Warhammer 40k: Obliterators Explained – Complete Tactica And Lore Guide

This guide breaks down Obliterators Explained in Warhammer 40k, from their brutal lore origins to exactly how to field them on the tabletop. If you want to know what Obliterators are, what they do, and whether they’re worth slotting into your Chaos army, this is for you. We’ll unpack their rules, battlefield roles, strengths, weaknesses, and the best ways to use them in modern Warhammer 40k. By the end, you’ll know whether Obliterators deserve a permanent place in your list.

Obliterators are one of those Warhammer 40k units every Chaos player eventually asks about: they look metal as hell, their guns are wild, and they always seem to show up whenever someone wants to delete a key target. But are they actually good, or just nostalgia bait in power armor? With Obliterators Explained, we’re going to dive into exactly what these walking weapon-forges bring to the tabletop and how you can get the most out of them.

This article focuses on Obliterators in Warhammer 40k from both a gameplay and lore perspective. You’ll learn who they are in the setting, how their rules work, what kind of lists really benefit from them, and the common mistakes that make players think they’re underwhelming. Whether you’re a Chaos Space Marines main or just Chaos-curious, consider this your one-stop, no-fluff breakdown of Obliterators Explained in Warhammer 40k.

What Are Obliterators In Warhammer 40k?

In Warhammer 40k, Obliterators are heavily mutated Chaos Space Marines fused with daemonically warped techno-organic armor. Their bodies and weapons have literally merged, turning them into hulking platforms that can morph their flesh and metal into whatever heavy guns the warp can conjure. On the table, they’re elite infantry: a small, tough unit that punches way above its model count with brutal ranged firepower and vicious melee follow-up.

From a lore standpoint, Obliterators come from the Obliterator Virus, a warp-tainted techno-curse that infects Chaos Marines obsessed with weapons and firepower. Over time, their armor and wargear fuse into a single seething mass of metal, cabling, and flesh. They stop “carrying” guns and instead become guns. This feeds perfectly into their in-game role as flexible, short-ranged heavy hitters.

On the tabletop, Obliterators Explained boils down to a clear battlefield identity:

• Role: Elite shock shooters that can deep strike, delete high-value targets, and absorb punishment.
• Scale: Small squads (usually 1–3 models) that function as surgical tools, not mainline troops.
• Style: Short-to-mid range annihilation: get into a lane, drop in, and remove something important.

If you want a unit that lets you point at a problem and make it go away with a single devastating volley, Obliterators are very much your kind of Chaos.

Obliterators Explained: Core Rules And Battlefield Role

Different editions tweak exact numbers, but the general rule set for Obliterators in Warhammer 40k hits the same beats: durable, elite infantry with terrifying guns and solid melee. Here’s how Obliterators Explained shakes out in gameplay terms.

Statline And Durability

Obliterators are built to take hits. They usually come with:

• High Toughness: Enough to shrug off basic small-arms fire.
• Multiple Wounds: Each model is a mini-character in terms of durability.
• Good Save: Strong armor save plus an invulnerable save thanks to their warp-infused armor.

Practically, this means your opponent has to commit real firepower to shifting them. That’s important, because their squad sizes are small—losing even a single Obliterator hurts. You want them soaking anti-tank shots, not dying to bolter spam.

Weapons And Flexibility

The standout feature of Obliterators is their morphing weaponry. Depending on the edition and rules set, this usually means one of two things:

• A built-in multi-mode ranged weapon profile (or multiple profiles) representing different heavy guns.
• Rules that let you tweak their Strength, AP, and Damage, or choose from several firing modes each turn.

This gives Obliterators a key strength: target flexibility. You’re not locked into “this is an anti-tank unit” or “this is an anti-infantry unit.” Instead, you can pivot between deleting elite infantry one turn and shredding a vehicle the next, depending on which profile you pick.

On top of that, they typically have strong melee attacks—think power-fist-level punches—so they aren’t helpless in close combat. They won’t outfight true melee specialists, but they can absolutely finish off something they just blasted down to a few wounds.

Mobility And Deep Strike

Obliterators are slow on foot, but what defines them is teleport-style deployment (usually some version of Deep Strike or reserves). Instead of walking across the board, they sit off the table and then arrive later in the game within a certain distance of enemy models but outside of engagement range.

This matters for three reasons:

• You can ignore early-game line of sight issues and terrain, since they don’t start on the board.
• You can time their arrival to exploit gaps in your opponent’s screen or capitalize on a developing flank.
• You can pressure objectives by dropping them near key points mid-game.

Obliterators Explained in tactical terms: they are a delayed punch. You trade early presence for the ability to surgically hit where your opponent is now vulnerable.

How To Use Obliterators In Warhammer 40k

Obliterators reward planning. You don’t just drop them randomly and hope they carry. You build your list and game plan to make their arrival feel inevitable and devastating.

