Editing Warhammer 40,000/6th Edition Tactics/Chaos Space Marines (section)

==Supplements==
===Black Legion===
*'''First Among Traitors''': Chosen can now be fielded as a Troops Choice without taking Abaddon. Sadly, Chosen are still somewhat overpriced, although taking them as scoring Troops goes some way to alleviating their weaknesses.
*'''Ten Millennia of Hate''': All units that can purchase ''Veterans of the Long War'' must do so. This isn't a huge deal for the most part, but it does mean you're forced to spend more points on units than you might want.
*'''Bringers of Despair''': If Abaddon is the Warlord, he can upgrade a squad of Chaos Terminators.  For +6 points a model, the Terminators gain +1 WS and +1 BS.
====Warlord Traits====
*'''1: Black Crusader''': Warlord and any friendly units within 12" gain Preferred Enemy (Space Marines)
*'''2: Eye of the Gods''': Whenever the Warlord rolls on the Chaos Boon Table or Gift of Mutation Chaos Reward, they can re-roll the result once.  For a good challenge-based Warlord, this is a big save.
*'''3: Gift of Balefire''': Warlord can shoot one single-use S4, AP5, Assault 1, Soulblaze template blast.  Considering the goofiness of Soulblaze this isn't a really great gift.
*'''4: Unholy Fortitude''': Warlord gets It Will Not Die.  YES.
*'''5: Soul Stealer''': When in combat, any to-wound rolls of 6 become Instant Death.  If you have hordes to kill and the Dice Gods' favor, this is a good crowd-clearer.
*'''6: Chosen of Abaddon''': Warlord and friendly units within 12" gain Stubborn.
====Chaos Artefacts====
*'''Spineshiver Blade''': AP3 Daemon Weapon. Gives +1I when in combat.  Neato.
*'''Crucible of Lies''': User has -1T, but can reroll Invuln Save rolls of 1. Why would anyone ever take this? Maybe you have a Terminator Lord or Sorcerer of Tzeentch with a Sigil of Corruption and the Skull of Eternal Warrior. That's a 2+ armor save with a 3+ invuln that only fails on a 2. T3 sucks, but Eternal Warrior mitigates getting insta-gibbed by S6 and higher.  Could also work with a Disc of Tzeentch or Bike(you'd still be reaping the benefit of a bike unit's majority toughness) to negate the loss of Toughness, but then disallows the use of Terminator Armor.  YMMV.
*'''Last Memory of the Yuranthos''': This is a bit of a tricky one...
**Psykers get 1 more mastery level
**Instead of rolling another power, they use an exclusive power that gains range the more Warp Charges that are expended (12" for 2, 18" for 3.  By default, it has a range of 6").  If he uses more charges and fails a psychic test, he dies.  No saves.
**The power, Sunburst, is S4, AP5, Assault 2d6, blinds, and can ignore cover.
*'''Eye of Night''': User can make one single-use large blast attack that is S5, AP4, makes 1d3 auto-pen hits for buildings and vehicles that ignore cover.  Don't expect to ruin Land Raiders with this.  It can, though, intimidate that transport full of enemies or mess up artillery.
*'''Skull of Ker'ngar''': User has Eternal Warrior and Adamantium Will.  Nice.
*'''Hand of Darkness''': When in combat, the user can trade his attacks for one AP1, S at double the user's S, Armourbane, Fleshbane, Instant Death blow.  Not really gonna do much unless in challenges (And being CSM, that will be often) or if you want to pop a tank. In a challenge this will mesh well with the Eye of the Gods trait. Falcon - PUNCH!

====Tactics====
With every unit taking VotLW, this means you will have to look for alternative choices of units or wargears they can take. With Chosen as Troops, you can have a small unit with only a heavy weapon like a Lascannon or Autocannon, and have them sit on an objective. This gives them an advanatge over Cultists. With the Artefacts mostly being mediocre at best, this limits your options more (Not that they're all bad). On the bright side, you have better leadership across the board with most units, plus having a Daemon Prince of Tzeentch with Eternal Warrior is cheese, especially if you use them as allies in a Screamerstar list. 

The best way to play the Black Legion is by taking advantage of your scoring Chosen squads, kit them with special weapons of your choice, and load them in METHAL BAWKSES! Even Combi-bolters aren't bad if you want to keep them cheep, just add another Chosen with a Meltagun and you're set. Using a mix of Chaos Marines and Chosen units gives you more mileage. Since Chosen will carry a lot of special weapons, you don't have to worry about adding them into Marine squads, but do have them watch the Chosen's back. Brothers look out for each other afterall!

It's also wise to invest your points into tanks instead of units like Havocs and Obliterators if you want firepower without paying for the required Veterans tax, and thus the Defiler and Helbrutes can see more use, albeit the ladder can be unreliable. On the otherhand, Typhus can bring Zombie Cultists, and they can't take VotLW, which makes them excellent Troop choices. Also consider which unit should take Marks, if any. Keep in mind that quanity over quality is better in this edition, so use Marks with caution if you plan on taking them. If you commonly face Loyalists however, then it's best for you to take advantage of the mandatory upgrade and kit many units for close combat.

