Horus Heresy: The 10 Best Legion Units

In this video I’ve got the one and only Dean Morris with me to go through each of our top five Astarte units in Horus Heresy, unique to the Legions, combining to give us a total of ten of the most powerful units in the game. Dean toils away in the background for Black Briar Gaming, feeding me spicy takes on Horus Heresy and generally starting arguments on rules interactions. I’ve decided it’s time to drag him onto the Channel, and there’ll no doubt be more of his ramblings in the future.
To mix up the format we have each chosen our top five units and will going through them, starting at number five and working our way up to number one, those unique Legion units we think are the most useful or powerful within the game. Let us know in the comments which Legion units you think are best, and what you think of our ranking. Enjoy!
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[@the_victorious_1]

Its been said before, but I, Alpharius, am grateful for this shopping list. Hydra Dominatus!

[@blade5211]

babe wake up, new black briar video

[@josepholiveira2873]

I've been looking forward to a video like this for a while, as a shopping list for Alpha Legion's Rewards of Treachery.

[@blackbriargaming5483]

For sure! Lots of good options 😁

[@Kilo6Charlie]

I play Alpha Legion, I picked Mor Deythans from Raven Guard as they could all take Combi Volkite (4 shots per model in 12") and they have Shroud Bombs so they count as a massive EIGHT inches further away for just about everything important when combined with Lies and Trechery... Peeking through the video to see if I might wanna replace them, but I may just stick with em

[@jonathanalston1552]

Same!!

[@blackbriargaming5483]

@@Kilo6Charlie definitely a great choice!

[@liammorgan1413]

Yeah, Pyroclasts saw a major improvement over their 1.0 incarnation, not just in their focused fire profile being bumped up to full meltagun (originally S6 AP1 Melta) but also in being able to take rhinos after previously being restricted to land raiders as their only dedicated transport option.

[@CloneDAnon]

Raven's claws are +2 attacks when paired instead of the typical +1 of normal paired lightning claws (alongside 5+ rending instead of 6+ in normal claws). Dark Fury choosers of the slain can also take meltabombs.

[@SarzaelX]

Lightning Claws actually give you two attacks when paired also, it's not in the weapon profile for some reason but it says so in the book.

[@Xenaisthebusiness]

Couple of things about the Angel's Tears... "Why would you take heavy chainswords?" because the rad grenades make heavy chainswords have instant death. Also, stacking the grenade launcher rad phage effect with the rad grenades... the grenade launcher as currently worded only affects the literal model wounded by it. It's pretty bad actually.

[@DeusExMachina10001]

I think the Phalanx Warders should be a lot higher. With the Stone Gauntlet you create a cheap Line unit with a re-rollable 4++ who get Heart of the Legion, up to 4 Thunder Hammers, and who can take an Apothecary. That makes for a spammable scoring Troops choice with the durability of a Firedrake squad. Plus if you add Fafnir Raan, he gets a re-rollable 3++ and the ability to give the Warders +1WS if they charge. That means they get +1WS if they charge OR get charged.

[@mintyaroma987]

Definitely a useful video for us Alpha Legion players!

[@blackbriargaming5483]

I hope so! 😊

[@escherleduc9567]

This was such a great video. Thank you so much it’s helped me out a lot.

[@jeffers1985]

Pyroclasts should be much higher. Just played against just five of them in a 1200 point game and it was insane how much it took to shift them

[@matthewwheelden9263]

6 Units of Pyroclasts. The list known as "getting kicked in after the game"

[@veliustactics9133]

Sad to not see any NL in this but I know it's because we're more about the Legion as a whole than any individual bonkers unit... still not gonna stop me taking a full unit each of Contekar and Terror Squad!

[@blackbriargaming5483]

As you should!!! But yep! You're 100% right.

[@PixelReaper]

I do think that Night Raptors are pretty viable as a choice to take, give them a chainblade and sprinkle a couple meltaguns in there. They are pretty versatile for a Jump unit

[@sinenomine7115]

Contekar kinda suck unfortunately... too pricey for just shredding Power Armor but not good enough to take on other Terminators. Other units like Night Raptors do their job better for less. Terror Squads are quite good IMO; 15 man squad with 7 odd Rotor Cannons and Volkite for the rest can absolutely mulch most MEQ squads. Especially with Terror Assault and Prey Sight/Curze.

