Warhammer 40K: Space Marine’s Best Stratagems
Codex Space Marines gives players a giant toolkit of stratagems. Here’s the ones that will be your bread and butter.
The new codex gives us 34 Stratagems that are a reworked set from the last codex. While many of the names are the same, they have been reorganized into the currently mysterious five subcategories of:
- Battle Tactic
- Epic Deed
- Requisition
- Strategic Ploy
- Wargear
We also have new CP costs and tuning and restrictions across the board. As usual, the full set of Strategem sis broad ranging from the rarely used corner case items like Suppression Fire (yay Whirlwinds), to generic and broadly useful ones. We’re here to take a look at that end of the scale. Here are the Marine Strats we thing will have the most to offer players game in and game out.
Transhuman Physiology
An intriguing change from the 8th edition codex, and one that meets the need of subtly shifting the focus of Space Marine armies. The Stratagem does the same thing as before, ignoring wounds on rolls of 1-3, but now has moved from “ADEPTUS ASTARTES units that are not VEHICLE or SERVITOR” to PRIMARIS. Note that PRIMARIS in 9th is now about the individual marines now, not vehicles such as the tanks that have now lost the keyword. This will keep your sturdy Primaris infantry in the fight and let them shrug off some high strength fire that would have been deadly otherwise. So while GW gives the W2 to Classic Marines with the one hand, they subtly don’t give them access to further buffs like this. This is serving the purpose of keeping the focus of the army on Primaris infantry who can now outperform their older brothers in key moments.
Gene-Wrought Might
A very slightly tweaked version of the 8th edition Stratagem. The new one is any PRIMARIS, instead of just PRIMARIS INFANTRY. This means things like Outriders and Invaders can join in the fun. With the sheer number of attacks that Primaris units can generate, this gives you and chance to grind down even the sturdiest high toughness targets with sheer attrition. It’s the kind of thing that will make your PRIMARIS units generically dangerous and able to finish off damaged high value targets who would normally think themselves safe.
Rapid Fire
Solid, and generically useful. Almost all modern Marine armies have INTERCESSORS, and now you can use this with Veterans as well. Shoot again, to really increase the local firepower exactly where you most need it regardless of what type of weapons you equipped the squad with. This combined with Gene-Wrought Might can make those key INTERCESSOR units really overperform and carry the day in the face of tough odds.
Uncompromising Fire
This one will win you games. One of the tricky issues in 9th is the risk-reward conundrum of performing actions to win missions, while keeping your expensive units moving and firing to deal with the enemy. Uncompromising Fire means you don’t have to make the choice at those key moments.
Honour the Chapter
Hello loyalist Berzerkers. Assault Intercessors were already looking like a solid utility choice, and now the ability to fight a second time can catch foes unaware. Use this any time you need to finish off that tough unit, or just chew through an enormous horde in a hurry with that mountain of Primaris attacks. I’m sure the assault focused chapters like the Blood Angels won’t ever leave home without this one.
Steady Advance
I can already hear the Eradicators and Dark Angels cheering. There are lots of little combos and advantages to be gained by remaining stationary for many units. Off the top of my head the Eradicators moving and firing twice at total effectiveness, and the Dark Angel’s Grim Resolve will still work with this after moving your unit up. Yes please.
The Future
We’ll have to wait to see what other Strats if any arrive alongside the Supplemental Marine codexes, but these should keep you in the fight in the meantime.
~What are your tried and true go-to Strats?
