How effective are Chaos Terminators?

[Aspire to Glory]

The title speaks for itself. How have Chaos Terminators been faring?

Any particular Marks and loadouts prove more useful than others?

Have they been worth the need for an expensive transport that an entire enemy army will wail on?

I'm probably going to take them regardless because I love their concept, but I just want to know what I can expect of them. Thanks, all!

[Learn2Eel]

They are cheaper than Loyalist variants, but I think they should be used differently. The lack of TH/SS means you can't make them into a really nasty point-for-point combat unit against anything else in the game, but you can take small squads of them that can be fantastic 'suicide' units. Chaos adopted the "termicide" tactic; deep striking three terminators with three combi weapons, usually two combi plasma and one combi melta, and striking at targets of opportunity. Given that they are Terminators, they are very durable even just in a trio. Give them a chainfist or two, and they can become a serious problem for your opponent; tearing up vehicles and smaller squads in the backfield.

I usually wouldn't recommend putting them in a Land Raider. Though we get the cheapest Land Raider, it is also the worst for what we need - the Redeemer or Crusader would be much better for transporting them. As it is, I would just deep strike them. However, this creates an obvious problem with randomness and risk - something you need to factor in, and weigh it against the cost of taking a Land Raider. Terminators of any kind work well as bodyguards, always remember that. You can be sure that they will doubly increase the durability of someone like Abaddon or Kharn, whom are point-for-point amongst the most brutal melee combatants in the entire game.

As for ways to equip them, it really depends on how many you want to fit and what role you want to use them in. Do you want some cheap units that can be durable distractions and do a lot of damage to your opponents' forces in the backfield? Running them in the aforementioned "termicide" role is a good start, probably two squads of three or more. Keep them cheap, keep them balanced. Do you want a bodyguard that can soak up lots of firepower and ensure your Chaos Lord gets into the combat he thrives in? Take four and attach the Lord, sending them barreling into the enemies' lines inside a Land Raider. Give them a mix of chain/power fists and power weapons, preferably axes and swords, as well as a pair of lightning claws here or there - take some combi-weapons for good measure. Just remember that this approach is expensive, and you may want to look at some alternatives, such as deep striking. Another good transport for Terminators is the Storm Eagle, available from Forge World. It is essentially a more durable Storm Raven (an extra hull point) with a much bigger carrying capacity. It is possible to take 9 Terminators and a Lord inside a Storm Eagle. Just be aware that if it shot down whilst carrying your troops to the battlefield, you will likely lose around 500-600 points in one explosion.

As far as marks and icons go, it also depends on what wargear you give them. Chainfists and power fists are very cheap for our Terminators, as are paired lightning claws. If you want a unit dedicated to wiping out infantry, give them mostly paired lightning claws as well as a few power fists so that you can deal with enemy Terminators and vehicles. In addition, the mark of Slaanesh pairs wonderfully with lightning-claw armed Terminators. Slice and dice! There is also the Feel No Pain icon, which makes them unfairly durable, but remember that it is incredibly expensive. Khorne also works well in this regard, giving them lots of attacks. Nurgle and Tzeentch are always useful on Chaos Terminators, but just be aware of the kind of durability each one improves - Nurgle makes you more resistant to small arms fire, whereas Tzeentch will allow you a better chance to survive AP2 weapons. Which you pick is based on what you think is most likely to kill your Terminators. I don't recommend the Nurgle or Tzeentch icons, but the Khorne one is good. I usually wouldn't bother with the Fearless icon, because if you are taking a big enough unit for it to really matter, you will probably have a Lord attached to it anyway.

I hope that helps!

[Aspire to Glory]

They are cheaper than Loyalist variants, but I think they should be used differently. The lack of TH/SS means you can't make them into a really nasty point-for-point combat unit against anything else in the game, but you can take small squads of them that can be fantastic 'suicide' units. Chaos adopted the "termicide" tactic; deep striking three terminators with three combi weapons, usually two combi plasma and one combi melta, and striking at targets of opportunity. Given that they are Terminators, they are very durable even just in a trio. Give them a chainfist or two, and they can become a serious problem for your opponent; tearing up vehicles and smaller squads in the backfield.

I usually wouldn't recommend putting them in a Land Raider. Though we get the cheapest Land Raider, it is also the worst for what we need - the Redeemer or Crusader would be much better for transporting them. As it is, I would just deep strike them. However, this creates an obvious problem with randomness and risk - something you need to factor in, and weigh it against the cost of taking a Land Raider. Terminators of any kind work well as bodyguards, always remember that. You can be sure that they will doubly increase the durability of someone like Abaddon or Kharn, whom are point-for-point amongst the most brutal melee combatants in the entire game.

As for ways to equip them, it really depends on how many you want to fit and what role you want to use them in. Do you want some cheap units that can be durable distractions and do a lot of damage to your opponents' forces in the backfield? Running them in the aforementioned "termicide" role is a good start, probably two squads of three or more. Keep them cheap, keep them balanced. Do you want a bodyguard that can soak up lots of firepower and ensure your Chaos Lord gets into the combat he thrives in? Take four and attach the Lord, sending them barreling into the enemies' lines inside a Land Raider. Give them a mix of chain/power fists and power weapons, preferably axes and swords, as well as a pair of lightning claws here or there - take some combi-weapons for good measure. Just remember that this approach is expensive, and you may want to look at some alternatives, such as deep striking. Another good transport for Terminators is the Storm Eagle, available from Forge World. It is essentially a more durable Storm Raven (an extra hull point) with a much bigger carrying capacity. It is possible to take 9 Terminators and a Lord inside a Storm Eagle. Just be aware that if it shot down whilst carrying your troops to the battlefield, you will likely lose around 500-600 points in one explosion.

As far as marks and icons go, it also depends on what wargear you give them. Chainfists and power fists are very cheap for our Terminators, as are paired lightning claws. If you want a unit dedicated to wiping out infantry, give them mostly paired lightning claws as well as a few power fists so that you can deal with enemy Terminators and vehicles. In addition, the mark of Slaanesh pairs wonderfully with lightning-claw armed Terminators. Slice and dice! There is also the Feel No Pain icon, which makes them unfairly durable, but remember that it is incredibly expensive. Khorne also works well in this regard, giving them lots of attacks. Nurgle and Tzeentch are always useful on Chaos Terminators, but just be aware of the kind of durability each one improves - Nurgle makes you more resistant to small arms fire, whereas Tzeentch will allow you a better chance to survive AP2 weapons. Which you pick is based on what you think is most likely to kill your Terminators. I don't recommend the Nurgle or Tzeentch icons, but the Khorne one is good. I usually wouldn't bother with the Fearless icon, because if you are taking a big enough unit for it to really matter, you will probably have a Lord attached to it anyway.

I hope that helps!

It helps a great deal. Thanks!

Think I could get away with not taking a mark at all on them? I'm probably playing an Undivided legion, and I'm big on theme.

[Mr Mystery]

I'd love to chime in, but Mr 2Eel has nailed it!

[Aspire to Glory]

I agree! Thanks, guys!

Think I can get away with unmarked Terminators? I plan on going Undivided.

[Learn2Eel]

Unmarked Terminators are just fine, and it will also save you quite a bit of points.

[Aspire to Glory]

Unmarked Terminators are just fine, and it will also save you quite a bit of points.
Good. I'll need them. :D