[@veliustactics9133]

@@sinenomine7115 that ain't what HH is about. They look really cool, so I'm taking 'em. I do have 20 Terror Squad with Volkite and 10 with Rotor Cannons, so I've got that covered. Working on a 10 man Night Raptors magnetized for Chain Glaives.

[@PixelReaper]

@@veliustactics9133 I also have a 10 man Contekar squad, very fun but they don't pull their weight. I do love how they look as well and really enjoyed painting them. Currently converting up as many Night Raptors I physically can as well lmao

[@dantejrl]

ultramarines fulmentarus terminators squad is also great but they need infiltration (i play alpha legion so they have ^^)

[@ShadowGhost0117]

Just wanted to point out that you miscounted the number of models that the Deathwing Companions start with. You said 4 when they start with 5 like most elite units

[@scottcoley2950]

Great video! Any chance of a How to build Emperors Children video?

[@Hodgymbob]

i don't see how dawn breakers are not the best, so good value for a "power" armour unit

[@Thelionofcaliban]

This is a fantastic alpha legion guide.

[@blackbriargaming5483]

The only Legion I really care about ;)

[@andrewpavone5429]

So few traitors made this list - i always feel GW gives loyalists cooler stuff

[@SlaveToChaos]

Can we get Dean back on to do how to build a legion: Blood Angels ... Excellent work fellas

[@blackbriargaming5483]

Dean stop creating fake KZbin accounts! He actually records rants and sends them to me for each of the Legions. I got his BA one a few days ago. But I'm sure I could persuade him to come on live for the BA build video 😊

[@nickchatzigavriil3281]

Seriously? No Justaerin, WS5, BS5 and A3 Terminators, who can therefore mulch anything but can also deep strike or outflank and become scoring units too? And no Sehkmet either, who can be Pavoni and add 3' to movement and therefore +1 to charge distance, have +1 S and T, which means they can't be IDed by S8 Instant Death and can destroy Dreadnoughts and vehicles even more reliably and since you can add other psyker characters to them (Magnus, Ahriman, Amon, Chaplain, Primus Medicae, etc) for even more buffs? Not even top 5?

[@davidgreenhalgh3736]

Can I get a Hydra Dominatus from all the Alpha Legion lads making a shopping list from this vid?

[@spliffcrow]

Hydra Dominatus

[@blackbriargaming5483]

HYDRA DOMINATUS!!!

[@the_victorious_1]

HYDRA DOMINATUS!

[@Kilo6Charlie]

Hydra Dominatus!

[@Dustind1211]

Hydra Dominatus!

[@tcgilbo97]

I’m gonna run a squad of 10 with the heavy chain swords mainly for the precursors to the flesh tearers Edit: also will be instant killing on any failed saves due to strength 6 and rad grenades

[@alixbarwick7992]

Where would you put death shroud on this list? I feel like they are just too many points at 70 a head

[@travisdelucia3184]

great video - thanks!!

[@randallmusgrave5138]

I have to reign myself in, I want to just take all the good things.

[@blackbriargaming5483]

Ha ha, we tried building a broken Alpha Legion army yesterday. It turned out all the powerful things were just the Ultramarine Detachment. Whoops!

[@AndrewFishman]

@@blackbriargaming5483 Is Next Monday alright to come along to Jolt for the Heresy campaign or is it too late to get involved? If so, what points?

[@blackbriargaming5483]

@@AndrewFishman hey mate! Probably a bit late to get into the campaign as we're onto the last few games. But maybe come along, meet the crew and see if anyone is keen for a game anyway? Could be odd numbers after all! Make sure you're following Jolt's FB to catch the start of the next campaign 😁

[@AndrewFishman]

@@blackbriargaming5483 Unfortunately, I am not on Facebook, that is an issue with finding games, lol. I was going to head up yesterday, but got sidetracked. I will wander in next week, what points are you guys playing that I should build a list to?

[@blackbriargaming5483]

@@AndrewFishman I think we'll be up to 2000pt 😊

[@andrewbakescakes9684]

Keep the awesome content coming! You are doing for HH 2.0 what Auspex Tactics does for 40K - filling a content void. Surprised you had Dark Furies - they seem better as AL than RG, since they get nothing for being RG. And agree on how bonkers the UM units in the legacy pdf are.

