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Hi

I'm looking for Tactics and unit summary forDark Angels.
I know there is a lot for Codex Mariens.
But for dark angels some unit are diffrent and some are unique.
So I'm looking for summary for them.

Also,I'm looking for tactics for them.
Not only death raven.(double wing)

If you play DA, I'd focus on a combined force, like
DW with Tactical Marines or DW and RW (double wing).

My best friend plays Dark Angels and they are a thorn in my side. They suffer for a lot of negatives compared to the new Codex Space marines based armies (Storm Shield is only 4+ invuln, some heavy weapons more expensive, Scout squads are Elite), but have up sides too, like special weapons in 5 man combat squads and cheaper dreadnoughts.

I don't know all the ups and downs of the DA, but Deathwing are very powerful when used as a backup to the regular marines. Stand your marines in entrenched positions, make the enemy come to you and then 'port the DW in behind, give them a kicking. If you have a Chaplain in there too they're not going to be stopped easily.

Don't know any RW tactics yet...

Thx for reply.
Usually,I play as Pure Death wing. Which is really hard. Less anti armor and anti horde and anti MEQ.

It seems Tac squad with Termie would work.
Most time,I play 1000 pts so really hard but not impossible.

Which special wepons should I equip for tac squad?

I usually run Dread. Is it worth?

wuestenfux wrote:
DW with Tactical Marines or DW and RW (double wing).

What about RW with Tacs?

A Deathwing-only army is tricky. Still, if you literally JUST have Terminators in your army, you have one significant advantage, which is that your entire army has 2+ armour -- making a lot of your opponent's weaponry either overpowered (the antitank) or underpowered (anti-light infantry).

Here's a few approaches that work pretty well:

Mixed Deathwing / Power Armour:
Belial as HQ, so you can take DW as troops, but also for Leadership 10 across the whole army. Take 1 or 2 DW units, maybe 1 small Ravenwing Attack Squad (3 bikers, 2 with meltas, maybe a Power Sword; 1 attack bike w. multimelta) for antitank and teleport homers, and 2+ tac squads. You probably want a Venerable Dreadnought too -- ours are quite cheap & very durable, making great tarpits.

Ravenwing:
Sammael is our best HQ -- a really solid choice -- AND he lets us take bikes as troops. Either take him on his jetbike, along with a load of bikes (including one squad with the apothecary and a couple of plasma guns, and other squads mostly with melta), or take him on his speeder with some bikes plus a stack of Speeders. You want to do target saturation here -- maybe 8+ speeders, including a couple of scoring ones (those bought as part of Ravenwing Attack Squads).

Mixed Deathwing/Ravenwing:
Works quite well in bigger games; you want either Belial or Sammael as HQ, probably both. Use the Ravenwing to guide in the Deathwing on one flank, & roll up the field, one enemy unit at a time.

DA do mech pretty well. Sammael on Speeder for an AV14, BS 5 p-i-t-a for the opponent. Then stock up on venerable Dreads, rhinos or razorbacks (your pick but remember that 5 man squads can get special weapons), add 2-3 cheap Dakka preds and finish with some MM/HF Speeders.

I played a DeathRaven force on Saturday and had pretty good luck vs. a Lysander list with 2 landraiders and a squad of TH/SS Termies. Belial with DW command squad > Lysander with TH/SS termies.

Thx reply.

I had hard time while using death wing.
When I use Deathwing army list,Perhaps I should not do deep strike all termies?
I sometime think footslogging death wing termie with mechs would work.

Tell me what you guys think

I love using Jetbike sammael,but most people suggest landspeeder.Yeah I know landspeeder version is goood.
But I dare to ask,Any tactics for Jetbike sammael?


BTW,Anyone use Ezekiel,Azurael?

I quite like Sammael on his jetbike, because when I come up against Eldar, they often make mincemeat out of the landspeeder version...

I've not tried using Ezekiel yet, & I've found it hard to make Azrael really worth his high cost -- it's nice that he gives his attached unit a 4+ invulnerable save, but there's not that much in the DA codex that really synergises with that.

The Bolter & Chainsword forum has a pretty good Dark Angels sub-forum, with some detailed advice on DA tactics:

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/index.php?showforum=6

I've tried using pure DW armies. They always had a lack of anti tank weapons (other than close combat).

The Ravenwing have great anti tank. Bike squadron with 2 meltas and attack bike with multi melta.

People always seem to dislike Dark Angels, but their Interrogator Chaplain is excellent. My favorite unit type in the army. Extra wound and some other fun stuff.

Don't forget that the Ravenwing is equipped with teleport homers. You can deep strike your Deathwing near your Ravenwing and they won't scatter one bit.

It's a high point cost for few models army type, but great fun to play. You usually have it won or lost in two or three turns.

I haven't put a Land Raider in my army yet, but it is being assembled.

Oh, the other thing. While Ravenwing aren't the best for taking objectives Deathwing is great at it. No difficult terrain checks for moving into the terrain that the objectives are usually in and unlike Ravenwing the Deathwing don't need to move to survive.

If you take a close combat terminator squad you need to use something to get them to the enemy without dying. Land Raider Crusader, Drop Pod, or teleport.

