a couple of years I'm still adding to the 4k points I have trying to make them competitive. I jumped into 40k in 2021 and about to start my 3rd 40k army in the last year, this time Word Bearers. Currently I run Grey Knights in both 40k and Kill Team.
Otherwise I'm in NSW and struggling to find time and budget while dealing with a young family. Who also have armies.
This is the top three AoS lists for the Nidaros Grand Tournament 2024 that took place in Norway on the 20th and 21st of April. It saw 19 players vying to be crowned champion in a 5-game tournament.
With less than 20 players we won’t be commenting on individual lists.
Before I jump into the Top Three AoS Lists, I wanted to remind everyone of our friendly Discord server where you can join in the conversation with the Woehammer crew and suggest articles or series for the website.
If you like what we’re doing, why not join our Patreon and help keep it going?
Also if there’s a one day or two day tournament you’d like us to cover drop us a comment on this post and we’ll have a look at it for you.
The Top Three AoS Lists
Army Faction: Sons of Behemat – Army Type: King Brodd’s Stomp – Grand Strategy: Overshadow
LEADERS King Brodd (520) Warstomper (440) Gatebreaker (500) – General – Command Traits: High Expectations – Artefacts of Power: Lucky Shiny Hat Gatebreaker (500)
TOTAL POINTS: 1960/2000
Army Subfaction: The Flayed Grand Strategy: Slaughter of Sorcery Triumphs: Inspired
LEADER 1 x Slaughterpriest (110)* General Command Traits: High-priest of Khorne Bloodbathed Axe Artefacts: The Crimson Plate Prayers: Bronzed Flesh, Killer Instinct 1 x Realmgore Ritualist (110)* Prayers: Unholy Flames, Blood Sacrifice Nullstone Adornments: Pouch of Nulldust 1 x Skarbrand (380)*
BATTLELINE 5 x Flesh Hounds (100) 5 x Flesh Hounds (100) 5 x Flesh Hounds (100)
OTHER 1 x Karanak (140) 6 x Furies (80) 6 x Mighty Skullcrushers (210)* Standard Bearer Hornblower Skullhunter Ensorcelled Axe 6 x Mighty Skullcrushers (210)* Skullhunter Standard Bearer Hornblower Ensorcelled Axe
CORE BATTALIONS: *Warlord
TOTAL POINTS: (1960/2000)
Army Faction: Skaven – Grand Strategy: Arch-corruptors of the Mortal Realms – Triumph: Bloodthirsty
LEADERS Grey Seer (110)* – General – Command Traits: Shaman of the Chilled Lands – Spells: Death Frenzy Grey Seer (110)* – Spells: Skitterleap Plague Priest (100)** – Artefacts of Power: Blistrevous, the Living Cyst – Prayers: Heal Plague Priest On Plague Furnace (270)** – Artefacts of Power: The Fumigatous – Prayers: Curse Skabbik Plagueseeker (140)** – Prayers: Disease-disease! Lord Skreech Verminking (370)**
Army Faction: Hedonites of Slaanesh – Army Type: Pretenders – Grand Strategy: Selfish Desire – Triumph: Inspired
LEADERS Keeper of Secrets (380)* – General – Command Traits: Strength of Godhood – Shining Aegis – Artefacts of Power: The Crown of Dark Secrets – Spells: Flaming Weapon Shalaxi Helbane (370)** – Shining Aegis – Spells: Born of Damnation
BATTLELINE Blissbarb Archers (170)* – High Tempter Blissbarb Archers (170)* – High Tempter Blissbarb Archers (170)* – High Tempter
OTHER Fiends (360)** – Blissbringer Blissbarb Seekers (220)** – High Tempter Symbaresh Twinsouls (140)** – Egopomp
This is the top three AoS lists for Gran Torneo Huertano por Equipos II Edición that took place in Spain on the 20th and 21st of April. It saw 60 players vying to be crowned champion in a 5-game team tournament.
Before I jump into the Top Three AoS Lists, I wanted to remind everyone of our friendly Discord server where you can join in the conversation with the Woehammer crew and suggest articles or series for the website.
If you like what we’re doing, why not join our Patreon and help keep it going?
Also if there’s a one day or two day tournament you’d like us to cover drop us a comment on this post and we’ll have a look at it for you.
