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Right, this is my very first attempt at a Space Marine list. I primarily play Guard but I wanted a small, elite army that plays in an entirely different manner to my beloved Cadians.

I realise a lot of people may say; 'Do Loganwing instead' but I dislike Space Wolf fluff and I also don't like painting grey. Anyway, here's my take on a semi-competitive Deathwing army. Bear in mind this will need heavy alterations to make it as effective as it can be.

HQ

Belial, Master of the Deathwing
130pts
(TH/SS)

Librarian
145pts
(Terminator armour)

TROOPS

Deathwing Assault Terminators (5)
250pts
(2 x LC, 3 x TH/SS, 1 x Deathwing Company Standard)

Deathwing Assault Terminators (5)
215pts
(2 x LC, 3 x TH/SS)

Deathwing Terminators (5)
245pts
(Assault cannon)

HEAVY SUPPORT

Land Raider Crusader
250pts

Land Raider
250pts

TOTAL = 1485pts

Basically, I mount up Belial and one TAS in the Crusader and have the other TAS in the Raider. The standard Terminators can DS in with the Librarian to lend close fire support.

What do you think? Workable? Or not really? I get 17 models and 2 Land Raiders on the table, which isn't all that bad for 1500 points.

L. Wrex

I could drop the Librarian for a Dreadnought. Which would be fun, but would leave him dangerously exposed as he plods along the full length of the table.

EDIT: Added Company Banner to TAS.

With the leftover points you could buy the banner upgrade for one of your Termie squad.

I like it, though the lack of AT is massive. Best bet is to get the LRCs into Melta range, and fast.

I have recently started Deathwing but some observations:

1. Belial can't have SS and TH. Go with the twin lightning claws. He is a CC character after all

2. I would only have one CC based squad. I run it with 1 Sergent w claws, 1 termie w claws, 1 apothecary w claws, 1 SS and TH, and 1 heavy flamer and PF
This squad with Belial in the Crusader is both an anti horde threat and an anti elite threat. The crusader can use it's bolters to make up for the lack of stormbolters on the squad.

3. The apothecary is crucial. Read his rules. Read them again. 30 points for one ignored save of ANY KIND per PLAYER TURN. Potentially two saved termies or more per turn. Exponentially more important than the overkill that is +1 attack on the battle standard.

4. The other squad should be shooting based. I run 2 shooting oriented squads to go with my CC one at 1500. One has a serg w PW, 2 SB and PF, 1 Cyclone missle, 1 SS and TH. The second is 1 ser with PW, 1 SB PF, 1 SB chainfist, 1 assault cannon, 1 SS TH.

5. Deathwing are a shooting army. As much as they can devestate in CC they will be overwhelmed. Let the opponent come to you and take out the nasty units that will wreck termies up close. Then counter assault (especially with the CC Crusader).

6. I would try to equip all of the termies in each squad differently to help with wound allocation. If you look at each of the squads I posted I run these 3 plus a Crusader, normal LR, and a Dread naught with missile launcher and plasma cannon. This comes to 1500 exactly.

Hope this advice helps.

This is a good start, IMO. But I've got some suggestions as a fellow Deathwing player;

1). You really only need 1 CC squad. If you take your first squad, keep the banner, and add a Heavy Flamer & Chainfist, you're golden. Pop a LC/LC Belial in there too so he gets a ridiculous 6 attacks on the charge (do your best to get the charge; never let yourself be charged).
2). The Libby is of questionable use in the DA Codex. You're much better served with a Chaplain.
3). Put a Chainfist in every squad. In my local FLGS, almost everyone plays Space Marines of some kind, and almost everyone takes a Land Raider. This, of course, depends on your local metagame.
4). Assault Cannons are the way to go when building shooty squads. Cyclones WOULD be good if you got the second shot that Codex Marines gives you. >.<
5). Alternatively, you could have a CC squad with a Heavy Flamer in the normal Raider go camp on an objective, FWEEEEMing people with Lascannons. If someone gets close, pop out, heavy flamer them, and then charge.

Have you tried this list yet?

This post was incorrectly posted

Erm...What?

