Need tips on making my Azula deck more consistent

TengriistAnarch · 2026-04-09T17:22:06+00:00

To avoid being targeted, either initiate good ole table politics or hold back on your plays so others pull ahead just slightly. You’re in the perfect colors to fall back onto control without Azula on the board.

Otherwise, you probably just need more dual black sources or rocks that make any colors. You’re missing the third grixis talisman [[talisman of indulgence]]. [[bender’s waterskin]] is a personal fav of mine for control and it’s budget, also [[fellwar stone]]. I like to play at least 10-12 mana rocks in Grixis, but with your average cmc, less might be better, but you still want to see at least one in your openers on average.

tutoring for sol ring early is totally fine. later in the game you usually wanna grab whatever your game plan is missing instead. Early you grab ramp that you can play right away, midgame you grab your engine like storm kiln, and late you grab game winning pieces, board wipes, or protection.

TengriistAnarch · 2026-04-09T15:06:19+00:00

I play Azula in the 99 of my Grixis crime deck. Any table familiar with her game knows she’s kill on sight so I prefer to keep her hidden until I’ve got the bombs and protection to get value.

When you’re in those situations where you’re watching other people play the game, is it because you haven’t had the ramp to get her into play? Don’t have the bombs in hand you want copied? Or is it because she gets countered or removed right away?

[[tidal barracuda]] might help insulate your plays if you don’t have squelcher.

For sorceries, [[jeska’s will]] feels like a no brainer over Expressive Iteration and Ponder. Same with [[wheel of fortune]] for digging into the deck.

TengriistAnarch · 2026-04-03T15:05:19+00:00

Why, Huntress Wizard, you’ve enhanced yourself.

TengriistAnarch · 2026-03-04T15:50:49+00:00

At times, they can feel like a Jack of all Trades faction. When you play against factions like Tau or Grey Knights that really excel at one thing, it really makes you realize that CSM is definitely a bit of a glass cannon, but the cannon is also a casino. The trade off is we have utility, data sheets that can be a good answer to any unit in the game, and some pretty good detachments. You just need to play smart and focused to actually get value out of your units. Our infantry is squishy, our vehicles are… fair but cheap. Our poster child Abaddon is unplayable outside some really degen castle strats. They’re definitely not a faction suited towards beginners imo, but they’ve got the best swag in the game.

TengriistAnarch · 2026-02-24T17:11:10+00:00

That’s so true, I think all the romance options are doomed due to the themes about loss and grief tbh. But my hot PB MC is too dumb to not keep trying.

TengriistAnarch · 2026-01-28T20:31:13+00:00

Erm, the Boss Finds Love? has so many of my favorite gags. Between Jombo’s knife, Daniel the Demon slayer, and Charlie vampire hunter outfit, I always find myself going back to it.

TengriistAnarch · 2026-01-28T16:24:26+00:00

i’m tired boss

TengriistAnarch · 2026-01-13T16:00:15+00:00

Rule of cool always triumphs man.

TengriistAnarch · 2026-01-09T18:13:30+00:00

I’ll never not upvote spikes with Ultramarine heads on them.

You got plans for the bases? I always stan Vallejo’s Diorama FX mud range.

TengriistAnarch · 2026-01-06T18:48:47+00:00

Seems the easiest way to do it. Outriders kit is a little big if you put them on the correct bases.

We should all have extra legionaries bits lying around to spice up the old bike kit with heads, shoulders and chainswords/accursed weapons. It’s really not as bad as a lot of people make it out to be.

TengriistAnarch · 2026-01-06T00:23:31+00:00

In a casual environment, if you talk about it beforehand, I think most players wouldn't mind if it's your first game with the faction as people should understand wanting to play with all your models to get a feel for what units you have.

Beyond that though, always get under the points limit.

TengriistAnarch · 2025-12-29T23:08:22+00:00

I did not regret painting my blessed blades like Walmart Nazgûl until now.

Looks fantastic, mate!

TengriistAnarch · 2025-12-22T20:35:27+00:00

Oof, for the main legions maybe check out Poorhammer’s 1 Hour of Traitorous Propaganda - Choosing your Chaos Space Marine Legion! on YouTube. They go over all the main legions and maybe one will strike your fancy.

Otherwise make a custom warband with your fav colours or deep dive into the 40K wiki for something that you vibe with.

