Best Codex All Time

[JohnnyDangerous]

Now this is a sticky issue and I thought a very interesting one.

Here is what the writer on Bell of lost Souls posted:

40K DEEP THOUGHT: The Best Codex of all Time?
Posted by Larry Vela at 8/25/2013 162 Comments
Sometimes we need to think about the best we've been given instead of moaning about the worst. It's time to crack open the books...



Reader Deadlift asks:

Hi folks,
Just thought I would pick the minds of some of you fine people and see what your favourite codex is or was, doesn't have to be current. Could be from any edition. But which one (or two, maybe 3) codex have you enjoyed most and why ? It could be because of the fluff or how it played. The model release that accompanied it. Any reason you care to give.


And we are off to the races. A lot of good candidates came out, but off the top of my head I'd pick these:


Chaos Codex v3.5
All the Legions, more wargear than you could shake a stick at, and powerful to boot. It was a powerhouse effort on all fronts, and CSM players still feel it's absence.


The First Necron Codex
It was the codex that took a random handful of funky units and turned them into a cohesive army. It was also the codex that opened out fluff horizons in ways we hadn't seen since the original Realms of Chaos hardcovers. Boy do I remember the arguments and debates about the war in heaven and the origins of the various races in the game.


Eldar - 2nd Edition
Wow, the codex that unified the entire Eldar race. It had everything from the Craftworlds, to Pirates, Exodites (yes really), and even Harlequins. The fluff was revised and expanded from the original White Dwarf stuff, and we got Phoenix Lords. This was the codex that really established the Eldar as a core race in the game.

~Those are mine, what are yours?

[JohnnyDangerous]

If it were only about ideas then those dexes are fairly good choices.

If we are talking about Game play I would say different, here is my list of the strongest(best in table-top performance dexes, which threw everything out of balance):

1)Gray Knights 5th ed: A dex all about winning... Many units under costed and the ability to Draigo Wing just ruined everything...

2)Chaos 5th edition dex... Where to begin... Undercosted Daemon Princes with flight and lash! Cheap Obliterators, undercosted nurgle marines, etc etc... ridiculous!

3) Space Wolves 5th ed dex: Which Jaws of the world wolf able to kill a monstrous creature from across the table, Undercosted hordes of Marines riding wolves( thunder wolf cavalry), and cheap(cheaper than assault marines! Yes their WS was 3 but in fifth its still a 4+ to hit other marines, and they had counter attack special rule) bloodclaws you would think its already cheating... But then there are the long fangs,"Hey what if we had devastators that could shoot as many units as they had shots?" WTF...

As for Top Three books which I felt were the most interesting...

I would only move the Eldar dex to number one... my first dex
But they meddle in everyone's business...

I would put the 3.5 Chaos dex second... Daemons and CSM in one book... Thats a lot of IP...

Thirdly I would nix the Cron dex(Its really lacking in background and fluff) and put in its place the 3rd edition Dark Eldar dex. IMHO it fills a needed story gap while explaining more about the warp and its enhabitants along with the webway and so much more...

All of the above dexes also include stories which touch on Imperial business and from the eldar dex Tyranids... If one were to read these they would get a basic understanding of the 40k Universe... Minus the scope of the great crusade, which I have only in the last year begun to understand through the novels written on the individual chapters whether it be heretic or hero.

What do you guys think?

[Servo]

This topic will take a lot of thought, but off the top of my head I will say 5th Edition Dark Eldar.

Vastly improved background, excellent model release, and an army list that allows multiple great builds. Most units are great, with comparatively few weak units (Mandrakes should be better, and the Archon's retinue sucks). Only reason people don't take Beastmaster units is because the prices are ridiculous. Also, the Codex is balanced internally AND externally.

I very much disagree that Space Wolves and Grey Knights are good Codexes, as they are overpowered and broken. Are there any SW builds that arent as many Blood Claw and Long Fang units as possible, with JoWW shooting across the field every turn. And GK was written by Mat Ward... a "psylencer"? He should be embarrassed.

[JohnnyDangerous]

Yes... It is a difficult idea... but remember the original idea was best overall...

I think I hit the nail on the head for codexes which ruined the game!!!!

But as for influence and thought... I think its far more difficult... Many xenos have eclipsed imperial influence as far as data is concerned...

and if your only looking at influence... the xenos have it...

Now if your looking at imperial history.... I would give the SM dex a read...

What I Think your going for is best overall army....

As per tourneys
1:Ig... They are good... almost no-one plays them... OMG they have ground coverage!

2: Crons... Should be 0ne... but thats a big jump... yes they should be scary nut not because they are taking advantage of flyer rulez!!!

3: My personal fave! Orks!!!! They spell win sauce... if controlled.... and soo much fun to play!!!

love to hear other opinions!!