Strengths and Weaknesses for EVERY Death Guard Unit

Let's talk through every datasheet in index death guard and the pros and cons of fielding them in game...
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0:00 Intro
1:02 Infantry Units
9:33 Vehicle Units
19:38 Fortification
20:41 Mortarion
22:21 Lords
29:03 Psykers
31:49 Daemon Princes
33:45 Support Characters
41:47 Outro

[@redrix1787]

Last time i was this early the death guard didn't smell

[@Curaissier]

Well played sir.

[@yishumate]

Ignace Karkasy would disagree "...But oh my life, how they stink, they stink"

[@aaronbold8715]

@@yishumateDamn, talk about a throwback. Only the most real warhammer fans get this reference.

[@passchen-fail3704]

According to the first 3Horus Heresy books, all space marines smell if not bad then at least unpleasantly weird to most mortal humans.

[@Prometheus_Williams]

We are in such a good place. I just wish they would make Blight Lord Terminators 2 OC. I can’t use them for anything currently.

[@thomashowe1583]

If you don't mind fixed objectives you can definitely get a squad of them in the backline or middle starting turn 2 with Deep Strike and just Deploy Teleport Homer's all day. Took me a full Abby squad to kill them and he wasn't boosting the rest of my forces

[@Prometheus_Williams]

@@thomashowe1583 I play fixed, never thought about that. Thank you Thomas. I’ll try it.

[@epreinte2429]

I'm a simple man, I see death guard, I like, comment and watch the vid' May Grandpa Nurgle be kind!

[@themr_dr_metroid831]

The Lord of Virulence’s ability affects everything he can see! Not just one target

[@rizzington1]

Mortarian's aura plus LOV and PBC means the mortar is hitting indirect on 2s!

[@nathanielhurley3960]

My Tyranids still have nightmares about getting shelled into oblivion by that combo.

[@victoryanguas6666]

Yes, the problem to pull that off is the requirement of LOS for the Lord of Virulence. For a skilled opponent is not very hard to deny LOS to ideal targets

[@WookieRookie]

​@@victoryanguas6666not sure that you are right. LOS is a very weak condition, especially for a unit with deepstrike. In addition, if your opponent doesn't see you, then you don't see your opponent and you can't shoot.

[@victoryanguas6666]

@@WookieRookie i play very often in WTC and skilled players know very well how to deny you that ideal Deep strike early on the battle

[@rizzington1]

@@victoryanguas6666 I always deep strike him, so turn one the PBC have to do without but from then on he can usually always see someone, and if the opponent does run away to hide from LOS they will generally be moving closer for my other units to charge or get firing lines.

[@loganbrown2959]

Right now I’m running 50 poxwalkers, a knight now turned down to hitting on 5+(typhus in unit or strat for shooting) had them kill a single poxwalker, proceeded to stay in melee for 3 full rounds of the game cause nearby enemy infantry kept getting mortal wounded so I revive walkers, ended up coming out on top

[@Averagejoepainting]

Swear myphitic blight hauler is my favorite vehicle for our army

[@atlasx021]

Noxious blightbringer needs some love he hasn’t been “DECENT” he came out

[@davidrobinson7260]

I agree. He is such a beautiful model, he deserves better.

[@HellfireRE]

I hope, my first DG and 40k model I ever painted 🥲

[@CaptainMirro]

Blight haulers are a hidden gem if you use them right. For the points its a good high wound unit.

[@HellfireRE]

Eh, if you want a tough annoying unit with high wounds at low points I'd rather run a Blight Drone. If you want something that actually kills vehicles I'd invest a bit more an get a Karnivore or Brigand. No real task right now in DG, where the Blight Hauler is the best pick.

[@AriousArchaic]

@@HellfireRE

[@richardharrison4762]

I am playing a 1000 point game this Monday with a friend that I have not seen in ages. I have been uuuumming and aaaahhing over what to take. This helps out a lot! Thank you!

[@stephenbussphotography2430]

Just picked up 3 PBC, perfect timing.