The Top Three AoS Lists
Army Faction: Sylvaneth – Subfaction: Heartwood – Grand Strategy: Spellcasting Savant – Triumph: Inspired – Seasons of War: The Dwindling
LEADERS Spirit of Durthu (350)* – Artefacts of Power: Greenwood Gladius Warsong Revenant (270)** – General – Command Traits: Spellsinger – Artefacts of Power: The Vesperal Gem – Spells: Treesong, Verdant Blessing Knight-Zephyros (100)** Treelord Ancient (330)** – Spells: Regrowth, Verdant Blessing
Army Faction: Slaves to Darkness – Subfaction: Knights of the Empty Throne – Grand Strategy: Overshadow – Triumph: Inspired
LEADERS Chaos Sorcerer Lord (120)* – General – Mark of Chaos: Undivided – Command Traits: Master of Magic – Artefacts of Power: Chaos Familiar – Spells: Daemonic Speed Chaos Sorcerer Lord (120)* – Mark of Chaos: Undivided – Spells: Daemonic Speed
BATTLELINE Chaos Knights (440)* – Mark of Chaos: Nurgle – Doom Knight – Cursed Lance – 2 x Standard Bearer – 2 x Hornblower – Ensorcelled Banner: The Eroding Icon Varanguard (560)* – Mark of Chaos: Nurgle – 6 x Ensorcelled Weapon Corvus Cabal (80)* Corvus Cabal (80)* Varanguard (560)* – Mark of Chaos: Khorne – 6 x Fellspear
CORE BATTALIONS *Battle Regiment
TOTAL POINTS: 1960/2000
Army Faction: Soulblight Gravelords – Army Type: Legion of Night – Grand Strategy: Lust for Domination – Triumph: Indomitable
LEADERS Necromancer (100)* – General – Command Traits: Unbending Will – Spells: Merciless Blizzard Necromancer (100)* – Spells: Merciless Blizzard Mannfred Von Carstein (400)** – Spells: Waste Away Vampire Lord (150)* – Artefacts of Power: Morbheg’s Claw – Spells: Hoarfrost
BATTLELINE Dire Wolves (150)** – Doom Wolf Dire Wolves (150)** – Doom Wolf Dire Wolves (150)** – Doom Wolf Fell Bats (100)** Dire Wolves (150)* – Doom Wolf Dire Wolves (150)* – Doom Wolf Deathrattle Skeletons (330)* – Skeleton Champion – 3 x Standard Bearer
ENDLESS SPELLS & INVOCATIONS 1 x Aethervoid Pendulum (50)
Army Faction: Nighthaunt – Subfaction: The Scarlet Doom – Grand Strategy: Fright or Flight – Triumph: Inspired
LEADERS Guardian of Souls (150)* – General – Command Traits: Shaman of the Chilled Lands – Chill Blade – Artefacts of Power: Midnight Tome – Spells: Shademist Spirit Torment (120)* Krulghast Cruciator (150)** Lady Olynder (270)** – Spells: Seal of Shyish
This is the top three AoS lists for The Oxford GT that took place in the UK on the 20th and 21st of April. It saw 26 players vying to be crowned champion in a 5-game tournament.
Before I jump into the Top Three AoS Lists, I wanted to remind everyone of our friendly Discord server where you can join in the conversation with the Woehammer crew and suggest articles or series for the website.
If you like what we’re doing, why not join our Patreon and help keep it going?
Also if there’s a one day or two day tournament you’d like us to cover drop us a comment on this post and we’ll have a look at it for you.
The Top Three AoS Lists
Allegiance: Ogor Mawtribes – Mawtribe: Meatfist – Grand Strategy: Ready for Plunder – Triumphs: Bloodthirsty
Leaders Tyrant (150)* – Artefact: Gruesome Trophy Rack – Big Name: Brawlerguts Tyrant (150)* – General – Command Trait: Killer Reputation – Big Name: Deathcheater – Big Name: Brawlerguts – Nullstone Adornment: Hand-carved Nullstone Icon Kragnos, The End of Empires (720)*
Battleline 6 x Ogor Gluttons (240)* – Paired Ogor Clubs or Bluntblades – Crusher – Bellower – Tribal Banner with Lookout Gnoblar 6 x Ogor Gluttons (240)* – Paired Ogor Clubs or Bluntblades – Crusher – Bellower – Tribal Banner with Lookout Gnoblar 6 x Ogor Gluttons (240)* – Paired Ogor Clubs or Bluntblades – Crusher – Bellower – Tribal Banner with Lookout Gnoblar
Units 4 x Ironguts (240)* – Gutlord – Bellower – Rune Maw Bearer
Terrain Maw pit!
Core Battalions *Battle Regiment
Total: 1980 / 2000
Army Faction: Flesh-eater Courts – Subfaction: Hollowmourne – Grand Strategy: Spellcasting Savant – Triumph: Bloodthirsty
LEADERS Ushoran (460)* – Spells: Deranged Transformation Grand Justice Gormayne (140)* Abhorrant Gorewarden (150)** – General – Command Traits: Feverish Scholar – Artefacts of Power: Heart of the Gargant – Spells: Hoarfrost Abhorrant Archregent (150)** – Spells: Hoarfrost
BATTLELINE Morbheg Knights (300)* – Champion of Morbheg – 2 x Standard Bearer – 2 x Hornblower Morbheg Knights (300)* – Champion of Morbheg – 2 x Standard Bearer – 2 x Hornblower Crypt Ghouls (320)* – Crypt Ghast
OTHER Royal Beastflayers (110)*
ENDLESS SPELLS & INVOCATIONS 1 x Chalice of Ushoran (50) 1 x Cadaverous Barricade (20)
Leaders Guardian of Souls (150)** – General – Command Trait: Shaman of the Chilled Lands – Lore of the Underworlds: Spectral Tether Krulghast Cruciator (150)** Lord Executioner (120)* Tomb Banshee (80)** – Artefact: Pendant of the Fell Wind
Battleline 10 x Chainrasps (100)* 3 x Spirit Hosts (130)** 30 x Grimghast Reapers (450)** – Reinforced x 2
Units 20 x Bladegheist Revenants (320)** – Reinforced x 1 20 x Dreadscythe Harridans (300)** – Reinforced x 1 4 x Myrmourn Banshees (90)** 4 x Myrmourn Banshees (90)*
This is the top three AoS lists for 7. Nordhammer that took place in Germany on the 13th and 14th of April. It saw 18 players vying to be crowned champion in a 5-game tournament.
