Space Marine Legion Tactics - Legion Reconnaissance Squad

Legion Reconnaissance Squads were formed from experienced Space Marines expert in operating independently and often deep behind enemy lines. These specialised troops were the eyes and ears of their Legion in the field. For this task, they were armed and equipped with a variety of specialised wargear including long-range weaponry, sensory Auspex and stealth gear. They served as scouts and intelligence gatherers, identifying targets and gathering information on enemy movements and strengths. They also served their Legion as pickets, saboteurs, raiders and snipers where needed, and in open battle were experts in sudden flanking manoeuvres and infiltration attacks in support of their main force.

Basically, the Legion Reconnaissance Squad is your basic Space Marine Scouts, albeit better due to increased WS and BS. They cost about as much your standard Space Marine, hence upgrading these guys can prove to be quite costly. However, one can argue that they are probably one of the more reasonably costing unit, in comparison to the standard Codex. But really, who cares about the Codex Astartes. Only the pathetic and ignorant Roboute Guilliman and his so called glory Legion would abide (and create) such an absurd thing.

The Legions were and still are the most powerful armies in all of 40k!! Anyway enough of this, let's talk more about the Legion Reconnaissance Squad ay?

Space Marine Legion Tactics - Legion Tactical Support Squad

Legion Tactical Support Squads were mobile fire-support units that replaced the utilitarian Bolter of their comrades with more specialised weapons, enabling them to cope with particular battlefield threats or enemies. Operating in close order with the Legion's other troops, the Tactical Support Squad's firepower enabled a battlefield strike force of Space Marines to act with even more versatility and engage a wider range of targets on its own terms.

Nothing more needs to be said about this squad. It acts exactly as its namesake. When utilising this squad; it's role is best suited to accompany the core of your army. This may mean that the squad is equipped with Meltaguns (assuming your army lacks any form of anti-tank); or possibly Volkite Calivers or Rotor Cannons to provide supportive fire etc. Outfit the squad, depending on your army's need.

Usually I'd say take as many marines as you possibly can, but this may actually become too expensive with certain options (like the Plasma Gun and Melta Gun). In these cases, it may be best to take the base 5 and give them a Rhino. Again, take as many marines depending on your needs.

Space Marine Legion Tactics - Legion Breacher Siege Squad

When Space Marine Legions are in a siege, their core troops are the Legion Breacher Siege Squad. Not only are the the core troops of a siege, they are also vanguard assault force in the worst conditions of war. Some Space Marine Legions have a strong preference for these kinds of warfare, specifically the Imperial Fists, Iron Warriors and World Eaters.

The Legion Breacher Siege Squad is literally designed for Siege Warfare and Zone Mortalis. In all respects, this squad would be my go to choice for any Zone Mortalis game (it fits theme and they count as Void Hardened). Otherwise, you can treat them exactly like a Legion Tactical Squad. Hell, they are almost the same (emphasis on the word almost).

Space Marine Legion Tactics - Legion Assault Squad

"And of the Assault Marine so do I decree: He shall descend upon the perfidious foe as an Angel of Judgement from on high. Let the jump pack be his wings, and the roar of its engines a hymn of retribution. Let the chainsword be his sceptre of decree, its harsh voice singing joyfully with each and every blow. With it shall the Assault Marine bring bloody retribution to the heretic, the traitor and all alien aggressors who trespass on the Emperor's domain. So will the Assault Marine be the hunter of warlords and the slayer of kings. His armour shall run slick with the life-blood of the vanquished, and all shall honour his name."

— The teachings of Primarch Roboute Guilliman, the Apocrypha of Skaros

Where the core of Legion is the Tactical Squad, then the Knife, or better yet the Dagger of the Legion is the Assault Squad.

Rules and Tactics-wise, the Legion Assault Squad is no different than an Assault Squad from Codex: Space Marines or Codex: Blood Angels. When fielded en-masse they can really put the hurt on anyone in the brutal art of Close Combat. Twenty bodies with 3 Attacks on a charge and Hammer of Wrath can seriously ruin anyone's day.

I do have some profane love for Space Marine Squads of 20, that really, I create Tactics that revolve around sheer wait of numbers, and lately it seems, hording is the way to go, especially with Legion Armies. Like the Tactical Squad, purchasing the extra 10 Assault Marines is extremely cheap, hence it really is best to take as many as you can. But this also leads into the MAJOR drawback of the Legion Assault Squad!!

Space Marine Legion Tactics - Legion Tactical Squad

Every army, regardless of who they are, always require a strong and solid core. This 'core' will almost always form the backbone of which the rest of the army revolves around. This can be a strong formation of tanks or a battalion of soldiers. In the terms of a tabletop commander, this core is your Troops choice.

For a Space Marine Legion Army List, you have many different Troops choices. The first of which (and by far the best IMHO) is the Legion Tactical Squad.They literally will form the backbone of your army (unless you use Rites of War: Pride of the Legion, though more on that at a later date).

The Legion Tactical Squad lacks the And They Shall Know No Fear special rule, so ironically for Space Marines who have no fear, can be affected by fear. However they do have the Legiones Astartes Special Rule, which allows them to regroup regardless of casualties (so you shouldn't have to worry about them running away... too much). In addition they have a fancy rule, Fury of the Legion. This allows them to forgo moving to fire their Bolters twice. Really handy just before your opponent attempts an Assault.

Anyway, less on rules and more onto actual tactics.