[@AmateurGameDeveloper]

Why do you need so many anti-infantry mortars? 🤔

[@doctordoubledakka3939]

ur 1 edition 2 late..... sorry man

[@PickupGeek]

​@@AmateurGameDeveloperand 6 lascannons between them yeah totally useless lol

[@victoryanguas6666]

​@@AmateurGameDeveloperto clear the table from cheap objective holders. They're the perfect tool to open a hole in enemy DZ if you play deploy teleport homers with fixed missions

[@AmateurGameDeveloper]

@@PickupGeek Two Predator Annihilators cost much less and provide much stronger lascanons, lol.

[@joeycrosby167]

I'm working on my death guard army now and this definitely helped me make some adjustments to my 2k list

[@Storehouse-805]

this could not have come at a better time. Thank you Auspex!

[@treytison1444]

Seems like Plague Surgeon should work on more units than just plague marines.

[@coachgonzalezpg1742]

I like combining chaos lord with a tally man for hitting on twos and re rolling ones on my plague marines

[@JimH.]

^This is a devastating combo, especially when leading a 10 man PM squad in a Rhino with 5 heavy plague weapons and 4 bubotic weapons. Puts out OBSCENE damage if done properly.

[@ReynardCalcifius]

Blightlords being rated lower than poxwalkers and cultists hurts my soul

[@SimpleandClassic]

Great video, thank you for creating! I'm sure you have a schedule, but I hope chaos nights are coming up soon in a similar format. I am a death guard player but interested in allies and your thoughts

[@CloningIsTooGoodForSheep]

Death guard need a cool missile launcher unit with a crack/plague profile. It is an iconic loadout which they lack at the moment.

[@8-7-styx94]

Helbrute Plasma cannons can benefit from the LOV buff, which actually makes them surprisingly good against any medium-heavy infantry. Having all that plasma hitting on 2's and causing contagion is a mess. If you've got two of them the fun really starts as the Toughness and Potential AP loss can make other weapons much much stronger while you spam attacks across the whole board or alternatively weaken the enemy's shooting boosting your own survivability. It's all about contagion range and how quickly you can infect the board...

[@AmateurGameDeveloper]

I'm surprised the video's author doesn't consider lowering hit rolls as an option. Why should factions about melee combat, survival, board control lower armor if they can worsen the shooting of the most dangerous units from the very first turn? And after getting closer, it makes the enemy army much weaker, without the need to inflict real damage. Moreover, the combination of this rule and the cloud of flies and smoke screen makes the main units of the Death Guard practically unkillable.

[@Tnkrumpets]

Painting up a DG army for a friend. It’s been a pleasure to paint and I have definitely fallen in love with the faction.

[@purpleyurple]

I love running a 10 man Blightlord squad with a Lord of Contagion for re roll hit rolls. Run em out to mid board and they hold up decently well. Throw a bunch of attacks that can fish for lethals in melee. On top of 2 flamers and 2 reaper auto cannons. The opponent has to dedicate shots and bodies to take em out.

[@kevinmyers6747]

I love the poxwalkers, the models are super fun and with Typhus I’ve had good success with them. They soak up a good bit of damage and even though they’re slow I run them the first turn or two and they’re great at board denial or tying up units.

[@thislostendevour]

I usually use the Helbrute to tag ranged threats with the -1BS defuff, then hopefully I can get them into close combat and use the tank shock strategem.

[@AmateurGameDeveloper]

A few days ago I took two. It was very funny to watch a huge knight for 800 points who shot at 5+ at the defiler in the smoke screen.

[@IlanMuskat]

Plasma Cannon getting the Lord of Virulence's +1 to hit makes it even more reliable. Lord of Virulence is a bit underrated here -- definitely has a higher impact on the table than Lord of Contagion.

[@AmateurGameDeveloper]

@@IlanMuskat I'm surprised that Lord of Contagion can be needed by anyone at all, when there are so effective Typhus, Lord Of Virulence and the current Sorcerer in Terminator armor.

[@derekp5670]

Can you do one for Sisters of Battle next? Love these overviews. Helps me plan when facing down these armies.

