First introduced with Warhammer 40,000 8th Edition (Dark Imperium), the Space Marine Primaris marked a seismic shift in the flagship army. In those days, they only had a handful of kits. Today, they stand equal to their predecessors in Codex: Space Marines for ninth edition. I’ll be discussing the primary differences between the Primaris and Firstborn or (Old) Marines in this introduction. Later sections go into details about the various Primaris units and the niches they fill in play.
To start, Firstborn Space Marines tend to organize as generalists. For example, a Tactical Squad may take a variety of weapons and wargear. The choices will decide whether they specialize in close combat, tank hunting, marine killing, and so on. Space Marine Primaris, however, choose a unit which has set weapons and capabilities for battlefield tasks. So, in building a force you choose a Primaris unit, but outfit your Firstborn Marines.
Consequently, Primaris units tend to have fixed point costs and lower Power Levels. Firstborn have variable point costs and a higher Power Levels reflecting their greater points and flexibility.
The stat-lines of Primaris and Firstborn Marines tend to be identical, the only standout for this edition being an extra Attack for Primaris models. This is a big step up from 8th Edition where Firstborn Marines only had 1 Wound!
Finally, Primaris Marines tend to have more abilities listed in their datasheets than their Firstborn counterparts. This reflects my first point, Primaris units are task driven. Firstborn Marines rely on weapons and wargear to compensate.
As for models, Space Marine Primaris are much larger than regular Marines as you can see below
Your Troops Choice?
The most popular detachments, Patrol, Battalion, and Brigade, require Troops. You’ll need to give some consideration as to how you’ll play before choosing the units for your army. So which Troops match your style?
Intercessors of all flavors are intended for brute force fights. Intercessors and Heavy Intercessors prefer the Shooting Phase with their long range weapons. While not specialized in it, they can do significant damage in the Fight Phase. Especially if you’ve softened them up with a turn or two of shooting.
The Assault Intercessors emphasis the Fight Phase. They work hand in hand with shootier Space Marines. Their ranged brothers weaken targets and the Assault Intercessors sweep in to clear them away. They, or other Fight focused troops, are needed to claim objectives from an enemy and score in the following turn.
The Infiltrator and Incursor Squads reflect an aggressive, forward deployed style of fighting. They’re designed to flood the battlefield outside your deployment zone. You’ll be putting pressure on your opponent much sooner and seizing objectives. However, while you’re pressuring your foe, he can concentrate more of his army on small chunks of yours. It is a delicate, but satisfying balancing act, keeping them alive until the rest of your army can link up!
Let’s dig into the choices in detail.
Space Marine Primaris Troops
Units found in the Troops category usually form the largest part of a force. They tend to be cheap and not have many specials abilities. However, Space Marines are an elite force and even their Troop selections are powerful and skilled. Let’s take a look at those units.
Intercessor Squad
Somewhat akin to a Tactical Squad, Intercessors form the basic rifle squad for Primaris focused units. While they have a choice of rifles to carry, you should arm them according to intended use. Aggressive units should carry auto bolt rifles for the short range, mobile firepower. Defensive and stationary units want the stalker bolt rifles for vastly improved range, AP, and Damage characteristics. The regular bolt rifle provides a good mix of range and AP for more generalist units.
Units, except for those armed with stalker bolt rifles, may want to include their limit of Astartes grenade launchers. The grenade launcher adds a Strength 6 attack with the krak grenade for harder targets. For low toughness targets, the frag profile allows D6 attacks for engaging hordes.
Most Sergeants should carry some form of melee weapon, even if it just an Astartes chain sword. Power fists and Thunder hammers are great choices when using Power Level or if you have the points for them. While inaccurate, they are hard hitting and deal multiple wounds. There is an additional option to replace the Sergeant’s rifle with an additional melee weapon or pistol. I would not encourage that. The squad’s purpose is to engage at range. Losing the Sergeant’s rifle dilutes that firepower from 1/10 to 1/5 depending on squad size.
Assault Intercessor Squad
Your Assault Intercessors, are intended to get close and destroy the enemy in the Fight Phase. Consequently, they are armed with Astartes chainswords and heavy bolt pistols. Other than the sergeant, they have no weapon options.
Sergeants in Assault Intercessor Squads should tool up as much as your selection of bitz and point budget allows. Thunder hammers and power fists are your best alternate melee weapon. The plasma pistol, however, beats out the hand flamer. The squad is already tooled up to take on low toughness hordes, while the plasma pistol provides some high Strength ranged fire.
If your squad should get locked in combat, then don’t forget to use your pistols in the Shooting Phase. They provide an additional Strength 4 attack for each Marine.
Heavy Intercessor Squad
At the time of this writing, Heavy Intercessors have not been released. I expect to see the models released in 2021.
Clad in Mk X Gravis armor, Heavy Intercessors posses increased Toughness, 5, and 3 Wounds making them more difficult to wound and remove from play. The rifles they carry, are also larger, longer ranged, and harder hitting than their Intercessor counterparts. However, with these built in bonuses, Heavy Intercessors have a higher cost.
Choose your primary rifle carefully. They come in the same three ‘types’ carried by Intercessors. However, the Heavy squad also carries a support weeapon. That support weapon is locked to that choice of rifle. For instance, only units armed with the executioner bolt rifle carry the high AP and damage executioner heavy bolter.
As a long ranged unit, your Sergeant does not have a melee weapon option. Stay at range, keep your fire lanes open, and don’t get locked into melee!
Infiltrator Squad
Wearing the lighter, stealthy Phobos armor, Infiltrators use the Concealed Positions ability to set up outside your deployment zone. Permitted to deploy anywhere more than 9 inches from an enemy unit provides you with a variety of area denial and control flexibility. You may set up holding objectives and will deny enemy scouts the ability to do the same.
Other than their forward deployment capability, their Omni-scrambler prevents enemy reinforcements from setting up within 12 inches of them. Greatly increasing that area denial capability. The marksman bolt carbine is the equivalent of a bolt gun, but auto wounds on 6’s to hit.
The one choice of gear given to the squad is between a helix gauntlet or infiltrator comms array. The comms array feels like a better choice as the squad benefits from Rites of Battle and Tactical Precision from a character in Phobos armor regardless of location on the board. Others may prefer damage reduction of the helix gauntlet, but it can be very situational as it is the first failed armor save in a unit. It could occur from a lasgun or a plasma cannon and you have no control over it.
Incursor Squad
Another set of sneaky operatives, Incursor squads share the Infiltrator’s model box and Concealed Positions ability. However, where as the Infiltrators focus on denying positions to the enemy, Incursors are supposed to take it.
for that assignment, Incursor units carry a multi-spectrum array which eliminates any or all hit roll and Ballistic Skill modifiers. On top of that, their occulus bolt carbines deny enemy units cover modifiers. Once they’ve closed the range and softened up their target, a final charge with paired combat blades pushes the foe off the objective.
Finally, the haywire mine option may cause your opponent to hesitate charging your Incursors. It inflicts a D3 mortal wounds to a unit or a straight 3 to vehicles. You have to decide when to use it as it is only available once per game.
Our Space Marine Primaris Series
Space Marine Primaris Core Choices, Troops
HQ Selection, Primaris Marine Leaders
The Chosen Few, Primaris Marine Elites
To Be Published
Firestorm, Primaris Fast Attack
Gods of War, Primaris Heavy Support
Motor Pool, Primaris Tanks and Transports
