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1000 Point Grey Knight vs Dark Angel Deathwing

First time playing my new GK against one of the veterans at the FLGS and his Deathwing.

My list

Brother Captain Stern
5x Terminators
- Nemesis Warding Staff
- Psycannon
- 2x Nemesis Halberds
5x Grey Knight Strike Marines (Alpha)
- Psycannon
- 4x Halberds
5x Grey Knight Strike Marines (Beta)
- Psycannon
- 4x Halberds
Nemesis Dreadknight
- Heavy Psycannon
Dreadnought
- Plasma Cannon


His list

Captain Belial
Interrogator Chaplain
- Terminator Armour
- Lightning Claws
6x Deathwing Terminators
- 3x Lightning Claws
- 3x Thunder Hammers
- Chapter Banner
5x Deathwing Terminators
- 2x Lightning Claws
- 3x Thunder Hammers
- Apothecary
- Cyclone Missile Launcher
Land Raider Crusader


Deployment: Pitched Battle, Annihilation.
I deploy first, placing the PAGK in simple formations as far forward as possible, spacing them out to allow for maximum usage of Warp Quake. I keep Stern and the Terminators in reserve.

He deploys Belial, the Chaplain and the Chapter Banner Termies in the Land Raider, and the other unit in reserve.

He fails to seize the initiative.

Turn One
Simple movement really, Alpha, Beta and the two walkers advance towards the LRC. Alpha and Beta both successfully cast Warp Quake. A lucky rending shot from Beta’s Psycannon shakes the LRC.

Thanks to Deathwing Assault, his Terminators in reserve are able to Deep Strike in Turn One. However, they scatter into range of Warp Quake, and I am able to place them on the far edge of the board in difficult terrain, but all dangerous terrain tests are passed.
The LRC moves full pelt towards my PAGK and the Terminators disembark. He forgets to fire their weapons and simply multi-assaults the Dreadnought and Alpha PAGK. Alpha loses 3 models, and the Dreadnought is shaken, but he loses 2 Terminators in return.

Thoughts: Well I got lucky with those Terminators. Moving them somewhere else means I can focus on one unit at a time. Hopefully Stern can take on Belial next turn, if he can make it into combat

Turn Two
Stern and the Terminators arrive from reserve and head to assist Alpha squad in CC. The Dreadknight assaults the LRC and fluffs up its attacks, while Stern (just!) manages to enter combat, backed up by the Terminators and Beta squad. Alpha loses one more marine, while the combined efforts of Stern, Beta and the Dreadnought wipe out the last Terminators, leaving Belial and the Chaplain remaining. The Warding Staff Terminator is also killed in the combat, and Stern is also wounded, but manages to re-roll his save due to Strands of Fate.

His Terminators begin the slog through difficult terrain to get back into the action. The LRC fails to harm the Dreadknight via shooting.
The combat continues, Chaplain manages to wipe out Alpha squad, while Stern manages to ID Belial with his Nemesis Weapon, even though Belial gained a re-roll of his SS save due to SoF. The infantry consolidate towards the remaining Terminators, while the Dreadnought heads to support the Dreadknight against the LRC.
Turn Three
The Terminators and Beta squad regroup and, too far to assault the Terminators, simply fire upon them, causing no casualties (damm FNP!) The Dreadnought teaches the youngsters how it’s done, and punches clean through the Land Raider Crusader, exploding it in a single attack.

The Terminators fluff up their difficult terrain test, otherwise they would have been able to assault Stern. No shooting occurs, apart from the Cyclone Launcher, which kills two marines from Beta squad.

Turn Four
Stern detaches from the Grey Knights and advances solo towards the Terminators: The plan is to allow Stern to get into combat and cast Zone of Banishment on the Deathwing, keeping the GK Terminators safe, while Beta squad and the GK Termies remain back to provide support if Stern gets into too much trouble.
The plan goes well: Stern charges the Deathwing, and instantly kills two due to Zone of Banishment. He is wounded again by the Apothecary, but re-rolls his save (thanks again Strands of Fate).

Nothing occurs in his turn apart from the combat with Stern. The Apothecary fluffs his attacks, and Stern manages to wound him once. He fails his save, but re-rolls it due to SoF. However, Stern passes his psychic test and wipes out the last model.



Conclusion: He is tabled on Turn Four. I only lose Alpha squad and about half of Beta squad.

Final thoughts: Well, first time playing GK and it went very well. I was surprised at how well Stern played during the battle, and I see no reason why people put him down. Sure, Zone of Banishment and Strands of Fate both can affect friendly units, but they can also be devastating to enemies providing you use the proper tactics, such as what I did there, splitting Stern from his unit so he could use ZoB to its full potential.
All in all, a very nice battle, and a fun opponent to play against.

Thoughts and comments?

Just goes to show you that nothing good comes from deepstriking.

If his other terminator squad had a CML he could have stayed at range and out shot you.

Yeah, agree with Blackmoor, there was no reason to deepstrike with a single Deathwing squad.

Also, how did he have 6 termies in one squad?

Ozymandias wrote:Yeah, agree with Blackmoor, there was no reason to deepstrike with a single Deathwing squad.

Also, how did he have 6 termies in one squad?

Also how did his chaplain have twin lightning claws? am I misreading it? Belial probably had them
The standard bearer and apothecary must also be in the same unit

*Flicks through DA Codex*

Hmm, you're right, the Chappy can't have Twin LC, and the Standard Bearer and Apothecary must be in the same unit of 5. I suppose it didn't really matter in this case, but I'll be sure to pick him up on that next time. Thanks for pointing that out.

Nice work!

Glad to see that Stern isn't as useless as the internet likes to think!

Thanks, yeah I'm surprised that he's not used as often as he should be.

Any more comments?

Seriously, anyone have anything else to say?

Apparently not.

Seems like a fun battle, really nice work Valk. Also GK seem to do quite well in smaller points battles, as I've found out from a few 500pt battles I've had with some guys at my FLGS.

Turn Two
Stern and the Terminators arrive from reserve and head to assist Alpha squad in CC. The Dreadknight assaults the LRC and fluffs up its attacks, while Stern (just!) manages to enter combat, backed up by the Terminators and Beta squad. Alpha loses one more marine, while the combined efforts of Stern, Beta and the Dreadnought wipe out the last Terminators, leaving Belial and the Chaplain remaining. The Warding Staff Terminator is also killed in the combat, and Stern is also wounded, but manages to re-roll his save due to Strands of Fate.

If stern and termies were in reserve how on earth did they manage to end up in melee on turn 2?
Turn 2 would be the earliest possible arrival from reserve by them and after deepstrike you can only shoot or run, not melee.

They didn't arrive by Deep Strike, they walked on and were (just!) able to get into assault range.

Ah ok. Cool battle report, will there be more?

Hopefully, probably next Thursday, that's when I usually go for games.