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I started a BA army a while back and recently started playing again. Before I stopped playing I was one of the only people in our hobby group to have a 5th edition codex. When we started playing again there is now a Necron army, and a Tyranid army with 5th. Also there is a Tau army played by a member using 4th. We played a game testing out the Necrons 5th edition codex and there wasn't much of a challenge for the Necrons. My BA were wiped clean and my Sanguinary Guard were killed in one assault phase by Lychguard (w/warsythes). I was brutally defeated.
So my question is, with all of the units I have (list below), what is the best arrangement that could be suggested for fighting Necrons, Tau or Tyranid? (New unit suggestions are welcome)


*************** 2 HQ ***************
Space Marine Captain 100 Points
- 1 x Storm Bolter 3 Pt.
- 1 x Lightning Claw 15 Pt.
- - - > 118 Points

Space Marine Captain 100 Points
- 1 x Power Weapon 15 Pt.
- - - > 115 Points
*************** 3 Elite ***************
Sanguinary Guard
5 Sanguinary Guardsmen 200 Points
- Chapter Banner 30 Pt.
- 4 x Angelus-Bolter Free
- 1 x Infernus-Pistol 10 Pt.
- 4 x Glaive Incarmine Free
- 1 x Power Fist 10 Pt.
- - - > 250 Points

Terminators
5 Terminators 200 Pts.

Assault Terminators
5 Assault Terminators 200 Pt.
- 5 x Power Hammers & Storm Shields 25 Pt.
+ - Land Raider Redeemer 240 Pt.
- - - > 465 Points
*************** 4 Standard ***************
Tactical Marines
10 Space Marines 160 Pt.
- Plasma Gun 10 Pkt.
- Missile Launcher Free
+ Upgrade for Sergeant 10 Pt.
- 1 x Plasma-Pistol 15 Pt.
+ - Razorback 55 Pt.
- Twin-Linked Lascannon 35 Pt.
- - - > 285 Points

Tactical Marines
10 Space Marines 160 Pt.
- Flamer Free
- Missile Launcher Free
+ Upgrade for Sergeant 10 Pt.
- 1 x Power Fist 25 Pt.
- - - > 195 Points

Tactical Marines
9 Space Marines 144 Pt.
+ Upgrade for Sergeant 10 Pt.
- - - > 154 Points

Death Company
5 Death Company 100 Pt.
- 2 x Power Weapon 30 Pt.
- 1 x Power Fist 25 Pt.
- 1 x Plasma-Pistol 15 Pt.
- Jump Packs 75 Pt.
- - - > 245 Points
*************** 3 Heavy Support ***************
Dreadnaught 105 Points
- Blood Fist Free
- Heavy Flamer 10 Pt.
- Assault Cannon 10 Pt.
- - - > 125 Points

Dreadnaught 105 Points
- Blood Fist Free
- Storm Bolter Free
- Multimelta Free
- - - > 105 Points

Predator 70 Points
- Auto-Cannon Free
- Heavy Bolter Sponsons 30 Pt.
- Hunter-Killer Missile 10 Pt.
- - - > 110 Points

Total Blood Angels: 2367 pts.


Any help is much appreciated!

Well lets see, your current collection is a bit all over the place to be competative. But with what you have i would go for a solid gun line. Not exactly the best way to use the BA but meh, you have the models. I would advise against taking the death company as you cannot control them, but that could also help you.

I would add more transports to your list, especially for the un-boxed tac squads. Tac Squads dont really fit with BA, as Assault Squads do it better and they get transports at discounts. Regardless, get transports for your Tac Squads, Razorbacks would be best with Assault Cannons or Lascannons.

For your HQ, use a libby. He is far better than a captain any day. Proxy one of your current HQ's to test this out.

Sanguinary Guard are great if you can get them into CC with a Unit that does not have power weapons. They can rip through units as long as they can take there armour save. you can use them as a clean up crew for any transports that you pop.

I think that if you added more dakka and a libby you would have a good chance of winning against nids and necrons. A minor pointer on the necrons: focus fire on one squad at a time. If the entire squad is wiped in any one phase they cant "get back up".

