Armies in 5th: Chaos Space Marines Part 5: Summary

We've reached the end of our Chaos journey. Let's review the key concepts we've discussed and look at the codex as a whole and generate the final verdict on where the Chaos Space Marine codex stands objectively and in relation to commonly held subjective opinion (now it sounds like a science!). In the previous Armies in 5th posts for CSM we covered the general lack of fast and sacrificial melta, anti-tank burden heaped heavily upon the dualistic unit of Obliterators, general lack of efficient Troop choices and the lack of HQ flexibility and utility. Not really a good list is it? There's another theme which has permeated these posts but not explicitly addressed either; the cost of the units.

Whilst combining the useful units of Princes, Chosen, Dreads, CSM, Plagues, Zerkers, Preds & Oblits can give you some flexibility in list building, the general lack of firepower, units and mobility compared to other lists across the board makes CSM one of the less competitive books out there. This is driven home with the increased cost of units, not only in buying weapons but in their base cost. Simply reducing the Biker cost to something somewhat reasonable would provide the CSM list with some cheap and sacrificial melta but as it is, the book chews through points all over the FoC just to try and keep up with mech, opposing firepower and the number of units an opponent can put down on the table-top. Having a melta/melta/Rhino CSM squad which is significantly worse than a flamer/MM/Rhino Tac squad but costs the same without any of the goodies CSM can access such as double combi (Rhino + Champ), Havoc Launchers or Icons (not to mention the Champ if you want them in any sort of combat) is part of the reason the CSM codex is sub-par. Whilst an extra 30 points per Troop might not seem like much, it adds up especially when your good units (Winged DP and Oblits) cost you well over 150pts per unit.


This increase cost in points across the board forces the Chaos codex to often bring less units to the table which on the whole are less effective compared to other armies or suffer as a balanced army (i.e. can deal very well with mech by spamming melta but suffers against hordes). To maintain a balanced force the Chaos army has to therefore cut-back on certain units and pay the premium for the units it needs such as Oblits, Winged DPs and Plague Marines. Which brings us to the final point of the CSM codex before we land our verdict. The CSM codex seems very combat oriented with the ability to take huge combat characters, possessed, Terminators, Marks of Khorne, Zerkers, Defilers, min 2A base, etc. but Chaos simply suck in combat. Whilst Dreads and Winged DPs are viable units which punch face in combat and bare bones CSM + Zerkers are decent torrent units, Chaos has no real counter to super units. Whilst this isn't a problem for most lists, most lists have more units to sacrifice and greater firepower available to them. Chaos do not and the lack of a combat unit which can scare TH/SS Termies, Command Bike Squads, Seer Councils, TWC, Tyranid Deathstars, Honor Guard, etc. means rock armies or balanced armies with rocks have a very large edge against them.


And yet internet forums often think CSM is one of the best books out there (often referencing tournament results and Lash) alongside Orks, Space Wolves and Imperial Guard (agree with last two at least). Unfortunately, the severe point discrepancy compared to newer books and the lack of comparable mobility and anti-tank leads Chaos to be stuck behind the bell-curve against the top-notch armies. This is not to say the army is bad but rather needs an extra 250+ pts to even be considered on a somewhat level footing with the newer books but are still suffering from inherent army weaknesses.

So here comes a classroom setting (remember you asked for them?). I want the non-regular posters (so Chumbalaya, VT2, Puppy, Smurfy, etc. not you) to apply the principles outlined in these articles and make the best CSM army list possible for 1750 and 2000 points. I've got an idea in my mind what I'm looking for so let's see what you can come up with. The 'winner' gets their list posted in this thread...yay! lol. Everyone else can comment as usual :P.

Edit: Here's the winner from the army list competition by Joshy Bear!

HQ
Demon Prince (mark of Nurgle, wings, Warptime)
Demon Prince (mark of Nurgle, wings, Warptime)
Summoned Greater Demon

Troops
Plague Marines (5 strong, Plague Champion, powerfist, 2 x meltaguns, Rhino)
Plague Marines (5 strong, Plague Champion, powerfist, 2 x meltaguns, Rhino)
Chaos Space Marines (10 strong, Aspiring Champion, powerfist, meltagun, autocannon, Chaos Glory, Rhino)
Chaos Space Marines (10 strong, Aspiring Champion, powerfist, meltagun, autocannon, Chaos Glory, Rhino)

Elites
Chaos Dreadnought (multi-melta)
Chaos Dreadnought (multi-melta)

Heavy Support
Obliterator Cult (2 strong)
Obliterator Cult (2 strong)
Obliterator Cult (2 strong)


Total: 2000