With less than 20 players we won’t be commenting on individual lists.
Before I jump into the Top Three AoS Lists, I wanted to remind everyone of our friendly Discord server where you can join in the conversation with the Woehammer crew and suggest articles or series for the website.
If you like what we’re doing, why not join our Patreon and help keep it going?
Also if there’s a one day or two day tournament you’d like us to cover drop us a comment on this post and we’ll have a look at it for you.
The Top Three AoS Lists
Allegiance: Seraphon – Constellation: Fangs of Sotek – Mortal Realm: Ghur – Grand Strategy: Spellcasting Savant – Triumphs: Inspired
Leaders Slann Starmaster (310)* – General – Command Trait: Lord of Celestial Resonance – Artefact: Spacefolder’s Stave – Spell: Comet’s Call Lord Kroak (440)** Saurus Astrolith Bearer (160)** Skink Starseer (160)* – Lore of Primal Frost: Merciless Blizzard Skink Starseer (160)* – Lore of Celestial Manipulation: Speed of Huanchi Terradon Chief (90)** – Artefact: Arcane Tome
Battleline 10 x Skinks (90) – 1 x Champion – Boltspitters Celestite Daggers & Star Bucklers 5 x Saurus Guard (140) – 1 x Champion – 1 x Musician – 1 x Standard Bearer 5 x Saurus Guard (140) – 1 x Champion – 1 x Musician – 1 x Standard Bearer 5 x Raptadon Charger (150) – 1 x Champion – 1 x Musician – 1 x Standard Bearer Endless Spells & Invocations Umbral Spellportal (80) Suffocating Gravetide (30) Malevolent Maelstrom (50)
Allegiance: Nighthaunt – Procession: Emerald Host – Grand Strategy: Fright or Flight – Triumphs: Bloodthirsty
LEADERS Knight of Shrouds on Ethereal Steed (130)* – General – Command Trait: Spiteful Spirit Guardian of Souls (150)* – Lore of the Underworlds: Seal of Shyish – Artefact: Midnight Tome Lady Olynder, Mortarch of Grief (270)** – Lore of the Underworlds: Spectral Tether Reikenor the Grimhailer (160)** – Lore of the Underworlds: Shademist
BATTLELINE 10 x Chainrasps (100)* 5 x Hexwraiths (170)* 5 x Hexwraiths (170)* 5 x Hexwraiths (170)** 5 x Hexwraiths (170)**
UNITS 4 x Myrmourn Banshees (90)* 10 x Bladegheist Revenants (160)** 10 x Bladegheist Revenants (160)** Mortalis Terminexus (80)
Allegiance: Stormcast Eternals – Stormhost: Hammers of Sigmar (Scions of the Storm) – Grand Strategy: Spellcasting Savant – Triumphs: Inspired – Holy Command: Call for Aid – Holy Command: Thunderbolt Volley
Leaders Knight-Incantor (120)*** – General – Command Trait: Shaman of the Chilled Lands – Spell: Lightning Blast Knight-Relictor (90)* – Prayer: Translocation Knight-Vexillor (120)*** – Meteoric Standard – Artefact: Arcane Tome (Universal Artefact) Knight-Vexillor (120)* – Meteoric Standard Knight-Vexillor (120)* – Meteoric Standard
Battleline 2 x Dracothian Guard Fulminators (240)** 4 x Dracothian Guard Tempestors (420)* – Reinforced x 1 5 x Liberators (100)** – Heavens-wrought Weapon and Shield – 1x Grandweapons
Units 3 x Evocators on Celestial Dracolines (240)** – 2x Grandstaves 3 x Vanguard-Raptors with Longstrike Crossbows (230)** 5 x Vanguard-Hunters (100)** – Boltstorm Pistols and Shock Handaxes
It’s a little late and much anticipated, but in the middle of the night (for me), Games Workshop finally gave us their latest take on the 40k meta and how it needs adjustment. Overwhelmingly, this is a dataslate of nerfs. Very little gets buffed. Before we go too far, we need to acknowledge that the 40k balance is amongst the best it’s ever been. GW’s own data shows that only 2 factions are outside of the 45% – 55% win rate band (Aeldari and Necron). 5 factions are at the bottom (45%), though:
Imperial Knights
Tyranids
Astra Militarum
Drukhari
Blood Angels
I question the data, but Drukhari and Daemons (not on that list) are really struggling. Tyranids are extremely player dependent on both top and bottom tables at recent events.
