Hello my spikey friends, heading back from this year’s LVO. I am (of course) going to do an in-depth writeup once I’m home, and can’t wait to share all the amazing games and stories from Vegas. In the meantime, here is a quick update.
Emperor’s Children proved that they are undoubtably the most perfect Legion by taking home Best-In-Faction Chaos Space Marines! I ended up going 4-2 and was the highest placing Chaos Space Marines player, finishing 161/768 players.
The List
Here was my list (and yes, all the flavor text and names were in the submitted LVO list):
ALL HAIL THE DARK PRINCE.
THE PRINCE OF PLEASURE.
THE LORD OF EXCESS.
THE SIXFOLD PRINCE.
THE YOUNGEST GOD.
SHE WHO THIRSTS.
YOUR SILENCE OFFENDS SLAANESH.
THINGS WILL GET LOUD NOW.
Legion: Emperor’s Children
+ Stratagems [-1CP] +
Gifts of Chaos (1 Relic) [-1CP]
+ No Force Org Slot [1 PL, 10pts] +
Dark Disciples [1 PL, 10pts]: Mark of Slaanesh
. 2x Dark Disciple [10pts]: 2x Close combat weapon
+ HQ [13 PL, 240pts] +
ZHAAREK, CONDUCTOR OF THE INFINITE SYMPHONY–Dark Apostle [4 PL, 80pts]: Accursed crozius, Blissful Devotion, Bolt pistol, Dark Zealotry, Frag & Krak grenades, Mark of Slaanesh, Warpsight Plea, Remnant of Maraviglia
Lucius the Eternal [5 PL, 95pts]: Doom siren, Frag & Krak grenades, Lash of Torment, Master-crafted power sword
SHIINASK, CARVER OF THE MASTER’S HOLY FLESH–Master of Executions [4 PL, 65pts]: 2. Flames of Spite, Axe of dismemberment, Bolt pistol, Frag & Krak grenades, Mark of Slaanesh, Raiment Revulsive, Warlord
+ Troops [16 PL, 335pts] +
Chaos Cultists [3 PL, 50pts]: Mark of Slaanesh
. 9x Chaos Cultist w/ Autogun [45pts]: 9x Autogun
. Cultist Champion [5pts]: Autogun
Chaos Cultists [3 PL, 50pts]: Mark of Slaanesh
. 9x Chaos Cultist w/ Autogun [45pts]: 9x Autogun
. Cultist Champion [5pts]: Autogun
Noise Marines [10 PL, 235pts]: Icon of Excess [10pts]
. 2x Marine w/ blastmaster [52pts]: 2x Blastmaster [20pts], 2x Bolt pistol, 2x Frag & Krak grenades
. 7x Marine w/ sonic blaster [147pts]: 7x Bolt pistol, 7x Frag & Krak grenades, 7x Sonic Blaster [35pts]
. Noise Champion [26pts]: Frag & Krak grenades, Lightning Claw [5pts], Sonic blaster [5pts]
+ Elites [53 PL, -3CP, 1,014pts] +
ZHAHALESH, BREAKER OF SILENCE-Chaos Contemptor Dreadnought [8 PL, -1CP, 175pts]: Hellforged cyclone missile launcher [25pts], Mark of Slaanesh, 2x Twin volkite culverin [10pts]
BENAKHT, HAMMER FROM BEYOND THE VEIL–Chaos Contemptor Dreadnought [8 PL, -1CP, 175pts]: Hellforged cyclone missile launcher [25pts], Mark of Slaanesh, 2x Twin volkite culverin [10pts]
XYLXATH, THE SIXTH BORN SON–Chaos Leviathan Dreadnought [13 PL, -1CP, 235pts]: Grav-flux bombard, 3x Hellforged hunter-killer missile [15pts], Leviathan siege drill and meltagun, Mark of Slaanesh
. Two twin volkite calivers: 2x Twin volkite caliver
Terminators [16 PL, 279pts]: Icon of Excess [10pts], Mark of Slaanesh
. Terminator [33pts]: Combi-melta [5pts], Lightning Claw
. Terminator [33pts]: Combi-melta [5pts], Lightning Claw
. Terminator [33pts]: Combi-melta [5pts], Lightning Claw
. Terminator [33pts]: Combi-melta [5pts], Lightning Claw
. Terminator [33pts]: Combi-melta [5pts], Lightning Claw
. Terminator [33pts]: Combi-melta [5pts], Lightning Claw
. Terminator [33pts]: Combi-melta [5pts], Lightning Claw
. Terminator Champion [38pts]: Chainfist [5pts], Combi-melta [5pts]
Terminators [8 PL, 150pts]: Icon of Excess [10pts], Mark of Slaanesh
. Terminator [28pts]: Combi-bolter, Lightning Claw
. Terminator [28pts]: Combi-bolter, Lightning Claw
. Terminator [28pts]: Combi-bolter, Lightning Claw
. Terminator [28pts]: Combi-bolter, Lightning Claw
. Terminator Champion [28pts]: Combi-bolter, Lightning Claw
+ Fast Attack [12 PL, 221pts] +
Chaos Spawn [1 PL, 23pts]: Mark of Slaanesh
. Chaos Spawn [1 PL, 23pts]: Hideous mutations
Dreadclaw Drop Pod [6 PL, 115pts]: Blade struts, Mark of Slaanesh, Thermal jets
Raptors [5 PL, 83pts]: Mark of Slaanesh
. 4x Raptor [60pts]: 4x Astartes chainsword, 4x Bolt pistol, 4x Frag & Krak grenades
. Raptor Champion [23pts]: Combi-bolter [3pts], Frag & Krak grenades, Lightning Claw [5pts]
+ Dedicated Transport [10 PL, 180pts] +
Chaos Terrax-Pattern Termite [10 PL, 180pts]: Mark of Slaanesh, Termite drill, Terrax melta cutter
. 2 Terrax heavy flamers: 2x Terrax heavy flamer
++ Total: [105 PL, 8CP, 2,000pts] ++
ALL HAIL SLAANESH. ALL LOVE SLAANESH. ALL WORSHIP SLAANESH.
