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Another test game with Grey Knights this time against mech Guard possibly the bane of Grey Knights.

Grey Knights


HQ

Ordo Xenos Inquisitor - power armour, rad grenades & psyker

Ordo Xenos Inquisitor - power armour, rad grenades & psyker

Elite

5 x Purifiers w/ Razorback - 2 x nemesis falchions & 2 x daemon hammers - Razorback w/ psybolt ammo

5 x Purifiers w/ Razorback - 2 x nemesis falchions & 2 x daemon hammers - Razorback w/ psybolt ammo

Troops

5 x Grey Knights w/ Razorback - psycannon & psybolt ammo - Razorback w/ psybolt ammo

5 x Grey Knights w/ Razorback - psycannon & psybolt ammo - Razorback w/ psybolt ammo

5 x Grey Knights w/ Razorback psycannon & psybolt ammo - Razorback w/ psybolt ammo

5 x Grey Knights w/ Razorback - psycannon & psybolt ammo - Razorback w/ psybolt ammo

5 x Grey Knights w/ Razorback - psycannon & psybolt ammo - Razorback w/ psybolt ammo

5 x Grey Knights w/ Razorback - psycannon - Razorback w/ psybolt ammo

Heavy Support

Dreadnought - 2 x twin-linked autocannons & psybolt ammo

Dreadnought - 2 x twin-linked autocannons & psybolt ammo

Dreadnought - 2 x twin-linked autocannons & psybolt ammo

Total: 2,001


Imperial Guard "Steel Lions" - 2,000 points


HQ

Company Command Squad w/ Chimera - 4 x plasma guns

Company Command Squad w/ Chimera - 4 x plasma guns

Troops

Veterans w/ Chimera - 3 x meltaguns

Veterans w/ Chimera - 3 x meltaguns

Veterans w/ Chimera - 3 x meltaguns

Veterans w/ Chimera - 3 x plasma guns

Veterans w/ Chimera - 3 x plasma guns

Fast Attack

Vendetta

Vendetta

Hellhound

Heavy Support

Manticore - heavy flamer

Manticore - heavy flamer

Manticore - heavy flamer

Total: 2,005


Game: Pitched Battle + Spearhead

Deployment

Imperial Guard won the roll off and deployed first. Melta units were placed at the front along with the Hellhound, though a tower ruin blocked LOS to the half of the front row. Plasma units were placed behind then the Manticores.

Grey Knights deployed just a bit away from the 12" radius from the centre, this is to hold back to stop meltas getting into range. Dreadnoughts deployed in front giving cover to Razorbacks. Both Purifier squads used the large shrine ruin to block LOS.

Turn 1

Melta squad along with Hellhound and a CCS move 12" forward, Manticores move up 6" behind to get better LOS as the rest of the tanks split and go the other side of the tower ruin towards the shrine, the two melta units leading the way pop smoke to get cover.

Shooting Manticores all launch two shots each but thanks to cover from their own units only manage to wreck a single Razorback earning the first kill point and drawing first blood.

Grey Knights turn the two Purifier units move out the other side of the shrine to confront the oncoming Chimera horde, while the other side of the ruin two Strike Squads bail out the Razorbacks and get ready to shoot through the shrine ruin at the Chimeras to support the Purifiers. Dreadnaughts move about with Razorbacks shifting too.

Shooting all Dreadnoughts lay into the front Chimera hoping to pop it so heavy bolters can lay down a barrage of fire power but the Chimera saves plenty of damage and ends up with no weapons and immobilised. Both Purifier Razorbacks pop smoke.

Kill points Grey Knights: 0 Imperial Guard: 1

Turn 2

In a bid to tackle a Dreadnought the melta Veterans bail out the immobilised Chimera and move up as the Hound splits off to tackle Purifiers the other side of the shrine as a CCS comes behind ready to issue orders to the melta squad, Manticores move up to provide long range fire support. Other side of the shrine melta units move up to get in range of the Purifier Razorbacks with the Hound ready to unleash flamers if tanks are popped.

Shooting CCS issues bring it down to the melta Veterans out the tank, they don't get 2D6 armour pen but it's enough to wreck the Dreadnought. CCS unleashes a torrent of plasma at another Dreadnought breaking off both arms making it practically useless. Pretty much everything going fires at the two Purifier tanks after the dust has settled and smoke cleared only one tank is crew stunned. One Manticore drops a blast on the exposed Strike Squad from the first wrecked Razorback leaving just the Justicar surviving who passes a morale test.

Grey Knights turn both Purifiers bail out the tanks in hope that psycannons from the shrine will pop some Chimeras, two Razorbacks also move around to support as the Purifiers go to assault a Chimera while another unit goes to multi assault a Hound and Chimera. A Strike Squad bails out their Razorback ready to unleash a torrent of fire power into the melta Veteran squad supporting the solo Justicar.

Shooting the last operational Dreadnought manages to pop the CCS Chimera who ordered the melta Veterans to kill its brother-marine Dreadnought. Psycannons and heavy bolters blast the Chimeras in hope the Purifiers can assault some Guardsmen but the Chimeras pass cover saves thanks to the shrine ruin. Melta Veterans eat psycannon and storm bolters leaving four left who pass morale.