[@blackbriargaming5483]

Awww thanks! And yeah, I just like the unit in general. I think they're neat. Would 100% take them in my Alpha Legion army!

[@andrewbakescakes9684]

@@blackbriargaming5483 - Would like to see what you two rank the legacy/exemplary pdf units. How does your community view them? Are they similar to 40K's "legends" units for you?

[@blackbriargaming5483]

@@andrewbakescakes9684 i definitely consider them when building armies, so a step above Legends perhaps. Unfortunately the document was just so poorly written that there's quote a few unusable units within it. And then the Ultramarines being unfathomably over powered 😅 Could definitely do a video on the units. Best and worst.

[@andrewbakescakes9684]

@@blackbriargaming5483 - Looking forward to it! And agree that there are some janky rules here and there. But overall, I feel the HH documents to be pretty tight, and most of the power-creepy problems of 1.0 have been dealt with (Thousand Sons 1.0, for example).

[@Jackalos1]

@@andrewbakescakes9684 Not sure I would say the power creep issues of Thousand Sons have been dealt with as they are now massively over-nerfed.

[@lordfateweaver1851]

Will be surprised if Knights of the Inner circle aren't in the list, so nasty.

[@seankeegan5868]

Another great vid thanks for the insight crack on chaps nice one

[@blackbriargaming5483]

Thanks! Getting more into the ranking and analysis side, now that we've played some games.

[@muzey4382]

Raven's Talons also grant an additional attack on top of the standard +1 attack for double lightning claws

[@blackbriargaming5483]

I think Lightning Claws are VERY underrated in this new edition! And yeah, very spicy.

[@muzey4382]

@@blackbriargaming5483 I'm gonna test out a 10 man deliverers squad with dual raven's talons, hoping it does well 💪even if it doesn't it'll look cool 😅 just wanted to say your videos are very helpful!

[@blackbriargaming5483]

@@muzey4382 thank you! We do our best. Rule of cool is the only rule that matters 😏

[@dariostabletopbastelecke4846]

Thanks!

[@Xenaisthebusiness]

Also, you say the dawnbreakers can take melta bombs for 25 points per model, but it's for the entire unit...

[@blackbriargaming5483]

Yep! Definitely meant per unit 😅

[@larylich]

Wish Night Lords made this list but with their good units either having WS4, W1 or Save 3+ they just don't cut it. : /

[@Deathgazeroo]

Suzerain squad not being first in those kind of lists is a proof of not knowing the game. It would be an amazing unit even without character type in every model (which allows you to assign wounds freely)

[@mrtatarus5044]

No Inner Circle Knights Cenobium ?

[@blackbriargaming5483]

Look. They're fantastic. But we decided we couldn't just make this a Dark Angels and Blood Angels (OG Angels of Death 🥰) video 😅

[@mrtatarus5044]

@@blackbriargaming5483 You are right :) THX for answer.

[@myage819]

Love your picks

[@blackbriargaming5483]

Some spicy ones in there!

[@n7xranger]

How are Firedrakes? They are kinda pricey but durable. I want to run 5 with a Cataphractii Praetor in a Land Raider and yeet it at the biggest threat. As for Pyroclasts, they are insanely good for the price. They are only a few more points per model than Tactical Support Marines with meltas while being significantly better. Even though I'm planning on using the Awakening Fire RoW, which doesn't give them Line. I plan on having at least 1 unit at all times.

[@blackbriargaming5483]

Firedrakes don't wow me rules wise but the models are certainly fantastic!! 🥰

[@MrCitizen0]

If your playing traitor or non traitormalpha legion u can take any of these units right ? Depending if your playing traitor or non traitor right ? Right now I only have siege tyrant terminators x10

[@graffpov]

Hey, can we see Black Briar/outer circle collaboration next time?)))

[@blackbriargaming5483]

Ha ha, I think at least one of the lads and I might be at a tourney together in a couple of weeks! Grudge Match! But when it comes to these kind of vids I very purposefully don't watch Outer Circle content so I can provide an unbias and differing perspective. I daresay they do the same. No point watching the same stuff from different channels. But we could certainly do a collaboration at some point. Would be a laugh.

