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This list attempts to fully utilize the power of the frag cannon and kill team formations.

Firstly, the drop pods and bikers have locator beacons to minimize scatter so the Aquilas can hit their marks. The librarians can roll on Divination to try to get Scrier's Gaze to get the Aquilas in if need be.

If they stay alive and the reserves come in, the Aquilas land where they need to be. A single frag cannon can wipe out a single unit of, for example, scat bikes. The rest of the unit can direct whatever special ammo shots they want at another unit thanks to the bikers. Ideally each Aquila wipes out or greatly damages two units. 2 for 1.

This will hopefully make up for their lack of defense. (which the librarians can try to cover in a pinch) To make this tournament level, I'd add a Librarius conclave to make the biker units stay alive longer and get into position. That and more Aquilas, which are cheap at 165 points each.

++ Deathwatch - CAD ++

Librarian - ML 2, Force Sword

Veterans(5) - Frag Cannon, storm shield, Drop Pod, beacon
Veterans(5) - Frag Cannon, Drop Pod, beacon

Bikers(4) - Locator Beacon
Bikers(4) - Locator Beacon

++ Deathwatch - BSSF ++

Librarian - ML 2, Force Sword

Aquila: Vets(5), Biker(1), Frag Cannon
Aquila: Vets(5), Biker(1), Frag Cannon
Aquila: Vets(5), Biker(1), Frag Cannon

Corvus Blackstar: TL las, storm strike ML, infernum launcher

I would take the auspex array instead of infernum launcher on the corvus, since you wanna shoot shoot shoot with it with that loadout, IMO. I like the infernum launcher when carrying things, but if it's geared up to shoot, not worth it IMO. But, YMMV.

As for the CAD, why not take 3 squads of 1-2 bikes each? Also saves a few points, and gets you another unit with homer. I also would recommend 3 single terminator units as well in the CAD... a single TH/SS terminator can be a real pain if not dealt with... plus, we've seen lone wolves do well as distraction units, and I think this could be an opportunity as well for that. In fact, I would fill out all the non-troop slots on the CAD this way... min 1-2 sized units in every slot (lone terminators deepstriking, bikes roaming around, and vanguard vets with a melta bomb or something or melta pistol).

I guess that would suck for killpoints, but I don't know how competitive, or whatever this needs to be. I guess no worse than battle company would be.

For the BSSF, seems fine, and I get the biker for splitfire, so that could work well.

Hey thanks for the reply.

Totally agree with the biker changes. Same with the array.

Not sure about the terminators, I'd have to test. Sounds great in theory for sure, but might just be 135 points down the drain, which could be used for another unit yknow? Like another librarian, which is always amazing to have.

The Blackstar is extremely difficult to use well as transport so I agree kitting it out as a shooty gunship is the way to go (auspex is the only way to do this).

Split-fire only allows one model in the unit to shoot somewhere else.
Multiples do not stack.

So, one bike in each unit is a good way to let any single weapon you want to target somewhere else.
The relentless reach of the bike, Frag Cannon or a flamer weapon could be selected as the opportunity presents itself.

Dropping a Terminator with the missile launcher could be helpful in a squad.
A couple krack missiles or two frag templates going wherever you wish would not be a bad thing.
The points ARE horrendous however.
Having them wandering around on their own would be an interesting possibility, deep-strike in where needed.

The veteran assault squads of two or three with that hand-melta could be a good choice for vehicle hunting and again can deepstrike as needed.

I am building up my own Deathwatch army so have racked my brain on how to get something competitive together.

Yeah, the only "competitive" game I tested out was at 1500 and included a maxed-out CAD the way I said, using single models as harassment... it worked "ok" and could probably be tweaked to be pretty nasty.

The lone bikes with beacons were the all-stars, especially when deepstriking min sized 5-man units of vets from the BSSF.

Let us know what you come up with though, I'm interested in some "non-conventional" takes on how to use Deathwatch!

