If you’re playing Warhammer 40,000, you need a plan to kill Space Marines. With all fully fledged Adeptus Astartes going to 2 Wounds, tabletops are in for a considerable shake-up – and we’re here to ensure that you come out on top. Behold, the top 9 units for killing Space Marines!
1. Exocrines
The Hive Mind’s answer to Space Marines, this tough and mobile firebase has a multi-shot, Damage 2 weapon that’ll crack power armour like nobody’s business. Even assault offers no salvation from the Exocrine’s scorching fusillades, with Damage 2 in melee AND the ability to fire at point-blank range in the new edition!
2. Heldrakes
However you arm your Heldrake, it’ll be dealing a hefty 2 Damage to power-armoured foes. The bonkers mobility of this daemonic dragon means it’ll be in your Adeptus Astartes-playing opponent’s deployment zone in the first turn or two. The fact it’s also a cracking Space Marine slayer in close combat is just icing on the cake!
3. Ravagers
Aeldari armies have all sorts of high-damage, high-AP weapons to choose from, but none quite match up to the Ravager. Armed with a trio of disintegrators, it’ll turn any Space Marine squad into molten ceramite soup.*
4. Daemon Princes with Malefic Talons
Chaos players love Daemon Princes – it’s a wizard, monster and commander all in one! Armed with malefic talons, they’ll carve through Space Marine squads with no trouble while also posing a risk to tanks or anything else the Adeptus Astartes can throw at you.
5. Meganobz with Killsaws
Move over, beakies – there’s a new power-armoured elite in town.
with killsaws boast massive strength, and that all-important Damage 2, with the option of using the Hit ‘Em Harder Stratagem to bring them up to Damage 3 for foes like Aggressors or Adeptus Custodes.
6. Triarch Praetorians
In the new Necrons codex, the rod of covenant wielded by each Triarch Praetorian is going up to Damage 2 in melee AND shooting – ideal for when the Silent King commands than an objective be reclaimed from some power-armoured whipper-snappers.
7. Anyone and Anything Holding a Heavy Bolter
Heavy bolters are great – and they’re about to get even better. Whether they’re being wielded by Havocs or deployed by Genestealer Cults/Astra Militarum Heavy Weapon Teams, this humble weapon is ideal for cutting down Space Marines.
8. Genestealer Cults Aberrants
With armies investing heavily in Damage 2 weapons, you won’t just need a plan to kill Space Marines – you'll need to weather the kind of firepower your friends will be packing! Aberrants are the perfect option, being both durable against Damage 2 shots AND great at smashing Adeptus Astartes!
9. Bladeguard Veterans
Sometimes,** Space Marines fight Space Marines. This is generally a pretty big deal – and you need a plan for it. Bladeguard Veterans can carve through power armour with ease and have that all-important Damage 2 on their relic power swords, making them perfect for those “friendly” all-Adeptus Astartes bouts.
What are your favourite Space Marine killers? Give us your thoughts on the Warhammer 40,000 Facebook page!
* Probably still better than corpse starch…
** Pretty often, actually.