Chaos Possessed - How Strong Are They? Chaos Space Marines Codex Unit Review

Today we're talking about the twisted amalgamations of man and warp entity that are the Possessed...
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0:00 Intro
0:43 Datasheet
3:37 Raw Damage
4:33 Buffs + Synergy
7:58 Legions
13:20 Unit Builds
15:25 Use and Thoughts

[@auspextactics]

CORRECTION: Advance and charge is only for CORE units for creations of Bile, so doesn't work on these sadly! Still pretty awesome in the faction though with +1S +1 move and fights in death. I guess if you want advance-and-charge it'd be Red Corsairs!

[@ramsesrodriguez1049]

Auspex, I'm staring at the chaos space marine codex pg. 115 Black Rune of Damnation: this relic can be given to a CULTISTS model. Did they change that somewhere? I was thinking about doing the terminator blob with that relic, but it says cultists model. Respectfully, and I enjoy all of your content.

[@lucask9651]

@@ramsesrodriguez1049 It just means that the cultist CAN be given to cultists, not that is has to be. Check out the first paragraph or so on the relics page. It notes that relics must say "Cultists can take this relic" if they can take them. That's the reason it's there.

[@ramsesrodriguez1049]

@@lucask9651 and that solves this case of GW's Neverending rules pile brought to you by a generous rules pro. Thanks I appreciate you

[@michaelveritas1930]

I hadn't realized they get slanesh in EC, checked the wording and its correct, also checked Delightful Agonies and I guess they can give a 5+++ to a landraider

[@Zekemister]

I think the fight on death should be changed for Bile. We saw with Harlequins that was too strong and I believe it’s too strong here. It’s fine if a unit in an army but for an entire faction.

[@maugetar9340]

Good to see, that posessed have become, what they always should have been. A strong elite melee unit.

[@dime4026]

i see the possessed as insane close combat units. The lore supports it aswell. I would consider them more dangerous than khorne berserker (lore wise)

[@dragofos787]

I consider berserkers to be more effective doing what they are meant for, which is anti infantry shock assaults

[@dime4026]

@@dragofos787 yea can't deny that.

[@bobbobertbobberton1073]

Not so much a possessed, a greator possessed like the Gal Vorbak definitely. Argel Tal was massive, way bigger than even a 40k possessed.

[@Ace_011]

After reading the First Heretic and seeing a squad of (Admittedly Gal Vorbak) possessed slaughter 3 custodes, these new stats really show off how deadly they can be.

[@6dragondaddy913]

@@bobbobertbobberton1073 greater possessed no longer exist, they're up-sizing ALL the possessed.

[@ForTehNguyen]

5 attacks S5 -2 2 damage. SM: OMG Nerf. Death Guard: Oh no.......anyways

[@UmJammaLamma]

Just a note, the Adv and Charge strat for Creations of Bile is Core only, so no possessed. Still useful on Chosen or Terminators though

[@latros_sacrum]

That feeling when a 10 man of possessed deletes big 10-20 man infantry squads in a single turn of combat. Finally they feel like proper daemonkin!

[@chocolatefigure01]

That feeling when 6 blood angels bladeguard deletes ur possesed blob.

[@jl94k]

@@chocolatefigure01 You're salty ?

[@jgascoine011]

They are nearly identical to skorphek destroyers, but without core. I don’t know what big 20 man infantry squad they are killing but it’s probably not very good. Terminators are far better than possessed. Oh your word bearers possessed? Cool your 50 attacks hit me on 4’s, wound on 5’s and are Ap-1, and D1, with no re-rolls and I have a 5+++ vs my 10 man IW terminators. If I let you charge me I hit on 2’s, and wound on 5’s but you only have a 5+ save…and I am obsec, all for an extra 65 points.

[@latros_sacrum]

@@jgascoine011 But imagine 2 10 man squads of possessed. Your Terminators are still in trouble bro!

[@latros_sacrum]

@@jgascoine011 Also can you explain what rules and strategems your using for those terms?

[@Silverdragon83X]

I really like them in my demonic based iron warriors list. With the black rune and cursed earth they are super tough and deliver good damage with good speed

[@Highland_Ronin]

I have a similar Iron Warriors list but I give the Rune to a Terminators squad. The plan to use the Terminators as the anvil, having them deep strike in the right place and then the Possessed slam into the other side of the enemy unit.