I am going to concentrate on the dataslate and factions within it and mention the points when it’s important. Some factions like Tau haven’t seen any attention outside of points, and I haven’t delved into them. These are my opinions, I might be very wrong. If you think I am, I’d love to hear your thoughts. And we can see if I’m right in 3 months’ time.
Dataslate
Big Winners – These are the standouts
Custodes No doubt about it, winners. They get an additional model in Custodian Warden and Vexila Praetor units and keep their 4+ Inv (Invulnerable save) 4+ FNP (feel no pain). And the FNP works on Devastating Wounds. They are going to be very strong, possibly top 5, and at least A Tier again.
Drukhari A new detachment – Skysplinter Assault – that is going to grant a lot of movement and cover to very soft units. Combined with combat buffs (+ 1 AP when empowered) and the Archon joining Incubi Druhkari melee is back. A bit anyway. Dark Lances and Heat Lances remain strong. It remains to be seen if it’s enough to get them over the top, but expect them to be a real threat.
Necrons A 3 month reprieve, no rule or point changes. Expect Necrons to be a problem with other top factions being nerfed.
Winners – At least you got something right?
Blood Angels – Blood Rite Detachment Plus 2 Strength and 1 attack to melee weapons might not sound like a lot, but it gets a lot of units past breakpoints like Toughness 4 and Toughness 9. Potentially wounding on 2s (with a stratagem) sounds pretty good. No points changes but they may be competitive in Blood Rite.
Grey Knights The Grand Master has ignore modifiers again – he’s going back into the list and DreadKnights got buffs to shooting (S10 -2AP 3 Damage ignores cover) and melee (Weapon Skill either 3+ with the S14 hammer or 2+ with the Sword). It’s not a huge buff but should potentially see a surge in play and success.
Black Templars – Gladius Detachment This is looking very strong with Primaris Crusaders and Sword Brethren not being touched. It may be the best army in the game.
Space Wolves Their sagas can be completed at the end of each players turn. You probably still won’t play the ‘Deeds Worthy of Saga’ detachment, but it is more likely to help now. Small buff (they are still good in other detachments).
Chaos Daemons No rules changes but so many points drops which is what they really need. Certain to climb the list. Khorne daemons offer some real output. One to watch.
Chaos Knights Points down on all of their big Knights and only Brigands going up 10 points.
Neutral
Death Watch Still nerfed
Thousand Sons Nothing happening here
Astra Militarum Clarification of orders, but Manticores took a hit
Genestealer Cults Nothing, no points, and no rules. This is a sleeper, expensive, and not easy to play they have very strong rules in the index.
Nerfs – These factions are feeling some pain
Imperial Knights Clarified an earlier ruling, didn’t extend bondsman. Very small buffs probably leave them borderline between nerf and neutral.
Adeptus Sororitas This may actually be a winner in disguise. A very strong strategy has been limited on the Triumph, and they’ve had points increases. But at the same time, there are a lot of drops, so Paragons, Repentia, and Retributors are now more viable. They’ll continue to push on to the top tables.
Death Guard Less free grenades and points rise on Plague Burst Crawlers and Plague Marines will hurt current lists. It’s more that it will change the lists/play more than make them much weaker.
Space Marines Overall, their best generic units have taken a solid hit (Aggressors, Inceptors, and Centurions). Some chapters (Black Templars) took solid hits to points but are still strong. Overall, this is a small nerf.
Tyranids Already struggling, their best units have all had points increases. It’s a nerf, not a big one, but it’s still a nerf.
Adeptus Mechanicus The codex is a miss, and they needed help, GW decided that they want more data (I think) before adjusting the most recent codexes. That’s great for Necrons and less so for Ad Mech.
World Eaters Their best enhancement is stripped back, and points increase to the most effective units. It exposes the lack of units and balance in the army. They are still strong and difficult to manage, but they didn’t have a lot of units on the table, and now they will have less.
Biggest Losers – these might sting a little
Aeldari Less fate dice overall, Fate’s Messenger rerolls only affect the bearer (this is a big change), Phantasm has more restrictions, Night Spinner changed to a -2 to move, advance and charge, Yncrne can only teleport and charge in your turn and Wraithguard can only shoot the unit that shot them. Only Night Spinners and Wraithguards have had a points increase. This might seem like a lot, but the Yncrne is still very effective at influencing your opponents game, Night Spinners might have a buff. They didn’t affect charges before, and this is huge. Phantasm is harder to use but still going to be an issue. Weakened, yes, but this is still a very good army.
Chaos Space Marines – Hammer Time Embarked units must have the same mark as the Transport, Dark Obscuration now they only have to be within 18”, Profane Zeal only gives reroll wounds, only available to a unit with the Undivided Mark and Accursed Cultists are dead.