Choosing Squad Size

Most Chaos lists consider one of three approaches:

• Solo Obliterator (1 model): Cheap, surgical tool. Great for late-game objective pressure, finishing off damaged vehicles, or forcing your opponent to respect deep strike zones. Lower damage ceiling, but low risk.
• Medium Squad (2–3 models): The sweet spot for many builds. Enough firepower to remove a big target in one go, but not so expensive that losing them ruins your plan.
• Large Squad (up to max size): High-risk, high-reward. Incredible burst damage, but also a massive points sink in one unit. If they whiff or get screened out, you’ll feel it.

For most players, Obliterators Explained means starting with a medium squad and learning their rhythms before committing to a big “all-in” unit.

Deployment: When And Where To Drop

The biggest skill check with Obliterators is deep strike timing. Drop too early and they get kited or countered. Drop too late and your opponent has already done their damage.

General rules of thumb:

• Turn 2 arrival: Ideal in many games. The board state is starting to clarify, screens have taken damage, and there are exposed targets.
• Turn 3 arrival: More of a clutch option if your opponent is very good at screening or if you’re waiting for their key units to commit.

When it comes to positioning:

• Drop where you have multiple target options, not just one “dream” target.
• Use terrain to give them cover or line-of-sight blocking against big guns that could erase them in one go.
• Stay close enough to support characters or buffs from your army if your faction rules allow that synergy.

Target Priority: What Obliterators Should Shoot

You bring Obliterators to erase high-value targets, not random chaff. Their firepower is wasted on basic troops unless there’s absolutely nothing else worth shooting.

Primary targets:

• Elite Infantry: Terminators, heavy-duty troops, or anything with multiple wounds and good saves.
• Vehicles & Monsters: Tanks, walkers, big creatures—anything that normally ignores small arms.
• Key Buff Pieces: If their profiles let them efficiently kill elite characters or support units, that’s a priority.

Secondary targets (when the primaries are gone or unavailable):

• Mid-tier infantry on objectives you want to crack open.
• Medium vehicles or transports your opponent is trying to keep alive.

Think of Obliterators as your “delete button.” Each shooting phase, you should know the one thing they absolutely must remove or cripple.

Strengths And Weaknesses Of Obliterators Explained

Understanding what Obliterators are great at—and where they stumble—is key to deciding whether they fit your style.

Strengths Of Obliterators

• Insane Damage Per Model: Few units condense so much lethal output into so few bodies. Even a small squad can swing a game.
• Flexible Firepower: Able to threaten multiple target types with weapon profiles that adapt to the matchup.
• Durability: Toughness, multiple wounds, and decent saves make them hard to casually remove.
• Deep Strike Threat: Forces your opponent to play respectfully, screen properly, and think about where they expose their key units.
• Dual-Role Potential: Strong enough in melee to finish weakened enemies or bully lighter units off objectives.

Weaknesses Of Obliterators

• Points Cost: Obliterators are not cheap. Every lost model hurts, and bad positioning can waste a huge chunk of your list.
• Limited Model Count: Small squads mean you suffer from variance—bad rolls on a crucial volley can leave a big threat alive.
• Vulnerable To Dedicated Anti-Tank: Anything with high damage and good AP will chew through them if given line of sight.
• Reliance On Deep Strike: If your opponent is very good at screening, you can end up with poor landing spots.
• Short-To-Mid Range: You need to get close to do your worst, which can expose you to countercharges or concentrated fire.

For many Chaos players, Obliterators Explained is about accepting those weaknesses and building your list to cover them—primarily with other threats that demand attention and tools to punish overcommitted screens.

Best Uses And Army Roles For Obliterators In Warhammer 40k

So where do Obliterators actually fit in your larger game plan? There are three main ways players tend to use them.

1. Alpha-Strike Follow-Up

You set up a strong early-game push with your faster units—maybe daemon engines, fast melee threats, or shooting platforms that can pressure the mid-board. Your opponent responds by moving out and committing resources.

Then, on turn 2 or 3, the Obliterators drop in behind that pressure and finish the job—taking out a key tank, deleting elite infantry that moved onto an objective, or punishing your opponent for overextending.

2. Mid-Board Anchor Breakers

In objective-focused missions, players often create mid-board “fortresses” with tough units sitting on central points. Obliterators are great at cracking those bunkers.

You drop them where they can draw line of sight to mid-board death stars: big blobs of elite infantry, heavily defended tanks, or key screening units defending the center. One good volley can flip the tempo of the game, letting your own forces advance more freely.

3. Late-Game Problem Solvers

Sometimes you don’t need turn 2 fireworks. Instead, you keep Obliterators in reserve on purpose until the late game, when:

• Screening units are thinned out.
• Your opponent’s big guns are already tied up or weakened.
• The crucial final objectives and surviving key threats are clear.

Dropping Obliterators on turn 3 (or even later, when rules allow) can be a game-ending move: they appear where your opponent has no answer left and clean up what’s remaining.

