Warhammer 40,000: Monstrous Creatures Tactica

Warhammer 40,000: Monstrous Creatures Tactica

Rummaging through the internet I came across the above article on the Games Workshop website. Sure the purpose of such articles is to drive sales of their models, but there is nothing wrong with a little positive advertisement. It is worth a read if only because the price is free, and in my case I was interested in what they had to say about Daemon Princes.


The last page of the article lists several built using the Daemon Codex. Sigh, it is unsurprising that they use the Daemon Codex as the options available in the Chaos Space Marine Codex are minimal: wings or no wings (avoiding all Paul McCartney references); four Marks of Chaos or no Mark; a smorgasbord of psychic powers. I can remember the 3.0 Chaos Space Marine Codex that was upgraded by a WD article giving options such as Poisoned Tail or Chaos Rune (immunity to instant kills), etc.

Common perception is that the Daemon Prince needs only Wings and Warptime to be successful. For the price of ten Space Marines this Prince should be able to make his points back fighting anything but a fearless horde.

Moving onto the Games Workshop article there are several ‘What’ moments in the examples they list, but as we all know there is no right or wrong way to build units. They can be either what looks good/ has already been modelled or what is perceived as being effective on battlefield.

So read the article first and then look at my complaints.

Slayer:
Hive Tyrant
(Bonesword, Lash Whip, Scything Talons, Old Adversary, Adrenal Glands, Implant Attack)
220 points

I would, despite the points cost increase, look to be taking a gun instead of Scything Talons as you are already getting re-rolls to hit from Old Adversary and it will give the unit something to do on the way to the enemy. Points could be saved from dropping Implant Attack and swapping it for twin-linked Deathspitter for example.


Shooters:
Wraithlord
(Shuriken Catapult, Flamer, Bright Lance, Missile Launcher)
155 points

We would have to call this Wraithlord Jack (of-all-trades) as it has a little bit of this and that. They are avoiding multiple shot weapons as they have a high ballistic skill, and I do agree with Bright Lance and Missile Launcher, only I tend to take two Wraithlords one with each. Again saving points for a sword to re-roll failed to hit rolls in close combat is golden and still gives the Wraithlord a role on the battlefield. One last thing, they take a flamer to help burn infantry out of cover, well the 2 shots at 12” coming from the other fist is almost useless, so take two flamers.


Tanker:
Carnifex - 160
(Bonded Exo-Skeleton, Scything Talons, Twin-linked Deathspitter, Frag Spines, Bio-Plasma, Regeneration)
225 points

A well put together Carnifex, I cannot complain about much on this beastie. As a player I am not lucky when it comes to rolling 6’s so personally I would not take Regeneration and whilst I do take Bio-Plasma for my Old School Screamer-Killer Carnifexes, I prefer to use it on one in a Mycetic Spore. The mix of a mid-range weapon (Twin-linked Deathspitter) and two close range weapons (Frag Spines, Bio-Plasma) I find curious. As Frag Spines are so cheap they are a give but it is the 20 points for Bio-Plasma, a potential one shot deal that will probably miss I am uncomfortable with.

The article talks about taking a second or even a third Carnifex in a brood, and for only 540 points you could take three of my build of Carnifex compared to two for 450 points.


Daemon Prince:
Daemon Prince (Daemonic Flight, Unholy Might, Mark of Khorne)
175 points

This is a points heavy but effective model; perhaps the only change would be dropping the Unholy Might and taking the more expensive Iron Hide. Unless you are going to be taking a beating from Powerfists then you will be effectively double the number of wounding hits needed to kill it at a total cost of 190 points. Or with everything having fleet and the Daemon Prince deepstriking I would drop the wings and keep Unholy Might for a 145 point monster.

Daemon Prince (Mark of Tzeentch, Master of Sorcery, Bolt of Tzeentch, Daemonic Gaze, Breath of Chaos)
200 points

Like the aforementioned Wraithlord, Jack springs to mind. Again it is just a case of pruning some of the options, sure the Master of Sorcery gift allows the Daemon Prince to fire all three of its ranged weapons, including the S8 AP1 Bolt of Change, S5 AP 3 Assault 3 Daemonic Gaze and the Breath of Chaos, a template weapon that wounds on a 4+ no matter what the target's Toughness, but also all at the same target. Far better to take just two powers one for up close Breath of Chaos and one to attack those vehicles, the bane of all Chaos Daemon armies, Bolt of Tzeentch.

Daemon Prince (Iron Hide, Mark of Nurgle, Aura of Decay, Boon of Mutation)
190 points

Simple, just lose the near useless power Aura of Decay and the effective but limited Boon of Mutation and take Noxious Touch for re-roll all wounds on a 2+ (against T5 or less). As with the Khorne Daemon Prince rely on Deep Strike and Fleet to get you to the enemy rather than the overpriced Wings.