Accursed Cultists can only return models in your command phase and are OC1. They are hard to build, move, or use. Never really popular. They are probably on the shelf with a 40pt hike. Forgefiends, Chaos Lord, Chosen, Warp Talons, and Obliterators all went up between 10 and 30 for minimum unit sizes. But that’s not all, Daemons are a lot harder to include. You must have a battleline unit for each non-battleline unit you include. No more Blue Scribes, Changeling, or Syll’esske.
CSM is going to be a lot weaker, maybe even just an average army with these changes.
Possessed are central to the entire concept of Chaos Space Marines, especially Word Bearers (my Chaos legion). Their primarch commits some of his sons to a risky mission in the Warp. Those that returned are hosts. Called Gal Vorbak they are the first true possessed. Further experimentation yields mixed results with none of the new Possessed reaching the same strength of the Gal Vorbak.
Gal Vorbak; c/ Games Workshop
Possessed are among my favourite models in the Games Workshop range, I have at least 30.
Background
The original plastic models were available back in 7th edition (and probably before). For its time, it was a small kit with only 5 models, but there were a lot of options. You could build five Possessed and convert 5 more from standard Chaos Space Marines.
Orginal Possessed Kit (with conversions)
During 8th edition, there was a line refresh with Chaos Space Marines and Obliterators being remodelled and 3 new kits. Introduced with the Shadowspear Army Box, were the new Venomcrawler, Master of Possession and Greater Possessed. Greater Possessed were a separate unit to the Possessed until the 9th edition codex. The Shadowspear models were available in the Start Collecting Box exclusively, leading to a lot of eBay trading. As cheap Chaos Space Marines everywhere.
Greater Possessed
With the 9th edition codex, there was another refresh. This time, the Possessed kit was replaced. Possessed were “Primarised” increasing in size to match the Greater Possessed they became just Possessed.
Comparison between generations
What’s in the box
That brings us to this review. It might be a bit late. The Chaos Space Marine – Possessed kit was released almost 18 months ago now. But maybe you want a Chaos Space Marine (CSM) army, and it’s not CSM without Possessed. Plus, with a balanced dataslate soon, they could be a competitive option again, replacing Chosen in armies.
The box includes 5 x 40mm bases and 2 sprues. There are fewer options than the old kit, but there’s enough to build a few different models. There are 2 backpack options for the champion and at least one alternative arm for each model. 3 are shown with options for the heads, but the heads can be swapped on all models. There is also a base option, and the powerpacks can be mixed across all models. Not including the backpacks, it gives about 18 different combinations to make sure all of your Possessed aren’t identical.
Preparation and construction
Unfortunately, the different weapon options are model specific, restricting how much you can mix the models. The parts in these kits are the wrong scale to modify current Chaos Space Marines. You could use them with some sculpting to modify Primaris Marines (Assault Intercessors would be my choice).
The instructions are clear, and for the most part, the castings are clean with minimal flash. Most of the sprue attachments are well thought out and accessible from underneath. The plastic is the same as all current kits, cut easily enough, and responds to light sanding.
The builds are mono dimensional with some very close fitting parts. I recommend removing all of the pieces from the sprue and cleaning them up before dry fitting.
Champion in subassembly ready for building
The models come together well without any gaps (unlike push fit). If you have any issues getting a tight fit check that you’ve cleaned the joining surfaces well enough. They lack the positive engagement of newer kits (released in 10th edition), but they are relatively easy to assemble.
Heading for the painting stick
The trickiest steps are the first step (parts 1 and 2) and 5a (Parts 35 and 36). You need to get the angle right on the torso for the legs to make a clean join with the hose (that is part of 36), meeting the hole on 35. All up, it took about 1.25 hours for me to put them together in two bursts.
Primed and ready
Paint and final steps
Now the tricky part, painting. I prime black and then heavy dry brush a bright silver (Vallejo Aluminium Air) to catch the trim (Word Bearers). Working out where the armour stops and flesh starts is harder on the new models than the old. I’ve gone with a demonic flesh with a strong red accent. It reduces the contrast between ceramite (armour) and a trait of Possessed is their armour moulds with them.
Finished models
Here are some I prepared earlier. It will take me a week or more to complete the latest additions. If you look closely you’ll see that Squad has 2 champions.
Are they good again?
Possessed are fast (9” move) and more tanky than Chosen (3 wounds, toughness 5 and 5+ invulnerable save). They are expensive (140 points) and lack output, though. With only 1 AP, 2 Damage, and devastating wounds, you may be disappointed. The current meta has a lot of 3/4 wound models (Chosen, Wraithguard, Wraiths, and Aggressors). A Master of Possession can join them (80 points) giving a 6+ Feel No Pain and limited, precision, ranged.
Word Bearer Possessed
They lack the advance and charge of Chosen (unless you make them Slaanesh and spend a CP). Or their output (thanks Chaos Lord) and are inconsistent against vehicles and monsters. But they can get up the board pretty fast without Rhinos (a Chosen weakness) and are more tanky than Chosen. If they receive a points drop, they could be a good trading piece and objective/mission tool. I’m going to be testing that theory later this month.
