A Thousand Points of Light: Chaos Space Marines (Part 3) by Patrick Eibel
Before we get started with the last two armies listed in Codex: Chaos Space Marines, I have to make a correction. I missed an important bit about summoning that affects two of the previous lists in this series: the Emperor’s Children and Thousand Sons. Any squad with the appropriate Mark of Chaos can have a basic icon to summon daemons, so for the Emperor’s Children and Thousand Sons lists presented in Part 1, add icons to each squad that has a Mark (Slaanesh for the Children, Tzeentch for the Sons). You can convert models to hold summoning icons or purchase Icon Bearers for each unit at $10.00 each. 

And now, we present the last two Chaos army lists: the Word Bearers and The Black Legion. These armies are similar in that they do not serve one Chaos power, but still rely on the use of daemons. I have tried to keep the flavor of the army as much as possible, but with only 1,000 points, you have to maximize the models you are able to field.

Remember, these lists—like all the others in this series—are meant for brand-new players or for players looking to start a new army. These lists are not meant to be “killer” lists for winning tournaments or trouncing people at the local gaming shop. Rather, they are foundations that players can build upon as they desire.

Word Bearers--What To Buy

• Chaplain: $10.00/ £5
• Three Chaos Space Marine squad boxes: $75.00/ £45
• Three Chaos Space Marines w/ Icons: $30.00/ £12
• Two Champions (w/o power fists): $20.00/ £8
• One box of Daemonettes: $40.00/ £18*
• One box of Bloodletters: $45.00/ £24*

You will end up with end up with some spare daemons depending on if you are using the box sets or blisters (items marked with an asterisk [*] are not available in boxes).

All prices are from the Games Workshop website as of May 2005. Prices may vary, do not include taxes, and are meant only as a guide.

Word Bearers--1000 point list
Not to be confused with the Khorne-loving World Eaters, the Word Bearers are easily identified by their continued use of Chaplains and their love of infiltration, both of which are captured in this list.

• Dark Apostle w/ Mark of Chaos Undivided, accursed crozius, bolt pistol, Infiltrate (117 points)
• Squad of nine Chosen w/ Mark of Chaos Undivided, bolt pistol, close combat weapon (ccw); two w/ meltaguns, all w/ Infiltrate. One Chosen carries the Daemon Icon (165 points)
• Chaos Space Marine Squad Alpha: Aspiring Champion w/ power weapon; seven Marines w/ bolt pistol, ccw; one w/ meltagun; one w/ standard icon; all w/ Mark of Chaos Undivided, Infiltrate (194 points)
• Chaos Space Marine Squad Beta: Aspiring Champion w/ power weapon; seven Marines w/ bolt pistol, ccw; one w/ meltagun; one w/ standard icon; all w/ Mark of Chaos Undivided, Infiltrate (194 points)
• Squad of eight Daemonettes (120 points)
• Squad of eight Bloodletters (208 points)

Word Bearer Tactics
The idea of this army is to get as close to the enemy as you can with Infiltration so that you can charge as soon as possible. You will want to bind the Bloodletters to the Daemon Icon so that they can start on the board on Turn 1. I prefer binding the Bloodletters rather than the Daemonettes because 1) the Bloodletters have an armor save, 2) they all carry power weapons, and 3) they are the most expensive unit in the army. Against swarm armies, you will want to focus your attack so as not to be overwhelmed by numbers. This army will struggle most with heavily-armored vehicles as the only weapons that will be of use will be the meltaguns.

Black Legion--What To Buy

• One box of Chaos Terminators: $45.00/ £25
• Two boxes of Chaos Space Marines: $50.00/ £30
• Two Chaos Space Marines w/ icons: $20.00/ £12
• Two Champions (w/o power fists): $20.00/ £8
• Three Obliterators: $75.00/ £36
• Two Chaos Rhinos: $60.00/ £30
• One box of Daemonettes: $40.00/ £12*
• Two Chaos Dreadnoughts: $80.00/ £50

You will end up with several spare figures, as the Terminator box and Daemonette box come with more than you need (*those in England buying Daemonette blisters of 3 will not have this problem). You can save a little money by converting two of the spare Chaos Space Marines to be Icon Bearers and two to be Aspiring Champions, but for the purposes of this article, I am trying to keep it simple.

All prices are from the Games Workshop website as of May 2005. Prices may vary, do not include taxes, and are meant only as a guide.

Black Legion--1000 point list

• Chaos Lieutenant w/ Mark of Chaos Undivided, Terminator armor, power weapon, combi-flamer (100 points)
• Squad of Chosen: one w/ reaper autocannon, power weapon; one w/ combi-bolter, lightning claw; one w/ combi-melta,  power weapon (143 points)
• Squad of three Obliterators (210 points)
• Chaos Space Marines Squad Alpha: Aspiring Champion w/ power weapon; six Marines w/ bolt pistol, ccws; one w/ heavy bolter; one w/ standard icon (174 points)
• Rhino w/ extra armor (55 points)
• Chaos Space Marines Squad Beta: Aspiring Champion w/ power weapon; six Marines w/ bolt pistol, ccws; one w/ heavy bolter; one w/ standard icon (174 points)
• Rhino w/ extra armor (55 points)
• Squad of six Daemonettes (90 points)

Black Legion Tactics
I call this the “Prod and Plod” army. The plodders are the Obliterators and Terminators, which will walk toward the enemy, unleashing their firepower as they go. Alternatively, both units may also Deep Strike if the mission allows. The prodder part of the army zooms forward in the Rhinos, jumps out to provide cover fire, and summons the Daemonettes for some assault goodness..

Related Pages
Introduction to the series
Other lists in this series

© Copyright Patrick Eibel, June 2005. Used with permission.
 

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