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Theme: I wanted to run a Stygies VIII detachment that will be cheap and effective then pairing it up with Dark Angel units that would get the most mileage. I considered Ravenwing but then realized that the ravenwing bikes would all get shot off the table quickly as the opponent would avoid wasting shoots on Dragoons at a distance. Greenwing would not be suitable due to the lack of mobility and for the same reason of being focused fired on. This left me with a clear winner in Deathwing whom can completely stay off the board and strike exactly where most needed.

++ Battalion Detachment +3CP (Imperium - Dark Angels) ++

+ HQ +

Belial

Primaris Lieutenant: Bolt pistol, Heavenfall Blade, Warlord: Brilliant Stragegist

+ Troops +

Tactical Squad: 4x Space Marine
Space Marine Sergeant: Plasma pistol

Tactical Squad: 4x Space Marine
Space Marine Sergeant: Plasma pistol

Tactical Squad: 4x Space Marine
Space Marine Sergeant: Plasma pistol

+ Elites +

Deathwing Ancient: Lightning Claw (Pair)

Deathwing Apothecary: Storm bolter

Deathwing Champion

Deathwing Knights: Watcher in the Dark
4x Deathwing Knight: 4x Storm shield
1x Knight Master: Storm shield

Deathwing Terminators: Watcher in the Dark
4x Deathwing Terminator: Power fist, Storm bolter
3x Deathwing Terminator: Chainfist, Storm bolter
2x Deathwing Terminator: Cyclone missile launcher, Power fist, Storm bolter
1x Deathwing Sergeant: Storm Bolter & Power Sword

++ Outrider Detachment +1CP (Imperium - Adeptus Mechanicus) ++
Forge World: Stygies VIII

+ HQ +

Tech-Priest Dominus: Macrostubber, Omnissian Axe, Volkite Blaster

+ Fast Attack +

Sydonian Dragoon: Taser lance

Sydonian Dragoon: Taser lance

Sydonian Dragoon: Taser lance

Sydonian Dragoon: Taser lance

Sydonian Dragoon: Taser lance


Stratagems on Deck:
Secret Agenda 1cp [Solid choice on Maelstrom missions]
Hunt the Fallen 1cp [Great for all Deathwing Terminators/Knights]
Deathwing Assault 3cp [Good choice for Deathwing Terminators, extra Dakka]
Fortress of Shields 1cp [Deathwing Knights can certainly use this]

Game Plan:
Start the game with only the Adeptus Mechanicus units which are -2 to hit making them very very resilient and then dropping in the Deathwing units aas a focused force to attack the enemy at their most vulnerable. The Dragoons can focus on claiming objectives and doing other stuff while keeping their distance, assaulting key targets and being a general nuisance while the Deathwing plunges directly into the enemy.

First off your list is illegal since you have 5 elites in your battalion.

Not sure what the point of the pistol tac squads is if you are afraid of them being shot away. Scouts would be a better choice and give more options for deployment. The lieutenant also seems out of place. Maybe switch him to a regular one with a jump pack so he can go with the deathwing.. can't speak to the ad mech but your idea seems sound.

My suggestion would be to split your battalion into 2 vanguard's. You lose 1 CP but can keep all your units and switching to scouts and the normal lieutenant you might be able to add a couple more deathwing in.

 FirePainter wrote:
First off your list is illegal since you have 5 elites in your battalion.

Not sure what the point of the pistol tac squads is if you are afraid of them being shot away. Scouts would be a better choice and give more options for deployment. The lieutenant also seems out of place. Maybe switch him to a regular one with a jump pack so he can go with the deathwing.. can't speak to the ad mech but your idea seems sound.

My suggestion would be to split your battalion into 2 vanguard's. You lose 1 CP but can keep all your units and switching to scouts and the normal lieutenant you might be able to add a couple more deathwing in.

You make it really hard to take your advice seriously when you claim that having 5 elites is illegal...are you aware of how Battalions work brother? Hint: You can have up to 6 elites.