With a the end of the year and the winding down of work and tournaments I’ve got the time to make my way through some of the new releases that I picked up through the year. I bought the Chaplain on release because I liked the model and not with a competitive focus. It’s taken a little while to get to him while I finished a couple of projects.
Warhammer hero or leader kits are packaged either as a small box, like here, or in a blister pack. I think that the kits with more components are typically boxed, for example the Chaplain Terminator is boxed but the Master of Possession, released at the same time, is a blister. The Master of Possession is a much simpler kit.
Credit: Games Workshop
The Chaplain is highly detailed down to separate greaves (front of the lower leg) and hip armour panels.
Even better the kit gives options for the right hand – Storm Bolter or Shield and 2 versions of Crozius for the left hand.
The Storm Bolter is a S4 AP0 D1 weapon while the Shield adds a wound to the model. Both options are modelled with a separate hand making the kit a great basis for conversions or parts. The only issue is that the Crozius is in the left hand and the Shield/Storm Bolter in the right, that’s consistent with Terminator kits but not with some others (Grey Knights).
The shield is easily repurposed if you wanted to build a Kaldor Draigo. Fitted with the Storm Bolter and Crozius this kit would easily make a Grey Knight Chaplain (I’ve got another one to build for just that reason).
The Crozius is in two styles, what I’d call the more modern “Primaris” style and the more traditional “winged” version. The wings are separately fitted.
The kit comes together well, there is a little less guidance than on the Company of Heroes kit but most separately fitted parts have nobs or detents to help align them properly. The arm/shoulder connection doesn’t have any guidance which I appreciate. It makes it very easy to pose the arms.
The tops of the shoulders have three pins projecting upwards – these aren’t actually pins, there are no receptacles on the underside of the pauldrons but they do make sure there is a solid connection with the arm which is sometimes an issue.
It was a very easy to assemble kit with a good level of detail. I’ve gone with the rule of cool, using the shield and older style of Crozius
I then finished him the colours of the Subjugators, a lime green, on both his pauldron and shield. The model is easy to paint quickly, the pose doesn’t hide any significant detail. Like most Space Marines edge highlight is a breeze. All up from start to finish with assembly and painting I was able to complete him in 3 short sessions.
Now the question is what to do with him?
The Chaplain in Terminator Armour can lead Terminators or Assault Terminators. He grants reroll wounds for melee attacks and a 4+ FNP for mortal wounds. He’s competing with the Captain (Reroll Charges) and Librarian in Terminator Armour (Sustained Hits 1). Terminators cost enough without a leader, I’m not sure there is room for one in a lot of lists. I personally think that the reroll wounds with the 4+ FNP against all mortals is better than the Librarian. 4+ FNP will help with both Tank Shock and Grenade stratagems.
P.S. I know a light box is almost essential for good photos, it’s a space issue.
(Company Heroes, Intercessors with Jump Pack and Captain with Jump Pack)
With the release of the new Space Marine Codex, we have had the first wave of new model releases. Alongside the individual release of the Leviathan Box models and Agastus Box set, there are a total of 10 new model kits in the Space Marine Line. I’m going to quickly tackle 3, the Captain with Jump Pack, Jump Pack Intercessors, and Company Heroes.
Captain with Jump Pack, Jump Pack Intercessors and Company Heroes
We’ll start with the Captain, but none of these is especially tricky to build. Around the same complexity as standard Intercessors with some welcome improvements. All of the kits were independantly purchased.
Captain with Jump Pack
The Captain comes with his own small box in a shift away from the plastic containers that individual characters often arrive in. There’s a single sprue with all of your weapon options. There are fewer of these than other captains, but you still have Chainsword, Relic Weapon (Power Sword), Thunder hammer, Power fist, Plasma Pistol, Hand Flamer and Heavy Bolt Pistol.
Captain with Jump Pack sprue
The casting is clean, with very little flash. There are still mould lines, especially on larger surfaces like the greaves (and their back), tops of the backpack. I prefer to remove these with a dedicated tool. The most annoying are on the top of the weapons, and you can’t always remove them completely, but they aren’t obvious when painted.
The legs are really the only tricky part of the model. They aren’t positively located on the model and affect the final posture, dry fit first and you shouldn’t have any real issues. Everything comes together pretty quickly, you assemble to about 50% before you put the model on the base. The arms can be posed to suit your build.
The detail parts frequently have positive locations (flats or marks on the model) to help them stick. Looking carefully and dry fitting can be helpful. The jet pack is very easy to assemble with insets and connections for major pieces. The jet nozzles are marked L and R for left and right. In the end I went with a Power fist and Plasma Pistol for mine, it’s a combo I like but can’t say if it’s the most competitive.
Jump Pack Intercessors
Jump pack intercessors
Two sprues this time with very few options, similar to existing Assault intercessors.
The Sergeant chooses from a hand flamer, heavy bolt, and plasma pistols. He also has the choice of Thunderhammer, power fist, chainsword, or power sword. The remaining troops all only have one option, heavy bolt pistol and chainsword. The castings are clean, very little in the way of mould lines. The sprues are clearly marked, and there are next to no tricky steps in construction.
