Editing Warhammer 40,000/9th Edition Tactics/Death Guard (section)

===Heavy Support===
*'''Chaos [[Predator]] Annihilator and Destructor:''' A Predator with contagion, so it greatly softens those GEQ and jump pack tarpits within point blank heavy bolter range.  The flavors are Annihilator with a twin lascannon and Destructor with a Predator autocannon.
*'''Chaos [[Land Raider]]:''' The mass transport and massive tank of the Firstborn. With the Vehicle changes, in addition to ignoring the heavy weapon penalty, it now also a horrible idea to try to tarpit them as they can still shoot. All Land Raiders can carry Blightlords and Deathshroud (two transport slots).
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<tab name="Land Raider"> 
Carries ten models. An effective all-rounder with anti-vehicle capability, the 8th edition introducing unlimited splitfire benefitted this Land Raider the most. Capable of using its lascannons to pop a vehicle and then following up with the heavy bolters to wipe out a MEQ squad. While its transport capacity is still rather small compared to the other Land Raider variants, it still has just enough room to drop a 5-man squad of Blightlords. With T8, 16 wounds, and a 2+ armour save it'll be a tough nut to crack even with anti-armour weaponry.
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<tab name="Achilles (FW)">
The rage-inducing and expensive Achilles is back in a big way in 9th ed. A low cost of 320pts with volkite and 360pts with melta and T8 W16 Sv2+/5++ for good measure makes this model insanely tough. The Achilles is armed with a hull-mounted quad launcher with two ammo types; shatter shells (24", heavy 4, S8, AP-2, D3) and thunderfire shells (60", heavy 4d3, S4, AP0, D1, blast and does not require line of sight). Sponson options are two twin volkite culverins (45", heavy 8, S6, AP0, D2, wound rolls of unmodified 6 inflict an additional MW) or two twin multi-meltas. Both sponsons are frankly solid options and do quite well against their desired targets. You have the option for a storm bolter and a hunter-killer missile but NOT the single multi-melta like most other LR's get access to. The only area it lacks is its transport capacity of 6, with Jump Pack and Terminator models taking up two spaces. Centurion and Wulfen models are mentioned, but no unit with those keywords is small enough to fit in, and Primaris isn't allowed as per usual. Good for a Character and an MSU Infantry unit, but don't expect much more.
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<tab name="Proteus (FW)">
The Proteus has two sponson twin lascannons like the vanilla LR, but it can choose to take a multi-melta or twin heavy flamer instead of a twin heavy bolter option (there's also an option for a single heavy bolter, but why would you even use that). But its main draw is the Explorator Augury Web; taking it reduces the Proteus's transport capacity to 6, but it prevents anyone from deep striking within 12" of it. Conveniently enough, that happens to be melta range for the multi-melta, so suicide melta squads won't be able to get near it. For a more aggressively inclined Proteus, you can take the Heavy Armour instead to give it a 5++. 
* A Proteus with twin heavy bolters is 285pts, the exact same as the vanilla LR. However, the Proteus costs 1CP to take due to Martial Legacy, so get the most out of it and grab one of the two unique wargear items. 
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*'''[[Defiler]]''' - Almost the same as the Chaos Space Marine version, but it gains Contagion and has WS/BS 3+. While it lacks DR's -1D, it can still move up and spread contagions. Enjoy moving it up the field and wounding vehicles on 2+ with the scourge. Also, these got a buff to the cannons, doing flat 3D now. Might be worth considering as a target of Flash Outbreak since it's got such a large footprint. Overall, not a bad choice, but they're outshone by Plagueburst Crawlers for artillery and fleshmower Foetid Bloat Drones for melee.
**Comboing Nurgle daemons and poxmongers allows this guy to regenerate an average of 5 wounds a turn as long as you kill a model in melee. For only 170 points that’s very tough, especially considering it can kill a knight in a turn.
*'''[[Plagueburst Crawler]]''' - It is quite tough with T8 and 12W coupled with 3+/5++ and Disgustingly Resilient. It can move 9"  and as of 9th edition the heavy weapon movement penalty only affects infantry, '''AND''' the Crawler's base BS is now 3+!!!. The mortar is Heavy D6 S8 AP-2 D2 and can shoot at targets 48" away, even if it cannot see them, and it's also a Plague Weapon. It is additionally equipped with the same plaguespitters the Bloat Drone has (12" Assault d6 auto-hits, S6 AP-1 D1, Plague Weapon). They can be switched for entropy cannons (36" Heavy 1 S8 AP-4 Dd3+3), effectively making it a short lascannon with the Plague Weapon rule if you want AT instead of anti-horde. It also has a hull-mounted heavy slugger (36" Heavy 4 S5 AP-1 D1) that can be replaced with a rothail volley cannon (24" Rapid Fire 3 S6 AP-1 D1) if you want to exchange range and shots-at-range for a more reliable chance to wound and substantially more shots within 12". The rothail is a good choice if you expect the tank to be in melee because it gives the tank 6 shots rather than 4 (also, the heavy slugger suffers a penalty to hit, because Plagueburst Crawlers don't qualify for Inexorable Advance). Basically, if you're taking spitters, go rothail. If taking entropy cannons, go heavy slugger. 
