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Hi,

I currently have the new 40k box set. Just wanted to know what else I need to bulk up my army?

Thanks

I'm in the same situation you are. This is what I've put on my list of things to get to beef up my army.

a second tactical squad (and maybe a third)
2 razorbacks (since these can also be used as rhinos)
more Terminators (because they are awesome)

Now I'm using the Vanilla Space Marine Codex for the time being, since its more up to date then the Dark Angel codex, but I understand there is a special character (Belial) that would allow you to take terminators as Troops instead of Elites.

There is also a special character that will allow you to take bikes as troops.

The standard marine codex is currently better than the dark angels as their points values are more up to date.

If you want to play dark angels aim for terminators.

If you are in a hurry to get playing competitively right away, pick up a lot of terminators, and put all your power armor stuff on a shelf.
You will want a combination of assault and shooty terminators, as mixed squads are king for DA right now.

My suggestion would be to put together the stuff you have from the box set, get it painted up, and play a few small-point games. Wait a month or two to buy a bunch of new stuff.
Here's why:
All the rumors are pointing to a November codex release for Dark Angels, and that will likely change up the way they are played.

The units that are terrible right now (basically anything in power armor) will probably get points adjustments to be competitive with the other marines out there.
Unit compositions will probably get changed as well, including the limits to 5/10 per squad(hopefully it will be 5-10 instead of 5 or 10).
For all we know, terminator squads may end-up getting switched around to be more in line with standard marines, and unable to do mixed squads (this is doubtful).

I would say that you would be safe picking up a box or two of terminators(one assault and one tactical) and a ravenwing battleforce or two for now.

A quick conversion to make a Belial counts-as would be a great idea, as then you could play with those terminators as troops.

I would not go in for buying Sammael on his jetbike just yet. That is a pricey model that might get phased out for a newer version, or become junk, in the new codex.

If you want to do a bike army, running Sammael on his speeder would not be a bad idea for now, especially if you decide to pick up a Ravenwing battleforce (it has all the pieces needed to make his speeder).

Vindicators are a good investment, as I cannot see a reason that a high strength, large blast would ever be truly bad, and right now it is one of the most cost-effective units in the codex.

i have made a any list using the dark vengeance models and have noticed power army sucks in the current codex i am thinking of using the power Armour models as blood angels for now and allying Belial and his terminators

this is a list i used today at my store and hot hammered but im going to wait till the new dex and focus on me DE for now but here is the list


HQ
Belial (130)

EILITE
Dreadnought (venerable) twin laz (165)

TROOPS

Death wing squad 1 (Belial’s Retinue)
3 TH+SS, 1 AC and p fist 1 SB and PF 1 TH+SS is an apoc. (275)

Death wing s quad 2
2 TH+SS 1 AC and PF 1 Sarg SB with PW 1 SB+CF (250)
2X10 Tactical marines, melta, multi-melta, sergeant PF, Rhino (245 each) (490)

10 tactical marines, plasma, plasma cannon, sergeant P Axe, Razorback twin laz (290)

Combat squad with mini dev plasma cannon ^^

HEAVY
Devastator Squad, 4 Missile, sergeant bolter (150)

its not much but its an idea

 Relictor88 wrote:

HEAVY
Devastator Squad, 4 Missile, sergeant bolter (150)

its not much but its an idea

That Devastator squad is 150 points using vanilla marines, for dark Angels it's 170 points.

That is great advice guys. Think I will buy some terminators and then see how i get on for now. I will let you know how I get on

I had an idea, which I have posted before and may actually write up fully.

Essentially buy the command squad box set. The apothecary and banner parts are good for either bikers and terminators.
Then you can try razorback spam.


130 Belial
480 2 squads of terminators with a mixture of weapons, banner and apoth.
~185 5 man melta, laserback
~190 5 man plasma, laserback
Then add some vindicators or preds.

The terminators line up in front of the laserbacks to give them cover saves, hopefully the terminators have CMLs, though they are hard to get hold of.

