Alternate CSM List Part 2

Last time, I introduced an alternate, competitive list to the Lash list which basically amounts to a MSU rhino rush. This time, I'm going to explain the various aspects of the list and why the work. I'll also introduce the concept of the list. This is made even cool because this list, unlike a Lash list, is very customizable and can include some fluff elements while maintaining its basic effectiveness. (Granted, it will lose some effectiveness on certain choices made, but overall, if you follow the concepts, it will work).

Last time, I also made some key points that you follow when building this list. You need rhinos, of course, and lots of them. You need more transports than your opponent can reasonably kill in one turn. You need highly effective and lethal weapons in a shooting phase to deal as much overkill as possible. Plasma, melta, and flamers fit the bill depending on targets. You need to truly MSU, meaning that you can afford to lose units without losing the game. (This is more important than you know because most people think they are MSU when they are actually sitting on Pivots... I'll do a BLOG post on Pivots later or you can listen to one of our earlier podcasts where we discuss it). Also, if your units get assaulted by dedicated CC, you want to make sure you die quickly so you can spray that assault unit down with plasma, melta, and flamers in a nice, overkill package (see above).

So, here's the breakdown of the theory in the list so you can get an idea of how the concept is fleshed out. I'm going to break this down by force organization and give you an idea of the kinds of units that work. I will also explain what I think is the most efficient choice for each category. The idea is if you follow this advice and the rules above, you can construct your own version of this list to fit your play style. It's effective in many, many variants which is a big reason why I also like it better than the standard Lash list.

HQ:

For your HQ choice, you really want some that is cheap and effective. You don't want to overspend here because you need the points to pack in more MSU rhinos. If you eat up your points trying to get some scary HQ units, you won't be able to pull it off.

Most Efficient Choices:

• Lash Sorceror - 125 points. He rides in a rhino and uses lash to drag units out of cover to get sprayed. Super effective.
• Kharn the Betrayer - Cheaper HQ but can seriously dish out damage in an assault. You'll be close to the enemy anyways, and Kharn is a scary mofo.

Other Choices:

• Winged Prince of Tzeentch/Nurgle - A little spendy for what we want, but this guy has synergy because he is a bullet magnet which protects your rhinos. A solid choice. Do not overspend here.
• Chaos Lord - A mini-kharn. You could just give him a Plasma Pistol and call it a day for a super cheap option or kit him out a little for HtH. Honestly though, if you want HtH, go with Kharn.

Elites:

For the elite slot, you will follow the basic rules above. Cheap, MSU, lots of pew pew, folds like a wet paper bag in combat. This is an easy category because there are only 2 choices to make.

Most Efficient Choice:

• Chosen in a Rhino w/ some combination of flamers, meltas, and plasma guns. The fit all categories for a good points expenditure. They can carry a whopping 5 assault weapons in a single squad!

Other Choice:

• 3-4 Terminators w/ Combi-Weapons dropping in. The only reason why these guys are truly an option is that they will arrive in Turn 2 at the same time as your army gets close to add more fuel to the fire. I really recommend Chosen though as Terminators are not reliable and don't add a Rhino.

Troops:

Here is where the true customization comes in. ALL of your troop choices available to you fit the bill above so long as you kit them out okay. Some are more efficient than others, but really, they all work in some capacity or another. Remember, the idea is to be so cheap as to be almost throw-away. The point is to get kill and get your points before you die. Also, everything adds a Rhino.

Most Efficient Choices:

• 5 x Plague Marines w/ 2 x assault weapons + rhino. Tough, relatively cheap, and have 2 assault weapons in a 5 man squad. No champion. No powerfist. Just cheap, and assault weapons. Only downside here is that sometimes Plague Marines don't fold in combat as easily, but really, this can be a tactical advantage is some cases as well.
• 5 x Chaos Space Marine + 1 x assault weapon + rhino. Alternately, drop 1 CSM, add a Champion with a Plasma Pistol or Combi-weapon. Super cheap. You can spam these guys, and they fit every requirement listed above. For fluff players, this is also great because you get to actually use your CSMs!

Other Choices:

• Medium sized Berserkers Squads + rhino. Decent with up to 3 plasma pistols or just as an assault unit. A little spendy for what we want, but if you want to fight some, they work just the same.
• 4 x TKSons + Sorc w/ Wind of Chaos + rhino. These guys will bring the pain leaping out of a rhino with WoC and AP 3 bolters. You can decimate Marines with this combo. It's a little spendy, but it works.
• 4 x Noise Marines + Champ w/ Doom Sire + PW + rhino. Okay, these guys don't have a assault weapon capable of tank killing. But, Doom Siren + I5 attacks is brutal. Use your other units to pop and kill with these guys. A little spendy, but they still work.

Fast

No one can make the Chaos fast choices any good. Sorry :/ Best you will get out of fast is minimal Raptor squads with assault weapons. This can work if you run then behind your rhinos or deep strike in. They add no rhino though which is needed.

Heavy:

In Heavy, you need to be following the rules above once again. It's critical to remember when looking at this list that if you don't have at least 9 rhinos on the board at 2000 points, you need to pick them up here. As tempted as you might be to take Predators or Oblits, keep in mind that Rhinos are necessary for this list to work.

Most Efficient Choice:

• 5 x Havocs + combination of assault weapons x 4 + rhino. Just like Chosen, Havocs fit the bill and do it cheaper! They add rhinos, an obscene amount of assault weapons, and efficient death dealing.

Other Choices:

• Predators. You can take predators as a gun battery for this list to work, but you need to make sure you already took enough Rhinos. If you maxed rhinos in Troops and Elites, you should be good to switch.
  
• Obliterators. Just like predators, make sure you already have enough Rhinos. Then, these guys become a good choice.

Next time, I will talk about the various tactics you absolutely must master to make this work. We'll start with the most important phase of the game, movement, and expand from there. I will now finish up this article as promised with an example list.

This list goes out to anyone who just absolutely wants to run a Fabius Bile CSM list. It's definitely not the most efficient way to run this list, but it's still not bad.

HQ:
Fabius Bile - 160

Elites:
5 x Chosen w/ 3 x Melta + 2 x Flamers - 175
Rhino + Combi-Melta

5 x Chosen w/ 3 x Melta + 2 x Flamers - 175
Rhino + Combi-Melta

5 x Chosen w/ 2 x Melta + 3 x Plasma - 200
Rhino + Combi-Melta

Troops:
4 x CSM + Melta + Enhanced Warriors - 175
1 x Aspiring Champ + Power Weapon
Rhino + Combi-Melta

4 x CSM + Melta + Enhanced Warriors - 175
1 x Aspiring Champ + Power Weapon
Rhino + Combi-Melta

4 x CSM + Melta + Enhanced Warriors - 175
1 x Aspiring Champ + Power Weapon
Rhino + Combi-Melta

5 x CSM + Melta + Enhanced Warriors - 145
Rhino + Combi-Melta

5 x CSM + Plasma + Enhanced Warriors 150
Rhino + Combi-Melta

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

Obliterators x 2 - 150

Obliterators x 2 - 150

Oblits just seem too make sense with Bile at the helm wince he would seem to be responsible for all the sicko mods that Oblits have to morph guns.