I will just leave it at that and let you look it up.

My apologies, misread something before I started typing.

Still I believe that scouts would serve as better troops and switching to 2 vanguard's would net you more punch. Would need to drop the 10 man down but personally I think 2 units of knights would be better. DW assualt is good but to many CP.

Something like this:
Ad mech same as yours.

Vanguard 1
Beliel
DW ancient
DW Apothecary
DW Champion
1x5 bolter scouts

Vanguard 2
Lieutenant with havenfall and jump pack
2x5 knights with watcher
1x5 termies with cyclone and chainfist
3x5 bolter scouts

So you have fewer shooting terminators but better melee and the lieutenant can deepstrike with them. Scouts give more board control and deployment options.

 FirePainter wrote:
My apologies, misread something before I started typing.

Still I believe that scouts would serve as better troops and switching to 2 vanguard's would net you more punch. Would need to drop the 10 man down but personally I think 2 units of knights would be better. DW assualt is good but to many CP.

Something like this:
Ad mech same as yours.

Vanguard 1
Beliel
DW ancient
DW Apothecary
DW Champion
1x5 bolter scouts

Vanguard 2
Lieutenant with havenfall and jump pack
2x5 knights with watcher
1x5 termies with cyclone and chainfist
3x5 bolter scouts

So you have fewer shooting terminators but better melee and the lieutenant can deepstrike with them. Scouts give more board control and deployment options.

I can concede your suggestion is a better melee list but I think it loses a great deal of balance which is what I considered when deciding which units to bring.

#1 - Unfortunately deathwing doesnt have teleport homers (which suuuuucks) so wherever they drop that will be the only area of the table they will influence. With their slow movement once the enemy is cleared, they are done for the day. Having strong shooting is what I want so that I can still attack places that I can't physically get to.

#2 - Scouts are better for every other marine faction, this is true. I don't think it holds true for Dak Angels though. Grim Resolve is pretty solid on tacticals holding their ground in cover. Scouts would need camo cloaks to achieve same level of resilience.

#3 - The deathwing shoot twice stratagem is great for clearing chaff. Your suggestion would struggle enourmously vs chaff units blocking the way. The large Deathwing Squad and drop in and clear lines for the Deathwing Knights which I can hold back a further turn for a better deep strike position or drop together. It is tactically flexible is what I am saying. This is specially useful at hitting units with -1 modifiers outside of 12" since i will surely drop within rapid fire range i can ignore the penalty and greatly help the Admech detachment since thats one less target for them to worry about.

I agree that the low mobility of knights is a downside. I can understand the desire for a good shooting unit.

In my experience scouts and just an all around solid unit. Grim resolve is good on all units. I guess I just prefer them for the deployment options. If tacs are working for you go for them.

To be fair I have not tried DW assault strategem with a full ten man unit. So 80 storm bolter shots may be worth half the lists CPs but I will have to try myself.

Anyways good luck with the list.

 FirePainter wrote:
I agree that the low mobility of knights is a downside. I can understand the desire for a good shooting unit.

In my experience scouts and just an all around solid unit. Grim resolve is good on all units. I guess I just prefer them for the deployment options. If tacs are working for you go for them.

To be fair I have not tried DW assault strategem with a full ten man unit. So 80 storm bolter shots may be worth half the lists CPs but I will have to try myself.

Anyways good luck with the list.

I very much agree that scouts are the way to go for most space marine chapters. I think DA is one of the few exceptions where tacts are 'ok too' not saying superior but certainly ok if the role is to hold ground and shoot effectively. The scouts deployment options is gold, but i dont think this list can make good use of it considering half the army is deep striking in. You aren't wrong in suggesting scouts they are viable to all chapters.

Yeah the steep cost of the stratagem is a turn off but all things considered I feel it will be a necessary evil to deal with chaff untis, the admech firepower is better spent on harder targets it would suck to have to target Guard infantry squads with Kastelan Robots.

Great concept. Everyone else here is right tho: you're crazy not to use Scouts.