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EDIT - Deleted a couple of duplicated paragraphs.

Been a long-time reader on the DakkaDakka forums. Decided to do what I should've done from the start and launch out my own ideas instead of letting them slosh around in my head.

There are two versions of this list that I'm looking to put out here. The first one will be a sort of all-corners army, barring dedicated anti-air, while the second one will be just pure anti-infantry. Both are Baal Strike Forces.

1st Version (All-Corners)
Astorath (165)
- Model

Tactical Squad (210)
- 10x Model
- Flamer
- Heavy Flamer
- 2x Hand Flamer
- Drop Pod

Tactical Squad (210)
- 10x Model
- Flamer
- Heavy Flamer
- 2x Hand Flamer
- Drop Pod

Death Company Squad (280)
- 10x Model
- 10x Jump Pack
- 2x Power Fist
- 2x Boltgun

Death Company Squad (280)
- 10x Model
- 10x Jump Pack
- 2x Power Fist
- 2x Boltgun

Death Company Squad (280)
- 10x Model
- 10x Jump Pack
- 2x Power Fist
- 2x Boltgun

Assault Squad (115)
- 5x Model
- 2x Meltagun
- Combi-Melta
- Drop Pod

Predator (160)
- Model
- Lascannon Sponsons
- Twin-Linked Lascannon
- Hunter-Killer Missile
- Overcharged Engines

Predator (160)
- Model
- Lascannon Sponsons
- Twin-Linked Lascannon
- Hunter-Killer Missile
- Overcharged Engines

Predator (160)
- Model
- Lascannon Sponsons
- Twin-Linked Lascannon
- Hunter-Killer Missile
- Overcharged Engines

Total: 2020

Right. This list requires a bit of coordination to work. Depending on what exactly my opponent brings, both Tactical, or one Tactical and one Assault Squad slam down in their Drop Pods on Turn 1. The Predators are each assigned a hard target. If the hard target is a group of transports, they will crack them open with the Lascannons and Missiles, the occupants, of which will proceed to be incinerated by up to 4 flamers from each Tactical Squad, which could also discourage an enemy unit from charging them next turn. If the hard target is a heavy tank or MC, they will focus fire all 9 Lascannons on it, in hopes of bringing it down by Turn 2, at the latest. Meanwhile, the 3 squads from the Death Company will be charging down the board, trying to get into CQC as quickly as possible. One of the Death Company Squads containing Astorath will be tasked specifically with slaying the warlord. If an enemy flyer comes onto the board, and no other immediate threats are present, all surviving Predators will turn their guns onto it, relying on 6s to bring it down. The final Tactical, or Assault Squad will come down by the second half of the game, looking to snag a last-minute objective or annihilate their unit of choice.

2nd Version (Anti-Infantry)
Commander Dante (220)
- Model

Sanguinary Priest (76)
- Model
- Jump Pack
- Bolt Pistol

Tactical Squad (210)
- 10x Model
- Flamer
- Heavy Flamer
- 2x Hand Flamer
- Drop Pod

Tactical Squad (210)
- 10x Model
- Flamer
- Heavy Flamer
- 2x Hand Flamer
- Drop Pod

Sanguinary Guard (289)
- 8x Model
- 3x Replace Encarmine Sword with Encarmine Axe
- Chapter Banner

Death Company Squad (280)
- 10x Model
- 10x Jump Pack
- 2x Power Fist
- 2x Boltgun

Death Company Squad (280)
- 10x Model
- 10x Jump Pack
- 2x Power Fist
- 2x Boltgun

Drop Pod (35)
- Model

Vindicator (135)
- Model
- Overcharged Engines
- Storm Bolter

Vindicator (135)
- Model
- Overcharged Engines
- Storm Bolter

Vindicator (135)
- Model
- Overcharged Engines
- Storm Bolter

Total: 2000

A little more simple than the previous version, I hope. The extra Drop Pod is to ensure that both Tactical Squads can come down on Turn 1 to roast a bunch of Xenos or Heretics for the Emperor. The Sanguinary Guard will be joined by Dante and the Sanguinary Priest to form a hilariously over the top, dice-spitting ball of hack and slash ready to tear an opposing deathstar or HQ a new one. They, along with the two squads from the Death Company will each be hiding behind their own Vindicator. The Vindicators will try to shield the death company from enemy fire, moving up 12 inches the first turn and getting at least one Demolisher to fire before they're inevitably popped. Fortunately, that will be all I need them to do, as, on Turn 2, the Death Company and Sanguinary Guard will be jumping over the wreckages and turning on their whirling blenders of glorious CQC.