Tips And Strategies To Optimize Obliterators Explained

If you want Obliterators to feel like the monsters they look like, you need to play around their strengths and mitigate their weaknesses. Here are practical strategies that fit most Warhammer 40k Chaos builds.

• Layer Threats: Don’t make Obliterators your only “must-kill” unit. Pair them with other dangerous threats (daemon engines, melee bricks, or powerful shooting platforms) so your opponent can’t focus everything into one spot.
• Plan Your Reserve Zones: Before the game, mentally mark where you’d like to drop them on each side of the board. During deployment and early movement, play to open up those lanes.
• Use Screens Against Countercharge: If you drop them close enough to be charged, have other units or summoned daemons ready to block the easiest paths into your Obliterators.
• Prioritize Targets That Can’t Hide: Tanks, monsters, or big squads that physically can’t stay fully out of sight are great victims. Don’t rely on your opponent mispositioning; go after what must stand somewhere vulnerable.
• Don’t Overkill: Wasting half your shots on a target that only needed a little push can lose games. Distribute fire smartly when the rules allow, and keep in mind secondary objectives that reward spread damage.
• Expect Them To Die: Treat Obliterators as a brutal, expensive grenade rather than a unit that will last all five turns. If they kill something game-changing and then get removed, that’s often a win.

Common Mistakes Players Make With Obliterators In Warhammer 40k

Obliterators Explained isn’t just about what to do; it’s also about what not to do. These are the classic pitfalls that make players sour on them prematurely.

Dropping Them Just Because You Can

You’re allowed to bring them in at a certain turn, so you do—with no real plan. They show up, kill something minor, then get blown off the board. Always ask yourself: “What do they kill this turn and what do they threaten next turn?” If the answer is weak, wait.

Chasing The “Perfect” Deep Strike

Players often hold Obliterators too long, waiting for a perfect landing zone. By the time it appears, the game is effectively decided. A good drop on turn 2 is almost always better than a theoretically perfect drop on turn 4 that comes too late.

Letting Them Stand Alone

Dropping Obliterators into enemy lines with no backup is a recipe for disaster. They kill something, then get overwhelmed. They work best as part of a coordinated turn where other units are also applying pressure or forcing tough decisions.

Shooting The Wrong Targets

Spending your once-per-game “nuke” volley on low-value infantry just because they’re reachable is a big mistake. Unless that squad holds a game-winning objective, you generally want to focus on high-priority units that are hard for the rest of your army to handle.

Underestimating Counterfire

Durable doesn’t mean immortal. Leaving Obliterators in the open in front of concentrated anti-tank fire will get them killed fast. Use terrain, angles, and threat saturation to keep your opponent from focusing everything on them.

Frequently Asked Questions About Obliterators Explained In Warhammer 40k

Are Obliterators good in Warhammer 40k right now?

In most modern Warhammer 40k environments, Obliterators are considered a solid-to-strong choice when used correctly. They’re rarely “auto-include” units, but they shine in lists that can support deep strike threats, apply pressure elsewhere, and make good use of their flexible damage profiles. If you want a unit that can swing games with a single brutal volley, they’re absolutely worth testing.

How many Obliterators should I run in my Chaos army?

For most players, starting with a unit of 2–3 Obliterators is the sweet spot. It gives you meaningful firepower without over-investing in a single threat. Once you’re comfortable with their timing and positioning, you can experiment with multiple smaller units or a single large unit depending on your meta and playstyle.

Should Obliterators deep strike or start on the board?

Most of the time, you want Obliterators in reserves to use their deep strike or teleport-style rules. That’s how you protect them from early shooting and turn them into a mid-game hammer. Starting them on the board is niche—usually only when terrain, mission, or opponent list means they’ll have safe firing lanes from turn 1 without getting alpha-striked.

What targets are best for Obliterators in Warhammer 40k?

Obliterators are best used against high-value, hard-to-kill targets: elite infantry, monsters, vehicles, and buffed-up mid-board units your regular guns struggle to dent. Their flexible weapon profiles mean they can adapt, but you get the most value when you’re removing something your opponent really doesn’t want to lose.

Are Obliterators worth it for new Chaos players?

Yes, as long as you’re okay with a learning curve. Obliterators are forgiving in terms of durability but punishing if you mis-time their arrival or pick poor targets. For a new Chaos player who wants a flashy, powerful unit with a strong Warhammer 40k identity, they’re a great choice—as long as you’re willing to practice deep strike planning.

Conclusion: Are Obliterators Worth Using In Warhammer 40k?

Obliterators Explained comes down to this: they’re not a mindless damage button, but in the hands of a player who understands timing, target priority, and synergy, they’re terrifying. They bring a rare mix of durability, flexible firepower, and deployment tricks that can turn the tide of a game in a single shooting phase.

If you like the idea of dropping a compact squad of daemon-fused heavy weapon platforms exactly where your opponent least wants them, Obliterators are absolutely worth a spot in your Chaos collection. Learn when to hold them back, when to commit, and what to delete first—and they’ll earn their points back more often than not.