In assault a squad of Purifiers charge a melta Chimera, Inquisitor casts hammerhand ok and the daemon hammers smash it earning a kill point - squad inside passes pinning test. The other Purifier squad multi assaults a Chimera with meltas inside and the Hellhound, nothing on the Chimera and shakes the Hound so at least it's not firing while they're right against those flamers! Armless Dreadnought charges the CCS squad, one dude dies combat remains.

Kill points Grey Knights: 3 Imperial Guard: 2

Turn 3

Hellhound moves away from the Purifiers though isn't going far as blocked by the Dreadnought CCS combat. Melta squad from the Chimera which suffered no damage bail out and aim at the Purifiers as the tank moves back, squad blown out their Chimera hold position ready to aim at the same squad as the CCS still inside their tank moves up to lay down plasma support. At this point realised the Vendettas haven't been deployed, these get put on the table in the deployment zone. Plasma Veterans near the CCS in combat move up 12" and bail out ready to blast the exposed Strike Squads.

Shooting CCS issues first rank fire second rank fire to both meltas who unleash a torrent of melta and lasguns at the Purifiers, added with plasma support, multi laser and heavy flamer, though unfortunately CCS was out of range only a single Purifier and the Inquisitor remains with a single wound! One Vendetta fires at a Razorback in the Grey Knights deployment area and weapon destroys and stuns it while the other 'Detta manages to shake a Razorback of the Purifiers. Manticore fires at one of the Purifiers rides and makes it go boom! Other Manticores don't do much besides shake and stun a few Razorbacks and immobilise another after blasts scatter and only get half strength hits, mostly. Plasma Veterans fire into Grey Knights squad which killed the melta Veterans, but get unlucky with plasmas and only kill a single Grey Knight.

In combat the CCS gets bashed by the Dreadnought who fail morale and run off but not before the venerable Grey Knights catches them and stomps them flat.

Grey Knights turn one squad which had fired through the shrine ruin last turns moves through terrain to psycannon and storm bolter the rear of the Hellhound. The remaining whole Purifier squad moves through terrain to bum blast Guardsmen with storm bolters as the solo Purifier and Inquisitor go to take on the other melta unit. The two supporting Razorbacks behind the Purifiers move up while the shaken one moves behind a ruin to take cover.

Shooting psycannon and storm bolters rear end the Hellhound wrecking it. Last Dreadnought fires at the plasma squads Chimera but only scores weapon destroyed breaking the heavy flamer and shakes it, the plasma unit gets blasted by storm bolters and psycannons and are dead. Single Purifier and Iniquisitor shoot at the melta Veterans but only kill one while the other Purifiers fire at the other melta squad and kill two thanks to cover from terrain. Heavy bolters from the Razorbacks manage to shake and immobilise a Vendetta while the other Razorbacks manage to shake the other Vendetta.

In assault Purifiers charge with Inquisitors casting hammerhand ok and squad casts cleansing flame, the whole squad manages to multi charge the CCS Chimera both melta squads are dead and the Chimera explodes killing a two Veterans in the process and wounding the commander - they pass pinning and morale.

Kill points Grey Knights: 9 Imperial Guard: 3

Turn 4

Guards turn the shaken Chimera near the Grey Knights moves 12" away and pops smoke to deny cover while the plasma unit supporting the CCS move up to blow the Purifiers away as the CCS holds position in the crater. Manticores move to get better LOS but that's about it from Guard.

Shooting Veterans unload plasma but the two remaining plasma gunners die from gets hot! the CCS support them leaving a single Purifier and Inquisitor left - Inquisitor didn't take plasma rounds as would I.D him . Heavy flamer from a Chimera roasts the other Purifier and Inquisitor, kills the Purifier gaining a point for the Guard. Manticores all get 3 shots each, one manages to immobilise and crew stun the last operational Dreadnought while the others don't do a lot.

Grey Knights turn the armless Dreadnought moves through terrain to get to a Manticore. Inquisitor and Purifier move through terrain to get to the CCS while a Strike Squad bails out a Razorback and moves towards the side armour of a Chimera, the Inquisitor attaches to that unit to protect himself and hopefully save his last wound.

Shooting psycannons blast the shaken Chimera that popped smoke and manage to shake it. The immobilised Chimera from turn 1 takes psycannon shots hoping to get a kill point but does nothing but crew shaken. Purifier and Inquisitor blast the CCS killing one Veteran, squad passes morale. Strike Squad with the one wound Inquisitor blasts side armour of the Chimera and makes it go boom killing a Grey Knight in the explosion. The immobilised Vendetta is crew shaken again by heavy bolters though the other Vendetta is fine. Psycannon fires at the Manticore the Dreadnought is going for and immobilises it.

In assault Dreadnought charges Manticore and scores weapon destroyed losing the heavy flamer. Inquisitor and Purifier charge the CCS, Commander remains with a single wound and passes morale. The solo Justicar and supporting squad charge the immobilised Chimera but fail to finish it off!