Just make sure you don't teleport only one squad in. With one squad it dies next turn from shooting. With two or three they have to split their fire.

Dreadnought with multi melta and drop pod is also fun. Put it right near the enemy and destroy vehicles. If you support it with other units it can usually survive pretty good too.

Thx reply.

Ravenwings are really good antitank I agree.


Do you think Randspeeder squad would work?

BTW,I think veterans can do something. Maybe good CC fighter.
Tell me what you think.

I dislike landspeeders, but I haven't used them either (apart from the master of the ravenwing). The reason I dislike Land Speeders is the armor 10. I field vypers for my Eldar and they get one or two shots and then die. I imagine it would be the same for Ravenwing.

I fielded a unit of veterans once. 2 meltas, 3 power weapons, 3 combat shields, melta bombs. They wiped out everyone they faced until my opponent noticed that and simply moved his other units out of the way.

It's a waste of points to put them with bolters. They do good in assaults though. You would do best putting them in a vehicle, rhino or land raider. They need speed to catch up to the enemy if they try to run away from you.

The other problems with a veteran squad is they take up an elites choice, I like terminators more. And, like terminators, they are a high points cost squad. If you put an Interrogator Chaplain with them, like you should, then they are easily over 300 points before buying a transport.

So it's not a problem of if they are effective, but if you are willing to give up the points that could be spent on a greater number of squads.

I've found the Command Squad more useful than vet squads, so far -- it allows for 2 special weapon options (which is pretty handy), AND an apothecary (which is awesome), and it doesn't take up a precious Elite slot.

Veteran works good so far it seems.
Command work good. Perhaps with Razorback?

Well...What about vehicle?
What vehicle would work well with Dark Angels?
Perhaps combo with Termie or bike or both.

I haven't fielded enough vehicles to find out very well. The rhino usually survives long enough for 1 or 2 turns and dropping off a squad and then gets blown up.

Razorbacks tend to die the first turn they are shot at or the second. That being said I still take one sometimes. It usually inflicts enough damage to be worth taking.

Whirlwinds can be fun. They distract people a lot. They don't always do a lot of damage, but they intimidate people and they usually go after it no matter how effective it is in shooting.

I haven't put my Land Raider Crusader together to figure out how that works.

I know a guy who likes to field Vindicators. They have been most effective to deny a flank. Their gun is short range, but destroys almost anything it hits. They take a bit to kill until they get assaulted.

When he fielded drop pods against me they have always died rather fast. They served their purpose of delivering troops next to the enemy. The thing I learned about them is that they are great for putting dreadnoughts with multi meltas on target to shoot enemy vehicles from short range.

If you use them you have to put other units with them. Deep striked units from drop pods or teleporting or other methods need support. That means one other squad on the turn they come in and another on the turn after. Then they can usually survive.

What about predators for dark angels?

And......What do you think about Dread weapon loadout?

I think plasma cannon is best. Kill marines and good for anti light Vehicle.
Problem is no model for it.
Some time I think auto cannon is good.
Assualt Cannon/Multi Melta is well....But It need drop pod and our drop pod is bad.

You don't need a drop pod for an Assault Cannon or MM weapon loadout on a DA dread. Give it MM and HF and venerable and just walk it towards the enemy, shrugging off most enemy fire. Preds fill a roll as well providing lots of firepower at a pretty cheap cost (not as cheap as vanilla SM but still pretty cheap at 95 points).

Ozymandias wrote:You don't need a drop pod for an Assault Cannon or MM weapon loadout on a DA dread. Give it MM and HF and venerable and just walk it towards the enemy, shrugging off most enemy fire. Preds fill a roll as well providing lots of firepower at a pretty cheap cost (not as cheap as vanilla SM but still pretty cheap at 95 points).

Predator is good when equiped with las cannon?

Walking dread with MM work....Interesting. I'll try.

Any other thought about dread loadout?

I've faced the autocannon dreadnought. It's a solid choice. Probably backed up with a missile launcher instead of power fist.

I have fielded the melta with a drop pod. I have tried walking it forward, but it is always slower than the rest of my army.

Assault cannon is a good weapon, but short range for something that is supposed to provide heavy fire power.

Lascannon and missile launcher dreadnought is the other one I've fielded. It's a solid choice. It doesn't always seem effective with only two weapons on it, but it can take hits a lot better than a devestator squad.

Do you guys put the Vets in a drop pod or a razorback??

When I fielded the vets I ran out of points and put them on foot. Assault units need to be as large as possible. So I'd use a rhino or drop pod or even a land raider.

acastonguay wrote:Do you guys put the Vets in a drop pod or a razorback??

Neither. Stick em in a Rhino so they can shoot out the top hatch.

Right now I have have my 5 man squad of vets kitted out w/ 5 bolt pistols and 2 chainswords, power sword, power fist and thunder hammer. Should the rhino still be taken???

My first thought is a razorback with heavy bolters. The squad is small enough that it can fit in it no problem. Any time you can get an assault unit closer to the enemy faster it's a good thing. There are times when they realise how good your units are and move them away from you. YOu have to be able to close the distance again.