[@graffpov]

@@blackbriargaming5483 i’m joking mate. He is well known being a toxic dude always complaining. And his analysis and opinion is wrong most of the time

[@blackbriargaming5483]

@@graffpov oh I see 😅 I think a lot of their points are valid. But I like to keep it positive. I think the community gets more out of some informed positivity.

[@jaegerbomb269]

Think these units are going plastic soon or would it be worth buying in resin?

[@blackbriargaming5483]

I dont think Legion specific units will ever go plastic. Buy up in resin if you're keen 😊

[@soccernerd27]

I believe invictus suzerains are all characters as well, meaning if you really wanted too, you can do wound allocation cheese to make them super unfun.

[@chriseyler9059]

They're ridiculously unbalanced for their points cost!

[@MrGoodsalesman]

if you play alpha legions, can you used the Raven guard elite units?

[@blackbriargaming5483]

Just one of them. Yep! Though a Raven Guard allied detachment with the Mobius Configuration is where the spice is 😏

[@teuton_]

Not suprised that none of the Emperors Children Unique Units are up there. They are ok, but the phoenix weapons are just not very good, and Cacophony are expensive and kill themselves ,lol. All the points get invested in Style and that is all that matters in the end ;).

[@blackbriargaming5483]

Style is 100% more important than effectiveness on the table. I LOVE Kakophoni but they may in fact be the worst unit in the game 😅

[@teuton_]

@@blackbriargaming5483 The "gets hot" on Kakophoni is unwarranted. Probably kill the same amount of points of themselves then the enemy per round. It also makes it very cumbersome to roll their shooting. Very unfortunate.

[@blackbriargaming5483]

@@teuton_ yeeeeeeep, I'd just tell my casual opponent I'm ditching it so they become playable

[@teuton_]

@@blackbriargaming5483 Maybe you should do a worst Legion Units Video aswell. I'm curious now XD.

[@Armscavalera]

Bruh... Death Shroud terminators are nasty af too

[@OzymandiasRex]

Not familiar with 2.0 yet but why is there so much night fighting?

[@blackbriargaming5483]

5 out of 6 missions in the book have it. And a player can activate it on a 2+. Which any close combat force would be keen on. So night fighting is something you should always prepare for.

[@padanfain7466]

Too much night fighting thats for sure.

[@MrCitizen0]

Are nightlord raptors good with their chainglaives ?

[@blackbriargaming5483]

At killing 3+ save Marines? You betya! Just depends what you want them to achieve.

[@MrCitizen0]

@Black Briar Gaming just bought 2 squads lol. I have basically 2 squads of every good unit. Just haven't bihght the salamander units yet and the word bearers possesed dreadnought I also made 2 squads fulmentarus

[@blackbriargaming5483]

@@MrCitizen0 how many Legions you building??

[@MrCitizen0]

@Black Briar Gaming for my alpha legion it's gonna be at 8000 points not including the sub specila units I can take, I also use warhounds and luna wolves as my other separate legions I play and. Asking ultra marines nemesis 22nd chapter

[@blackbriargaming5483]

@@MrCitizen0 amazing! Love the dedication!!

[@joahnaut]

Y'all are sleeping on World Eaters Rampager Squads.

[@blackbriargaming5483]

They were number 11! It was a VERY close call on whether we included them or not :D

[@warforged144]

Man tons of loyalists. Do you guys feel like loyalists overall have it easier than traitors? Fists, dark angels, ultramarines all seem like a tier better than nearly all the rest.

[@florianbielawa2919]

fists and DA certainly feel like the strongest legions rn

[@blackbriargaming5483]

Yeeeeeep, they sure do.

[@CyrodiilCome]

What no white scars scouts with lightning claws???

[@carabculln1232]

They’re alright

[@CyrodiilCome]

@@carabculln1232 they're awful lol

[@blackbriargaming5483]

We kept it to the Libers 😊

[@jw7500]

The only White Scar unique units even warranting a look are Kyzagans and the Golden Keshig (which require a librarian with telepathy and a Chaplain to make work)

[@blackbriargaming5483]

@@jw7500 Golden Keshig are one disordered charge from doing absolutely nothing 😪

[@ero9841]

Gorgan terminators are not to bad. Kinda sleeper

[@Rathios1337]

You missed the bit with the Suzerains are all Character keyworded so you can do the silly 5e roundabout of wounds on them🤡

[@blackbriargaming5483]

Yes and no. So the way it's worded, you can only do that if you receive exactly one wound at a time from each attack. So it may come up, but will come up less than you think. Have a close read of the rules around characters.

