Alternate CSM List Part 1

Tired of Lash lists?

Frankly, I'm not a real big fan of the old Lash of Submission lists. It's a little to elite for my tastes. It also relies on some pivots, namely Obliterators and of course, Lash Princes. If you happen to run into opponents that have good answers to these two models, your Lash list can fall apart fairly quickly. Also, if you have a bad round of dice rolls, Oblits that can't hit, a few failed armor saves, the list can belly up pretty quick. It still works though, of course, as shown by the guys who still win with Lash lists at tournaments.

Codex CSM is far from a mono-build though. In my opinion, one of the things that CSM do best is the rhino rush. I know, you are thinking, "Rhino Rush?? Seriously, WTF? Is this 4th ed?" Actually, the Rhino Rush works better in 5th ed. than it ever did in 4th ed. thanks to the increased survivability of vehicles and cover saves, but yes, a rhino rush.

On top of being a really good rhino rushing army, CSM is also exceptional at an MSU style rhino rushing army. This is for a few reasons not the least of which is the ability to carry assault weapons in extremely cheap choices with high returns. Space Marines make up for this with the Razorback. CSM do it by shoving 4 melta guns into a Havoc squad.

I've posted this list a bunch since we started the podcast, and generally, the feedback I get is, "yeah... this list doesn't look like it would work to me". This isn't a question of "does this work?" because I already know it does. I played the list or variants on it for years. However, what makes this list so much more interesting to me is all the advanced tactics that go into making it work.

My goal is to, by the end of this series, convince you that a list similar to the following actually works well. The overall scope of it covers why the movement phase is the most powerful phase of the game, how MSU is supposed to work, changing your tactics to counter your opponent, and vehicle overloading.

The following is an example of the list concept. I'll post a new variant in each article in the series just to show you have flexible you can really make it. To kick us off with the series, I'm going to discuss the "core" behind the list.

Here are the principles behind the core:

1) More vehicles than your opponent can reasonably destroy/disable in a turn of long range shooting. Factor in cover saves which we will talk about is a critical tactic.

2) Overkill in the shooting phase. Wherever you go, you want to make sure the job gets done when you get there. There won't be any second chances.

3) Units which will collapse in assault to dedicated assault units. Why? See #2!

4) MSU to the core; otherwise known as you really, really, I mean really, as is not just kind of but actually, do not care if any one unit gets killed.

Okay, here's a list example.

HQ:
Chaos Sorceror + Lash of Submission - 125

Elites:
5 x Chosen + 2 x Melta + 2 x Plasma - 185
Rhino + Combi-Melta

5 x Chosen + 2 x Melta + 2 x Plasma - 185
Rhino + Combi-Melta

5 x Chosen + 2 x Melta + 2 x Plasma - 185
Rhino + Combi-Melta

Troops:
5 x CSM + Melta - 130
Rhino + Combi-Melta

5 x CSM + Melta - 130
Rhino + Combi-Melta

5 x CSM + Melta - 130
Rhino + Combi-Melta

5 x CSM + Melta - 130
Rhino + Combi-Melta

8 x Khorne Berserkers + Plasma Pistol - 274
Skull Champion + PFist
Rhion + Combi-Melta

Heavy:
5 x Havocs + 2 x Melta + 2 x Plasma - 170
Rhino + Combi-Melta

5 x Havocs + 2 x Melta + 2 x Plasma - 170
Rhino + Combi-Melta

5 x Havocs + 2 x Melta + 2 x Plasma - 170
Rhino + Combi-Melta

Stats:
11 x Rhinos
11 x Combi-Meltas
16 x Melta Guns
12 x Plasma Guns
1 x Plasma Pistol

More vehicles than your opponent can reasonable kill in one turn? Check!

Overkill in the shooting phase? Check!

No one unit is pivotal in the list? Check!

Units will fold like wet paper bag against dedicated assault units? Check!

Why are the Khorne Berskers there???!? - Good question. The answer is, for fun. :)

Here's what I want you to take away from this list at the moment:

A) I could mix and match weapons all day long. Take some flamers, a few more plasma guns, more melta. Whatever.

B) I could mix and match troop choices all day long. Plague Marine are great. Berserkers are great. Even the plain jane CSM is great. Noise Marines, TKSons, they all work in with this list concept and each bring a different flavor.

C) Remember that Chosen can outflank.

In the next article, I'll break down each unit and how it works in a nutshell.