So the state of the game was getting me down and I quit playing soon after Dark Angels supplement released - in which my main gaming partner played, since they’re basically designed to counter any elite faction. I’ve been wanting to test the waters with the new dataslate and made this list to fight my friend’s Word Bearers. I’m not exactly looking for opinions, but feel free to give them, my knowledge on what UMs do well may be a bit dated but I’ll explain my decisions.

Unbound Army (Faction) (Imperium - Adeptus Astartes - Ultramarines) [115 PL, 2,425pts, 5CP]

• Configuration

Chapter Selector: Ultramarines

Battle Size [6CP]: 3. Strike Force (101-200 Total PL / 1001-2000 Points)

Game Type: 4. Chapter Approved: War Zone Nephilim

• HQ

Chief Librarian Tigurius [7 PL, 135pts]

Marneus Calgar [11 PL, 180pts, 1CP]: Adept of the Codex, Stratagem: Warlord Trait, Warlord

• Troops

Intercessor Squad [10 PL, 230pts]: 2x Astartes Grenade Launcher, Auto Bolt Rifle . 9x Intercessor: 9x Bolt pistol, 9x Frag & Krak grenades . Intercessor Sergeant: Thunder hammer

• Elites

Apothecary [5 PL, 110pts, -2CP]: Chapter Command: Chief Apothecary, Seal of Oath, Selfless Healer, Stratagem: Hero of the Chapter, Stratagem: Relic

Invictor Tactical Warsuit [8 PL, 160pts]: Twin ironhail autocannon

Invictor Tactical Warsuit [8 PL, 160pts]: Twin ironhail autocannon

Redemptor Dreadnought [10 PL, 195pts]: 2x Fragstorm Grenade Launchers, Icarus Rocket Pod, Macro Plasma Incinerator, Onslaught Gatling Cannon

Terminator Assault Squad [18 PL, 435pts]: Teleport Homer . Assault Terminator Sergeant . . Thunder Hammer & Storm Shield: Thunder hammer . 9x Assault Terminator w/THSS: 9x Storm shield, 9x Thunder hammer

• Fast Attack

Inceptor Squad [14 PL, 300pts]: 4x Inceptor, Inceptor Sergeant, Plasma Exterminator x2

Outrider Squad [6 PL, 135pts]: Outrider Sgt . 2x Outrider: 2x Astartes Chainsword, 2x Frag & Krak grenades, 2x Heavy Bolt Pistol, 2x Twin Bolt rifle

• Heavy Support

Eliminator Squad [4 PL, 75pts]: Bolt sniper rifle . Eliminator Sergeant: Bolt sniper rifle . 2x Eliminators: 2x Bolt pistol, 2x Camo cloak, 2x Frag & Krak grenades

Eradicator Squad [7 PL, 155pts]: Heavy melta rifle . Eradicator . Eradicator Sgt . Eradicator with MM: Multi-melta

Eradicator Squad [7 PL, 155pts]: Heavy melta rifle . Eradicator . Eradicator Sgt . Eradicator with MM: Multi-melta

Total: [115 PL, 5CP, 2,425pts]

Created with BattleScribe (https://battlescribe.net)

So it’s using the new Arks of Omen detachment and is 2000 points despite what BattleScribe suggests. Marines were very overcosted, the points reductions allows you to field three Eradicator squads compared to before!

It’s going to play Oaths of Moment with the new premier Terminator brick holding the midfield accompanied by a Redemptor, Calgar and Tigurius. Tigurius is the star as many of you will know. I don’t rate Calgar well thanks to his outdated melee but for 20 points more than a Gravis Chapter Master he’s super tanky and gives you 2CP more to start. I personally picked him because fielding Tigurius without him makes me feel dirty.

The Invictors and Eliminator squad exploit Rapid Redeployment which is a well-known tactic, using infiltrate to deploy units aggressively and pulling them back into your deployment zone if you don’t get to go first. Getting to go first gives you massive initiative with the Invictor’s movement and dangerous melee. Worse case scenario you scare your opponent into deploying extremely conservatively which will have the rest of your army go uncontested for the first one or two turns of the game. Autocannons allow the Invictors to still provide value if you don’t go first, and mine will accompany the terminator brick and charge if they live long enough to. Contrasting with the Invictors, the Eliminators would prefer to be set up in deployment, but are cheap enough to deploy aggressively with the Invictors. One unit won’t kill anything major, but they’re a deterrent and their damage against minor characters adds up if ignored. This results in the three units to utilise rapid redeployment.

The Eradicators will likely start in reserves now that it’s free, but if the opponent’s list has a large, high value and durable model, they can easily be pivoted to accompany the Terminator brick and benefit from the Seal of Oath granting them full rerolls to hit and wound.

Finally, my most flexible elements. The large squad of Intercessors will ideally combat squad into two smaller units who will advance from my backfield objectives to midfield objectives, controlling one, and contesting one with the new sticky objectives rule. Alternatively if the opponent’s list has a large amount of infantry, they can remain as a single squad and gain double shooting with Rapid-Fire, Sons of Guilliman of Calgar for full hit rerolls. This will leave the list a little light on objective elements, where Outriders, Inceptors and Eliminators will have to suffice but otherwise Outriders and Inceptors both have the mobility to be flexible, target specific units who they excel at, return to my deployment zone to defend or press an attack.

Defensive Focus between two squads of Eradicators and a Redemptor, and Fall Back and Re-engage on the Terminators are stratagems to remember when the situation arises but I feel like I have most basis’ covered. A lot like Tigurius, I foresee him being the star along with the 33 point Terminators between -1 to hit and Veil of Time granting a more reliable counter-charge or fights first, I expect they’ll turn away units of possessed with a little help from a Chief Apothecary it’s just a shame that they’ll always be inferior to Deathwing.