[@Prometheus_Williams]

Im very pleased overall with DG

[@jaket2734]

The Deathshrouds’s sputers are anti-inf 4+, pistol, flamers. A Squad of 6 has 7d6 shots, even in melee, always 4+ on infantry, always hits. I don’t think you have them enough credit.

[@JohnnyRico118]

I've always been a big fan of predators playing DoW when I was a kid and I feel that they haven't been good in TT since forever, so I'm happy to see them being ranked pretty well. I'd probably run them with lascannons though.

[@alarak2159]

Don't forget you can use Helbrutes to enact the Boilblight Strategem from via their Infused With The Blessings Of Nurgle ability. I've used this before to great affect. However; I do believe the 'Brutes are over-costed right now. 110/120 points would be a better marker. I have a pair equipped with Twin Plague Heavy Bolter, Fist w/ Plague combi-bolter - the additional hits ensure I can connect on a unit for the sake of it's ability. Issue is, I've found for best affect you really need to take two - & then that's 280 points of pretty pop-able units.

[@hugosz283]

Please do all factions in this format!

[@crazyyelir4127]

Id like to see the other Traitor Legions. Thousand Sons next?

[@MagnusDidNothingWrong]

Only thing I would point out about the lord of contagion is he technically has a ranged threat because he is the only Terminator character in the army with the grenades keyword.

[@wulferikgebhardt5312]

I pair my Plague Surgeon up with my Plaguecaster so I can always use the supercharged attacks without accidentally killing him. Also both models are kind of strong in melee.

[@kile1343]

Could you do the same for Thousand Sons? I recently started to get into the game and currently building my first army still (Tau) but armies such as Thousand Sons or Salamanders do interest me as well :)

[@spoonsrattling]

Me detesting death guard "Ah yes what an informative and useful video for me"

[@zachhowe98]

Whenever the codex comes, I'd like to see terminator detachment, vehicle and poxwalkers/plague marines horde

[@jimbusher5895]

Those Plague Burst Crawlers are lethal - I'd have them at 9/10 having them ruin my Drukhari Scourges in four games

[@IlanMuskat]

Yeah, some real armchair thinking here. The numbers don't tell the whole story until you see the units in action.

[@PancreasBroke]

This video forgot to mention that they all take d6 mortal wounds when someone sprays them with cleaning spray.

[@lukestacey9018]

If I remember correctly, with the new way effects stack, you can get multiple malignant plaguecasters to affect the same unit. Completely a waste of points but it would be pretty funny

[@pb4326]

I'm confused, what is this term called "virion"? and what does it do? I can't seem to find it when searching for rules

[@Theinternetnerd]

I hate how plague marines come in 7, so if you do it with 5 units you have two extra and if you do it as 10 you have to get an extra box and get 4 extra

[@taffyadam6031]

Nice

[@AriousArchaic]

typhus's eater plague ability actually counters lone operatives.

[@chickenduckdog7281]

They changed how I requested, but the nurglings and plague marines were a tough loss.

[@caboose759]

Dont sleep on the Icon Bearer. Combine him with a Chaos Lord in a Rhino, pop out somewhere even relatively close to the middle board and use his ability. Thats a 12" aura of potential mortal wounds, 15" if you enhance it. I cant tell you how many times my friend used this fart bomb on me and netted around 12 wounds in one turn.

[@atlasintrepid4380]

That’s hilarious. I gotta try that.

[@AriousArchaic]

avatar of khaine is insanely strong and cheaper than ol' morty. i think his strike needs to go to damage 6 or give him more than 5 attacks. maybe 8 strike, 12 sweep?

[@eugiboy1]

What about Beasts of Nurgle?

[@NjByg]

Question for poxwalkers rules: If Poxwalkers destroy for example 3 enemy models = 3 Poxwalkers return to the game?

[@dovahchicken935]

ABSOLUTELY. Checked the stat, it says each time a poxwalker MODEL in this unit destroys an enemy model, return one poxwalker model to the unit

[@user-vc9wy5ps8g]

Its a bit sad that the blightlords are so weak now. In 9th they had the 4+ invol and -1 dmg which made them good terminators compared to their counterparts. The 4++ was one of their big advantages with how insane ap was in last eddition. I hope they dont get points decreases but rather a increase and some rules changes bringing them in line with deathshroud terminators. But that wont happen at least until the codex drops so i guess we will have to make due with what we have

[@davidrobinson7260]

So true and then custodies get a 4+ invol and a 4++ just about anytime they want?!?

