Goatboy’s Step by Step ArmyList – So Many Plague Marines
Get inside Goatboy’s head as he builds a mean list step by step from the ground up. It’s Death Guard time!Instead of going over something competitive, min/maxed, and most likely mean to play against – lets see how many Plague Marines we can get into a working army. I know everyone and their mom are trying to use Morty in their lists. I like Morty and think his design, rules, etc are fine but just having him, maybe his friend Magnus, and a bunch of cheap troops is not the most “Death Guard” like army out there. This left me thinking about ways I could just play a ton of bodies that are not Pox Walkers, push the opponent into a corner, and maybe make a list that looks a bit different from the others on the table top.
Let’s see what kind of Plague Marine squads we can build. All will be 7 man squads because its Nurgle and if I don’t put the number 7 in there I will probably get a stern talking too. I get the feeling a close combat based set up for Plague Marines is probably where it is at they can get extra attacks, set ups to allow them to reroll hits, and ways to reroll wounds. This means this force is going to hit, hit hard, and maybe murder a bunch of people.
- Plague Marine Squad – X 7, Bubonic Axes X 5, Flail of Corruption X 2 – 178 pts
- Rhino, Combi-Bolter X 2 – 74 pts
Not very cheap but it seems like it would be hardy. Throw in a Rhino to help them get across the field and you got the initial set up for this aggressive plague marine force. From there we need to look at some kind of aura control to help these guys as well. A Daemon Prince with Wings (most likely getting added to the books points when an FAQ comes out) will be helpful with reroll 1’s, maybe the Helm to get his Arch Contaminator Warlord with a bigger range, and another “assault element” to help punch things. Will probably do 2 of them as we need 2 HQ for a Battalion and these guys do the job pretty well.
- Daemon Prince w/Wings of Nurgle, Malefic Talons X 2, Fugaris’s Helm – Warlord Arch Contaminator – Blades of Purification – 180pts
- Daemon Prince w/Wings of Nurgle, Malefic Talons X 2 – Putrescent Vitality – 180pts
Building the Core
From there it is all about trying to figure out how many points we have left and what kind of Support we need to let our guys do the good work. Here is the basic list shell with a point total. I like the idea of some Blight Terminators to come down, throw out a ton of dakka as needed, and hopefully be a pain/threat as my other parts of the army move up. I think utilizing things like Veterans of the Long War to help mitigate some of the lack of “specialized” guns issues might be good – but then we start falling into the Command Point pit.
- Death Guard Battalion
- HQ: Daemon Prince w/Wings of Nurgle, Malefic Talons X 2, Fugaris’s Helm – Warlord Arch Contaminator – Blades of Purification – 180pts
- HQ: Daemon Prince w/Wings of Nurgle, Malefic Talons X 2 – Putrescent Vitality – 180pts
- Troops: Plague Marine Squad – X 7, Bubonic Axes X 5, Flail of Corruption X 2 – 178 pts
- Troops: Plague Marine Squad – X 7, Bubonic Axes X 5, Flail of Corruption X 2 – 178 pts
- Troops: Plague Marine Squad – X 7, Bubonic Axes X 5, Flail of Corruption X 2 – 178 pts
- Transport: Chaos Rhino, Combi-Bolter X 2 – 74pts
- Transport: Chaos Rhino, Combi-Bolter X 2 – 74pts
- Transport: Chaos Rhino, Combi-Bolter X 2 – 74pts
Adding Flavor
Right now we are sitting at 1116 pts which means we have a good deal of “room” to add other goodies to the army. I think some Elite Character help might need to come next – with the Tallyman, the Biologus Putrifier, Foul Blightspawn, and maybe the Plague Surgeon. The Tallyman is a must as I feel this assault based army could really use the ability to reroll all hits in combat. I like the Putrifier too as the combo of a ton of grenades is a pretty powerful thing. I also just remember I probably need a Lord of Contagion to try and activate the aura abilities. Or I move to Typhus as their points are not too off. It is something to think about as I get closer to the end.
Let’s look at the Elite options and point costs. I already said I wanted the Tallyman and the Putrifier. I think as this is an Assault based list I want to have the Foul Blightspawn too as people will have issues charging me.
- Tallyman, Plasma Pistol (Wish I didn’t have to take it) – 67pts
- Biologus Putrifier – 74pts
- Foul Blightspawn – 77pts
Each of these guys can ride in a separate Rhino to help get them there and keep your drops pretty low. Let’s see where we are heading and what else we can add. I am already looking at Typhus as he can get us some other spells as needed and free up the Daemon Princes to become more protection options with Miasma of Pestilence.
- HQ: Daemon Prince w/Wings of Nurgle, Malefic Talons X 2, Fugaris’s Helm – Warlord Arch Contaminator – Blades of Purification – 180pts
- HQ: Daemon Prince w/Wings of Nurgle, Malefic Talons X 2 – Miasma of Pestilence – 180pts
- HQ: Typhus – Putrescent Vitality, Plague Wind – 175ptrs
- Elites: Tallyman – 67pts
- Elites: Bilogous Putrifier – 74pts
- Elites: Foul Blightspawn – 77pts
- Troops: Plague Marine Squad – X 7, Bubonic Axes X 5, Flail of Corruption X 2 – 178 pts
- Troops: Plague Marine Squad – X 7, Bubonic Axes X 5, Flail of Corruption X 2 – 178 pts
- Troops: Plague Marine Squad – X 7, Bubonic Axes X 5, Flail of Corruption X 2 – 178 pts
- Transport: Chaos Rhino, Combi-Bolter X 2 – 74pts
- Transport: Chaos Rhino, Combi-Bolter X 2 – 74pts
- Transport: Chaos Rhino, Combi-Bolter X 2 – 74pts
Final Seasonings
This sits at 1509 – which still leaves a decent amount of room. We could go into a few different directions if we wanted too. I already talked about taking a 5 man squad of Terminators to help poor out some Dakka. There is also some thought on taking a few Foetid Drones to help give some better firepower. Heck those cute little mini tanks might also be good as they can make everyone have a +1 to their save from their stinky aura. There are a lot of different directions. Let’s look at each option to see what might actually fit into the leftover points.
