Top 5 Space Marines units to AVOID | Warhammer 40K tactics

In this video, we break down the top 5 Space Marines units you should probably avoid when building your army list. We'll cover why Sternguard Veterans, Eliminators, the Ballistus Dreadnought, Repulsor Executioner, and Heavy Intercessors just don't hold up in the current meta. Watch to learn how to make the most out of your army without these units!

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[Sonof_DRN]

I legitimately use all of the units included in the thumbnail lmfao

[alessandroamici]

Live my beautiful Ballistus alone you heartless monster

[Sakiawe]

Oh hey. Good thing i didnt get 2 ballistus, 2 sterns, 2 repulsors, 3 heavy intercessors and 1 squad of eliminators. Oh.. Thats what i did. You better hope that thumbnail was bait

[HBK-hm]

The big advantage of the ballistus is it comes with Leviathan! And it's much easier to manoeuvre than a tank.

The Executioner is great vs hordes and lower toughness and save stuff, particularly in lower points games. It is very expensive in pts though.

Eliminators will always have a place in my heart after a small squad managed to take down a chaos land raider once. Their post shoot move is quite fun but they are super fragile.

[ilo]

Eliminators are incredibly good with a Phobos Librarian, since that basically makes the squad work like Lone operatives, so you can put them in a place where they can see enemy vehicles and not be shot back because of range

[jovantamrin]

Im not convinced of your choices... I can name units much more unuseable than your choices...

1. Reiver Phobos
2. Outriders
3. Invictor
4. Suppressor
5. Desolation Squad

[JonathanCrane]

A lot of this is all day every day in raven guard list, but then again, we're so stealthy that people forget we exist.

[scriv_paints]

I've had great success with Sternguard combi-bolter squads for an anti-elite role. They make mincemeat out of etc. They are more dependent on Oath than I'd like but if you use them at the right time they easily trade well.

[seankoch]

Can't say I completely agree with you on the Repulsor executioner. Every time you mentioned no rerolls ...I just think of oath of moment? The real trouble is maneuvering in competitive terrain.

[catherinedalzell]

I often run a 10-man of heavy intercessors as Black Templars with the 6+ FNP. They die, but it takes a while. The opponent has to commit a lot to shift them. I have had success with those intercessors in Anvil Siege/Imperial Fists with a biologis and the enhancement that gives a 6+FNP and battleshock protection. Heavy Intercessors also make a good bodyguard to Tor Garadon, who kills tanks like flies.

I also like 2 ballistus dreads -- running only 1 is an exercise in disappointment. However, I am thinking of replacing the ballistae with 3 squads of eradicators.

[Sigismundssword]

Jesus the picture is literally every unit I use besides ballistus

[tbonex]

Eliminators with a phobos librarian is my go to home objective holder. No terrain needed in front of them and now with dev wounds being mortals again they become a legitimate threat to big stuff and even larger units.

[GamingTalk-clxj]

Repulser Executioner is better point value than a separate lancer and chaingun light tanks.

And the ballistus is a excellent against single big units

[jackfrozr]

Just played a game yesterday where my ballistus, eliminator and gladiator reaper all focus fired on an immolator. The only one dealing damage was the reaper (9 damage). Eliminator had 3 las fusil, heavy + 1 wound roll of anvil, OOM, and still no damage.

[aaronsymonds]

Definitely agree with 2 in the list... Sternguard Veterans are too nerved now to make them good and Heavy Intercessors have just a little less fire-power than expected for the cost. However... I have had great success with Eliminators with Las Fusals: pop them up on a building and picking off longer range targets forces you opponent to either ignore them and keep taking chip damage all game long or hit them and let a closer unit shoot and charge. Next up, Repulsor Executioner: while the main guns sometimes wiffs without RRs, they are very handy in turn 1 if still as they hit on 2s with the laser and a high damage output... then smash into the midfield with 3 eradicators and they smoke monsters and vehicles that can only be hit close up (eg. Chaos Demons with shroud) and the massive array of low damage weapons clears hoard armies superfast. Ballistus Dreads: awesome to run as interference in the midfield and deliver a few lasgun shots... and big guns never tire, so can punch some of the mid tier melee, back up in the right doctrine, shoot and charge again. Can hurt targets of all types and unless you opponent have enough anti tank, this guy can be dangerous to help soak up some wounds while your big hitters stay safe for an extra turn... sometimes it's good to have a few odd models outside the meta to outsmart people taking lists to specifically destroy meta armies. Loved your review and like a healthy debate too 🎨🚀☮️

[xeticus]

You called out nearly my entire Anvil Siege Force list. I'm going to ignore the Ballistus because none of this applies to that unit. All of these models (but the Ballistus) have the Heavy keyword so when they stand still for a turn they get +1 to hit and + 1 to wound and that is HUGE. Eliminators with Phobos Librarian infiltrate to sniping positions at start of game and blast things. Heavy Intercessors go on point and stay there with cover fire from the Eliminators. Executioners sit back and snipe with their Laser Destroyers. And Battle Drill Recall strats gives Sustained Hits 1 which all of these units including Sternguard really want and critting on 5's. 4 out of 5 of these units are great, just for a different type of list.

[phogelbice]

almost finished painting my 10 man sternguard unit, not meta but i think/hope they will perform ok. Pretty good shooting and with 4A, S4, D1 they can dish out some hurt in melee aswell. Going to run them with a captian in gladius.

[jarvbricks]

You’ve just named all my units that I have as pants. 😂

[FirstAstartes]

Appreciate your vids as always. I also think the Lancer is a better choice, but sometimes find myself switching out for the Ballistus if I need the 20 points. One factor is that the Ballistus essentially has 4 decent anti-tank shots instead of the lancer's amazing two. A lot of vehicles are T10 so the missile launcher can have an impact even wounding on 4s.

[Birri]

I love sternguards vets with azrael for casual play. It's hilarious how much they can high and low roll. Had them take out the avatar of khaine in one turn, and had them fail to kill a single paragon warsuit.