[@sebastiantrost6409]

Alpha Legion also allows for fall back and charge, keeping them mobile and free to choose their engagements.

[@M.S.G.95]

I hope they change the stats of DG possessed to match their CSM counterparts.

[@ChaosSwarm]

Wel ned to wait for 10ed codex probably and lose all core combos death guard can do att moment.

[@Silverdragon83X]

Pretty sure they won't. With Deathguard rules they would be extremely strong

[@ChaosSwarm]

@@Silverdragon83X wel they dont have core keyword in chaos marines codex sow no combos in death Guard if they got imported. And they maybi just get remowed from next death guard codex.

[@sasadi6692]

Maybe they will do changes when (or if) new kit will be released

[@rudigerschwake4234]

Question: will Mark of Nurgle and Black Rune of Damnation Stack?

[@martinanders6207]

Meganob cost 30P without Armor of Contempt. GW Balance sucks hard.

[@alastor4281]

The main question is when will they be released

[@jackcanox4015]

More than when...at what price! I mean...it's five models on 40mm bases so i hope it will be around terminator price...even if my heart tells me they will probably be on the 50/55 euros mark...

[@loganepling5094]

@@jackcanox4015 The old ones are already $10 cheaper than a box of terminators.. I just bought a box of them today for $33 USD.

[@AponeX86X]

Like others already mentioned: when will GW finally release Them?? It's very infuriating that there are still no models. Oblits, mop, venomcrawler and all the other new stuff is also missing. Gw should stop annoucing new models every week if they are so far behind with the production. It's simply embarrassing.

[@AlunDowdeswell]

why not just plan the codex for when the models in it are actually available? It's incredibly frustrating as a new CSM player, I actually can't play any build I want and don't have anything really to proxy :/

[@tastefulavenger]

@@AlunDowdeswell Yeah I'm planning to expand my chaos collection after just getting my chaos premium package from the imperium magazine. But seeing how the previous units from the start collecting are just flat out missing it's kinda got me putting things on hold for them.

[@jimmysmith2249]

They have no incentive to release them. They are currently in a big expensive box that forces you to spend more just to get the mono-pose models of them. That is how g-dubz do.

[@AlunDowdeswell]

@@jimmysmith2249 they don’t sell the start collecting box anymore.. so they’re not making money off it - it’s all third party

[@tastefulavenger]

@@jimmysmith2249 The start collecting isn't in production anymore.

[@nickthompson6642]

Anyway you could do an examination of Chosen? I’m curious to see how you think they should be used

[@maxchapuis6256]

up

[@alistaja]

Unfort Biles strat to advance and charge doesnt affect daemonkin, required core or biker iirc

[@yaboifox]

This is great and all, but will we see their new models before 2024?

[@nightsage217]

Ap-1 buff from master of the Union is so relevant. seeing armor of contempt is such available upgrades for many armies.

[@poppyappletree1400]

"Today let's put some Daemons in our Chaos Marines" Yo dawg, I heard you like the Dark Gods, so I put some Chaos in your Chaos so you can shred while you shred

[@xerathgaming5008]

Creations of Bile Advance+charge strat is CORE-locked. Also its quite hard to field a 10-man unit because of their 40mm bases

[@marcelberger2715]

Thanks Auspex

[@gregzuvich1195]

I am planning to use them for sure. Using Greater Possesed models from the Shadowspear set until the new Possessed models are released.

[@MARStheFORSAKEN]

as soon as they spoiled the pts per model i told everyone that possessed bombs will be the chaos meta

[@OmegaLittleBob]

Auspex going on about how good Possessed are Me: “oh hey I could kitbash some really cool possessed”

[@RiffSilverthe1andonly]

As guard I had to face 10 of these guys with the -1 to wound relic and they wouldn’t die even when I pointed three russes and a basilisk at them. I killed the last one with a bayonet at the end but yeesh. As guard I did pretty well against the new codex 50-80 and by turn 2 he had 5 units left from 14 but his melee units and hellbrute got in and stomped me at the end

[@marcosvalenzuela1724]

Ah yes Possessed, though I kinda wonder what's your take on the Choas Spawn? Right now I'm thinking of doing some kitbashing so I can have, what looks like, a potential screening unit. Only concern are their weird keywords.

