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I know as a rule they generally cannot compare to the regular space marines.

However, can you build a DA army and have it at least be fun to play in the current meta w/o resorting to cheesy ally strategies and going pure Dark Angels?

What units would you base your attack plan on?

I ask...because I've only played about 5 games of the current edition and am thinking of selling off ALL of my other armies and just collect the one I identify most with. Dark Angels. I started with them in this hobby, and since my 40k ing is on the decline I may end with them.

I've got three full armies to sell, and when they go I'll take the money and invest in whatever solid DA army I can. I'm just not sure where to start off.

Well, first off, the term 'meta' is very much local to you. What are the groups you play with like?

If they are all very hardnosed tournament players, then you will have a different plan of action than if you play mostly in a more casual environment.

Here is a full force org for mixedwing

Azrael
Librarian in term armour
?techmarine on bike with pfg? I think its hq
Dakkabanner deathwing command in crusader
Deathwing knights in crusader
2x dreadnought with 2x autocannons with droppods
1 tactical squad - goes in crusader
2 tactical squads in droppods ( locator beacons)
1 deathwing squad (full)
2 ravenwing squads
Landspeeder squadron (equipped as needed)
2 blackknight squads
Land raider crusader
2 predators

Or drop the droppods and add a fortress of redemption with voidshields

If you are looking for a DA army that will play well and stand a good chance of winning against most opponents then ravenewing is your answer.

If you are looking for an army that looks bad*** and is fun to use but has almost no chance to win against most opponents then deathwing is your answer.

If you are looking for a different flavor of marines that have some special bikes and termies then greenwing and friends is your army. Similar to deathwing in terms of winning potential but has more flexibility due to more units.

With all that said, I find my DA to be very fun to play and they are my favorite army. They will not perform as well as other armies but that is the lot of the DA. We have fun things banners, knights, black and deathwing, good libbys and overall we are not a bad codex. We are just not as good as those that came out after us. Best bet is to run DA and if you are not having fun with them switch to vanilla marines and try out some chapter tactics.

DA get much better , when White Scars or Iron Hands and Coteaz are added. Grav guns , a storm raven , cheap divination caster to support DA own divination librarians , a good melee HQ in the form of a eternal shield chapter master with a thunder hammer , supported by Crusaders buffed by dakka baners and protected with powerfields.
DA techmarines on bikes are one of the cheaper support units for biker armies , which is also good.

Well do you have to win with plastic toy soldiers? If yes, then DA are not for you.

Thing is now, say you go with Tau, Eldar, Taudar, Eldau or what ever "winning" combination is out there, will you have fun then?

It seems you really like DA but for what ever reason, you don't want to start them full time. Is it because you need to win and can't stand to loose? Most likely not the case, but I know loosing all the time is no fun either spending all that money and time putting them together and painting them is no fun either.

A lot of people do good and win with DA. Why not go to the Bolter and Chainsword forums, and go to the Dark Angle sub forum and ask there on how they do with their DA.

From what I gather, been on the DA forum for years, you are either a Dark Angel player or not. You don't play DA to win, but to have fun and because you have pride and joy with that army. You don't care if you win with every game. When you do win, it is so much more sweeter because "they are not suppose to be good" says so the internet.

So think long and hard. Are you a Dark Angel player? Will you have more fun and joy because you like the army/minis/fluff?