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Pretty much what the title says. I love the Dark Angel fluff/background and feel/aesthetic (even though I'm not a fan of how they're advancing their fluff in the current time line) and I've always played them. But, Terminators are meh imo, and I've played Deathwing enough that the mere sight of a Terminator bores the heck out of me.

So if I'm going to just use mostly Space Marines, Assault Marines and the like, should I just play vanilla, Imperial Fist Marines?

Apologies if I'm posting on the wrong forum. This seemed like the proper place for the question.

I may not be the best to respond, as I don't play Dark Angels. (I wish I did, it would be easier to paint than Blood Angels, I think...)

But, I had a friend who did regularly, so I read through the new codex and looked to see what my hapless Orks would likely be up against, and have kept my ear open to podcasts about Dark Angel strategy.

What I've gleaned is that you're completely safe skipping the Deathwing entirely. The profusion of grav weapons in the game, and numerous other factors, leave most terminator based lists in rough shape and suitable only for non-competitive play.

If going green-wing, the Dark Angels battle company looks like a good way to go. I don't believe they get the free transports that make it such an amazing deal for vanilla marines, but they do get the ability to Overwatch at full ballistic skill. I can't testify to how useful that is in play, but I was dreading facing that with an Ork army. (

Lastly, if you like the bikes, everything I've heard is that the Ravenwing is the strongest element of the army, for the same reasons all-bike armies are generally powerful - high toughness, high mobility, high rate of fire, etc.

I'm curious what some actual Dark Angels players would say though.

Oggthrok wrote:
I may not be the best to respond, as I don't play Dark Angels. (I wish I did, it would be easier to paint than Blood Angels, I think...)

But, I had a friend who did regularly, so I read through the new codex and looked to see what my hapless Orks would likely be up against, and have kept my ear open to podcasts about Dark Angel strategy.

What I've gleaned is that you're completely safe skipping the Deathwing entirely. The profusion of grav weapons in the game, and numerous other factors, leave most terminator based lists in rough shape and suitable only for non-competitive play.

If going green-wing, the Dark Angels battle company looks like a good way to go. I don't believe they get the free transports that make it such an amazing deal for vanilla marines, but they do get the ability to Overwatch at full ballistic skill. I can't testify to how useful that is in play, but I was dreading facing that with an Ork army. (

Lastly, if you like the bikes, everything I've heard is that the Ravenwing is the strongest element of the army, for the same reasons all-bike armies are generally powerful - high toughness, high mobility, high rate of fire, etc.

I'm curious what some actual Dark Angels players would say though.

I hate grav weapons. -_- Words can't even begin to describe my hatred.

I guess I should have prefaced the post with, I usually don't play competitive, but the group I'm gaming with isn't exactly "easy" either. If that makes sense.

Ravenwing are still cool in my book, but the fluff I have written up for my successor chapter puts bikes and Terminator armor at a premium. Also, I'd need to buy forgeworld bikes to fit the models in my army (purchased like 6 boxes of the Betrayal at Calth box) and I'm not excited about that idea.

Still think its dumb that Dark Angels don't get Sternguard vets, or access to special issue ammo.

Tim the Veteran: "We hunt the fallen. Maybe we should use those AP3 bolter rounds?"
Greg the Master: "Shut the up Tim and use your AP 5 Bolter"
Tim: "...K"

The Lion's Blade detachment does indeed provide free transports if you take two demi-companies. It's also a little easier to fulfill your Auxiliary requirement, because you can get away with fielding just a single squad of Scouts.

Lusall, I understand your reluctance to get Bike Squadrons based on your army aesthetic, but I strongly recommend Ravenwing Knights. They are a killer unit - particularly the Ravenwing Command Squad, which are Knights that can take an Apothecary for FNP on top of the rerollable Jink save.

We don't get Sternguard, but you can use Company Vets and put them to the use most people put Sternies to - suicide melta squad. They can all take combi-weapons, and they're a smidge cheaper than Sternies.

Oh hell yes they are

Lions blade is really strong, you can make an 1850 list that utilizes it.

If you don't wanna have it be cheese, just take rhinos, if you want cheese run it with all razor backs. Firing at full BS is op as hell

 Backspacehacker wrote:
Oh hell yes they are

Lions blade is really strong, you can make an 1850 list that utilizes it.

If you don't wanna have it be cheese, just take rhinos, if you want cheese run it with all razor backs. Firing at full BS is op as hell

Well I guess that solves it then. lol It's honestly more meant for fluff/fun than competitive but I'd like to at least stand a chance against competitive lists.

 Grand.Master.Raziel wrote:
The Lion's Blade detachment does indeed provide free transports if you take two demi-companies. It's also a little easier to fulfill your Auxiliary requirement, because you can get away with fielding just a single squad of Scouts.

Lusall, I understand your reluctance to get Bike Squadrons based on your army aesthetic, but I strongly recommend Ravenwing Knights. They are a killer unit - particularly the Ravenwing Command Squad, which are Knights that can take an Apothecary for FNP on top of the rerollable Jink save.

We don't get Sternguard, but you can use Company Vets and put them to the use most people put Sternies to - suicide melta squad. They can all take combi-weapons, and they're a smidge cheaper than Sternies.

I'll have to purchase some Horus Heresy bikes from Forge World for sure. I do like the Ravenwing Knights. I can live without the Centurions and Sternguard dudes.

Appreciate the feedback!

 Lusall wrote:

 Backspacehacker wrote:
Oh hell yes they are

Lions blade is really strong, you can make an 1850 list that utilizes it.

If you don't wanna have it be cheese, just take rhinos, if you want cheese run it with all razor backs. Firing at full BS is op as hell

Well I guess that solves it then. lol It's honestly more meant for fluff/fun than competitive but I'd like to at least stand a chance against competitive lists.

 Grand.Master.Raziel wrote:
The Lion's Blade detachment does indeed provide free transports if you take two demi-companies. It's also a little easier to fulfill your Auxiliary requirement, because you can get away with fielding just a single squad of Scouts.

Lusall, I understand your reluctance to get Bike Squadrons based on your army aesthetic, but I strongly recommend Ravenwing Knights. They are a killer unit - particularly the Ravenwing Command Squad, which are Knights that can take an Apothecary for FNP on top of the rerollable Jink save.

We don't get Sternguard, but you can use Company Vets and put them to the use most people put Sternies to - suicide melta squad. They can all take combi-weapons, and they're a smidge cheaper than Sternies.

I'll have to purchase some Horus Heresy bikes from Forge World for sure. I do like the Ravenwing Knights. I can live without the Centurions and Sternguard dudes.

Appreciate the feedback!

Yeah the lions blade won the bay area open last year.

Greenwing is still a very competitive force.

 Backspacehacker wrote:
Yeah the lions blade won the bay area open last year.

Greenwing is still a very competitive force.

Holy cow. That's not small potatoes either. Good to know my Dark Angels can stand up in the tourney scene these days.