[@KC-kl6qc]

​@@davidrobinson7260 In all fairness, Custodes couldn't field nearly as many models as Death Guard, and while I agree the 4+fnp was a bit bonkers, but for DG losing a single Blightlord likely wouldn't impact you all that much. Losing a Custodian was a serious problem since they were usually ran in 3 man squads instead of 5, plus their damage output dropped quite a bit.

[@baconeatan4121]

So I have been playing death guard recently, and can someone explain to me why the additional ap contagion is better than the minus one weapon and ballistic skill one?

[@atlasintrepid4380]

Because most people just reroll all misses anyways. You might cause them to miss a shot or two but I’d rather have a guaranteed AP on everything.turns all 2+ saves into 3+ saves an -1 Toughness. Think about that on a T5 terminator or a T4 marine. You will be wounding on 2’s or 3’s and they will have a harder time saving. Especially if you combine that with the strats for more AP.

[@atlasintrepid4380]

Worse Saves plus -2 AP on infected point. That’s a minimum -3 to a termy squad or even a land raider. For 1 CP

[@atlasintrepid4380]

The exception is probably Orks. Because making them shoot on a 6+ is comedy.

[@baconeatan4121]

That’s a very good point, I’ve just always use the -1 bs/ws because in my group all the armies I play against hit on 4+, so pushing to 5+ is pretty good. One of my friends did just build grey knights tho so I’ll probably start using the ap one more

[@JimH.]

You're underestimating the power of a Chaos Lord, especially when leading a unit of PM and combined with a Tallyman.

[@CarnageCoon]

wait, typhus has more movement? damn never realised this

[@Darksky1001able]

Ive played my friend over 5 times now. I have yet to win with my Black Templars. Mind you i am still new to the game, but damn does it hurt.

[@passchen-fail3704]

It’ll happen eventually. Take some shooting and maybe some sword brethren. Sword brothers are always great. Also, never run helbrecht against vehicles. Finally, games under 1,500 pts are really swingy so try to get a points level up to that or higher and if it’s just you and your friend, ask if you can proxy with similar looking models for a couple units to try out new things. Try not to take any units just to fill the points though. I also really like desolation marines as space marines lack a lot of infantry with good anti vehicle.

[@Darksky1001able]

@passchen-fail3704 It's hilarious you say that, because my impulsor was destroyed and my sword brethren were charged and they were led by Helbrecht, and he one shot a plaugeburst crawler and it didn't explode.

[@atlasintrepid4380]

I’ve played 5 times vs BT as death guard. Lost every time. Haha.

[@kylewells6871]

I miss our rerolls, rerolling 1s to wound generically on the plagueweapons (and full rerolls from archcontaminator warlord trait) and rerolling 1s to hit from lords of the deathguard. Id rather play 9th ed Dg than current, any day. Mortarion is a let down, big time, and poxwalkers are borderline unusable (hitting on 5s kills it for me, and that fact that have no MW output anymore) Typhus is 100% better now tho, mainly at the points cost. He used to be 165pts and was far less scary.

[@bingusgrangus1441]

They are 50 points so they have a lot of uses

[@passchen-fail3704]

They’re good at squatting on objectives and refusing to be evicted with a lot of shots. Close combat is the only good way to get them off due to death guards army wide sticky objectives

[@scribesarchive289]

Are war dogs better than demon prince ? Can’t decide which to take

[@thomashowe1583]

Definitely does more damage than it. I always find aura buffs to be worth it though, surviving 1/6 damage means they need to pump extra shots to kill what they need.

[@stu_gibson]

I'd take a War Dog Brigand or Karnivore over a Daemon Prince any day of the week.

[@davidrobinson7260]

100% if you take the winged version. I think this is an apple and oranges situation. Prince is a character and dogs are a battle-line choice. If you already have multiple blocks of marines w/o characters take the prince. If you are overwhelmed with characters take the dogs

[@bruce9371]

"Pillow-Fisted"

[@jonathan4826]

Daemon princes being as shit as they are break my heart. I love my princes, but I don't even bring them to casual matches.