[@youngarchaeotech189]

Now if only the death guard would get updated data sheets for their possessed.

[@insanemang9983]

Glad to have an infantry unit that can stand toe to toe with a knight! With my word bearers army I'm sure to be able to achieve this since I'll be fielding 30 😁

[@jackcanox4015]

Dude it's not hard to yoink a knight in close combat believe me hahaha it never was in 9th. I lost so many knights to Necrons constructs/guards with phase swords Sisters repentia Terminators of various factions Melee plague marines Heck even the old csm book was spectacular in wrecking knights...berserkers/possessed/chosen/various character and termis could absolutely demolish knights... Once i popped 18 wounds of a titanic knight with an emperor's children master of execution and another time 10 creations of bile chosen with dual claws did more than 30 wounds to my knight despoiler..

[@theoverpreparerlamenters3r436]

Spooky. Thank the Emperor for my master-crafted relic blade.

[@drabantcorper4727]

I think that chaos has gotten very much love nice hope they fix them to be a WORTHY OPONENT

[@MarcosGarcia-et1qu]

The icon is a good choice if you run them word bearers as they can do the secondary. Obviously not ideal but it's an option.

[@garyduffy5974]

Tried word bearers possessed against necrons last night. Were the mvp of the match.

[@shiftandrew]

In Black Legion I'm using multiple 5-man units of these as fast-moving objective threateners and they're very good at it!

[@arturkushukov1815]

2 5-man units of these seem like good skirmishers while a 10-man terminator squad with the black rune slog to the center of the board.

[@seriousmike5649]

I will definitely put them in one of my drills with a master and a sorc

[@colekrantzteacheseverythin5543]

Any word as to when they might be up for pre-order

[@khaosterminator]

Alpha Legion can use conceal stratagem to get them up the board while the enemy cannot target them with ranged

[@joshuasmith5472]

Does anyone know of how to get possessed to move run and charge with out black legion stratagems? Creations of Bile is super nice for these guys but none core units get the short end of the stick.

[@stephgracia8902]

sorry : could you please specify which page says Possessed get the slaanesh key word if part of a EC detachment? page please? because from what i've read, only MARKS allow units (core/characters) to gain the keyword...

[@YavandirVanGrant]

Where does it say that they got armour of contempt special rule?

[@jason2089]

The feather in my Creations of Bile cap

[@murdomackenzie4756]

Will the new datasheet transfer over to the Death Guard Possessed or will we be stuck with the old datasheet for DG Possessed in our codex

[@kennythereaver1]

my question is when will everything in the start collecting get its own packaging cus im not paying some ebay scalper prices.

[@lenbone72]

I wonder how effective it would be to soup these into a Thousand sons soup list. Something like Ahriman+2x Exalted Sorcs, 2 10 Man of SOTS, 3 minimum size squads of cultist of Tzaangors, and then soup in MOP and a few squads of possessed in a patrol detachment.

[@StationaryBeggar]

So... Has there been any announcement when the new kits are actually gonna be available? I dont keep up with the news. Is it really still just up in the air right now?

[@dthomd]

If anyone was watching the tactical tortoise invitational tournament yesterday there was a good live example of how terrifying these things are when played as wordbearers and brought in three max size squads with buffs. They are so fast, very hard to kill and do huge damage. I can see possessed heavy word bearer lists becoming a staple tournament build alongside black legion lists with abbadon.

[@heathenpride7931]

Which means they are definitely getting a nerf in about a month once everyone has been suckered into buying them

[@dthomd]

@@heathenpride7931 Yep

[@StationaryBeggar]

@@heathenpride7931 well they gotta sell the damn things first. Lol

[@lohikaarmeherra-1753]

@@heathenpride7931 This codex has stuff which should never have passed a simple review by anyone reasonable, let alone an actual playtests. like the balefire tome + pact of flesh, which gives a regular chaos marine squad an inbuilt apotechary combat heal + free combat revive for peanuts - while loaylist have to pay 110 points and an elite slot for that. Or the "Warp´s malice" relic pistol which can do up to 8 mortal wounds - 16 if fired twice by abusing the "give it to a squad leader" stratagem...

