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Finally collected the pieces necessary to build this army at 1500 points. I plan to expand to 1850, but for now, I want to get the paint completed on this. As a long time Eldar player, Ravenguard appealed to me as it hits very hard very quickly from multiple directions. It utilizes quite a bit of the special rules afforded by running the Talon Strike Force. Any thoughts?


Talon Strike Force
Pinion Demi Company
-1 x Chaplain
-3 x 5 Tactical Squad, Melta, Combi Melta, Drop Pod
-1 x 5 Assault Squad, 2 Flamer, Drop Pod
-1 x 5 Devastator Squad, 4 Grav Cannon, Cherub, Drop Pod
-2 x 3 Scout Bikes, Locator Beacon

Shadowstrike Kill Team
-2 x 5 Vanguard Veterans, Jump Pack, 1 Storm Shield, 6 Lightning Claw
-2 x 5 Scouts, Sniper Rifle

Command
-1 x Cataphractii Terminator Captain, 2 x Lightning Claws

1488 Points


If you understand the rule nuances of the Talon Strike Force, I think it becomes pretty clear how this army plays.

Thoughts?

Not bad, I can see some great and brutal combination.
On the other hand, your Scouts (scout bikers and the footslog scouts) are going to be the primary target number of enemy firepower if you don't get to go first, this is specifically a problem when considering all your other units are in Droppod or deepstrike by Jump pack.
Imho, you could consider taking Scouts with camo cloaks, instead of locator beacon biker or sniper rifle. When getting shot, just GtG in ruin and take 2+ cover. Just stay away from D Scythes, Heavy flamers, and Baleflamer.

My understanding you can't take assault marines with jump packs in a drop pod, so are your assault marines with jump packs?

who are you running your captain with?

I don't know much about this formation so I am going to have to look it up, but figure I ask some questions since I am reading this lol.

Scout Bikers can jink for a 2+ cover save on turn 1. They have Shroud on turn 1. The regular Scouts can sit in a ruin and get a 2+ save on turn 1 as well. This army gets to reroll to get first turn. Not guaranteed but beneficial. If I know I am going second, I deploy accordingly.

The Captain joins the Devastator Marines. He gives the unit Slow and Purposeful.

Assault Marines don't come with Jump Packs automatically. You can buy a drop pod if they don't have jump packs.

I'm trying to do something similar at the moment. Can I ask why all the drop pods when you can outflank all you want with the pinion special rule anyway?

At 1850, I have a concept for an Outflank unit. With Drop Pods, I get three units in this army dropping and Vanguard Veterans as an option on turn 1. Outflank, I have a 50% chance for each Outflanking unit (unless you tailor a list to increase the chances). The other pods have a chance to come in on them 1 as well. Drop Pods allow me to be aggressive with board control where Outflank is a bit more restrictive.

At 1850 I'm been thinking of squeezing in a skyhammer annihilation force as well. Had to switch the pinion for a regular demi company to make room though.

Wouldn't the assault squad be better deepstriking in with jumppacks? they'll still come in turn 1 won't they?

I think i'm gonna use mine to eat overwatch for the vanguard vets.

I'm thinking i would probably be better off with a few droppods as well then, cheers.

Assault Marines with Jump Packs could enter play from deep strike turn 1 on a 4+.

I looked hard at Skyhammer. You lose some command benefits, specifically the option to pass or fail Morale. Not horrible, but there are trade offs.

The Captain joins the Devastator Marines. He gives the unit Slow and Purposeful.

Assault Marines don't come with Jump Packs automatically. You can buy a drop pod if they don't have jump packs.

So the Captain is pretty much there to protect them from getting killed if the enemy units get to close

I know Assault Marines don't come with Jump Packs automatically but I figure most people normally would run them with jump packs.

 The_Lion wrote:

The Captain joins the Devastator Marines. He gives the unit Slow and Purposeful.

Assault Marines don't come with Jump Packs automatically. You can buy a drop pod if they don't have jump packs.

So the Captain is pretty much there to protect them from getting killed if the enemy units get to close

I know Assault Marines don't come with Jump Packs automatically but I figure most people normally would run them with jump packs.

That special Terminator armor also grants the whole Squad SnP

Exactly. And the Scout Biker Sergeant grants the same unit Ignore Cover. This is what will kill a Wraithknight on Turn 1 if opponents actually deploy it.

