Love Red Scorpions models but the not the rules currently? Check out these combos you can do with Forge World Space Marines now!
The Red Scorpions Space Marines are a Forge World Chapter of an unknown origin (currently). They’ve got a few named characters which really serve as the only reason as to why you would even take them.
Looking at their characters’ rules, some Chapter Tactics are better than others.
Hidden within Forge World’s Imperial Armor: Astartes FAQ section, the rules team made a clear statement. Any Forge World Chapter can take any Chapter Tactic aside from Legion of the Damned and Grey Knights. As of right now, the Red Scorpions don’t get Doctrines or Litanies and their books are starting to show their age.
Just to clarify further, since the Forge World named character’s datasheets don’t have a specific founding Chapter or Chapter Tactic, they can be used as a Successor Chapter character to one of the first founding. If you take a named character from a Forge World Chapter, you won’t be able to take the first founding character in the same detachment (I.e no Shrike and Culln in a Battalion) nor any of the Chapter’s relics (without CP).
What you can do, is select any relics from the Special Issue Wargear table that any Successor Chapters have access to. Or just spend a CP to unlock a relic from the first founding Chapter’s relic table.
Now let’s jump into a few awesome characters and which rules best suit them!
Side Note: The cool thing about FW Chapters’ named characters is that they can pick any Warlord Trait out of the book.
Carab Culln The Risen- Raven Guard
Carab Culln’s latest evolution is a Leviathan Dreadnought. And while he doesn’t have the damage output of say, a Stormcannon Leviathan, he’s got rules that you won’t find anywhere else.
At T8 15 wounds with a 2+/4++/6+++ he’s pretty tanky. Especially now that you can spend 1Cp to halve all damage on a Dreadnought.
You might think that Iron hands is an easy Chapter pick for this guy…but it’s a little redundant. He offers a 6+++ FNP bubble to friendly units within 6″ and Iron Hands already have a FNP. (Remember, Feel no Pains don’t stack anymore). Plus, his shooting isn’t crazy enough for you to want to overwatch on a 5+ with him. Sure it’s nice but his best attribute is melee with a 4-damage claw.
Looking at the Raven Guard, if this guy is in your ranks, your other Raven Guard units around him will essentially be in cover, be -1 to hit, and now have a 6+++ FNP. Plus, if Carab himself is outside of 12″, he counts as being in cover effectively giving him a 1+ Sv. That means -2AP firepower will still be a 3+ armor save for him.
Next, it might be a good idea to take the Swift and Deadly Warlord Trait. He gives a 6″ bubble allowing units to charge after advancing. If this guy is in your list, he’ll make everyone around him shrug off wounds easier and also be a quicker-than-expected wrecking ball. Moving 8+D6 inches, you can also pop another Cp for Raven’s Blade letting Carab reroll both dice when he charges 2D6. By the time he gets into combat, he can get 5 attacks doing 4 damage apiece +D6 mortal wounds.
In short, start him on the table. if you end up going 2nd, you’ll have a tankier Leviathan than people expect giving a nice portion of your list a 6+++ FNP. He’ll be sure to draw firepower and probably still survive.
Just to add an extra little cherry on top, you can cast Shadowstep on this guy and have him redeploy on the first turn 9″ away from the enemy.
Magister Sevrin Loth- Blood Ravens
Sevrin Loth is a named Librarian for the Red Scorpions that is another great option you don’t see too much on the table. For 140 pts, you can get three Psychic powers and two denies. Plus, he gives a 6″ reroll ALL wound auras against enemy Psykers. This is essentially the same aura that got Guilliman nerfed and it’s hiding on a T4 FW model.
The reason why Blood Ravens would be a good pick if you’re running Sevrin in your list is that they’re a Chapter that has the most psychic-themed bonuses without being Grey Knights.
Relentless Seekers makes it impossible for any unit in the list to be wounded on anything better than a 3+ and they can reroll 1’s for Psychic or Deny the Witch tests.
Plus, with the Chief Librarian strat for the Blood Ravens, you can get Sevrin up to casting 3 and denying 4 powers a turn! Remember you’re also rerolling any 1’s you get!
Obviously, you’re catering a lot to one character but if you also plan on bringing an entire coven of Librarians for some smite spam, this would most definitely be a fun list to play with!
What do you think about the Red Scorpions Space Marines options? Which Chapter Tactics do you use with them? Who is your favorite character out of the Chapter?
Let us know in the comments of our Facebook Hobby Group, and sign up to get your free hobby updates newsletter (with discount coupon codes) each morning as well!
About the Author: Wesley Floyd