- Blightlord Terminators X 5, Bubonic Axes X 5, Combi-Bolters X 5 – 225pts
- Foetid Blight Drone, Plaguespitter X 2, Plague probe – 158pts
- Myphitic Blight Hauler X 3 – 426pts
- Defiler, TWL Hvy Bolter, TWL Hvy Flamer, Combi-Bolter – 205pts
I threw in the Defiler as it might actually be decent in a list like this as it moves fast enough to keep up with the guys – plus it throws out a decent amount of firepower. It doesn’t hit very well but with some Daemon Princes nearby it might actually be good. I am thinking though a unit of Terminators and some Blight Drones might be where this list needs to end up. Still the idea of a Monster Mash list with Defilers just sounds so 4th edition. I remember playing versus a Monster Mash list at Adepticon one year against a great Chaos General Horton. Still let’s add the things that will help make the army list decent with some more speed and ok firepower.
- HQ: Daemon Prince w/Wings of Nurgle, Malefic Talons X 2, Fugaris’s Helm – Warlord Arch Contaminator – Blades of Purification – 180pts
- HQ: Daemon Prince w/Wings of Nurgle, Malefic Talons X 2 – Miasma of Pestilence – 180pts
- HQ: Typhus – Putrescent Vitality, Plague Wind – 175pts
- Elites: Tallyman – 67pts
- Elites: Bilogous Putrifier – 74pts
- Elites: Foul Blightspawn – 77pts
- Elites: Blightlord Terminators X 5, Bubonic Axes X 5, Combi-Bolters X 5 – 225pts
- Troops: Plague Marine Squad – X 7, Bubonic Axes X 5, Flail of Corruption X 2 – 178 pts
- Troops: Plague Marine Squad – X 7, Bubonic Axes X 5, Flail of Corruption X 2 – 178 pts
- Troops: Plague Marine Squad – X 7, Bubonic Axes X 5, Flail of Corruption X 2 – 178 pts
- FA: Foetid Blight Drone, Plaguespitter X 2, Plague Probe – 158pts
- FA: Foetid Blight Drone, Plaguespitter X 2, Plague Probe – 158pts
- Transport: Chaos Rhino, Combi-Bolter X 2 – 74pts
- Transport: Chaos Rhino, Combi-Bolter X 2 – 74pts
- Transport: Chaos Rhino, Combi-Bolter X 2 – 74pts
Trimming the Fat
This puts us over 2050 – which means we need to drop some stuff. I am thinking we don’t need 2 Daemon Princes. Obviously we need the Warlord but if we drop the other one, maybe take a Malignant Plaguecaster to help shore up some psychic things and we end up with a nice list. Let’s look at the Caster just to make sure he can fit into this hot mess of an army.
- Malignant Plague Caster, Foul Bad Touch Staff – 120pts
This fits in perfectly and leaves us with 10 extra points to work with. I am thinking just throwing on a Warp Bolter on the Daemon Prince gives us another bit of firepower as this army has a lot of bolters removed for extra Axes and other nonsense.
- HQ: Daemon Prince w/Wings of Nurgle, Malefic Talons X 2, Warp Bolter, Fugaris’s Helm – Warlord Arch Contaminator – Miasma of Pestilence – 189pts
- HQ: Malignant Plague Caster, Foul Blightstaff – Blades of Purification, Curse of the Leaper – 120pts
- HQ: Typhus – Putrescent Vitality, Plague Wind – 175pts
- Elites: Tallyman – 67pts
- Elites: Bilogous Putrifier – 74pts
- Elites: Foul Blightspawn – 77pts
- Elites: Blightlord Terminators X 5, Bubonic Axes X 5, Combi-Bolters X 5 – 225pts
- Troops: Plague Marine Squad – X 7, Bubonic Axes X 5, Flail of Corruption X 2 – 178 pts
- Troops: Plague Marine Squad – X 7, Bubonic Axes X 5, Flail of Corruption X 2 – 178 pts
- Troops: Plague Marine Squad – X 7, Bubonic Axes X 5, Flail of Corruption X 2 – 178 pts
- FA: Foetid Blight Drone, Plaguespitter X 2, Plague Probe – 158pts
- FA: Foetid Blight Drone, Plaguespitter X 2, Plague Probe – 158pts
- Transport: Chaos Rhino, Combi-Bolter X 2 – 74pts
- Transport: Chaos Rhino, Combi-Bolter X 2 – 74pts
- Transport: Chaos Rhino, Combi-Bolter X 2 – 74pts
List points total – 1999
Command Points – 6
Power Level – 108
The question comes in – do Plague Marines who are more kitted out with bolters and ranged weapons do better or is it worth it to get assault minded followers of Nurgle. Do I have enough shooting to do any damage? I think the army looks like it will be fun to play with and against. I don’t think it can survive some of the brutal competitive stuff we see with wave after wave of Conscripts and no LOS weapons. But against the normal stuff you see day in and day out it should do fine. Plus the overall models should be easy to get with the majority coming from the Dark Imperium box set.
~Until next time – Death to the False Emperor!
