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How effective have people found the Stormraven to be? I've only gotten two games in so far with mixed reviews to its effectiveness. I'm debating whether for 230 points I'd rather squeeze in a Devastator squad with 4x missile launchers and then trim points to fit a second stormtalon into the list.

The remainder of the list is generally bike HQ, two bike squads, tactical squad with long range heavy, devastator centurions, storm talon, 3 multi-melta attack bikes, and a TFC. I think the devastators would add some more reliable long range fire and the second talon could fill the anti-flyer role.

Well, the TL multi-melta on it is the single most effective AT weapon in the game, so its got something to be said for that. The remainder of the platform really matters on what chapter you are buying it for. Generally the hurricane bolters arent worth buying as they dont often align with targets well.

GK one is pretty outstanding with that ability to remove psykers easily. It can also grab psybolt ammo for S5 hurricane bolters and S7 autocannon. Buying the sponsors is worth it here since S5 can even hurt light vehicles.

BA one is a pure tank hunter as the S8 AP1 missiles are pretty darn good at cracking side armor on tanks. At the role its good, but expensive for a turn 2-3 tank hunter. Normally the tanks are dead by turn 3-4 so its role is largely marginalized. Lascannon and MM are usually a good choice here

For general SM ones, im kind of unimpressed. S8 AP2 concussive is OK, but doesnt kill vehicles as well as BA. Otherwise, its exactly the same as other chapter's versions but SM lack the cheaper assault units that other chapters have.


Generally the stormraven transport capacity is a 2ndary consideration. Dont put more than 200 points inside the stormraven as keeping more than 400 points off the board for a long time can be costly.

Oh the Stormraven.

There are two parts of the storm raven and different codex's do those parts better or worse.

The UM/BA Storm raven is a godly flying MC/Tank hunter. TL-Asc, MM and missles gives it alot of firepower and mobility to take down targets on their soft side. However you will be hard pressed to find a cost effective troop with a invulnerably save inside of it.

The GK raven lacks the tank hunting missles, but gets ones that cause perils on psykers... situation valuable at best. However if running henchmen you can fill it full of crusaders and DCA's which make a amazing turn 4-5 objective grabber without breaking the bank.

The stormraven is a good gunboat, but it suffers a bit since you pay extra for transport capacities which are somewhere between pretty unneccessary (shooty units without DS), over flawed (assault units without DS), to downright stupid (everything that allready can DS).

Keep it focussed, don't stick anything other than last round objective grabbers in it (you know for that last turn where it doesn't matter wether you hover or zoom), have a fallback plan when it gets downed by a interceptor which you didn't notice.

It has decent firepower when using the SM version.

Going lascannon and multi-melta gives it the power it needs.

Hard to kill, it also is great for bringing TH/SS termies to the field.

For the points, you get TL lascannon, TL multi-melta and 2 shots of str 8 ap 2? missiles. Not bad, better then devs all any day.

Other than the fact that it starts in reserves.

 juraigamer wrote:
It has decent firepower when using the SM version.

Going lascannon and multi-melta gives it the power it needs.

Hard to kill, it also is great for bringing TH/SS termies to the field.

For the points, you get TL lascannon, TL multi-melta and 2 shots of str 8 ap 2? missiles. Not bad, better then devs all any day.

I don't think putting 225pts of TH/SS termies in a unit that may come in turn two is a good idea, but that's me. I feel the land raider even though more expensive is the only effective way to get termies into battle. The stormraven is a gunboat like others have said. I rarely if ever use it as a transport. I've fooled around with an iron clad dread inside but it wasn't that great.

My favorite loadout with the Stormraven is TL MM with TL Assault Cannon. This gives two very potent AT weapons that can rip fliers right off of the board. Additionally S8 AP2 Concussive Missiles can lay some wounds on MC's as well. Power of the Machine spirit is very powerful on this vehicle as well. You can point the MM at something you intend to oneshot and dump Assault Cannon Plus a pair of missiles into another target.

The storm raven can engage vehicles of nearly any stripe heavy infantry with great efficiency.

Agreed on the point that the transport capacity is a distraction. I've tried using them to cart around TH/SS termies and ran into the problem that a reserved flyer has no board presence and best case, termies don't get to work until turn 3. I would be interested in sticking a 55 point scout unit in one for some late game objective shenanigans.

I'm also curious on the hidden troop squad option.
IG does the same thing with Vendettas.

 minigun762 wrote:
I'm also curious on the hidden troop squad option.
IG does the same thing with Vendettas.

Now that LSS are dedicated transports for scouts, I might just reserve a squad of them instead of loading more eggs into the raven. Particularly if you have any sort of reserve manipulations. While having a very mobile troop pick drop from the sky late to grab an objective can be nice, sometimes you would prefer the gunboat sooner, rather then later.

I think zephoid and DrunkPilispoh hit it on the nose. Just run it as a gunboat, pure and simple. It advertises as a transport but fails to live up to the rep and point cost if you do so. I've always found my LRC to be better at the jump and able to go in the direction I need it to should something creep up in the game, as maneuvering fliers can be tricky at times.
In most of my lists, I tend to shy away from them myself in favor of other anti-tank/anti-infantry options, but perhaps that's just my play style. Plenty of other good options mentioned here though!