Warhammer 40K: This Week’s Meta Hotness – Company Veterans

6 Minute Read

Sep 9 2021

Let’s take a look at a hot unit that’s been the block a few times, the Space Marine Company Veterans.

In the ever-shifting meta of 40K, armies rise and fall. We’ve spent a lot of time talking about armies that are hot or not, but a lot less time looking at units that are running the show. Today let’s take a look at one of the hottest units currently running around the tabletop.

The Unit

Space Marine Veterans, are an old school classic Firstborn Marine unit. These infantrymen pre-date the more modern Sternguard and Vanguard Veterans. This unit not only acts as a flexible elite unit, but forms the bodyguard and command squads for Marine Commanders. This is a highly flexible and customizable unit.

Why They Are Good

Veterans are a flexible Marine unit that can take a massive variety of weapons and wargear. They are an elite fighting force, that can be built to face any foe. None of that is why they are good in 9th Edition. Space Marine Veterans are good because they can be taken as a 2 man unit. For a measly 54 pts you get a two-man unit armed with storm shields and lighting claws. This makes them one of the cheapest units in the Marine Codex, and one that doesn’t take up any force org slots. As such they are wonderful throw-away unit you can use to hold objectives or perform actions. They give you a great disposable unit to do things you don’t want to waste real units on.

Now, these guys aren’t a total pushover, and people do tend to spend the points to give them lightning claws and storm shields. Combined that makes them just useful enough to be annoying. With the storm shields you’ve not a 4 wound unit with a 2+/4++ save. That’s just enough that you are going to actually have to try to kill them, as a few throw-away shots won’t do it. Likewise in combat, they are putting out 7-9 attacks at good AP and re-rolling wounds. This means that they can outfight a lot of other throw-away holding units, such as a Guard Infantry Squad or Cultists. This is a unit that you don’t want to focus on killing, but also can’t just ignore as it’s just good enough to make issues if ignored. On top of all that, they’ve also got the bodyguard rule, which can allow for some fun things. At the end of the day, they punch just a little above their point cost and have great utility in 9th Edition.

A Sample List

Saying a unit is hot is all well and good, but let’s take a look at how players are using it. A ton of pretty diverse Marine lists with Veterans have done well at a number of recent events recently One list that shows off the use of Veterans is the list that Evan Stump ran to take 1st place at the recent Power Games GT. (via 40kstats.com)

++ Battalion Detachment 0CP (Imperium – Adeptus Astartes – Deathwatch) [112 PL, 1,999pts, 6CP] ++

+ Configuration +

Battle Size [12CP]: 3. Strike Force (101-200 Total PL / 1001-2000 Points)

Chapter Selection: Deathwatch

Detachment Command Cost

+ Stratagems +

Relics of the Chapter [-1CP]: Number of Extra Relics

+ No Force Org Slot +

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Company Veterans [3 PL, 54pts]
. Company Veteran: Frag & Krak grenades, Lightning Claw, Storm shield
. Company Veteran Sergeant: Frag & Krak grenades, Lightning Claw, Storm shield

Servitors [2 PL, 30pts]: 4x Servitor, 4x Servo-arm

+ HQ +

Primaris Captain [5 PL, 105pts, -1CP]: 3. Nowhere to Hide (Aura), Dominus Aegis, Frag & Krak grenades, Storm of Fire, Stratagem: A Vigil Unmatched, Warlord
. Heavy bolt pistol, Master-crafted power sword and Relic shield: Heavy Bolt Pistol, Master-crafted power sword, Relic Shield

Primaris Techmarine [5 PL, 100pts, -1CP]: Chapter Command: Master of the Forge, Forge bolter, Frag & Krak grenades, Grav-pistol, Mechadendrite, Omnissian power axe, Servo-arm, Stratagem: Hero of the Chapter, The Tome of Ectoclades, Warden of the Ancients

+ Troops +

Incursor Squad [5 PL, 105pts]
. 4x Incursor: 4x Bolt pistol, 4x Frag & Krak grenades, 4x Occulus bolt carbine, 4x Paired combat blades
. Incursor Sergeant: Bolt pistol, Frag & Krak grenades, Occulus bolt carbine, Paired combat blades

Proteus Kill Team [18 PL, 250pts]: Jump Packs
. Deathwatch Veteran: Deathwatch Shotgun, Frag & Krak grenades
. Deathwatch Veteran: Deathwatch Shotgun, Frag & Krak grenades
. Deathwatch Veteran: Deathwatch Shotgun, Frag & Krak grenades
. Deathwatch Veteran: Deathwatch Shotgun, Frag & Krak grenades
. Vanguard Veteran: Frag & Krak grenades, Lightning Claw, Storm shield
. Vanguard Veteran: Frag & Krak grenades, Lightning Claw, Storm shield
. Veteran Biker: Astartes Chainsword, Frag & Krak grenades, Twin boltgun
. Veteran Biker: Astartes Chainsword, Frag & Krak grenades, Twin boltgun
. Veteran Biker: Astartes Chainsword, Frag & Krak grenades, Twin boltgun
. Watch Sergeant: Deathwatch Shotgun, Frag & Krak grenades

+ Elites +

Redemptor Dreadnought [9 PL, 185pts]: 2x Storm Bolters, Icarus Rocket Pod, Macro Plasma Incinerator, Onslaught Gatling Cannon, Redemptor Fist

Relic Contemptor Dreadnought [8 PL, 150pts, -1CP]: 2x Twin volkite culverin

+ Fast Attack +

Suppressor Squad [5 PL, 100pts]
. 2x Suppressor: 2x Accelerator autocannon, 2x Bolt pistol, 2x Frag & Krak grenades
. Suppressor Sergeant: Accelerator autocannon, Bolt pistol, Frag & Krak grenades

++ Total: [112 PL, 6CP, 1,999pts] ++

Using the Unit

I picked this list in particular to show off just how prevalent Veterans are in Marine lists right now. Even a Deathwatch list, one of the most divergent Marine books is taking them. They are the second cheapest unit in the army, being only beaten out by Servitors, which fill a similar role. They are of course taken in a min sized 2 man unit with the normal storm shields and lightning claws. In an army with relatively fewer units, even taking combat squads into account, they are a cheap and efficient way to squeeze in an extra unit and help win games.

Let us know what units you think are hot right now, down in the comments!

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Author: Abe Apfel

Abe is that rare thing, an Austin local born and raised here. Though he keeps on moving around, DC, Japan, ETC., he always seems to find his way back eventually. Abe has decades of experience with a wide range of tabletop and RPG games, from historicals, to Star Wars to D&D and 40K. He has been contributing to BOLS since almost the start, back when he worked at and then owned a local gaming store. He used to be big into the competitive Warhammer tournament scene but age has mellowed him and he now appreciates a good casual match. He currently covers 40K tactics and lore, as well as all things Star Wars, with occasional dabbling in other topics. Abe remains in mourning over the loss of WFB to this day.

Game Rules Space Marines Tactics Warhammer 40k Warhammer 40K 9th Edition