[@ripchuchin]

:)

[@user-hf7ye6ve2u]

How the hell did I sleep? Since when did the plague paratroopers become 9/10 and the blightlord terminators 5/10?

[@timdonk1916]

Since when they got access to all wargear for free. What makes them some of the best combat troop options in the game is the fact that they will bully every battleline unit in the game, especially in close combat where the negative auras absolutely do stack up. The Foul Blightspawn and Biologus Putrifier are amazing leaders that make them incredibly lethal to even some elite units. The math gets incredibly wonky. Like everything Death Guard, they also combo with the Nurgling's negative aura. Blightlords aren't nowhere near as bad as people say they are but their damage output (both ranged and melee) is incredibly poor unless supported with a Lord of Contagion, which allows for Lethal 6 fishing in melee and actually adds a bit of melee lethality by being a pretty good beatstick. Deathshrouds with Typhus or Lord of Virulence (buff to their pistol flamers is not to be underestimated) much preferred.

[@user-hf7ye6ve2u]

​@@timdonk1916 I never thought about it. I've always played through terminators.But now I want to make a new roster and try to use the plague marines as the main striking force.

[@AmateurGameDeveloper]

Here's what I don't understand. How exactly did the crawler get 8 while the defiler only got 4? The crawler has a weak anti-infantry mortar, two relatively weak laser cannons and a lot of armor. But the defiler has a superior main cannon, a single but more reliable laser cannon, and very scary melee potential. Especially considering the shock tank as an option. In addition, the Defiler can use smoke screen, which, in combination with the hellbrute rules, makes him a target with -1 to hit rolls and -1 to ballistic skill. Already on the first turn. And why would I need to improve the crawler's shooting with the Lord of Virulence if the defiler's weapons are much stronger? I got the impression that the author of the video simply asked Death Guard players what they were playing with and how, and they had not changed their armies since previous editions, still playing with the old set of miniatures. And yes, in previous editions the crawlers were the noobrainer. But not now.

[@dylancoon6312]

It is because on almost all terrains, the defiler is unable to leave your deployment zone.

[@CloningIsTooGoodForSheep]

I think the defiler is too expensive for what it brings to the table.

[@AmateurGameDeveloper]

@@CloningIsTooGoodForSheep It costs exactly ten points more than Crawler. Shoots better. And he fights better than a dozen Crawlers. Why are Crawlers then also not overpriced, but 8 out of 10?

[@AmateurGameDeveloper]

@@dylancoon6312 It's strange, but I almost never had problems with this. Perhaps your ENTIRE terrain is a giant ruin, then the problem is not with the defiler, but with a poor choice of terrain. Somehow, the Imperial Knights go beyond the deployment zone, and even reach the enemy zone. I don't see any reason why a defiler shouldn't.

[@opti7746]

I don't understand why they reduced DS termis in the last update and not the Blightlord ... 33pts per model is quit OK, their need more support compare to DS. 30pts to avoid any comparaison with DS Same for demon prince, 195pts for the wing version is wayyy to expansive ... Not so tanky, don't do so much damage, rules are not great ... He can lose at least 35pts for me !

[@guillercuastico]

Blightlords dont need reduced points. They are dirty cheap terminators (most termis are undercosted if you ask me). They need better rules.

[@Painsjustice]

@@guillercuastico this

[@yesman866]

Typhus is op for his points cost. He can easily kill his points value for free every turn. Too much.

[@uwesca6263]

I wonder if 60 PM plus Las Pred, and 3 MBH is viable. I hope no on things its a skew list.

[@davidrobinson7260]

What is las pred? Also this list would struggle against anybody with a couple mediocre vehicles.

[@doctordoubledakka3939]

MBH are pretty decent for clearing vehicles, sux when ur come across Nyds though

[@uwesca6263]

@@davidrobinson7260 lasgun predator. Its an predator annihilator. The idea is predators (maybe up to 3?) for anti vehicle and a swarm of marines for boardcontrol/antiinfantry.

