In this ongoing series we present an accessible and thematic starting list for each of the 18 Space Marine Legions. Each list utilizes the Age of Darkness starter set as a foundation from which to build a 2,000 point list using as few additional components as possible from readily available official plastic kits.

To build this force yourself you’ll need:
1 Age of Darkness Starter Set
1 Special Weapons Upgrade Set

Magnus may have done nothing wrong (Magnus did quite a lot wrong, actually) but his sons sure made some questionable choices. Regardless of who’s to blame, if you want to play a legion of psychically compromised and physically degenerating space marines, the Thousand Sons are waiting!

As is often the case in our starter series the Pride of the Legion rite of war is your best bet for getting started with this army. The list we suggest below is a great and economic way to utilize the contents of the Age of Darkness box set but also offers some opportunities to play thematically. The Thousand Sons were always one of the smallest legions and this suggested list plays to that theme. Instead of using the core marines from the box set in two big tactical squads it utilizes only a single tactical squad gaining a second unit with the all important Line ability via the Pride of the Legion benefits bestowed on the terminator squad. Supporting your tactical squad and terminators are a pair of support squads, a ten-man squad with rotor cannons and a smaller, five-man squad with the legions’ signature Æther-Fire Blasters (alternate rule plasma guns). The real fun of htis comes with that rotor cannon squad, though. Since even minor characters psychic abilities in a Thousand Sons army, you get to choose an ability for your sergeant. In this case, the athenaen power lets you make a psychic test before the unit shoots, and if successful, the target unit is -1 to leadership when making a pinning test against that unit’s attack! This is a nasty little trick, sure to surprise your opponents. Other abilities are peppered throughout the force giving your squads unique edges against your opponent.

Your characters can be attached where you like, though your Praetor will do best with the terminators while the Librarian (utilizing the power sword wielding character from box set) makes a great addition to shore up your big tactical squad. All of these are supported by the contemptor dreadnought packing a heavy hitting gravis lascannon to support your infantry against enemy armor.

This force should hit hard, but won’t take much punishment, so choose your engagements wisely!

Next steps for this army certainly include building the remaining 5 marines from your box set to fill out your smaller support squad.

++ 1. Crusade Force Organisation Chart (LA – XV: Thousand Sons) [1,996Pts] ++

Allegiance: Traitor

XV: Thousand Sons

Rite of War: Pride Of The Legion

+ HQ: [297Pts] +

Centurion [137Pts]: Librarian [45Pts], Psychic Discipline: Divination, Psychic Hood [15Pts]
. Librarian [77Pts]: Artificer Armour, Corvidae, Frag Grenades, Krak Grenades, Refractor Field
. . Exchange Power Weapon for Force Weapon [15Pts]: Force Sword
. . Volkite Serpenta [2Pts]

Praetor [160Pts]: Magister of Prospero, Warlord
. Legion Praetor [160Pts]: Artificer Armour, Cult Arcana Discipline [15Pts], Frag Grenades, Iron Halo, Krak Grenades, Master of the Legion, Psychic Discipline: Biomancy, Pyrae
. . Power Weapon [15Pts]: Power Axe
. . Æther-Fire Pistol [10Pts]

+ Elites: [205Pts] +

Contemptor Dreadnought Talon [205Pts]
. Contemptor Dreadnought [205Pts]: Atomantic Deflector, Gravis Lascannon [20Pts], Gravis Power Fist with in-built ranged weapon, Æther-Fire Blaster [10Pts]

+ Troops: [1,494Pts] +

Tactical Squad [259Pts]: Frag Grenades, Krak Grenades, Power Armour
. Legion Tactical Sergeant [26Pts]: Asphyx Bolter [1Pts], Corvidae, Power Armour, Power Fist [15Pts], Æther-Fire Pistol [10Pts]
. 16x Legionary [160Pts]: 16x Bolt Pistol, 16x Bolter
. Legionary w/ Options: [21Pts]: Asphyx Bolter [1Pts], Augury Scanner [10Pts], Bolt Pistol
. Legionary w/ Options: [21Pts]: Asphyx Bolter [1Pts], Bolt Pistol, Legion Vexilla [10Pts]
. Legionary w/ Options: [21Pts]: Asphyx Bolter [1Pts], Bolt Pistol, Nuncio-Vox [10Pts]

Tactical Support Squad [215Pts]: Frag Grenades, Krak Grenades, Power Armour, Rotor Cannon [50Pts]
. Legion Tactical Support Sergeant [10Pts]: Artificer Armour [10Pts], Athanaen, Bolt Pistol
. Legionary [12Pts]: Bolt Pistol
. Legionary [12Pts]: Bolt Pistol
. Legionary [12Pts]: Bolt Pistol
. Legionary [12Pts]: Bolt Pistol
. Legionary [12Pts]: Bolt Pistol
. Legionary [12Pts]: Bolt Pistol
. Legionary [12Pts]: Bolt Pistol
. Legionary w/ Options [12Pts]: Bolt Pistol
. Legionary w/ Options [22Pts]: Bolt Pistol, Nuncio-Vox [10Pts]

Tactical Support Squad [165Pts]: Frag Grenades, Krak Grenades, Power Armour, Æther-Fire Blaster [50Pts]
. Legion Tactical Support Sergeant [10Pts]: Artificer Armour [10Pts], Bolt Pistol, Corvidae
. Legionary [12Pts]: Bolt Pistol
. Legionary [12Pts]: Bolt Pistol
. Legionary w/ Options [22Pts]: Augury Scanner [10Pts], Bolt Pistol
. Legionary w/ Options [22Pts]: Bolt Pistol, Nuncio-Vox [10Pts]

Terminator Cataphractii Squad [855Pts]: Cataphractii Terminator Armour, Pride of the Legion Compulsory Troops
. Cataphractii [45Pts]: Chainfist [15Pts], Combi-Bolter
. Cataphractii [40Pts]: Combi-Bolter, Power Fist [10Pts]
. Cataphractii [30Pts]: Combi-Bolter
. . Power Weapon: Power Sword
. Cataphractii [30Pts]: Combi-Bolter
. . Power Weapon: Power Sword
. Cataphractii [30Pts]: Combi-Bolter
. . Power Weapon: Power Sword
. Cataphractii Sergeant [20Pts]: Chainfist [15Pts], Combi-Bolter, Grenade Harness [5Pts], Pyrae
. Cataphractii w/Heavy Weapon (1 in 5) [45Pts]: Heavy Flamer [5Pts], Power Fist [10Pts]
. Cataphractii w/Heavy Weapon (1 in 5) [50Pts]: Chainfist [15Pts], Heavy Flamer [5Pts]
. 2x Cataphractii w/Lightning Claws [80Pts]: 2x Pair of Lightning Claws
. Land Raider Spartan [430Pts]
. . Land Raider Spartan [430Pts]: 2x Lascannon Destroyer, Flare Shield [50Pts], Hull (Front) Mounted Hunter-Killer Missile [5Pts], Hull (Front) Mounted Twin-linked Heavy Bolter, Legiones Astartes (X), Multi-Melta [20Pts], Searchlights [5Pts], Smoke Launchers

++ Total: [1,996Pts] ++