Hope you can glean something from my rambling.....

Falco wrote:Well lets see, your current collection is a bit all over the place to be competative. But with what you have i would go for a solid gun line. Not exactly the best way to use the BA but meh, you have the models. I would advise against taking the death company as you cannot control them, but that could also help you.

I would add more transports to your list, especially for the un-boxed tac squads. Tac Squads dont really fit with BA, as Assault Squads do it better and they get transports at discounts. Regardless, get transports for your Tac Squads, Razorbacks would be best with Assault Cannons or Lascannons.

For your HQ, use a libby. He is far better than a captain any day. Proxy one of your current HQ's to test this out.

Sanguinary Guard are great if you can get them into CC with a Unit that does not have power weapons. They can rip through units as long as they can take there armour save. you can use them as a clean up crew for any transports that you pop.

I think that if you added more dakka and a libby you would have a good chance of winning against nids and necrons. A minor pointer on the necrons: focus fire on one squad at a time. If the entire squad is wiped in any one phase they cant "get back up".

Hope you can glean something from my rambling.....

Thanks for your advise! I'm definitely going to buy assault squads when I start work this summer, I've heard that from multiple people already.
I was also thinking of taking Mephiston as an HQ choice, and if so, what's a good strategy to use him?

First, I have to ask: Did you read the rules for posting lists? You're not "allowed" to list individual points cost for upgrades and such.

Second, with a list like that, personally, I'd run vanilla marines. The only blood angel specific units you have are sanguinary guard and death company. If I made a list with most of these units, I'd go almost pure shooty with devastators and tac-marines, leaving assault terminators to do the close up and personal job.

SgtSixkilla wrote:First, I have to ask: Did you read the rules for posting lists? You're not "allowed" to list individual points cost for upgrades and such.

Second, with a list like that, personally, I'd run vanilla marines. The only blood angel specific units you have are sanguinary guard and death company. If I made a list with most of these units, I'd go almost pure shooty with devastators and tac-marines, leaving assault terminators to do the close up and personal job.

I get that my army is more towards vanilla SM, however I'd like to make my army more like a BA army. Which is why I'm asking what units would help me achieve a more CC friendly army yet will still survive against 5th edition Necron CC units and OP 4th edition Tau ranged weapons.

Also I had just copy and pasted this army list from my army builder, I had forgotten about removing the points.

You have a good C:SM gun line, you have a not good BA army.

You either need transports for most of your troops or jump packs.

Vs Necrons you have a slight edge in cc but they will take you in shooting. You need to get there fast.

Stick the TH/SS termies against the lytchguard the 3++ will help.

If you want a competitive BA bulid you either need to go mech with razorbacks or DoA. Their are some hybrid lists that work well but these 2 options are the mosy viable. Figure out want you want to do, if $ is tight use bartertown and the Swap shop to trade some of what you have for what you want.

optimusprime14 wrote:You have a good C:SM gun line, you have a not good BA army.

You either need transports for most of your troops or jump packs.

Vs Necrons you have a slight edge in cc but they will take you in shooting. You need to get there fast.

Stick the TH/SS termies against the lytchguard the 3++ will help.

If you want a competitive BA bulid you either need to go mech with razorbacks or DoA. Their are some hybrid lists that work well but these 2 options are the mosy viable. Figure out want you want to do, if $ is tight use bartertown and the Swap shop to trade some of what you have for what you want.

So say I want to go more CC with this army, what new units would you suggest?

Sorry about the last post. I failed to read the part where you wanted to make your list more BAish.

Switch the tac squads with assault squads, back them up with sanguinary priests. Double melta and PF in each squad. Furioso Dreadnoughts with double blood talons are amazing if you can get them into close combat, but that is actually more difficult than it sounds. For me it's only happened a couple of times. Drop the razorbacks. Use devastators instead. More expensive, but more survivable, and in my experience, much more killy. Even if you just use missiles on them.

