New to Chaos.

[Chaplain Adonael]

Hello all. I have a ton of regular Space Marines and I want to actually be competitive and the CSM codex is string compared to the SM codex. Thing is I have a ton of mechanized armor. What is a good legion or renegade chapter for mech?

[Doom Herald]

Fluff wise, Iron Warriors. Their stratagem is also nice for them because it can give a 6+ Feel No Pain for a phase to a unit, vehicles receiving a lot of high wound aggro benefit nicely from it.

 

If you're willing to do Daemon Engines, Brazen Beasts is probably the way to go but you have to be all KHORNE. Their stratagem does mortal wounds on things just for being near a Daemon Engine.

 

Most things that work for vehicles in CSM work regardless of <LEGION>. Beyond stratagems and Warpsmiths, most stuff is for Daemon Engines.

Edited May 30, 2019 by Doom Herald

[MegaVolt87]

If you already have a lot of SM stuff and want to be competitive, you might be better off playing Iron Hands mech list with loyal 32 IG and a knight. The $$$ investment and time to change say devestators to 40mm bases, buy oblitorators, cultists etc is pretty similar to picking up the extras you would be getting in a SM list. Probably cheaper for you to re-vamp the SM's than buy into chaos stuff. If I were you, I would fix my SM army and start a CSM one later with the new kits. 

[Chaplain Adonael]

I know it may be a stupid question but what is Loyal 32 mean?

[Doom Herald]

It's a cheap CP battery for Astra Militarum. 3 10-man guard squads and 2 commanders. Generates 5CP for low point cost and I believe you can use warlord traits and relics to keep adding up.

 

That said, you can make Chaos CP batteries too, though not that cheap. Red Corsairs detachment with 3 5-man CSM squads, Huron and a Warpsmith will net you 8CP. 9CP if Huron is your warlord. 360 pts if my math is right (at minimum point wargear). Do it again without Huron and use a Warpsmith for both HQ choices and you get another 8CP for 315 pts. 675 points total with Huron as an HQ gets you 20CP (9 for Huron and his detachment +8 for the second dettachment +3 for all armies start with 3). If you are using the Rule of 3 (which I believe is actually the Rule of 2 at lower points) you can use an Exalted Champion or Master of Executions for 10 more points in place of a Warpsmith (Minimum wargear) plus Huron's warlord trait gives you an extra relic. All that before you add allied Black Legion or Crimson Slaughter detachment, or use the Shadowspear psyker warlord trait to gain CP for successfully manifesting psychic powers.

 

Adding Black Legion to the mix, we can use Abbadon as warlord (+2CP vs +1CP), use the extra CP on Council of Traitors, give a Dark Apostle Trusted Warleader warlord trait (refund CP on 5+) give a Sorcerer Reader of Fate (after manifesting a power, generate 1CP on a 6+). 438 pts, or in place of Abbadon, use a Lord for 272.

Edited May 30, 2019 by Doom Herald

[Doom Herald]

Alternatively, we can ignore characters to save points and do 2 RED CORSAIR detachment with a Warpsmith and 3 5-man CSM squads (329 pts for 8CP each, 658 for 16CP combined). Add a BLACK LEGION detachment 1 each Sorcerer, Lord, Dark Apostle (272 points, +1CP) and give them all those mentioned warlord traits (-1CP, refund CP on a 5+ & generate 1CP on a 6+ after manifesting psychic powers.

 

930 points for a total of 19CP and good odds of regenerating 1CP per turn.

 

Or, 3 RED CORSAIR detachments each with 3 5-man CSM squads, one with 2 Warpsmiths, one with 2 Exalted Champions, one with 2 Masters of Executions. Have 27CP for 985 pts.

[Daemon Prince Marbas]

I think you would really like Iron Warriors Chaplain Adonael. They're very gritty and if you love tanks, buy some Daemon Engines and you can make a nasty army using the Lord Discordant and Soulforged Pack Specialist Detachment.

[Dr_Ruminahui]

On thing to keep in mind is that, if you are switching armies for increased competitiveness, the units in common between loyalist marines and chaos marines (namely, marines and terminators) are generally the weakest part of Chaos Space Marines, and are generally looked over for things like daemon princes, cultists, forgeworld walkers and such.

[MegaVolt87]

On thing to keep in mind is that, if you are switching armies for increased competitiveness, the units in common between loyalist marines and chaos marines (namely, marines and terminators) are generally the weakest part of Chaos Space Marines, and are generally looked over for things like daemon princes, cultists, forgeworld walkers and such.

 

Yeah this is another reason I where it would be easier for OP to switch to Iron Hands mech, loyal 32 and knights as they have indicated they want to be competitive.