[@davidrobinson7260]

@@uwesca6263 Ok yeah I agree that I could see that working.

[@Pers0n97]

What this faction need (outside of a proper new 10 man marine kit), is more marine units variants (which could and should be done with a single multipart kit). They should get a Destroyer squad, a Despoiler squad and a Havoc plague marine unit on top of the more flexible standard Plague Marine squad. They also need a Plague Chosen squad, a plague marine version of the chosen, with 3W, the old disgusting resilience and True Grit (that let them use their guns in mele as pistol), with a power weapon and Combi-Bolter loadout. This would go a long way to bring back the focus on Plague Marines this army should have.

[@JimH.]

They don't need all that, they just need a Havoc-equivalent.

[@Pers0n97]

@@JimH. Just havoc would mean they are still a marine army with 2 marine units and 2 terminator units. That's just too little, they need at least a mele version, and the Destroyer would be a good way to give them something unique compared to everyone else, something that ties to the HH lore and something that have a clear niche in their roster (short range fire power). Oh and the chosen are just needed. They need a marine sized elite infantry.

[@braytonschackow157]

Please my friend, get some sleep!

[@asrai1024]

Why should he? This is a lucrative job for him. Plus, you can set videos to upload at certain times in advance anyway

[@liamhervin898]

A.I. never sleeps! HERESY!!

[@davidrobinson7260]

@@liamhervin898 💀💀💀💀

[@milankohoutek801]

what you mean with tyhpuses eater plague? It can only be used in shooting phase as it stated " The Eater Plague (Psychic): In your Shooting phase, you can select one enemy unit within 18" of and visible to this Psyker and roll one D6: on a 1, this Psyker’s unit suffers D3 mortal wounds; on a 2-5, that enemy unit suffers D6 mortal wounds; on a 6, that enemy unit suffers D3+3 mortal wounds.

[@bennettroth3051]

Its in the shooting phase but its an ability so it can shoot lone operatives with it

[@willschuchat3445]

Since it's an ability it can be used while he's in melee to help clear out some models.

[@Damnedlegion40k]

Add a comment...

[@dancallan7907]

DeathShroud suck they cant bodyguard the one model theyre supposed to. Mortarion. I forget the Blightbringer exists every codex. Hes never been good.

[@christopherlarter4386]

Helbrutes 7/10 would be 10/10 if pointed better Predator destructor 10/10, annihiliator 6/10 Myphitic blight haulers 4/10, they don't do anything meaningful too generalist for toolbox army, too weak for specialist Defilers 8/10, they are big and fast for what they are so they spread contagion effectively with their large footprint and their tank shock is awesome at 18 dice. Their cannon is the magic profile for 40k. Lord of contagion with deadly pathogen is a 10 with a squad of blightlords. Reliably picks up most large enemies between shooting and melee with his unit. Chaos lords are 5/10. They are just fair not bad just not worth taking if you have other options. Demon prince is 1/10. His aura needs to be base 9" just to be a 5/10 unit. Winged prince is 0/10. Plague surgeon is 0/10. Useless. Icon bearer is a 8/10. His ability is incredibly useful and you can solo him to do objectives while spreading early contagion. He is just tough enough to require a real commitment to kill.

[@CloningIsTooGoodForSheep]

Defilers struggle with terrain on more competitive boards.

[@christopherlarter4386]

@@CloningIsTooGoodForSheep competitive boards are 4" ruin space minimum They easily fit. I think this is a myth that's been repeated so many times that people just believe it without actually using it.

[@doctordoubledakka3939]

Little generous on a few of the units there. PBC cant wound anything at T11 or T12 and gets wrecked by lascannons. I miss the days when it was a real tank.

[@yveshermans1869]

everybody accepting death guard for what they are. Be honest, death guard is ruined. -1 damage, fnp easy peezy.

[@HistoritorJimaldus]

They’re doing great for me, and got the Disgustingly Resilient podcast guys

[@Xhumed]

Deathguard sure love their metal bawkses.

[@chickenduckdog7281]

They changed how I requested, but the nurglings and plague marines were a tough loss.