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Hey dakka. I got some great help with my previous Haemonculus list here, so I wanted to see if I could get some advice on my basic list. I'm looking for this to be a semi-competitive list; I like modeling and painting much more than playing in tourneys, but I'd like to win sometimes!

HQ:
Archon
- huskblade, shadow field, ghostplate, combat drugs

Haemonculus
- venom blade, liquifier

Elites:
6 Incubi
- Klaivex w/ bloodstone and onslaught
Raider
- Darklance, flicker field, night shields, enhanced sails

Troops:
10 Warriors (x3)
Raider (x3)
- darklance, flicker field, night shields, splinter racks

5 Wyches (x2)
- haywire grenades
Venom (x2)
- splinter cannon, night shields

Fast:
6 Reavers (x2)
- 2 heat lances

Heavy:
Ravager (x3)
- 3 dark lances, night shields, flicker field

Total: 1991 points

Thoughts behind this list: I plan on using the warrior/raiders as fire bases to concentrate poison fire on one or 2 units a turn, hopefully playing keep away from my opponents CC squads. Then use them to boost for objectives late in the game. The ravagers are to burst any big/heavy tanks turn 1. Reavers are for general distraction as they turbo over units, though I gave them heat lances for killing tanks or high armor targets as needs. The wyches are for suiciding tanks with haywire. If that isn't needed, keep them in reserve and have them take objectives late. The archon/haem/incubi are to cut through any high armor or CC dedicated squads that threaten me.

I worry I might have a bit too much anti-tank focus and not enough mid shooting, but I'm not sure as I've never played with DE before. Thoughts, constructive criticism, suggestions? I'd love to hear them.

I would trim some of the upgrades from bits and bobs, maybe cut the Haemonculus all together. Use those points to make another Raider squad, or maybe pop a splinter cannon into each squad. Lance spam is fun, but you've got precious little anti infantry/horde for 2000 points. I might (not sure, never used the thing) swap the Ravager for the Razorwing and use it to blitz a infantry unit or cut through any other fliers, but don't know how effective that would be.

Might just be me but I put Dissies on Raiders, especially if they have CC troops in them as you can cut 3 enemies down rather than 1. If you run them in groups 6/9 shots is likely going to be better than 3.

 Freytag93 wrote:

I worry I might have a bit too much anti-tank focus and not enough mid shooting,

With DE, you can NEVER have too much AT(specifically darklight). Lances and haywires are the only things in your list that can threaten a tank. DE don't have any mid strength weapons that can be taken in any concentration. Tanks are immune to splinter fire, and DE are quite fragile, meaning if your AT is low it can be easily taken out. Night shields, flickerfields etc only buy time, but if an enemy wants something of yours dead it is probably going to happen.

The core of your list is solid. Lots of scoring units, with plenty of poison dakka, AT and sheer numbers. The only thing I would alter at all is the archon/incubi/hamey venom.

Your archon is good, but the only model in the unit with grenades. A PGL is expensive, but it would mean the incubi strike first should you need to charge through terrain, and give you an edge if charged by another assault unit. You could also take a soul trap, or maybe a venom blade in addition to the huskblade. Also may want haywire grenades as a just in case.

A klaivex is a questionable upgrade for the cost, but the challenge chump potential is nice. Drop the bloodstone, it is very expensive for such a weak template, even at AP3. This unit should not be shooting, just charging. On overwatch, it will rarely if ever matter when a PGL will always help. Onslaught is ok, but remember it won't work for the archon or hamey. It would probably just be best to take another incubi and get a PGL for the con. Extra attacks don't matter if you strike last and die because of it. You also don't want to overkill the unit and be open to get shot at next turn. Best to win assault in your opponents turn then charge again. Once your archon and friends shred a squad of terminators, all guns are pointed at them.

Thanks for the responses guys!
@Inky - I like using the Haem because I think that the FNP for the squad to start off with is worth the points. Plus, I can use him as a challenge sacrifice if I need to save my archon. I have considered using a Razorwing. I typically don't like fliers, but I can;t deny its effectiveness. Plus I could use some anti-air.

@Shingen - While I like the Disintegrators, I'm not too worried about needing high AP shots. I'd rather have a better chance at killing a tank and let mass poison whittle down armor.

@Dr. Serling - Just a note, the archon/haem/incubi are in the raider. Question: Can the archon use both the huskblade and the venom blade? I thought he could only use one each turn?

I redid the list as such:

HQ:
Archon
- huskblade, shadow field, ghostplate, combat drugs, PGL

Haemonculus
- venom blade, liquifier

Elites:
8 Incubi
Raider
- Darklance, flicker field, night shields, enhanced sails

Total: 1997 points

I'm worried about sinking too many points into this unit. With the changes, this squad is 500 points. If they get blow out of the sky turn 1, I am screwed. Should I drop some incubi and use the points to boost my warriors or get another squad? I think 8 incubi might be overkill and leave me in the open after the first assault. I don't have a good sense of how well they do, since I don't face DE very much at my FLGS. Suggestions?
Also, random question: do my archon's combat drugs apply to just him or his whole unit? If it's just him, I am probably going to drop them from his wargear.

Yes you have to pick one.

The Archon can use both weapons, but only 1 each combat. You would choose according to which you needed. Drugs also only affect your con, unless you get a pain token in which case the unit will have 2(giving them furious charge!). Drugs are good as they give you a better chance to wound with the huskblade through more attacks, re rolling to wound or higher S. Cheap enough to justify having on an already expensive model.

8 incubi is probably overkill, you could spend points elsewhere but I would go for at least 5. See how they do, or run some mathhammer to calculate how many wounds they will do on the charge against varying enemies.

Incubi are one of those squads you don't want to overkill with as if they win combat and have to take fire next turn they will be a priority target and die quickly, fnp would help a bit.

Huskblade is good but I would always take an agoniser.

Alright, decided to switch this up a lot.

HQ:
Archon
- huskblade, shadow field, ghostplate, combat drugs

Elites:
4 Incubi
Venom
- TL Splinter Rifle, night shields

Troops:
10 Warriors (x4)
Raider (x4)
- darklance, flicker field, night shields, splinter racks

5 Wyches (x2)
- haywire grenades
Venom (x2)
- splinter cannon, night shields

Fast:
6 Reavers (x2)
- 2 heat lances

Heavy:
Ravager (x3)
- 3 dark lances, night shields, flicker field

Total: 2000 points

My thoughts: I decided to minimize the incubi and bring in another warrior/raider. I think for most games I will keep the 3 Venoms in reserve and shoot with everything else. Then as the venoms come in, I will either use them to take out more tanks (wyches), kill any CC squad that's threatening me (incubi), boost to objectives (wyches), or just general combat if nothing is threatening me.

Your thoughts? Also, thank you to Shingen and Serling for helping me again. You guys rock.

It looks like a very tight list. As far as reserving the venoms, you might want to have that extra poison dakka on the table from the get go, and remember the turn you come in from reserve the unit inside can't assault from the venom, so your looking at T3 assault minimum. It also helps to have the wytches/incubi ready to go, but it all depends on your enemy.