Goatboy’s Grimdark Armylist: CSM Renegade Raiders On the Move!
Here’s my latest Warhammer 40K Chaos Marine army that puts the new codex’s Renegade Raiders detachment through its paces.
With a new Chaos Space Marine Codex on the horizon and a nice copy in my hands to review it means I get to write up a new Armylist. This list is along the lines of what I want to mess with first, based on what I have painted. Or at least what I have ready to be painted. With that, let’s talk about it.
The big thing with this Renegade Raiders Detachment is it is one of the few that have access to Advance and Charge with an added bonus of +1 to Charge if they are charging something within range of an Objective unit. You know, one of those neoprene things you like to hold to score points. Of course, the updated “Pactbound Zealots” also has one, but this detachment has a ton of other things going for it. I do wonder if it will end up all shifting to the Zealots Detachment in the end.
Renegade Raiders Army Components
Today isn’t about the Pactbound Zealots. This is about Renegades, so we’ll start brewing. I think this CSM armylist will look towards using Abaddon to help create some midfield-hold and punch-back options. Plus, it lets me use the one I painted up to match my Red Corsairs army of fun-loving Chaos Jerks.
-HQ-
Abaddon – Warlord – 310pts
Chaos Lord – Daemon Hammer, Plasma Pistol, Enhancement – Mark of the Hound – 120pts
This gives me some options, a good counter punch as needed, and lets me have some characters to hit stuff. From there I think we need some troops. I do wonder if Legionaries end up being really useful in this new CSM codex. They seem cheap, can throw out some damage in Heavy Close Combat weapons, and with all guns having assault could carry a weapon to help deal with hordes. The Mark of the Hound gives the bearer and the unit he joins Scout 6” which can be helpful with a smaller punch squad.
-Troops-
Cultist Mob X 10 – 50pts
Legionaries X 5 – Chaos Icon, Heavy Melee Weapon X 2, Plasma Pistol, Astartes Chainsword, Balefire Tome, Reaper Chaincannon – 80pts
Legionaries X 5 – Chaos Icon, Heavy Melee Weapon X 2, Plasma Pistol, Astartes Chainsword, Balefire Tome, Reaper Chaincannon – 80pts
This gives me something to sticky a back objective and a few troops to go punch stuff if they need to. Plus, it has some shooting in the Reaper Chaincannons to at least do something to some of the upcoming horde armies we might see (Swarm/Greentide).
From there, we need some Close Combat punch options, and thankfully, Abaddon got updated to ride dirty with some Chosen. I love the idea of a 10-man unit coming out hard from a Land Raider and utilizing Abaddon’s fat base to get some nutty charges off. We’ll do two units to help out: a bigger 10-man option plus a 5-man.
-Non Battleline-
Chosen X 5 – Combi-Weapon X 2, Plasma Pistol X 2, Chaos Icon, Powerfist X 1 – 130pts
Chosen X 10 – Combi-Weapon X 4, Plasma Pistol X 4, Chaos Icon, Powerfist X 2 – 260pts
We need some Transport options, and we have one: a Land Raider for Abbie and friends and then two Rhinos to help push some armor around.
-Non Battleline-
Land Raider – Combi-Weapon, Havoc Launcher – 240pts
-Dedicated Transport-
Chaos Rhino – Havoc Launcher, Combi-Weapon – 75pts
Chaos Rhino – Havoc Launcher, Combi-Weapon – 75pts
Finally, we need some damage-dealing options, and Chaos Space Marines have some of the best. I like two Forgefiends and a Chaos Vindicator as it give us some powerful punch-back. I also thought about a Helbrute, and one might show up again to double up Dark Pacts. I’ll just have to test and see.
-Non Battleline-
Forgefiend – Ectoplasma Cannon X 3 – 200pts
Forgefiend – Ectoplasma Cannon X 3 – 200pts
Chaos Vindicator – Havoc Launcher, Combi-Weapon – 175pts
With that you have a bully army with some powerful shooting. I wonder if we don’t need the three tank-like options, but it is something to think about as I test things after I get back from the GW Dallas Event and another localist event with San Antonio and the Alamo 40K GT.
Putting the Renegade Raiders Together
Renegade Raiders – Chaos Space Marine Detachment
-HQ-
Abaddon – Warlord – 310pts
Chaos Lord – Daemon Hammer, Plasma Pistol, Enhancement – Mark of the Hound – 120pts
-Troops-
Cultist Mob X 10 – 50pts
Legionaries X 5 – Chaos Icon, Heavy Melee Weapon X 2, Plasma Pistol, Astartes Chainsword, Balefire Tome, Reaper Chaincannon – 80pts
Legionaries X 5 – Chaos Icon, Heavy Melee Weapon X 2, Plasma Pistol, Astartes Chainsword, Balefire Tome, Reaper Chaincannon – 80pts
-Non Battleline-
Chosen X 5 – Combi-Weapon X 2, Plasma Pistol X 2, Chaos Icon, Powerfist X 1 – 130pts
Chosen X 10 – Combi-Weapon X 4, Plasma Pistol X 4, Chaos Icon, Powerfist X 2 – 260pts
Land Raider – Combi-Weapon, Havoc Launcher – 240pts
Forgefiend – Ectoplasma Cannon X 3 – 200pts
Forgefiend – Ectoplasma Cannon X 3 – 200pts
Chaos Vindicator – Havoc Launcher, Combi-Weapon – 175pts
-Dedicated Transport-
Chaos Rhino – Havoc Launcher, Combi-Weapon – 75pts
Chaos Rhino – Havoc Launcher, Combi-Weapon – 75pts
PTs: 1995
Renegade Raiders Tactics
I think some options to look at are, of course, the Warp Talons as a good bully option. I do wonder if investigating Helbrutes with Havoks is another fun option. From here, I would like to figure out the Soulforged Warpack and, of course, the Pactbound Zealots. Mark of Nurgle Vindicators is pretty brutal.
Death to the False Emperor!