[@Skylifter1000]

@@blackbriargaming5483 I disagree. Reading the section 'Characters and Wound Allocation' on page 198. It says you can always not allocate a wound to a character, regardless of ANY factors, as long as there is at least one other valid target model in the unit. So you can allocate wounds to a character until he fails to save one and is left on one wound, and then move on to the next character in the unit, and so on. Only way around that is precision shots/strikes.

[@jamesgarrett1300]

Was this intended to be infantry only?

[@blackbriargaming5483]

Not at all! The Legion dreadnoughts are good but didn't make our top 10. Let us know what you'd include 😊

[@michahanuszkiewicz9409]

Suzerain have „line” bcs we dont have a rite of war giving anyone else line than normal troops. Ultras elite slot is really crowded.

[@coraxcox9242]

I'm not surprised that tyrant terminators are up there 😂 I played a game the other day I had 7 of them , they killed so many tactical squads 😂😂

[@blackbriargaming5483]

I limit myself to 5 so I don't lose all my friends 😋

[@coraxcox9242]

@@blackbriargaming5483 haha I have a friend that plays 6th legion space wolves so they deserve the full 10 ;) other wise I may reduce it

[@blackbriargaming5483]

@@coraxcox9242 ha ha, for sure!

[@JD-bh6eo]

My tyrant siege boys made it but sadly… my raptors did not

[@blackbriargaming5483]

Raptors are SUPER solid. And were certainly discussed. Luckily NL pull ahead in other ways 🥰

[@JD-bh6eo]

@@blackbriargaming5483 Would love to hear more of your thoughts in the future on the warriors in midnight clad! I am using rotor cannons, nemesis bolters, a vigilator, and the pinning psycher in list builds where it makes sense.

[@blackbriargaming5483]

@@JD-bh6eo all great choices! I'll do a full build video in time. But Death Guard are up next 😊

[@mariusm.creativite8587]

I do prefer grey slayers to stalkers. Coming already equiped with a combat shield with the same advantages as stalkers make them cheaper for what they are good at ( close combat ) Where yes relentless and bolters are a nice pairing but that edition really punish you for shooting badly , favoring not shooting at all to not get shot back at. But that's personal preference, both are very flavorfull

[@blackbriargaming5483]

Sounds solid to me! Though I'm still convinced they're the same unit :P

[@ramonrivera4604]

my poor NL :(

[@blackbriargaming5483]

MAAAATE. Keep an eye out for our Legion tier lists coming soon... NL are doing JUST fine. Their units are solid and synergise well, but nothing outrageous.

[@ramonrivera4604]

@@blackbriargaming5483 :) I'm happy with my raptors.

[@maddogmadden23]

Night Lord units on their own arnt super great. Great power output, but with 1 wound it makes it tough in a drawn out fight. NL are awesome because you have to use combined arms tactics and some cool strategies! I love my Night Raptors. I made my entire list around a big 15 unit of them

[@AuramiteEX]

Where's the Fulmentarus?

[@blackbriargaming5483]

In the Legacies document, we kept it Liber only. I'm not overly enthused by the balance between the core rules and that pdf... will do a separate video for good units out of it though (and the tragic ones...).

[@rstrathmann]

@@blackbriargaming5483 I feel bad for UM players that went with HH 1.0 combi-melta or Reaper cannon equipped Fulmentarus

[@MrCitizen0]

Fulemtarus are better then tyrant

[@blackbriargaming5483]

They sure are. But also a Legacies unit. So not on this list.

[@carabculln1232]

Honestly the DA stuff is so good it’s kinda gamey, especially after their lore got ridiculous wanking in Crusade, wish they toned down companions and inner circle a bit

[@blackbriargaming5483]

It's certainly not terrible! Inner Circle were certainly on the list, but decided to keep it to a single DA unit. Dean was lucky he got away with two 9th Legion units! 😅