The end result of both versions is intended to be a mix between Hammer & Anvil, Multiple Small Units and Maximum Threat Overload. The combined attack between the Drop Pods and Predators, followed by three monster CQC units screaming down onto the front lines is meant to unhinge the opponent. It's safe to assume that, in the beginning of the game, he's already lost, or taken heavy damage to one or more valuable units. How does he react? Turn back to his own deployment zone to wipe out the Alpha Strikers and deny them Linebreaker points? Keep a steady advance and try to snipe the Heavy Weapons Platforms? Bunker down and overwhelm the insane flying meat grinders with volume of dice? Or try to do a mixture of the three and have less of a chance of succeeding at any one of them? Each one has its own pros and cons. Pros and cons that I want my opponent to have running through his head. The choices and possible consequences will pile on, and continue to pile on, until he breaks and makes a knee-jerk response. That will be when he has handed control of the board to me. And that might quite possibly be the mistake that costs him the game.

Possible weaknesses I see include the aforementioned flyers. One, the Predators could probably handle. But any more than that, and my entire force could be on the defensive for the rest of the game. My opponent getting Turn 1 could also prove crippling, depending on if he has an Alpha Strike of his own primed. While I'm fairly sure the Death Company could withstand a substantial amount of firepower, if he pops even one of my Predators, he crushes 25% of my dedicated anti-armour. Ouch. In addition, I don't think I'm using Dante's primary Warlord Trait in the second version as much as I could be. Considering that I only have two units Deep Striking; on Turn 1, no less; maybe I should be thinking of pulling him out of the Strike Force and replacing him with...something else.

So, what do you think? First post on DakkaDakka. Hope I didn't make too much of a bad impression.

Don't worry about enemy fliers. Just ignore them.

1st Version (All-Corners)

Especially given that you're over points, do you really need overcharged engines on the predators? Moving at combat speed isn't really going to get you side or rear armour shots like it would with an outflanking tank, and moving at cruising speed wastes a lascannon shot. It's not like you have range issues with lascannons, either.

The list should work well. My only comment is the burny squads - given that you've got a moderately expensive unit there, for the sake of 5 points my paranoia would want them to find space for meltabombs for the sergeant. Having a 200+ point unit trapped in combat against an AV13 walker, or an Iron Arm-ed Great Unclean One, is not a pleasant experience.

2nd Version (Anti-Infantry)

Lacking the melta squad you aren't going to like facing any army that's not especially flammable. Still, as you note yourself, you've got three nasty wrecking ball units, so hopefully your opponent is too busy mixing it up with them to co-ordinate properly, and the death company can definitely punch any heavy threat to pieces given their druthers.

Vindicators are probably a better unit than predators because you can afford to roll forward with them (in fact you'll need to to get them in range) and S10 comes with a host of benefits in a world where T5 multiwound models are far from uncommon.

Don't worry about enemy fliers. Just ignore them.

Pretty much. There are flyers you can't ignore - massed gunships, multiple hive tyrants, etc, etc. But at the same time, putting in enough flak to seriously threaten them is going to take the teeth out of your list elsewhere.

I've played against flyer heavy armies (I think the worst one I've faced was a corsair force with four nightwings and three phoenix) and scary as massed airstrikes are, whilst they're good at killing models they're bad at killing units (because they can't generally shoot the same unit multiple turns in a row), so they're bad at shooting you off objectives if you go to ground, and bad at wiping out units - meaning they don't actually contribute many victory points directly.

If you have plenty of power armoured warm bodies on the ground - and you do - just hunker down on the objectives, take your lumps, and wipe out everyone on the ground....

locarno24

The overcharged engines were more of an insurance policy to make sure that the Predators could draw LOS. But I could probably drop all three of them, reducing the list to 1990 points and get Melta Bombs for the Tactical Squads.

Come to think of it, if I really wanted the Steel Rain, I could switch the Predators themselves out for a bunch more Melta Assault Squads. Eh, just speculation.

Appreciate the feedback.

I like both of the lists. It's good to see people still playing with the boys in red.

Come to think of it, if I really wanted the Steel Rain, I could switch the Predators themselves out for a bunch more Melta Assault Squads. Eh, just speculation.

No! Not multiple simultaneous defensive deep strikes!

In all honesty, list two is probably better - having an AV13 rolling bunker you can hide the jump pack troops behind is a well-proven technique....

@ locarno24

I would preferably remove the HK missiles instead.
As Crimson Inferno pointed out, it's more about getting LoS and preferably ignoring cover than side-armor shots.

I have never regretted taking overcharged engines for my predator.
On the other hand, I've hardly ever witnessed Hunter-Killer missiles being worth the shot.

@soomemafiaMade

Thanks.

One other thing I'm having trouble with is deciding the sword:axe ratio for the Sanguinary Guard. Right now, I have it at 1:1, but I'm wondering if having more axes, considering that the Priest and Dante will be hitting with a ton of AP2 at initiative + Red Thirst.