[@martinazoana]

Power creep goes brrrrrr

[@thomas_st]

Are they already out yet?

[@mightbeapersonmaybe8379]

Are the greater possessed from the start collecting box these guys now? I still have my two and I don't now what to do with them

[@IamElChapo]

Yes they are, 40mm bases bruv

[@Skyscraper125]

I want to get possessed for my world eaters army for the 18 inch turn one move + charge and 6 inch charge (so a 5inch roll) if the enemy front lines anything in most deployment types. . I'm just worried they will drop them in the world eaters book (same for chaos spawn which are equally good bullet sponges to have slogging around the field on foot). As for comparison to berzerkers in WE, idk... they're elite slot, berzerkers are troop, they're 6 points more iirc for 1 wound and 1 more damage, and they have not very much synergy beyond the 18 inch turn 1 move with the army (especially since WE can't take a MoP). They definitely give zerkers a run for their money in a non WE list though, that's for sure.

[@thegorefatherdonkhorneleon5159]

You need a 6” charge. You have to be WITHIN an inch for eng range

[@naamtar22]

I believe the advance and charge for the CoB is only for core.

[@KrullMaestaren]

I wonder how they compare with Death Guard version? So... the whole idea of spreading out datasheets in one codex per chaos (or space marine) army feels like it gives GW more jobs and problems down the road than it is worth.

[@Elfing-silly]

What about Diabolic Strength? They have the infantry keyword and would benefit from +2 strength and attacks.

[@auspextactics]

One model only, it's better on characters tbh

[@Elfing-silly]

@@auspextactics I missed that, thank you for the response and definitely better on a character.

[@ewanthompstone799]

Would they work particularly well in a World Eaters army?

[@seanmattingly1400]

The nerf hammer incoming. The cost of these is silly cheap for their power.

[@VioletHyena]

Possessed + Armor of Aborrance = one of the best Screener units. A brick wall of flesh that people can't run away from.

[@VioletHyena]

Last night I locked up a Silent King and a Ctan with one blob of possessed, and they couldn't fall back.

[@Drakio95]

Yeah Possessed are incredibly strong unit for close combat. However I prefer running bigger Chosen squads with Mark of Khorne and all the plasmas, also potentially Black Mace or Black Rune of Damnation. While they aren't as strong straight up they can be transported in Rhinos, have ap4 attacks and with bolters/plasma pistols/combi-plasmas they do pose genuine threat at all distances so perfect skirmishing unit for me. If I were to want unit for CC only I'd pick up either Possessed block or use few Lords Discordant and/or Venomcrawlers.

[@pedrodelaflor3377]

Does anyone know if the old greater possessed models can be used as possessed champions?

[@mainstay69]

They're all on 40s so the GP is just a regular possessed now

[@pedrodelaflor3377]

@@mainstay69 marvelous

[@steliad7045]

does the black rune of damnation have any restrictions in the English codex? in the German Codex it has a restriction to be only allowed on cultist units? Oo

[@sasadi6692]

I guess this is misstranslation. In English rune said that it is allowed for cultists cuz basically cultists can't take relics only one that allow this (like black rune)

[@robertpastoris791]

My german codex says: "Dieses Relikt kann einem Kultisten-Modell gegeben werden." so there is no restriction there.

[@Cabooseispregnat]

weird, i think they are the only models that can take a icon of chaos but not take a mark lol

[@DustyPazner]

I think chosen might be way better in melee. If they wipe a squad they get massacre all 5 turns. And they get ap 3 and pretty much have the same stats as possesed.

[@IamElChapo]

Still furious that GW didn't even have the goddamned decency to drop the new models with the codex. They'd never dare do this if it was Space Marines!

[@thomasneal8354]

There has obviously been some kind of behind the scenes production or supply issue. just look at the last 2 weeks of releases. some paint and some made to order models. This shouts filler to me.

[@IamElChapo]

@@thomasneal8354 Wouldn't of bloody killed them to announce a delay instead of silence.

[@cousinzeke4888]

New here?