The Black Legion is a mixed bag, some of their unique traits work, and others are left to be more desired. Use every bit of advantage you have with this army, even if its just to have one Chosen unit to capture an objective while adding anti tank firepower to your warband. Similarly, keep a few of your squads cheep, and only upgrade those that needs it. If you're going use Black Legion as a fluff army, then by all means enjoy your Chosenwing, and show the universe how proud you are to be in the largest warband, and fight on for the Dark Gods of Chaos!

===Crimson Slaughter===
Yes, the Chaos warband from Dark Vengeance that nobody had heard of before got their own supplement for some reason, and it's better than the one the 10,000 year old veterans get, to boot.

*'''Harbingers of the Tormented''': All models in the detatchment have Fear. It's a nice little bonus, but it's not going to win you any games.
*'''Slaves to the Voices''': Possessed are troops instead of elites, and they roll on a different mutations table from the one in the Codex, gaining either Shrouded (includes their vehicle if they're in one), Beasts or a 3+ invul save and Rending. The new mutations table is flat out better than the old one, and the ability to take Possessed as scoring units outside of the overcrowded elites section makes them seriously worth considering.
*'''Draznicht's Ravagers''': One unit of Chosen can be upgraded so that its Champion has the Preferred Enemy rule, for 10 points. Pretty meh, but if you're taking Chosen anyway, then why not. Remember, it only applies to the Champion, so if he dies the rest of the squad loses the buff. Plasma Chosen say "HI!".
*'''Renegades of the Dark Millenium''': Only Berzerkers, Plague Marines and Noise Marines may take Veterans of the Long War. Supposedly because the Crimson Slaughter are a renegade chapter, while the cult troops in their ranks are mostly mercenaries from the Traitor Legions. Aside from some Leadership problems, its not going to affect your game much, and it's a far better "price" than the BL's mandatory veteran tax.
====Warlord Traits====
*'''1: Murderous Hate''': Warlord and his unit have Hatred, and get to reroll misses in CC against Dark Angels units (because Dark Angels needed more help dying)
*'''2: Maelstrom of Torment''': All enemy units within 12" of the Warlord suffer a -1 Ld penalty, and a -2 Ld penalty to any Fear tests they take. Anything vulnerable to Fear left in this game is going to fail those tests anyway, but whatever.
*'''3: Maddened Rage''': Rage and Furious Charge. If there's an enemy unith within 12" in the beginning of a shooting phase, you don't get to shoot and must charge them the following Assault phase, if possible. Unfortunate if your Warlord is shooty, pretty sweet otherwise.
*'''4: Merciless Slaughterer''': Warlord and his unit have Crusader.
*'''5: Spectral Assailants''': Enemy models in base contact take D6 S3 AP hits at Initiative step 10 of each Assault phase.
*'''6: Pall of Mists''': Warlord gets Shrouded. Pretty gud if you're not already getting it from a Mutation roll (see below)

====Relics of the Crimson Slaughter====
*'''Crozius of the Dark Covenant''': A power maul. All friendly Crimson Slaughter units within 6" of the bearer get the Zealot rule.
*'''Blade of the Relentless''': Basically a power sword that makes its bearer stronger as he kills shit. 1 kill grants +1 Str, 3 kills grants AP2, 5 kills grants another +1 Str, and 10 kills grants Instant Death. Not that great, considering it's 30 points. Have a Sargent take the challengefor at turn so you can kill off some grunts then take over when he dies or 'glorious intervention' into his place with a AP2 +1 strength sword.
*'''The Slaughterer's Horns''': Furious Charge, Rage and Hammer of Wrath for 15 points. Cool.
*'''The Balestar of Mannon''': Sorcerers only. Grants the bearer DIVINATION and re-rolls on failed Psych tests. However, he doesn't get any modifiers to Deny the Witch rolls for being a Psyker. Still, Divination is pretty fucking sweet.
*'''Daemonheart''': 2+ Armor Save and It Will Not Die. Can't be taken by a Daemon Prince, which limits its usefulness somewhat.
*'''Prophet of the Voices''': Makes your IC a Possessed, basically. He gets Daemon, Fearless and Fleet, plus rolls on the new mutations table mentioned previously. Can only join units of Possessed. Allows for some really rapetastic combos, especially if you roll lucky on the Warlord Traits and Mutations tables, though the choice between going solo and having a posse of Possessed is pretty limiting.

====Tactics====

For shits and giggles and a nigh unkillable, dead killy Chaos Lord, equip him with Blade of the Relentless, The Slaughterer's Horns, Daemonheart, Sigil of Corruption, Mark of Tzeentch, and Disc of Tzeentch - Plasma pistol/Powerfist optional. Sure, a bit pricey but with 5/4 attacks base (3 attacks base statline, +1 for pistol(if taken) and +1 for the Disc) and 6/7 attacks on the charge (at Strength 7 AP2 with Instant Death if you get the BotR fully charged) he'll be murdering things left and right while shrugging off a lot of attacks with toughness 5 (thank you jetbikes!), 2+/3++ and It Will Not Die! Tag alongside bikers as meat shields (or a/two Maulerfiend(s), hell, even Chaos Spawn) and challenge takers. NOTE: Avoid S10 weapons as he still lacks Eternal Warrior and can get insta-killed by one bad/naughty failed save. "Take from them everything. Leave behind only corpses." GLORY BE TO CHAOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!