On the other side of things, Masters of Possession have access to the Malefic discipline, which is mostly buffs for Legion DAEMONKIN units. Once an also-ran to the Dark Hereticus Discipline, these are now the money powers for Chaos, and there are several here that you’ll want to include in every army you field. If you want to catch up with your Word Bearers reading, in the absence of the fabled Book of Lorgar, grab the epic Word Bearers omnibus by Anthony Reynolds. Units with this ability can be set up in blasphemous reserves instead of on the battlefield. If you do so, they can arrive in the Reinforcements step anywhere on the battlefield more than 9” away from any enemy models. At the end of the game you score 2 VP if your tally is 1, 5 if it’s 2, 9 if it’s 3, and 14 if it’s 4.
In a non-Death Guard army Plague Marines lose Inexorable Advance, making them susceptible to difficult terrain and movement modifiers. As a unit their best value is loading them up with melee wargear like the cleaver and flail so they can do a bunch of high-damage wounds to opponents, but this just makes them a very slow melee unit in an army that is already flush with melee options that move faster and hit harder. You can also give them more shooting options with special weapons and a blight launcher in a 5-model unit, but these are just OK and ag Through undisclosed circumstances, Marduk had killed Kol Badar's closest blood brother during the beginning of the Horus Heresy, and Badar refused to rest until he had gained vengeance against his hated rival. As the 34 th Host tried to avoid their Imperial enemies in the midst of the massive evacuation, the Word Bearers also have to contend with the presence of the vile Drukhari, who were also on the doomed moon claiming bodies and souls to feed their hideous appetites. From a durability standpoint, Daemon Princes are… OK. Toughness 6 isn’t amazing and having a 4+ invulnerable save against shooting is helpful but 5+ against melee much less so. You generally want to protect your Daemon Prince with Look Out, Sir until it’s time for him to fight. Psychic Powers. Chaos Space Marines have a solid psychic game, even if it’s not on the level of Thousand Sons. The Master of Possession is one of the game’s best psyker units, and Chaos Legionnaire units can take a psyker as well for additional versatility and the ability to toss out mortal wounds.
Naked. Five models with bolters or chainswords. No frills, just a more durable place for 10 Obsec wounds that can hold objectives and raise banners. If your legion doesn’t have great passive buffs for Legionaries, you’re probably going this route. Dark Apostles make up the priesthood of the Dark Gods. Just as the Chaplains of the loyalist Space Marines uphold the creeds of their Chapters, the Dark Apostles devote their lives to the propagation of the unholy word, actively spreading the worship of Chaos across the galaxy. Their efforts do not go unrewarded – Dark Apostles are surrounded by daemonic auras of protection that shimmer and writhe as they chant their blasphemous prayers.
Cursed Earth (Blessing, Aura, WC 7). Until the start of your next Psychic phase, while a friendly DAEMONKIN or DAEMON ENGINE is within 6” of the caster they get a 4+ invulnerable save and when an enemy unit finishes a charge move in engagement range of them, you roll a D6; on a 2=4 they take 1 mortal wound and on a 5-6 they take D3. This is another very solid power, great for protecting your daemon units as they hold objectives. This pairs well with the Mark of Tzeentch to give you two 4+ invulnerable saves to hand out per turn, but chances are you won’t need Skeins if you have this. Note that, per the FAQ, the Liber Hereticus relic will not increase the range of this aura. B+ Space Marines have Chapters, Chaos Space Marines have Legions. There are 9 original traitor legions, three of which – Death Guard, Thousand Sons, and soon, World Eaters – have their own codexes (and their own Start Competing articles). The remaining 7 are covered in Codex: Chaos Space Marines, along with two additional Legions, the Red Corsairs and Creations of Bile. The real value of these units is that you have another cheap ObSec option that sits between Cultists and Chaos Space Marines, with significantly more firepower and durability than the former. At 6/7 Leadership they’re also less likely to flee or kill you on Dread Tests and for 10 points more getting a unit that can actually ruin someone’s day with a meltagun and plasma gun is pretty solid. This gives Chaos Space Marines four solid Troops choices in their games, and that’s pretty cool. Elites Psychic Utility. Four guys with chainswords or bolters (it doesn’t really matter), and one with a balefire tome and Prescience. This unit is out there to provide some extra value where needed while Advancing to hold objectives and support other units. You will typically also give this unit the Mark of Slaanesh so it has access to Delightful Agonies. If psychic powers aren’t your thing, what about praying to the dark gods for help? PRIEST models in your army know the Dark Zealotry prayer and may know a number of others. These may be chanted in your Command phase and will activate/be heard on a D6 roll of a 3+, though note that Dark Apostles will be heard on a 2+ while their acolytes are around. There are six Prayers to the Dark Gods you can choose from in addition to Dark Zealotry, plus four more for the Chaos Gods which your PRIEST unit will know for free if they have the appropriate mark. Note that CULTIST units can only know the first three prayers on the list, i.e. Benediction of Darkness, Litany of Despair, and Omen of Potency. Once heard, prayers stay in effect until the start of your next Command phase.Some of the Chaos Space Marines’ vehicles are Daemon Engines, meaning they’ve had powerful daemons bound within them, imbuing them with supernatural abilities. These models have a 5+ invulnerable save and regain 1 lost wound in your Command phase. Malicious Volleys Whilst we will do everything we can to meet the delivery times above, there may be factors outside of our control and we cannot guarantee delivery within this time frame. The Word Bearers are renowned for the demagogues who rise within their ranks, their oratory able to inspire entire populations to overthrow the oppressive yoke of the Imperium. The most famous of these is Erebus, who became the first of the Dark Apostles – a rank now commonplace among the Traitor Legions* and especially within the Word Bearers. Along with a shiny new miniature, Dark Apostles have been blessed as unholy conduits of the Chaos Gods. In addition to granting their Leadership characteristic to nearby units, Dark Apostles can now chant prayers to inspire their brethren. Unto those who in ignorance and stubbornness refuse the Word, bring the fires of hell. Sunder their flesh, and burn them of their impurity. Take vengeance upon them for their failings, and teach them the weakness of false idols. Thus spoke Lorgar, and so it shall be done. Open their veins that the truth might enter them. Cut upon them and let their blood flow. With holy bolter and chainsword we shall slaughter the unbelievers, and usher the word of truth into the world! ...Great powers of the Warp, guide the arms of your servants that they might let the blood of your enemies in your honour. Gird us with the strength and fortitude to do your bidding, and let our faith protect us from the blows of the faithless. Let your dark light shine upon us, filling us with purpose and belief. With thanks, we give ourselves unto you, pledging body and soul to your glory, for now and for time immaterial. Glory be."