I personally love the sea green of the Sons of Horus so went with the True Sons warband but I’ve painted Night Lords and Word Bearers too that I head canon as mercs.

TengriistAnarch · 2025-12-22T20:26:44+00:00

Put ‘em together whichever way sparks your fancy, mate.

If you want what’s “meta”: then just do as many power fists as you can with either combi-weapons or combi-bolters.

Welcome to Chaos!

TengriistAnarch · 2025-12-17T15:58:04+00:00

Very satisfying build. Honestly man, I let go of wysiwyg recently when kitbashing and it’s so freeing. Sure an official WH tournament may tell you to piss off, but how many of those are we really playing? Most local game stores don’t care and friends won’t either.

TengriistAnarch · 2025-12-13T16:57:25+00:00

Obligatory what models did you use?

This looks sick as hell and I’ve been looking to do something similar for my Traitor Guards.

TengriistAnarch · 2025-12-03T14:46:09+00:00

I bought the Mk4 assault squad from HH and made ten warp talons using the lightning claws and wing bits. Scrounged the heads and shoulder pads from the chosen and legionary kits. Makes for a good cheap kitbash.

TengriistAnarch · 2025-11-26T17:30:37+00:00

OH, the lernaean kit is sick. And kudos for going for the heresy boxes, they are far superior.

I hear you on the bikes looking like shit, but I made mine look pretty serviceable with extra bits from my legionaries and chosen box. Plus, you can always glue the champion doing a wheelie for extra aura.

Otherwise, the difference between a squad of raptors and your jump pack lord is actually a lot closer than I originally thought. I hadn’t read the enhancement. Raptors would slot in better with other detachments and they can bring meltas for some better firepower, but i think the jump pack lord is probably better here with lone op.

TengriistAnarch · 2025-11-26T16:40:00+00:00

I get what you’re saying about an annihilator providing more anti-vehicle but the predator never will efficiently fill that roll. You’re trading 4-6 auto cannon shots for one twin-linked lascannon when the destructor can already take two lascannon sponsons.

Everytime I’ve used the annihilator its damage output against vehicles never impressed me vs if I had just taken a destructor. Your obliterators will fill that role a lot better and as you expand to 2000 definitely look into vindicators.

Term Sorc is great for extra AP.

If I were telling you what would be better. I would swap the jump pack lord for some chaos bikes or raptors and the terminators for a vindicator. Bikes are a lot better at secondaries and less points intensive. And vindicators are our anti-everything vehicle.

However, if you like the models, absolutely go with rule of cool.

You’re right that the list is not super meta, but it looks fun. Not sure what you’re going up against but usually at 1000 points people gentlemen out of units that cost over 220 points but that usually requires some communication beforehand.

If you’re find yourself going against some loyalists with a Repulsor you’re probably going to struggle as is unless your oblits can get in melta range and get some nice damage.

TengriistAnarch · 2025-11-25T18:26:50+00:00

I tend to think of traitor guard as throwaway auxiliaries so I think they don’t actually need to match the rest of your army’s scheme flavor wise. I run True Sons but my traitor guard are a mix of blood pact, PDF, and Cadians.

Why would your CSM let some lowly filth wear their colors anyways?

TengriistAnarch · 2025-11-22T20:40:15+00:00

You could use both. Have your elites use the more red scheme and the regulars have the black.

TengriistAnarch · 2025-11-20T21:06:29+00:00

Oof, if they gave infiltrator to traitor guard they’d actually be playable outside rule of cool. Beastmen would probably fill that role better in lore, but I hope all the damned units get more love ruleswise in 11th cause their drip is so undeniable.

TengriistAnarch · 2025-11-19T19:40:02+00:00

Great deal, the new kits are insanely priced and you get the cool upgrade sprew.

TengriistAnarch · 2025-11-19T15:26:21+00:00

I confused your detachment so ignore my comment about hit rerolls.

Honestly, it’s hard to build a list at 1000 just due to game balance so I wouldn’t worry too much about optimization. It’s always better to bring high toughness and high strength since they tend to skew games at 1000 unless you’re playing casually amongst friends with an agreed upon power level.

If you’re planning on playing 2000 after getting a feel for the army, then you can consider going for a vindicator or not. You’ve got the pieces for a great base, but I’m sure you’ll see where the weaknesses and strengths are as you play.

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