Intercessor No 2 waiting for fitout
With some care around leg placement, there are no other issues with construction. The kit fits together almost as easily as Lego. Even the quick access pouches on the legs have recesses to ensure solid, correct placement. Arm placement is still up to the modeller, but the hand/weapon/arm combination is quite rigid for each pose. There is nothing left on the sprue when you are done, but there is also very limited scope for customisation. Each squad is going to be identical.
The model to base connection is fairly small, you’ll need to support the model to form a solid bond. They took about an hour total to assemble including cleaning up mould lines.
Completed squad with Captain
Company Heroes
To the final of the three kits, the Compnay Heroes. This was the kit I was most looking forward to. It has 5 unique models, including a Captain. The unit can only be deployed with a Captain, so you can replace the one in the kit. He has all of the weapon options for a Captain, and the kit includes all of them except the Relic Shield.
Sprue 1 from Company Heroes (Captain and Heavy Bolter parts)
Two sprues again for the whole kit, it’s very compact, and other than the Captain, there is only one build option for each figure. Most of the models have a small plastic “terrain” piece that they mount and connect to the base. Poses are fairly rigid with model bodies for most of the models. That’s good and bad – if you are willing to cut and shape it, it actually makes them easier to modify than separate parts.
The kit includes an Ancient (with Banner), Company Champion, and 2 Company Veterans with Heavy Bolter and Master Crafted Bolter. Each comes together really easily with solid poses, I especially like the Captain with the Power Fist option (not sure why I have modelled him with the empty scabbard, though. The kit takes the positive location of details to the next level. Every model had indents or moulded pins to make sure those detail parts stuck. The only part I questioned was the Ancient’s banner. The moulded detail is crisp but very much styled for a single chapter (the 13th) with numerous laurel wreaths.
Company Veteran, moulded pin for Heavy Bolter spare ammunition
Final Results
Assembling all 10 models probably took 3 hours spread across a couple of evenings, with the models being primed the following day. Mould lines weren’t pronounced, and the detail is crisp. The move to very positively locating and fixing the smaller details is a great improvement. I constantly have issues with small pouches, etc, falling off models during transport and play. As a player, not a collector it’s important to me that the model’s cope well with play.
Completed models with the new codex
List building and use
Intercessors with Jump Packs
The intercessors with Jump Pack join Vanguard Veterans with Jump Packs as the highly mobile strike infantry for Space Marines. Both have Deep Strike, Vanguard have Lethal Hits on the charge, and Intercessors do Mortal Wounds. The Vanguard has both better ranged weapons (Inferno pistols or plasma pistols) vs. 2 Plasma/3 Heavy Bolt Pistols for the Intercessors. The same is true of melee weapons, with the Vanguard in front, but their real strength is the Storm Shield. The Vanguard Veterans can be given a 4+ invulnerable save.
But Intercessors are 20 points cheaper at 85 points. I think the Intercessors with Jump Packs make fantastic backfield scoring units in the same way Raptors/Warp Talons do for Chaos Space Marines. Inceptors may be better at the moment, but if Inceptors go up, expect to see more Intercessors as a cheap scoring unit.
Captain with Jump Pack
More situational than the Intercessors because he is a combat piece that probably doesn’t add a lot to the Intercessors. He’s the Haarken Worldclaimer of the Space Marines. There is a good argument that if you wanted to create a small fast hammer with 10 x Vanguard Vets, though (inferno pistols and some Storm Shields), that he would be a solid addition.
Company Heroes
I’m really excited to get these on a tabletop, although I am not sure why. They don’t have a lot of output, but it’s decent in both shooting and melee. Not exceptionally robust, but while the captain is there, they are -1 to wound. With the banner, they are OC2, and you can include a lieutenant. Named captains can also be included, and Uriel Ventris and Captain Sicarian could make it a bit spicy (6” scout).
A very hard to remove bodyguard unit that is going to have play in the late game? It is very likely useful and probably won’t attract the attention a similarly priced dreadnought would. At 175 points it’s a big investment, but it’s one way to make your home objective secure.
This is the top three AoS lists for Notorious GT III that took place in New Zealand on the 19th and 20th of August. It involved 37 players vying to be crowned champion in a 5-game tournament.
Before I jump into the Top Three AoS Lists, I wanted to remind everyone of our friendly Discord server where you can join in the conversation with the Woehammer crew and suggest articles or series for the website.
If you like what we’re doing, why not join our Patreon and help keep it going?
Also if there’s a one day or two day tournament you’d like us to cover drop us a comment on this post and we’ll have a look at it for you.
