My Tactics pledge: I am not the greatest player, nor a seal pup. I will endeavor to speak from my experience and always be honest about what is theory and what is play tested. Never will I assume to know better than anyone else... unless I must call out ego or pretension.
Fabulous Bile
Fabius Bile has always been a great character with an “interesting” story and fun rules.
Exactly what changes would Fabius see with the last codex? Would he be the same character with needles, scalpels, and experiments for all?
Fabius hasn't changed much, but his usefulness is apparent when you look at the entire Chaos Space Marine codex and see the holes he can fill.
Looking at what little has changed between the old and new codexes is only the start to understanding why Fabius is deliciously vile.
(Click to Enlarge)
Compare & Contrast
- Points Increase from 160 to 165
- Enhanced Warrior Changes
- Veteran of the Long War
--At least his name isn't Lucius--
Fabius gets a slight point increase, but unlike Lucius the Eternal this point increase doesn't make you go drown yourself in sorrow.
--It is all in the Technique--
The biggest and best change is how Fabius enhances Chaos Space Marines. Now enhanced Chaos Space Marines units are not subjected to a random chart, but the biggest and best change is enhancing won't cost you a damn thing!
--Found the missing Points!--
The real reason Fabius is five more points is Veterans of the Long War. Nothing comes for free in the Chaos Space Marine codex! I guess it makes sense being a relic from the Horus Heresy.
Fabius hasn't changed much, but his usefulness is apparent when you look at the entire Chaos Space Marine codex and see the holes he can fill.
Putting it all together...
Fabius is really good. Let me say that again, Fabius is really, really good!
Fabius Bile is great because taking him is the only way you can get three Fearless Chaos Space Marines units in your army. One for the Enhanced Warriors, another from him joined to a unit, and one from a Chaos Lord joined. Fabius makes a basic Chaos Space Marine army list brutal and effective. You don't have to worry about random leadership checks!
Cheap Chaos Space Marines are amazing as Enhanced Warriors... think better Possessed. Strength five Fearless Chaos Space Marines without any side effects separates Fabius Bile from other HQ choices. When you take Enhanced Warriors with marks it pushes a Chaos Space Marine unit to greatness. Don't worry about lathering on the points with this unit; take both the marks and icons, especially Mark of Khorne-Icon of Wrath or Mark of Slaanesh-Icon of Excess. Since, Enhanced Warriors don't cost anything additional, you can create a scoring death star with ease, and have points to spend on other aspects of your army.
Fabius himself isn't bad either. He suffers from Instant Death risks, but he has the attacks and ability to put a world of hurt on many units. He has seven attacks on the charge and poison attacks that will most likely be re-rolling wounds. His Rod of Torment while not a Power Weapon can sneak up on multi-wound opponents. Even with all these tricks Fabius shouldn't be your primary assault Character; he is in your army for Enhanced Warriors and as slightly inexpensive Special Character.
Fabius makes a great second HQ choice or Ally Detachment. As an ally, Fabius with a Chaos Space Marine blob and Heldrake is only 700 points. In your Primary Detachment you're looking at most, a 500 point investment for Fabius and tricked out Chaos Space Marines. The best part, is Fabius doesn't have to baby sit the Enhanced Warriors he creates, leaving him to join a Fearless in need unit.
As a concept, Fabius is a hired gun and his abilities fit that role nicely. Fabius doesn't have to lead your army, he just provides valuable support that no other Character in the codex does. The lack of an invulnerable save to go along with his Feel No Pain is a problem, but keeping him the backfield or using other Characters to take Challenges will keep Fabius alive. Still, Fabius can take risks, you don't lose Enhanced Warriors if he dies, and going on some fools errand won't feel like you've thrown the game if he dies.
Memory Lane: Fabius Bile
--Ways to play Fabius Bile--
The following lists are by no means meant strictly for competitive play, they represent a cross-section of the Chaos Space Marine codex allowing for flexibility and variety.
Death Star Configuration: Fabius Death Star List
Balanced Configuration: Balanced Fabius List
MSU Configuration: Don't try this at home kids
Horde Configuration: Fabius Horde List
Fluffy Configuration: Fabius Fluffy List
Daemon Ally Configuration: Fabius Daemon Ally List
Dark Eldar Ally Configuration: (Yes I know the Dangers)Fabius Dark Eldar Ally List
If you have any questions about how to play these lists feel free to email me using the contact information below.
Final Thoughts...
Overall, Fabius is a good buy. He is a great secondary HQ choice if you don't need a Chaos Sorcerer. He can also lead your army if don't want to think about creating a Chaos Lord and makes one Chaos Space Marines unit very dangerous. Fabius is really only missing an invulnerable save or toughness five to make him an elite choice, but at 165 points he won't do you wrong.
Warning
It's Like Tactics is rated theory hammer because these are general observations and assumptions based on only few tested games.
Email Me!
For tactical articles feel free to email me to continue the discussion or if you discover an inaccurate interpretation of the rules-- edits will be made accordingly.
Also check out other articles in this series...
- Getting Restarted
- Breaking Down the Codex
- Chaos Space Marine Unit Review
- Cultist Review
- Khorne Berzerkers Review
- Thousand Sons Review
- Noise Marine Review
- Plague Marine Review
- Chosen Review
- Mutilator Review
- Helbrute Review
- Possessed Review
- Chaos Terminator Review
- Chaos Bikes Review
- Chaos Spawn Review
- Raptors Review
- Warp Talons Review
- Heldrake Review
- Havocs Review
- Obliterator Review
- Defiler Review
- Forgefiend Review
- Maulerfiend Review
- Rhino, Vindicator, Predator, Land Raider Review
- Abbadon the Despiler Review
- Huron Blackheart Review
- Kharn the Betrayer Review
- Ahriman Review
- Typhus Review
- Lucius the Eternal Review
- Fabius Bile Review
- Chaos Lord Review
- Chaos Sorcerer Review
- Daemon Prince Review
- Warpsmith Review
- Dark Apostle Review
- Final Breakdown