Introduction

Chaos battlecruisers are an essential part of the faction’s fleet, offering a mix of long-range firepower, kiting capabilities, and specialized roles. While some of these ships are true battlecruisers, many are actually heavy cruisers repurposed by Chaos forces. In this guide, we’ll break down their roles, strengths, weaknesses, and when to field them in your fleet.

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Battlecruiser Overview

Chaos battlecruisers share a number of stats with their cruiser counterparts:

• Speed: Identical to cruisers.
• Durability: Same toughness as cruisers but with slightly higher troop capacity (13 vs. 12).
• Turrets: More anti-ordnance turrets (15 vs. 12).
• Firepower: More weapons, making them ideal for long-range engagements.

However, they are not designed for close-range brawls. Their strength lies in sniping, kiting, and strategic use of their turrets and launch bays.

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Chaos Battlecruiser Breakdown

Acheron – The Kiting Lance Boat

• Primary Role: Long-range sniper.
• Loadout:
  • 4 Long-range Lance Batteries.
  • 2 Long-range Lance Turrets.
  • 2 Mid-range Macro Turrets.
• Cost: 216 points.
• Strengths:
  • One of the best long-range kiting ships in the game.
  • High critical hit potential due to Lance accuracy.
  • Excellent for subsystem damage.
• Weaknesses:
  • Useless in close-range engagements.
  • Low boarding capability.
• Verdict: If you want to cripple enemy ships before they reach you, the Acheron is an excellent choice.

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Hades – The Situational Heavy Hitter

• Primary Role: Mid-to-long-range hybrid damage dealer.
• Loadout:
  • Double-barrel Heavy Lance Artillery.
  • Macro Battery Weapons.
  • 2 Additional Lance Turrets (compared to the Murder-class cruiser).
• Cost: 190 points.
• Strengths:
  • Hybrid mix of lance and macro firepower.
  • Outperforms the Murder cruiser at range and in close quarters.
• Weaknesses:
  • More expensive than other alternatives.
  • Lacks specialization, making it a “jack-of-all-trades” ship.
• Verdict: A viable option for mixed fleet compositions but doesn’t excel at any one role.

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Styx – The Chaos Carrier

• Primary Role: Fleet support and ordnance specialist.
• Loadout:
  • 4 Launch Bays (high fighter/bomber capacity).
  • 4 Long-range Turrets (2 Lances, 2 Macros).
• Cost: 270 points.
• Strengths:
  • Best carrier option for Chaos.
  • No broadside weapon dependency, making it effective in all directions.
  • Can kite indefinitely while sending out bombers and interceptors.
• Weaknesses:
  • Extremely fragile—crit damage can shut it down.
  • Loses effectiveness if launch bays are crippled.
• Verdict: An essential fleet addition if you want heavy ordnance control.

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Hecate – The Combat Carrier Hybrid

• Primary Role: Sniper carrier.
• Loadout:
  • 2 Launch Bays.
  • 1 Long-range Lance Turret.
  • Multiple Macro Turrets and Broadside Macros.
• Cost: 205 points.
• Strengths:
  • Long-range engagement with 18,000 unit-range macros.
  • Versatile, capable of playing both as a combat support ship and ordnance carrier.
• Weaknesses:
  • Fragile for a frontline ship.
  • Jack-of-all-trades, master of none—less effective than Styx for carrier duty.
• Verdict: A decent second-line ship, best used in flexible fleet compositions.

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Battlecruiser Usage and Fleet Composition

If you’re running a Chaos fleet, you need to think carefully about how these ships fit into your strategic approach:

Optimal Fleet Roles for Chaos Battlecruisers

• Acheron: Best for dedicated sniping fleets, pairs well with spotters and fast escorts.
• Hades: A solid generalist, good if you need hybrid firepower.
• Styx: Essential for carrier-heavy fleets, provides fighter cover and bomber attacks.
• Hecate: Flexible sniper carrier, ideal for supporting long-range firepower.

Choosing the Right Battlecruiser for Your Playstyle

Playstyle	Recommended Battlecruiser
Kiting & Sniping	Acheron
Carrier & Ordnance Support	Styx
Hybrid Damage Dealer	Hades
Flexible Secondary Line	Hecate

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Final Verdict on Chaos Battlecruisers

If you’re looking to build a competitive Chaos fleet, there are two clear standouts:

1. Acheron – The best long-range Lance ship, capable of crippling enemies before they reach you.
2. Styx – The best carrier option, offering excellent ordnance potential and long-range presence.

The Hades and Hecate remain viable but situational, depending on fleet composition needs.

Key Takeaways:

✅ Acheron & Styx are Chaos essentials—always consider including one. ✅ Hades & Hecate are good secondary picks, depending on your playstyle. ✅ Chaos ships excel at kiting, long-range damage, and hit-and-run tactics. ✅ Avoid close-quarters combat—focus on range, positioning, and fleet synergy.

With the right fleet setup, Chaos battlecruisers can dominate the battlefield with superior positioning and firepower.

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Next Steps: Grand Cruisers

In our next guide, we’ll explore Chaos Grand Cruisers, the pocket battleships of the fleet. Stay tuned for more insights into how to maximize your Chaos fleet’s full potential.

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