[@IamElChapo]

@@cousinzeke4888 lmao

[@nurglematthew893]

Best!

[@gerdwaldecker1083]

i have a WB list with 10 possessed and 8 termis with a MoP and a DA.On paper it looks very scary. But since we only play 1000 pts lists most of the time the rest of the army is virtually non-existent. A few cultists and a squad of legionaries for prescience was the max it could fit in. Chaos is a bit of a disappointment. Like a blanket that is too short you always miss out on something. Either its CPs or buffs or points that you miss out on to be truly dangerous. Though i am not saying that both units will wreck a lot of enemy units and aren´t tough. Termis with supplication, extra T and Feel no pain aren´t even funny anymore :).

[@xeticus5435]

Same cost as Heavy Intercessors. I think maybe the chonky boys need a slight points nerf or a buff.

[@dbhchaos8005]

Didn't care for them before as I did not like the look of the models. The new ones coming out look amazing, and with those amazing stats, there's no way I'll pass up on them now. It'll be nice having to decide between fielding them or Terminators.

[@Zakading]

Possessed are really strong but damn do they drop off against -1 damage stuff

[@emdeo]

Death Guard: haha whomst

[@swissmoose]

only one question.. how to kill it

[@EmaEiishi]

gal vorbak army lets gooooooooo

[@NornQueenKya]

Throw them in melee and watch them gooooooo

[@cameronwixcey9692]

Are greater possessed the right size?

[@StationaryBeggar]

Yes there basically identical.

[@leonardwall8290]

man I really wish they could get marks and not icons, I think it would be better the other way around

[@vasilisgorgogiannis5517]

Chaos space marine codex has many D2 weapons so it stuggles to deal dmg to DG and to other -1 dmg armies. The possesed are really good and fast but their weapons are dmg2....

[@lupesnow5028]

Wait, Chaos have armour of contempt ? I failed to find it in the codex

[@uberjew666]

I suspect the CSM codex went to print before AoC was introduced and so never made it into the book. They definitely still get the rule as it works on the Heretic Astartes keyword

[@brendanham7813]

I think they finished off the codex before the changes, so you’ll find it in the balance dataslate

[@SirRivelion]

Well, codexes are worthless nowadays. Often on arrival (or even before release).

[@dicebot9617]

i cant w8 for these models

[@FrstSpctr88]

The fearsome rule probably needs to be stackable to atleast -3 Ld, as it is is rather crap, since that same name rule is shared with other units, meaning it's pathetic -1 Ld...

[@Majorrawne01]

So what are peoples advice for countering the 10 man buffed up unit. Sure 10 possessed with a master of possession is like 350 points or so. But that unit basically is just wiping out darn near 600 points of marines. Anyone know of a 1 to 1 or even 2 to 1 counter???? SOS.

[@Maxislithium]

my full squad of 10 is getting rebased and readied to plow into loyalist simps.

[@Rathammergames]

Are they 50mm base? Or 40mm?

[@tobi2174]

If they use the same bases as Greater possessed it's 40mm

[@mainstay69]

40

[@Rathammergames]

Thanks!

[@Pers0n97]

As a death guard player I feel slightly cheated

[@akrope8398]

Are these guys just objectively better than wraithblades and custodes? Being 60-110 pts cheaper

[@frazerbeyay]

I used 5 against 5 eradicators. Possessed deleted them

[@element7202]

I would hope so against a t5 body with 3+ save and no weapons to threaten you back.

[@ForceM1782]

Just as a reference. They strike harder than a Custodian Guard (2 more Attacks at 1 less AP). They have the same save against anything that isn’t AP-. They have the same Toughness and HP. So their profile is roughly equally as good. Okay, they are Elites as opposed to Troops and have no Obsec. But they cost 3 points more than half of a Custodian. Notice any problem here?! And no, i don’t think Possessed are too strong.

[@JohnnyMayHymn]

I like the concept, but I don't like the models at all, I might have to mish mash some Khorne and space marine parts together and 3d print something

[@R104D]

RELEASE THE DAMN MODELS ALREADY!

