Editing Obliterators (section)

==Overview==
[[File:Obliterators-2019.jpg|500px|right|thumb|WE ARE BACK BITCHES!]]
===Introduction===
Oblits were first introduced to 40K back in the early days of third edition. The basics were already in place at that point, being the large profusion of heavy and special weapons otherwise on a terminator's profile, including saves and weapon portability. When first introduced they could not charge or otherwise engage in an assault but otherwise had power fists along with their projectile weapons for some security in close combat.

Oblits were outrageously more dangerous in the 3.5 edition Codex due to their S/T5! However, their toughness got FAQ'd down to 4(5) (meaning at the time no immunity to instant death S8) and although they didn't have a plasma cannon or multi-melta, they had access to heavy bolters and frag missiles. Obliterators gained infamy through the notoriously broken Iron Warriors list that spammed them and used [[Basilisk Artillery Gun|Basilisk]]s to decimate anything thrown at them before it could even shoot back. It's no exaggeration that these guys were among the reasons that the 3rd edition codex was considered to be so overpowered that GW had to release 4th ed codex to balance it.

===4th and 5th===
Shuffling back into an HS slot, Obliterators were probably the most used heavy support choice in the Chaos Space Marines 4th and 5th edition Codex, and with good reason. During each shooting phase, they have a choice of using a twin-linked [[Flamer]], a [[Heavy Flamer]] a twin-linked [[Plasma Gun]], a [[Plasma Cannon]], a twin-linked [[Meltagun]], a [[Multi-Melta]] or a [[Lascannon]], meaning it matters not what the enemy is, they have a means of dealing with it. They also have [[Powerfist]]s and a 2+ armor save (plus a 5+ Invul) and 2 wounds, though since they can only be fielded in groups of three at the most, it's best to keep them out of melee, since you want them free to shoot at enemies.

Their drawbacks are that aside from an extra wound, their statline is the same as a regular Chaos Marine's, meaning they can be hit with Instant Death from a number of heavy weapons. Like <s>Terminators</s> Thousand Sons, they also have Slow and Purposeful, so it can be a problem getting them where you need them. Also, all Obliterators in a unit have to fire the same weapon, no mixing and matching, so make sure you know what weapon you want to use.

===6th and 7th===
The 6th edition book, while trying adjust units to avoid the problems where the 4th edition had some units that were so good it was pointless to use anything else, actually gave some improvements to the Obliterators. They can now be given Marks of Chaos, and they can finally use [[Assault Cannon]]s (though rending took a hit). The only drawback they gained was that they can't use the same weapon two turns in a row, which isn't all that big a deal, especially since they have some overlapping weapons (Use a plasma cannon one turn, and then TL plasma guns to clean up the next). Though improvements to other units does mean that now they do actually have some competition in the shooting area.

===8th Edition===
This edition has had a number of changes to the unit over time. Most notably, the ability to select basically any gun ever is replaced with a generic '[[Fleshmetal Guns|Fleshmetal Gun]]' that has randomized Strength, AP and Damage. A S between 7 and 9 is fine, 24 inch range is fine, but their damage is a randomized D3, but Multi-meltas and Lascannons -- the weapons they ''really'' want to use -- are randomized damage D6 with better AP. The release of the Chaos Space Marines codex buffed them slightly by changing the Fleshmetal Weapons from Assault 2 to Assault 4, doubling their firepower at no additional points cost. Also, their weapon damage is generated before they shoot along with the rest of their random stats, meaning that if you get Damage 3, the entire unit will have Damage 3 shots. That's [[Rape|36 potential wounds right there.]]

Even bigger, the CSM Daemonkin book transformed them once more granting them stat bonuses (like T5 and 4 wounds), boosting Fleshmetal guns to Assault 6 and giving them an S+1 AP-1 DD3 close combat weapon. Additionally, they can get buffs from a Master of Possession or Greater Possessed if you're in a pinch. And best of all, they got these kick-ass new models!

===9th Edition===
We thought we saw the pinnacle of awesome - we had yet to know their true power. For 9th edition, oblits get powerfists without the -1 to hit and their fleshmetal guns get 3 profiles where volume of shots are inversely proportional to strength, damage and AP. Coupled with their allegedly unchanged profile, this sounds very promising indeed.