Totally agree about the blackstar.

So yeah, the frag cannon by itself is so strong, I think it's one of the few weapons that can effectively be split fired with great effect. That's the core idea behind the list.

I think 165 points for an aquila is nice. I don't think we need the extra terminator support, it's expensive. But I don't know yet, haven't tried it.


One thought though, is to toss a terminator or two into the blackstar. It could be used for a little extra punch if we need some on the battle field. Terminators, vanguard vets, Artemis, a single captain, are all possible options for this idea. My competitive friends thought this would be a waste of points though. What do you guys think?

Yeah, these are all good thoughts... I DO like attaching a terminator instead of bike to a vet squad to form a Furor Killteam... you almost always fight troops, in transports, and that unit just mauls that:

Furor Killteam
Vets (5) - bolter/shotgun x3, frag cannon x2, terminator w/heavy flamer & pf/aux melta

Remember that the transport is technically a troop too... so if it's open topped, you murder the contents with templates... if it's a rhino, you blast it apart with melta and solid shells, etc.

This unit has never let me down. I think this is better than an Aquilla, and better than the split fire from the bike, but test it out... YMMV.

When it comes to the unit in the blackstar, it's a real shame that you can't dump units out on the fly like a Stormraven... because I could totally see potential there for that... but to get down into assault position to unleash something is so darn tricky right now in the game... it barely ever works :(

 xTHExCLINCHERx wrote:
Yeah, these are all good thoughts... I DO like attaching a terminator instead of bike to a vet squad to form a Furor Killteam... you almost always fight troops, in transports, and that unit just mauls that:
Furor Killteam
Vets (5) - bolter/shotgun x3, frag cannon x2, terminator w/heavy flamer & pf/aux melta

Yeah, that rule is weird how you convert your bolter to shotgun, then combat weapon to bolter.
I am using some sheathed shotguns from the scout biker sprues to model them on OR have the shotgun in hand and put a spare (got the old metal deathwatch bolters) DW bolter under the backpack.
Those shotguns are brutal with those templates.
That underslung melta on the terminator makes such a surprising difference!
This is how many a dreadnaught would get kitted out: melt the vehicle, flame the contents.
I stand corrected somewhere, that the melta on terminators is special to Deathwatch.

Remember that the transport is technically a troop too... so if it's open topped, you murder the contents with templates... if it's a rhino, you blast it apart with melta and solid shells, etc.
This unit has never let me down. I think this is better than an Aquilla, and better than the split fire from the bike, but test it out... YMMV.

This unit makes heavy use of what makes the Deathwatch different than other armies so I see a lot good with this.

When it comes to the unit in the blackstar, it's a real shame that you can't dump units out on the fly like a Stormraven... because I could totally see potential there for that... but to get down into assault position to unleash something is so darn tricky right now in the game... it barely ever works :(

This is an army entirely geared to being shooty.
Those two handed hammers are just there to tempt me I swear.
Yeah, it is a death sentence (blackstar: deathstar funny that) for this thing to go to hover-mode never mind it could take 3 turns or more to drop it's payload... it could be all over but the crying by then.
Some suggested starting out on a landing pad for a turn 2 drop... it is an option but risky.
The bikes could be an interesting shell game since we could make use of rules where we can deep-strike where needed.
I still like my drop-pods which could make use of a homer to bring friends.
I have been thinking of a couple Rhinos driving around, drive-by shootings (assault weapon!!) with two frag-cannon is a distinct possibility.
With the focus on so many objective maelstrom games some mobility may be needed (again bikes on their own help).

I really want to field a Landraider but absolutely nothing in the army justifies it other than a plain one with the two twin linked lascannons could help with a few things.
I suspect I would get better utility out of TWO Blackstars rather than field that beast.

I keep looking at Grey Knights (I have many) and Deathwatch, fluff-wise they have zero reason to work together unless "The Eldar leader is possessed by a daemon!".
But then your are burning points like you are spending on Super Heavies.