L. Wrex

Sorry the previous post was written in the wrong thread

JGrand wrote:I have recently started Deathwing but some observations:
1. Belial can't have SS and TH. Go with the twin lightning claws. He is a CC character after all

Yes he cant take TH/SS

I prefer to have the Apot in a squad thats not supposed to be a CC squad since he cant do anything useful if he is locked in combat. He can also be used to ignore a failed cover save on your Land Raider if you are playing RaW

Drop the Libby, they are horrible bad.

Other than that do what the other people have said.

This is what I normaly bring

Deathwing Company
HQ
1x Belial: Sword of Silence, Paired Lightning Claw or Thunder Hammer/Storm Shield
1x Interrogator Chaplin: Terminator Armor, Combi-Plasma Bolter

Elite
1x Deathwing Terminator Command Squad with Standard Bearer and Apothecary: [Usually Commanded by Belial] Storm Bolter x4, Power Sword x1, Power Fist x3, Chain Fist x1, Deathwing Company Banner x1, Assault Cannon x1

2x Deathwing Terminator Squad: Storm Bolter x4, Power Sword x1, Power Fist x3, Chain Fist x1, Assault Cannon x1
-Deathwing Terminator Squad: Storm Bolter x4, Power Sword x1, Power Fist x3, Chain Fist x1, Assault Cannon x1

Troops
3x Deathwing Wing Terminator Squad [Commanded by the Librarian?]: Storm Bolter x4, Power Sword x1, Power Fist x3, Chain Fist x1, Heavy Flamer x1

1x Deathwing Wing Terminator Assault Squad [Commanded by Interrogator Chaplin?] Thunder Hammer x5, Storm Shield x5, Cyclone Missile Launcher x1

2x Deathwing Terminator Assault Squad: Paired Lighting Claws x5, Cyclone Missile Launcher x1
Deathwing Wing Terminator Assault Squad

Out of curiosity, why no Dreads or Raiders? To make the most of Deathwing Assault?

Ok, some thoughts:

Belial CAN take TH/SS but I think you are better served with twin LC's because you can take the +1 A banner which gives him 5 attacks base and 6 on the charge! Also, there really isn't such a thing as a DW assault squad, there are only DW squads and they can mix and match between shooting and assault. This is a good idea for a few reasons reasons: wound allocation (you can arm each dude separetly), heavy weapons (namely the cheap heavy flamer), and chainfists. You have 15 points left over, spend them on Heavy Flamers and/or chainfists. Also, for the squad with the Banner, take more LC's, like 3 LC to 2 TH/SS. Trust me on this, they will bring down just about anything with those, including TH/SS assault squads from the normal SM book.

It's not the easiest army to play and you will be tempted to run out of the LR's too early but if you play really tight and really conservative and strike at just the right moment it is a tough army.

I've got a general Deathwing question. It looks like, in an assault squad, you can give a lightning claw or hammer & shield model a cyclone launcher so they can have a shooting weapon just in case they need it. Is that a good idea or should we just stick with the heavy flamer or no heavy weapon at all?

For an assault squad I usually stick with a Heavy Flamer. You're only going to get about one shot with it right before you assault so I wouldn't spend too many points on it.

I'd drop the Librarian and one LRC in order to take more troops.

And with those leftover 15 points I would go for extra armours for LRC.

Anpu42 wrote:

JGrand wrote:I have recently started Deathwing but some observations:
1. Belial can't have SS and TH. Go with the twin lightning claws. He is a CC character after all

Yes he cant take TH/SS

Anpu42 i dont know if yours is a spelling mistake but Belial definately CAN have a TH/SS
it is clearly stated on page 79 of codex dark angles "Replace storm bolter and sword of silence with TH/SS ir LCs for free"

HOneslty, I prefer the cyclone to assault cannon in this list- adds a littl AT.

Also, lets you shoot the storm bolter.

the problem i have with the list is the lack of shootingi think it might struggle agains a hoard list especially shooty hordes

If DA cyclones had 2 shots I might agree. For one shot I'd take the Assault Cannon as it can actually pen a Landraider.

Yep....for DW there is never a reason to take a CML over and AC, plain and simple.

However, I woul find a way to get an AC in EVERY squad; with that low of model count you need as many shots before getting into CC as you can get.