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So, I'm planning on getting 2 lots of the Dark Angel Battleforce.

12 Bikes
2 Attack Bikes
2 Landspeeders

I have an exisiting Ultramarines force of roughtly 4.5k. No bikes or landspeeders as of yet. Tanks, Shadowsword, Fliers and plenty of infantry/dreads in drop pods.

One of these bikes will be my chapter master with burning blade and shield eternal.

These are my questions.

1) Do I a) Use them as Ultramarines or b) consider using White Scar rules and have them as an attachment (but still paint them as Ultras )?
2) Nevelon is under the impression that a squad of melta and maybe one as grav is a viable option. In your opinions, what's the best bike load out in your experience?
3) Are there any other combinations or purchases you'd recommend to the sum of £140 ~ $210?

That is the best way to add bikes. It is by far the cheapest. And as for how to run them. They actually work really well as ultramarines. I am partial to melta myself. When I run bikes I run 3 squads of melta. But thats me I also run them as White Scars. Bikes are versitile though and can be run anyway you want. I say playtest them and decide which tactics you like best. Ive also played them as iron hands with dreads. That was fun.

Melta-bikes are always good, just zoom up and smoke something early on, after that they're somewhat expendable, and can be used to tie up units in assault or go for another target with the meltas. They're a very versatile tool. Grav-bikes are more situational, and personally I'm not convinced, I'll generally take melta/plasma over grav. The other thing to bear in mind with melta is that you can synergies the Attack Bike; melta and grav don't get AB-mounted counterparts which could be a pain. Some will swear by grav, but you can't go wrong with a pair of melta squads if you see a lot of armour.

As for Chapter Tactics, playing them as White Scars would seem like a good idea, the hit-and-run is always helpful as is the Skilled Rider. The other option is as Iron Hands for the 6+ FNP which will make them even tougher, and unlock the Chapter Master with a 2+, 3++, 6+ FNP and IWND. Pair that with a Shield Eternal and a suitable smashing stick, and you've got a guy who can go toe-to-toe with almost anthing short of a bio-titan.

With the models you have, I'd go with:

Chapter Master, Artificer Armour, Bike, Shield Eternal, -insert weapon of choice here-

Librarian, Bike, Level 2

5 bikes, 2 meltaguns, 1 combi-melta, Multi-melta attack bike

5 bikes, 2 meltaguns, 1 combi-melta, Multi-melta attack bike

Land Speeder, 2x Heavy Flamer (just to counter your lack of anti-infantry in this contingent)

Land Speeder, 2x Heavy Flamer


Alternatively, you could gear the Speeders with HB and AC for Dakka or TML for long-range shooting.

<insert standard bits about magnets, overall army composition>

I know HBs get a bad rap, but I like them in the grav squad. Combis on the sarge to match the squad.

5 bikes: 2 grav, c-grav, HB attack bike (and one normal)
5 bikes: 2 melta, c-melta, MM attack bike (one normal guy)

I’d build the speeders as HB/TML. They are my go-to speeder these days, and a pair of them is a good squadron size.

It’s worth noting that the speeders in the DA battleforce might not be the newest ones. There are no HFs to be found, and your secondary weapons are restricted to AsCs and TMLs. As I’ve never been a big fan of assault cannons on speeders, that reinforces my point with the TMLs. It’s also the most versatile build, which in a low model count army you need as much as you can get.

CM and librarian are good for your first two bike characters. Although a techmarine with a c-beamer is a tempting conversion option.

I play White Scars, love the tactics. I usually use a squad with 2x flamer and 2 squads with 2x grav gun. I like the gravs as I can focus them on MEQs and they still pack a punch when shooting at vehicles. Though, pick out a battle roll you have for them to decide what wargear to give them.

Bike armaments really depend on the roll you want them to fill.

That being said, I like them as gravs. They can easily deal with MEQ, TEQ, and monsters, and they're okay at screwing with vehicles. At the minimum, they can hopefully immobilize (1/6 chance to immobilize on 6 shots), and they do a wound. So I think that the grav gun is a slightly better choice for jack-of-all trades with them.

Plus I always hate dealing with monstrous creatures, and grav guns shred them like butter (and concussive makes them easy to assault if needs be)

Nice! You're doing it right.

Thanks everyone - I appreciate all the feedback.

I was thinking a force axe on the librarian, use the final swing with the force power active to maim monsterous creatures that fail their invulns.

 Tigurius wrote:
Thanks everyone - I appreciate all the feedback.

I was thinking a force axe on the librarian, use the final swing with the force power active to maim monsterous creatures that fail their invulns.

Maybe it's just me, but I've never had good success with my libby's in combat. That being said, a grav gun volley into an MC (Which then, due to the concussive rule, drops the monsters initiative to 1 for the assault) can make this strategy more effective. Still, be wary. If you can't pump the libby up (which is not too difficult to do with biomancy), I find they don't impress me when fighting MCs.

 Tigurius wrote:


1) Do I a) Use them as Ultramarines or b) consider using White Scar rules and have them as an attachment (but still paint them as Ultras )?

Use them as Ravenwing Dark Angels!

I would say go for whitescars, the amount of bonuses the bikes receive for free is just ludicrous.

As for loadout, it totally depends on the rest of your list. In a pure bike list I sometimes run 6 squads, 3 grav (which I love, and are barely situational when more than half the armies in the game have 3+ saves, and can harm any vehicle) 2 melta, and 1 flamer.

If you have other forces on the board then of course pick accordingly.

I have a good Ravenwing detachment and I love my bikes. Just too many pros to overshadow the Cons of points. That said, I find little use in Landspeeders. They have a place, but for the points effectiveness, just for me, I've found bikes give the most to you.

Now LS aren't useless, but can be squishy, and sometimes only get that one or two turns to shoot, then get slagged.

Good tactic.