 Sarigar wrote:
Exactly. And the Scout Biker Sergeant grants the same unit Ignore Cover. This is what will kill a Wraithknight on Turn 1 if opponents actually deploy it.

I noticed that by my first site, the Captain and Dev Squad and Scouts in the TSF is the great and brutal combo, combined with the Shadow Strike Kill team actually made up a pseudo Skyhammer Annihilation Formation.
Anyway, just watch out other null-deploy army, and Eldar Aspect Warrior Host with 15+ Warp Spiders, and you should do ok against other army.

Neophyte2012 wrote:

 The_Lion wrote:

The Captain joins the Devastator Marines. He gives the unit Slow and Purposeful.

Assault Marines don't come with Jump Packs automatically. You can buy a drop pod if they don't have jump packs.

So the Captain is pretty much there to protect them from getting killed if the enemy units get to close

I know Assault Marines don't come with Jump Packs automatically but I figure most people normally would run them with jump packs.

That special Terminator armor also grants the whole Squad SnP

didn't realize until after I looked up SnP lol. Nice

Neophyte2012 wrote:

 Sarigar wrote:
Exactly. And the Scout Biker Sergeant grants the same unit Ignore Cover. This is what will kill a Wraithknight on Turn 1 if opponents actually deploy it.

I noticed that by my first site, the Captain and Dev Squad and Scouts in the TSF is the great and brutal combo, combined with the Shadow Strike Kill team actually made up a pseudo Skyhammer Annihilation Formation.
Anyway, just watch out other null-deploy army, and Eldar Aspect Warrior Host with 15+ Warp Spiders, and you should do ok against other army.

A null deploy army can be a tactical challenge. I am a long time Eldar player, which helps me understand the threats Eldar armies possess.

Thanks.

Looks solid Sarigar. I feel like you have a solid idea of what you want from this list and you'll get it done. Chappy with the assault marines? I might find 5 points for a melta bomb. With my 40k ravens I give them out like tictacs and get my points back EVERY GAME. All my tactical sergeants, scout sergeants, my assault srg and chappy get one and I will use at least 4-5 every game. Either vehicle or MC I always have something that can hurt it.

That's really all I have. I combo my outflanking grav cannons with white scars bikes toting grav guns and a libby with the hunter's eye. Dirty combo, but it gives me more board control with the randomness of outflank. Acute senses helps mitigate that a bit, but I have killed riptides and a stormsurge turn 1 with the grav cannons and ignores cover lascannons as well.

Only other thing you'll struggle with is flyers. I run the raptor wing to mitigate that. Not 100% flyer defense but they do serious work vs non av12 flyers lol

my 2 cents.

Any games scheduled soon?

Thanks. I want to keep a more "themed" list which is why I run no allies. White Scars would combo well, I am sure.

At 1500 points, I do lack anti air: really no way to avoid without a complete rebuild of the list. At 1850, the Raptor Wing is the formation I am most likely to add.

The Chaplain is pretty much a tax unit. I think I can squeeze out some points to make room for Melts Bombs on the Chaplain.

Can't you combat squad vets? If so you should just bring a unit of ten to deny challenges on one set of 5.

 Castellan Alaric wrote:
Looks solid Sarigar. I feel like you have a solid idea of what you want from this list and you'll get it done. Chappy with the assault marines? I might find 5 points for a melta bomb. With my 40k ravens I give them out like tictacs and get my points back EVERY GAME. All my tactical sergeants, scout sergeants, my assault srg and chappy get one and I will use at least 4-5 every game. Either vehicle or MC I always have something that can hurt it.

That's really all I have. I combo my outflanking grav cannons with white scars bikes toting grav guns and a libby with the hunter's eye. Dirty combo, but it gives me more board control with the randomness of outflank. Acute senses helps mitigate that a bit, but I have killed riptides and a stormsurge turn 1 with the grav cannons and ignores cover lascannons as well.

Only other thing you'll struggle with is flyers. I run the raptor wing to mitigate that. Not 100% flyer defense but they do serious work vs non av12 flyers lol

my 2 cents.

Any games scheduled soon?

Please share this stinky cheese list so I can copy and finally beat the space elf and fish boy filth

The Raptor Wing is a solid choice. I now have an Ultramarine and Ravenguard players both take that formation against my Eldar and they always get a lot of work done.

I am torn between that and building a Bike Command squad and another Scout bike unit into an 1850 list. The Raptor Wing is pretty clear cut, but the Command Squad would Outflank with Grav and the Scout bikers grant it Ignore Cover.