[@TheRealCartman1]

I feel like Chaos is severely lacking in actual Chaos. Like these guys should have some random stats depending on how well the marine and demon merged, Khorne Berzerkers if they fail a charge can attack nearest allied unit, Tzeentch could take some seemingly random action - that kind of thing, Chaos shouldn't be some predictable, dependable thing.

[@theTemplar08]

Don’t let GW screw chaos with the master possession the way they screwed the necron skorpek Commander. This commander can only be Botton $100 box with a bunch of useless stuff. Currently master possession is not available as a single model for sale!

[@lostgiant8132]

IMO, the Possessed would have been more interesting if they were slightly weaker but could benefit from marks.

[@1965917]

Better than meganobz in almost every way and 2 points cheaper. Sorry, glad Chaos are getting some love finally, but I'm still bitter about the Ork Codex

[@ChrisLD]

I've literally scoured the entire codex and the only icons ever mentioned are the god specific icons, I've seen what's stated here regurgitated by several people, but not actually found any other icon other than thhe god speciifc ones in the actal codex.

[@KokNoker]

Wargear description. The only get the god specific ability from the mark.

[@jackcanox4015]

I really don't get what's all the fuss about possessed is about ahhah they are strong for sure and maybe could see a bump to 30 points per model but their damage output can be hampered quite easy...s5 ap-2 d2 in a world where aoc, -1 damage and transhuman are a thing is definitely not a stellar profile. Plus possessed are still very expensive, don't benefit from many rules/marks since they are demonkin. They are a bitch to remove if you load them up with buffs but that requires many hq to be around and and spending precious cps on relics and strats. Plus other factions can basically achieve the same or more at that price point for just 10 points more than a full unit of possessed you can have 10 plaguemarines loaded to the maximum with all melee weapons *and* a rhino to ferry them around!! They end up having similar damage output, similar toughnes, and they are obsec...

[@thomasbagrel5854]

I really hope that the SM codex 2.0 is on its way, because all our loyalist units start to look very very lame in comparison

[@MagralhoPT]

F GW!!!!! They nerfed nids for this?! Seriously?! And the gall of some people a few weeks ago complaining that tyranid warriors nerfs were justifiable because 25ppm... and now this at 28ppm... seriously... this game is a farce

[@IamElChapo]

We've been bottom of the barrel all edition. And you can still take a ridiculous amount for the points costs. Just wait another month and GW will have Chaos scrubbing the loyalist latrines again.

[@naabiioww724]

Nids are still very strong. Rn CSM doesn't seem in the same spot as nids still are. Maybe it's just about learning the new book etc, but tbf it doesn't feel overpowered as the nids' book felt.

[@brandonjeffries3638]

@@naabiioww724 the book may not be as powerful as the Nids book.. but these are stupidly underpriced at 28pts... The closes unit to this that I can think of are Skorpekh destroyer.. 30pts and doesn't have a invulnerable, less movement and less attacks.. so in my opinion whether the Chaos is in a good spot or not.. these should at least be 32-35pts easily.. just because Chaos aren't top tier doesn't justify making a unit stupidly underpriced.

[@brandonjeffries3638]

@@naabiioww724 and I believe they should make these units of 3-9 or a flat unit of 5 in my opinion...

[@thegorefatherdonkhorneleon5159]

Somebody call the whaaambulance. Possessed arent even awesome…certainly not auto include. Warriors can take guns and ypu can buy buffs. Possessed dont get the same equivalents with marks

[@lindsaywheatcroft8247]

The purpose of Possessed is to build Gal Vorbak and play 30k, leaving this train wreck of an edition to the tiny handful of tournament obsessives who won the ear of geedubs by their willingness to work for a transnational corporation as volunteer product testers who never say ‘this will melt the brain of a normie, stop -ing off your bread and butter audience of kids & casuals with a tidal wave of bloated, short-shelf-life rules pamphlets distributed in A4 hardcover art books (which nobody bought before they contained essential rules)’

[@thegorefatherdonkhorneleon5159]

Hard to argue with that. No one is playing 40k in two groups i play with

[@calthepal312]

Imagine if possession was the chaos equivalent of primaris. We could get a full possessed line with possessed characters and possessed tanks.

[@Achemd4100]

No thanks, that sounds dreadful.

[@Damnedlegion40k]

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