Yeah with the blackstar assault units, I was thinking like just 1 or 2 vanguard vets. Or like a single terminator. That way the investment cost isn't that high.

I like the Furor team, I'll try it out.

Grey Knights I think would be pretty good actually. I think big, aggressive, and fast MCs or superheavy walkers I think will pair nicely with the deathwatch as Turn one pressure. Dread Knights are great at this. The weakest part of GK allies would be the terminators themselves.. I don't think they bring much that the DW don't already have.

[u]Big update[/u]: Bikers can only bring deathwatch teleport homers. These ONLY work with units comprised ENTIRELY of terminators. So they can't be used this kill teams. Only locator beacons work with any deepstriking unit.

(--edit, please ignore this. They work for any kill team formation as well)

As such, I was thinking the Inquisition as allies keep looking better and better. Mystic are living locator beacons. Toss 3 of them in 3 chimera and move them up as fast as possible turn 1. Servo skulls also will help greatly for the deathwatch to hit their marks.

The tactics synergy is good with Inquisition nevermind fluff.
Inquisitors act as cheap psychers/librarians as well.
Lord Cortez can add some fun.
Wont the skulls also be a problem for infiltrators?
Just an added bonus.

You read my mind (kinda) on "Super Heavy Walkers": I was ready to paint-up an Imperial Knight like Deathwatch and the right shoulder plate with the Black Templar symbol like my main army.
Something to get their attention until they find out how scary the kill teams are (or painfully irritating the bikes are).

I keep looking at those Blackstars and they are a consistently nasty thing to ground troops and reasonable as an aircraft interceptor, I am thinking at least one is an auto-include.

I was wondering if some psychic units are needed since Eldar would be terribly irritating without something in the psychic phase. Again, Inquisition or Grey Knights would work handily but DW librarians are no slouch.

 crimson_caesar wrote:
Yeah with the blackstar assault units, I was thinking like just 1 or 2 vanguard vets. Or like a single terminator. That way the investment cost isn't that high.
Big update: Bikers can only bring deathwatch teleport homers. These ONLY work with units comprised ENTIRELY of terminators. So they can't be used this kill teams. Only locator beacons work with any deepstriking unit.

That deathwatch teleport homer ALSO works with the BSSF's units that deepstrike. That's sorta part of the "catch" to it.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Talizvar wrote:
The tactics synergy is good with Inquisition nevermind fluff.
I keep looking at those Blackstars and they are a consistently nasty thing to ground troops and reasonable as an aircraft interceptor, I am thinking at least one is an auto-include.

I really like taking one for horde control.. the bombs, the large blast launcher, the auspex array, and assault cannons... a lot of accurate shots, and a lot with ignore cover.
I think that's really it's strongest build IMO since you have so few models, you need horde support. Also, that as a spot in the BSSF as the required aux slot does indeed make it an auto-include for me

Ah, I totally read over that. Thanks for pointing it out! Yay!

YES, the Corvus seems like great value for its points as simply a gunship. You guys are totally right, the Auspex Array is a great choice, and looks pretty sexy on the plane.

What load out? There are so many options. Hurricane Bolter? TL lascannon vs. TL assault cannon? Stormstrike vs Blackstar rocket launcher?

As far as the inquisition is concerned, I think 3 squads of 1 psyker, 1 mystic, 2-3 acolytes in chimeras might be a great idea. Having an extra psychic shriek to finish off targets the DW squads couldn't quite kill is very handy. With the new faq, psychic shriek is a very strong choice against hard to kill units, for example anything invisible. And then on top of this, you have more locator beacons for super cheap to insure the precise deep striking. However, I'm not sure if their "ability" works while inside a transport.

I'm not sure what the best inqusitor choice would be, other than Coteaz. Might be cool to toss a Malleus in terminator armor with a psycannon into a kill team unit for extra punch, some psychic presence and increased durability.

I'll be making changes to my list soon.