Trade the captains for either librarians (which is the cookie-cutter option) or reclusiarchs (which is my preference) or one of each, if you really want two HQ's. Personally, I'd drop one HQ and the sanguinary guard for a chaplain with JP for the death company (they become extremely killy in the company of a chappy), and Honor Guard.

I made a couple of lists you can look at as suggestions.
Suggestion One:
HQ
Librarian - Shield of Sanguinius, Unleash Rage/Wings of Sanguinius
Honor Guard - 4x Lightning Claw, 4x Meltaguns (one of each on each honor guard, can't upgrade sanguinary noviciate)
in a Drop Pod with Locator Beacon (so you can deep strike a Land Raider if you feel like it)

ELITE
Chaplain (goes with Death Company)

Sanguinary Priest (goes with terminator assault squad)
Sanguinary Priest - Jump Pack (goes with one of the assault squads)

Terminator Assault Squad - 4x TH/SS, 1x Dual Lightning Claws
in Land Raider Redeemer with Extra Armor and Multimelta

TROOPS
Assault Squad - 10 Marines, 2x Meltaguns, 1x PF
Assault Squad - 10 Marines, 2x Meltaguns, 1x PF

Death Company - 5 Marines, 2x PF, 3x PW
in Land Raider Redeemer with Extra Armor and Multimelta

Suggestion Two:
HQ
Reclusiarch (Goes with the Death Company)

ELITE
Furioso Dreadnought - Magna Grapple, Heavy Flamer, 2x Blood Talons, Extra Armor
in Drop Pod

Sanguinary Priest (goes with terminator assault squad)
Sanguinary Priest - Jump Pack (goes with one of the assault squads)

Terminator Assault Squad - 4x TH/SS, 1x Dual Lightning Claws
in Land Raider Redeemer with Extra Armor and Multimelta

TROOPS
Assault Squad - 10 Marines, 2x Meltaguns, 1x PF
Assault Squad - 10 Marines, 2x Meltaguns, 1x PF

Death Company - 5 Marines, 2x PF, 2x PW
in Land Raider Redeemer with Extra Armor and Multimelta

HEAVY SUPPORT
Predator

Predator

Look at these lists as suggestions. I've tried posting both kinds here on the forum, and it seems that all the criticism I get on them are (1) purely subjective, (2) based on what people have had luck with or (3) personal preferences, so I'd consider both somewhat competitive. All the criticism I've gotten on these lists have been objected to by other posters, so read from that what you want. My preference, and the list I'm building my army towards is the second, because I want some more Armor, and I don't like Librarians. A combination between the two is possible, of course. Like removing the preds in favor of a librarian for example.

SSMaxRose wrote:

optimusprime14 wrote:You have a good C:SM gun line, you have a not good BA army.

You either need transports for most of your troops or jump packs.

Vs Necrons you have a slight edge in cc but they will take you in shooting. You need to get there fast.

Stick the TH/SS termies against the lytchguard the 3++ will help.

If you want a competitive BA bulid you either need to go mech with razorbacks or DoA. Their are some hybrid lists that work well but these 2 options are the mosy viable. Figure out want you want to do, if $ is tight use bartertown and the Swap shop to trade some of what you have for what you want.

So say I want to go more CC with this army, what new units would you suggest?

Assault squads, assault squads, assault squads. The 2x Melta and PF is a good combo if you are going with 10 man assault squads with JP. Stick them with a priest and they hold their own. do you want to stay mech'd or go DoA? How competitive of a list do you want?

your list seems to be mostly vinnila space marine with some ba stuff your stuck in the 4th stuff you need to upgrade everything to assult marines and punch necrons in the face

SgtSixkilla wrote:Sorry about the last post. I failed to read the part where you wanted to make your list more BAish.

Switch the tac squads with assault squads, back them up with sanguinary priests. Double melta and PF in each squad. Furioso Dreadnoughts with double blood talons are amazing if you can get them into close combat, but that is actually more difficult than it sounds. For me it's only happened a couple of times. Drop the razorbacks. Use devastators instead. More expensive, but more survivable, and in my experience, much more killy. Even if you just use missiles on them.

Trade the captains for either librarians (which is the cookie-cutter option) or reclusiarchs (which is my preference) or one of each, if you really want two HQ's. Personally, I'd drop one HQ and the sanguinary guard for a chaplain with JP for the death company (they become extremely killy in the company of a chappy), and Honor Guard.

I made a couple of lists you can look at as suggestions.
Suggestion One:
HQ
Librarian - Shield of Sanguinius, Unleash Rage/Wings of Sanguinius
Honor Guard - 4x Lightning Claw, 4x Meltaguns (one of each on each honor guard, can't upgrade sanguinary noviciate)
in a Drop Pod with Locator Beacon (so you can deep strike a Land Raider if you feel like it)

ELITE
Chaplain (goes with Death Company)

Sanguinary Priest (goes with terminator assault squad)
Sanguinary Priest - Jump Pack (goes with one of the assault squads)

Terminator Assault Squad - 4x TH/SS, 1x Dual Lightning Claws
in Land Raider Redeemer with Extra Armor and Multimelta

TROOPS
Assault Squad - 10 Marines, 2x Meltaguns, 1x PF
Assault Squad - 10 Marines, 2x Meltaguns, 1x PF

Death Company - 5 Marines, 2x PF, 3x PW
in Land Raider Redeemer with Extra Armor and Multimelta

Suggestion Two:
HQ
Reclusiarch (Goes with the Death Company)

ELITE
Furioso Dreadnought - Magna Grapple, Heavy Flamer, 2x Blood Talons, Extra Armor
in Drop Pod

Sanguinary Priest (goes with terminator assault squad)
Sanguinary Priest - Jump Pack (goes with one of the assault squads)

Terminator Assault Squad - 4x TH/SS, 1x Dual Lightning Claws
in Land Raider Redeemer with Extra Armor and Multimelta

TROOPS
Assault Squad - 10 Marines, 2x Meltaguns, 1x PF
Assault Squad - 10 Marines, 2x Meltaguns, 1x PF

Death Company - 5 Marines, 2x PF, 2x PW
in Land Raider Redeemer with Extra Armor and Multimelta

HEAVY SUPPORT
Predator

Predator

Look at these lists as suggestions. I've tried posting both kinds here on the forum, and it seems that all the criticism I get on them are (1) purely subjective, (2) based on what people have had luck with or (3) personal preferences, so I'd consider both somewhat competitive. All the criticism I've gotten on these lists have been objected to by other posters, so read from that what you want. My preference, and the list I'm building my army towards is the second, because I want some more Armor, and I don't like Librarians. A combination between the two is possible, of course. Like removing the preds in favor of a librarian for example.

Thanks for this! This will help me out a lot on deciding what new units to get.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

optimusprime14 wrote:

SSMaxRose wrote:

optimusprime14 wrote:You have a good C:SM gun line, you have a not good BA army.

You either need transports for most of your troops or jump packs.

Vs Necrons you have a slight edge in cc but they will take you in shooting. You need to get there fast.

Stick the TH/SS termies against the lytchguard the 3++ will help.

If you want a competitive BA bulid you either need to go mech with razorbacks or DoA. Their are some hybrid lists that work well but these 2 options are the mosy viable. Figure out want you want to do, if $ is tight use bartertown and the Swap shop to trade some of what you have for what you want.

So say I want to go more CC with this army, what new units would you suggest?

Assault squads, assault squads, assault squads. The 2x Melta and PF is a good combo if you are going with 10 man assault squads with JP. Stick them with a priest and they hold their own. do you want to stay mech'd or go DoA? How competitive of a list do you want?

I only play with my friends at the moment, however if there are clubs where I'd like to go to college I'd like a competitive army for tourneys and such.

Then SgtSixkilla has made a fun, semi-competitive list. It doesn't suck and packs a good amount of punch. If it's crons, meltaguns help alot.

I'd suggest you play a few games with something close to that list, find where you are weak and see if it's the unit you are using (or not using) or if it's how you are using them.