Otherwise try investing ravenwing box sets. The models look good, and as good as DV bikers, ergo you can not expect better biker models coming out. Whereas you could imagine there being new deathwing terminator models coming out, also the model set up for deathwing could very well change.

The final idea before the codex comes out if you have itchy fingers invest in allies. Azrael+power blob which could use your librarian and IG aeroplanes would be a useful idea.

MFletch wrote:
Then you can try razorback spam.
130 Belial
480 2 squads of terminators with a mixture of weapons, banner and apoth.
~185 5 man melta, laserback
~190 5 man plasma, laserback
Then add some vindicators or preds.
The terminators line up in front of the laserbacks to give them cover saves, hopefully the terminators have CMLs, though they are hard to get hold of.

This is a bad idea with Dark Angels right now. You can do the same thing cheaper and better with other codexes. Power armor units are overcosted for us currently.

MFletch wrote:
Otherwise try investing ravenwing box sets. The models look good, and as good as DV bikers, ergo you can not expect better biker models coming out. Whereas you could imagine there being new deathwing terminator models coming out, also the model set up for deathwing could very well change.

I wholeheartedly agree with this. The bikes and speeders shouldn't be changing much, if at all. By this I mean the models, not the rules. The Emperor knows we need new rules for our bikes, as vanilla marines can do the same things better and for less points with their bikes.

MFletch wrote:

The final idea before the codex comes out if you have itchy fingers invest in allies. Azrael+power blob which could use your librarian and IG aeroplanes would be a useful idea.

I have been toying with the idea of putting Azrael with 20-man blobs of mixed-armor Black Templars and using it as a big hammer to pound right into the middle of an enemy army.

This is what I do for my Dark Angels:

Make the primary detachment from codex SM.

Take Belial and 2 units of Deathwing Terminators as an allied detachment.

That way you get the new prices on power armor, and access to the neat toys, but still have two units of fearless terminators that are scoring

Besides deathwing the few advantages of DA codex are typhoon speeders, MM speeders (ok) and 5-man tac squads with a special weapon. The problem with the 5-man is that is built to go with razorbacks and the DA don't have any good options at a decent price....

The one power armor I would think about would be

5-man w Plasma in Razorback 185
3 x Typhoon Speeders 225

So 4 x Tac/Razor ( 740)
3 Speeders (225)
1 HQ Prob Capt (120)

1085

You could go with 3 AC/Las Preds
And then a cmd squad or vet squad in razorback.

The problem is low count tac squads and the probability that in a month or two you will totally change your army.

I think that it is Deathwing for now or nothing. In 8 weeks or so things should change for the better.

 nolzur wrote:

MFletch wrote:
Then you can try razorback spam.
130 Belial
480 2 squads of terminators with a mixture of weapons, banner and apoth.
~185 5 man melta, laserback
~190 5 man plasma, laserback
Then add some vindicators or preds.
The terminators line up in front of the laserbacks to give them cover saves, hopefully the terminators have CMLs, though they are hard to get hold of.

This is a bad idea with Dark Angels right now. You can do the same thing cheaper and better with other codexes. Power armor units are overcosted for us currently.

Sorry, so you suggest not using the power armour models as per the original request?

Most importantly you have to look past points to evaluate units. You can not have a mantra of that is too expensive. 180 points for a tank and 5 scoring power armour troops with a melta gun is not going to break the bank and mean you lose. Just because other codices can do it cheaper doesn't mean the unit doesn't work. You also have a walking cover save due to the deathwing, now not many codices get that for one.
Next you will be saying dark angels should field ven. dreads as they cheaper than any other codex.

If you want be truly competitive you'll want a completely different set up for the terminators ergo none of the models in DV are competition worthy. Apart from you can use the models and win. It may not be the best list available but if it has enough synergy and used well that you will have few issues. Maybe it is worth pointing out at some point deathwing struggle to shot flyers and having laserbacks actually helps, as does having some cheap scoring units.

One final remark is wait until the new codex as I am sure most things will change.