The Top Three AoS Lists
Allegiance: Soulblight Gravelords – Subfaction: Legion of Night – Grand Strategy: Empire of Corpses – Triumphs: N/A
Leaders Mannfred von Carstein, Mortarch of Night (380)* – Lore of the Vampires: Spirit Gale Vampire Lord (140)* – Artefact: Morbheg’s Claw – Lore of Primal Frost: Merciless Blizzard Vampire Lord (140)* – General – Command Trait: The Bait – Lore of Primal Frost: Hoarfrost
Battleline 30 x Deathrattle Skeletons (300)* – Reinforced x 2 10 x Dire Wolves (140)* 3 x Fell Bats (80)
Units 5 x Black Knights (130)* 20 x Grave Guard (300)* – Great Wight Blades – Reinforced x 1 5 x Black Knights (130)*
Behemoths Mortis Engine (210)*
Endless Spells & Invocations Geminids of Uhl-Gysh (50)
Core Battalions *Battle Regiment
Total: 2000 / 2000
Allegiance: Daughters of Khaine – Temple: Hagg Nar – Grand Strategy: Bloodthirsty Zealots – Triumphs: Inspired
Leaders Melusai Ironscale (120)* – General – Command Trait: Zealous Orator – Artefact: Crown of Woe Morathi-Khaine (350)* The Shadow Queen (350)*
Battleline 15 x Blood Sisters (450)* – Reinforced x 2 10 x Witch Aelves (110)* – Pairs of Sacrificial Knives 10 x Witch Aelves (110)* – Pairs of Sacrificial Knives
Behemoths Krondspine Incarnate of Ghur (480)* – Allies
Core Battalions *Battle Regiment
Total: 1970 / 2000
Allegiance: Disciples of Tzeentch – Change Coven: Guild of Summoners – Grand Strategy: Master of Destiny – Triumphs:
Leaders Curseling, Eye of Tzeentch (200)* – General – Command Trait: Cult Demagogue – Lore of Primal Frost: Hoarfrost – Lore of Fate: Shield of Fate Magister (140)* – Lore of Fate: Arcane Suggestion – Lore of Primal Frost: Hoarfrost Changecaster, Herald of Tzeentch (150)* – Artefact: The Eternal Shroud – Lore of Primal Frost: Rupture – Lore of Change: Bolt of Tzeentch Tzaangor Shaman (130)** – Lore of Fate: Glimpse of Future – Lore of Primal Frost: Merciless Blizzard
Battleline 10 x Kairic Acolytes (120)** – 7x Pair of Cursed Blades – 3x Cursed Glaives 10 x Kairic Acolytes (120)** – 7x Pair of Cursed Blades – 3x Cursed Glaives 10 x Kairic Acolytes (120)** – 7x Pair of Cursed Blades – 3x Cursed Glaives 20 x Tzaangors (360)** – 20x Pair of Savage Blade – Reinforced x 1
Behemoths Krondspine Incarnate of Ghur (480)** – Allies
This is the top three 40k lists for the Warhammer Fest that took place in England on the 29th and 30th of April. It involved 359 players vying to be crowned champion in a 9 game tournament.
As we head into 10th edition and beyond we wanted to start providing a source for lists that are being used successfully in tournaments around the world. The size of the 40k community and the sheer number of events means we won’t be commenting.
Before I jump into the Top Three Lists, I wanted to remind everyone of our friendly Discord server where you can join in the conversation with the Woehammer crew and suggest articles or series for the website.
If you like what we’re doing, why not join our Patreon and help keep it going?
Also if there’s a one day or two day tournament you’d like us to cover drop us a comment on this post and we’ll have a look at it for you.
The Top Three 40k Lists
Pre-Game Stratagems: March of the Ancients, Hero of the Chapter x2, Warlord Trait, Scion of the Forge Starting Command Points: 0
Rogal Dorn Battle Tank [15 PL, 320pts]: Armoured Tracks, Castigator Gatling Cannon, Heavy stubber, Knight of Piety, Stat Damage (Rogal Dorn) 2 Meltaguns: 2x Meltagun 2 Multi-meltas: 2x Multi-melta Oppressor Cannon and Co-axial Autocannon: Co-axial Autocannon, Oppressor Cannon
Dedicated Transport
Chimera [5 PL, 85pts]: Chimera Heavy Flamer, Lasgun Arrays, Stat Damage (Chimera) Heavy Flamer: Heavy flamer Chimera [5 PL, 85pts]: Chimera Heavy Flamer, Lasgun Arrays, Stat Damage (Chimera) Heavy Flamer: Heavy flamer
Total: [120 PL, 8CP, 2,000pts]
Arks of Omen Detachment (Aeldari – Craftworlds) [63 PL, 1,248pts, 4CP]
Arks of Omen Compulsory Type: Fast Attack
Craftworld Selection *Far-Flung Craftworld*: Masterful Shots, Swift Strikes
Librarian [6 PL, 105pts]: 1) Mind Worm, 3) Righteous Repugnance, Boltgun, Force sword, Jump Pack Primaris Chaplain on Bike [8 PL, 135pts, -2CP]: 1. Litany of Faith (Aura), 6. Canticle of Hate (Aura), Chapter Command: Master of Sanctity, Litany of Hate (Aura), Stratagem: Relic, Stratagem: Warlord Trait, The Vox Espiritum, Warlord, Wise Orator