Grey Knights: 10 Imperial Guard: 4

Turn 5

Guard haven't got a fat lot of moving as everything is in combat or can't move because wrecked!

Shooting the operational Vendetta fires at the last Dreadnought and wrecks it, that's it!

In assault Commander eats power weapon from the Inquisitor and dies. Justicar tries hammerhand and kills himself, great, though tank explodes killing one from the other Strike Squad who fail morale and fall back 7"!

Grey Knights turn the solo Purifier and Inquisitor move to tackle the immobilised Vendetta. The squad falling back pass morale and regroup ready to blast the Chimera which is still shaken close by.

Shooting nothing significant happens.

Assault, immobilised Vendetta is wrecked squad inside passes pinning test ok.

Grey Knights: 13 Imperial Guard: 6

Summary

I really enjoyed the Grey Knights this time and found mech to be a issue but not too bad considering the heavy bolters can stun things which stop things from shooting and moving, which is handy. Psycannons also did nice jobs with several rending hits and the storm bolters with psybolt ammo was useful against weaker side and rear armour.

The Purifiers did well killing two Guardsmen units even with only two models left, cleansing flame is really helpful especially when the Inquisitor can cast hammerhand too. Falchions worked well, I like them, but I am glad I put daemon hammers in which are definately staying in for the likes of armour and walkers.

Dreadnoughts did ok too. I like them and they're stopping, though I wouldn't say they did amazingly well but they added needed anti tank.

With Guard it was a gamble going all out for it by getting out the tank to receive orders but the Guard ended up trading a kill point for a kill point most the time though anti tank was taken down in the form of a Dreadnought. It was just bad luck that those two melta units and everything else didn't manage to finish off the Purifiers, ultra tough! lol.

Good game all in all and I was expecting a tough battle from the Guard but once the Guard had got close storm bolters, hammers, hammerhand and psycannons opened up the tanks which let the Grey Knights take apart the Guardsmen in combat which isn't a hard task force weapons or no force weapons.

Interesting report. Thanks. How do think the Dreadknights compare to the Dreadnaughts? In this game do think they would have helped or hurt.

Thanks. I haven't used Dreadknights so I cannot answer that question I'm afriad. Looking on paper Dreadknights can asborb a lot of fire power because monstrous creatures and got the 2+ armour save for kraks and 5+ invulnerable against anything else. Problem with Dreadknights as standard they're not too bad but really cannot get into the fight, add upgrades and you're talking easily Trygon costs. Do I think Dreadknights would have helped? No I don't because they don't have as much anti tank as the Dreadnoughts and would just act as expensive plasma bait.

Good game. I was expecting a trouncing by the IG army. S6 razor-spam don't work well againt AV12 armor. I think having both vendettas on the board from the get-go would have helped IG.

I believe the guard player made a mistake with his manticores.

On turn 1 when the manticores fired, their own unit should not have given your GK units cover as manticore shots are ordnance barrages. Cover is determined from where the shot lands, not from where it was fired.

Next time try running 1 or 2 vendreads. They last much, much longer than regular dreads.

You know what, I was expecting a massive whooping from the I.G. S6 isn't too hot against mass av12 but the glancing results helped to stun things which means the the squads inside sometimes have to get out if they want to fire.

I totally agree about the Vendettas. Could have been higher result for Guard.

Manticores were firing direct

Venerable Dreadnoughts are not worth the cost. For a about 70 points more normal Dreadnoughts are loads better.

In that case, then the IG's mistake was firing directly in the first place. As long as they don't move and the target is outside their minimum range, they should always be firing indirectly. Why give a cover save to the opponent?

BTW, vendread is only 60pts more.

It's catch 22. Fire direct with better chances of hitting and giving cover or fire indirect and scatter and miss. I'd say about 50/50 of the game the Grey Knights got cover.

Ok 60 points more to do that same thing multiple by 3 that's 180 points extra..

The thing with the venerable dreads is their survivability. Throwing a manticore at them is unlikely to stop them since you aren't AP1. Ignoring shaken and stunned results whilst also getting a re-roll for any wrecked or explodes makes them extremely hard to stop firing.

Yup and they're 60 points each which is a massive inflation in cost just for a luck re-roll and reducing fire power, basically I can get three normal Dreadnoughts for the price of two Venerables. I know what I would rather have

Enjoyed that one dude, I thought it would be lots closer in all honesty.

When are you going to start collecting the models you need, or are you still tinkering with lists?

Its a bad time for me to decide I want a daemon army lol

I think I've got the list sorted and will be putting in a order for several boxes of Grey Knights soon. For the time being I'm going to borrow my Angel Razorbacks until I get some new ones.

Sweet, looking forward to seeing them

Definitely a massive screw-up to leave the Vendettas off the table. That could have easily gotten him two more kill points off the bat by shooting at your Razors.

I also agree that trying to fire them directly was an error in judgment, as what are you saving 3"? Pfft, why bother throwing up the cover save?

I've never been a fan of seeing plasma guns on vets, far too often you're going to end up killing yourselves. Meltas have better AP, sure you get half the shots, but at least you won't kill your own people.

Good match though, