[mr.moe]

What are some tactics for going up against space marines? Imperial Guard? Because just about all my friends are space marines or imperial guard.

[SMSlayer]

Well for Space Marines, it is pretty simple as my brother plays them. Load up on the heavy artillery! So to speak. Remember the Iron Warriors have 2 main advantages over Space Marines. 1) They tend to be better in close combat. 2) They can carry more heavy support!

I played my brother a few weeks ago with a IW army consisting of 2 squads of regular 8 CSMs each (each aspiring champ had plasma pistol, power fist, and demonic mutation. Both squads had Plasma Guns and a Lascannon too), 3 Obliterators, 5 Terminators, a Defiler w/ mutated hull, a dreadnaught w/ mutated hull, and a Predator (TL LasCannon, LasCannon sponsoons) w/ mutated hull. There are a couple of key points here. Keep in mind that Space Marines can't really give their tanks mutated hull. So, pop around with a 13 armor dreadnaught (w/ 1 extra attack compared to theirs!) and also a 14 armor Predator. Wicked! The point here is basically either suit yourself for major close combat or go all out heavy support. Obliterators are basically a must, they can rip through space marines as if they weren't there. One thing to keep in mind is I wouldn't bother to deep strike unless they have set up defensively. You want to assault with those terminators and obliterators. (keep in mind Obliterators can fire TL Plasma Guns then assault!)

As for Imperial Guard, I actually had a more difficult time with them because of the number of tanks the guy brought. But in the end, I still basically decimated him. Once again, the Obliterators ripped through stuff. Being able to take out a Leman Russ with 3 Lascannons one turn, then switch to 3 heavy bolters and wipe out squads entire squads is very much worth their high point value. Plus remember that the weak guns Imperial Guardsmen carry can barely touch Obliterators and Terminators. As for the space marine squads, I'd outfit them with Rhinos and go all out close combat. I like to field my squads versus imperial guard both in Rhinos and both squads outfitted solely with aspiring champions, meltaguns(x2), and Bolt Pistol/CCWs. Once you are in close combat, you will just wipe out squads. One other thing to keep in mind is that Raptors may look inviting, but with the large amounts of artillery Imperial Guard armies tend to bring, they get wiped out fast because they are obviously built for assault. It might be worth it to take a squad anyway though.

Hope this helps. If you want I can give you a more in-depth tactical analysis, but I'd need to know what point values you were playing and what you could possibly field.