I don’t think my list is favored versus any faction (or CSM can write a list that is favored versus every faction), but I tried to make sure I had at least some answer for every army I was likely to face.
Matchups
I’ll go much more in-depth later, but here is a quick list of the games.
- Drukhari (W, 82-73)
- Genestealer Cults (L, 70-73)
- Death Guard (W, 97-Concede turn 2)
- Thousand Sons (W, 97-33)
- Custodes (W, 79-78)
- Drukhari (L, 46-70)
Final Thoughts
Now that LVO is over, I have a ton of content I’m excited to work on. Here are some of the items I have planned for you:
- Interview with Wallace O’Donnell, who went 5-1 with a brilliant summoning list! He is such a creative Chaos player. I don’t want to spoil it, but he has the craziest in-game story I’ve ever heard at a big tournament.
- Several other potential interviews with great Chaos players I met
- Updated Chaos lists with the new points and missions
- Giving Disciples of Be’lakor another look
Note: Excited to get your Chaos army on the tabletop? Me too! I’d love to work with you on making your fun or weird Chaos idea into a competitive list. If you’re interested in supporting the growth of Warphammer and quality 40K content, feel free to check out Patreon.com/Warphammer and join the team. Additional benefits and coaching are available.
Interested in learning more about playing Chaos? Check out the Warphammer Discord here: https://discord.gg/SgBcXW5s6R
Published: January 30th, 2022
Last Updated: January 30th, 2022
Congratulations, Mike! I was follow your progress on the daily Goonhammer updates. Very happy that you were able to honor the Prince.
Thanks SC! Slaanesh provided me with a bounty of gifts, and I knew how to use them
Congratulations, Mr. Pestilens! If I called you “Mikey”, would that be unwelcome?
Did Lucius earn his keep and what was your toughest match? Was it the final Drukhari match or a different one that the points don’t reflect?
By the way, if Shiinask is the “Carver of the Master’s Holy Flesh”, who is “the Master”?
And how did Xylxath earn the title “Sixth Born Son”?
Thank you Mr. Pistons! I go by Mike, but take no offense to any variant of that
Lucius was worth it just for the reroll 1’s aura. The extra value he provided with his random weapons and special rules was definitely worth it. He helped win little skirmishes all event. My toughest match was Genestealer Cults, which I believe are close to unbeatable for CSM unless there is a massive skill gap. I’m shocked it was close, I thought I would score like 30 points
So basically my headcanon is that my Emperor’s Children warband are very close to traditional religious structures, complete with group prayers and tithes and theological debates. But instead of praying, they self-inflict pain to catch Slaanesh’s attention and empower their god. They are lead by Zhaarek the Dark Apostle, for whom the most painful tortures are reserved because his faith is the strongest. The Master of Executions is the most skilled with blades in the army. He is the only one entrusted to inflict as much pain on the Dark Apostle as possible without going too far and killing him.
The Sixth Born Son was originally an Iron Hands Chaplain they captured, and then put through 6 “trials” that drove him so insane with pain that he forgot his old life and was reborn as a devotee of Slaanesh. These trials taxed his body so much that he was unable to fight anymore. But in a twisted joke by the warband’s leadership, the former Iron Hand was interned in a Dreadnought and eagerly joined his new brothers on the battlefield.
Do you have a custom warband?
Sorry I didn’t reply earlier. I do not have a custom warband, but I’ve sometimes found lore for people’s creations to be lacking though I don’t want to say I could do much better.
That is not the case with your warband’s lore. I am impressed with the thought and care you’ve put into your stories and I hope you keep tallying up wins for that reason alone.
Great Job
Congrats Mike! Nice to see csm still have teeth. Looking forward to the interview with Wallace. His guide to daemons in 9th lead me away from thousand sons. Your articles have reinforced that even more. Also looking forward to you giving DoB another look!
Thanks Tom! As the game gets even shootier and anti-large, lots of little Daemons that are hard to shoot sounds like a ton of fun