*'''Chaos Rapier Carrier<sup>Forge World</sup>:''' Ignore the Quad Launcher and the Gravity Cannon - the Quad Heavy Bolter is among the most efficient dakka you can field ''period'' (but especially anti-GEQ/MEQ/TEQ), while the Laser Destroyer is your most efficient anti-heavy.  Field 3 of these with Laser Destroyers and watch your problems literally evaporate.  The only problem is keeping them alive, as they're cheap because they're fragile, so don't be afraid to hide them behind terrain - they don't have a lot of M, but they can still peel a corner to shoot.
*'''Chaos Vindicator Laser Destroyer (Deimos Pattern Vindicator Laser Destroyer)<sup>Forge World</sup>:''' Use the Deimos Pattern Vindicator Laser Destroyer datasheet on page 8 of Imperial Armour Index: Forces of the Adeptus Astartes. It must replace all of its Faction keywords with the following: Chaos, Heretic Astartes, MARK OF CHAOS, LEGION.
*'''Chaos Whirlwind Scorpius<sup>Forge World</sup>:''' Chaos finally gets a Whirlwind! Scorpius Multi-Launcher is going to do work at 48" Heavy 3D3 S6 AP-2 D2, shoot targets you cannot see. Can also get a Havoc Launcher, but you aren't going to do that since you want it hiding all game and shooting. Can eat people in melee on a 5+ to regain a wound, may fire twice in the next shooting phase if it did not move!!! This is going to be a Chaos MVP for sure. Has the Containment Breach rule, which punishes regular units with 2d3 mortal wounds within 6" and Psykers within 6" with D6 mortal wounds instead.
**''Alternate Take:'' Why would you spend more than twice the points for less range, less shots, and less Strength? Rocket Barrage is nice, but it's not the Whirlwind it's trying to be, especially not at the point-value it's been offered at. You have better sources of indirect fire, that either earn their point-value or are just plain cheaper.
*'''Chaos [[Sicaran Battle Tank]] (FW):''' A series of Relic tanks, having an improved rhino chassis with W14 and Sv2+. The downside is they have a Martial Legacy, so they cost 1CP to even bring. In addition to its main gun and a single Heavy Bolter, you can grab 2 sponson-mounted Heavy Bolters or 2 Lascannons, a hunter-killer missile, and a pintle-mounted Storm Bolter, if you crave more dakka.
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<tab name="Sicaran Battle Tank">
The Sicaran has transitioned smoothly into 8th and 9th ed. It's armed with a nasty accelerator autocannon (48, assault 8, S7, AP-2, D3) but unfortunately lost its ability to ignore hit modifiers. Make good use of the assault weapon on its main gun by zipping around and firing while advancing.
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<tab name="Sicaran Venator">
The Venator trades the regular Sicaran's quantity of consistent shots for vehicle annihilation; 48", heavy 3, S12, AP-3, Dd6, rising to D6 if the tank remained stationary. finish off whatever survives with the hunter-killer or the sponson lascannons. 
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<tab name="Sicaran Punisher"> 
The Punisher says "fuck GEQ's"; 36", heavy 18, S6, AP-1, D1. Enjoy making Orks and Tyranids and Tau and Guard and Eldar cry.
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*'''Plague Hulk of Nurgle<sup>Forge World + legends </sup>:''' Want a better and tougher Defiler who doesn't heal himself? You found him! T8, 14W, 5++ and 5+ Disgusting Resilience. With S8 and "Rusting Curse" which lowers Vehicles saves within 1" by -1, he's going to punch the crap out of enemy armour. It can also be summoned, but with 12 PR it's not going to happen reliably. Rot Cannon is largely unchanged but with new stats, 36" Heavy D6, S6 AP-3 D2, and all wound against Infantry are rerolled (cool). Its vomit has morphed into something else altogether, 7" range, Pistol D6, S5 AP-2 D1 where all shots auto-hit... very cool! The Iron Claw remains largely unchanged, Sx2 AP-3 D6 (not -1 to hit rolls) with the Warp Sword being potentially good now with User S, AP-3, and flat D3 damage which also allows you rerolls to hit (much better than the last edition for sure!)...I still see most people taking the claw though. All around, the Plague Hulk is a great 8E choice.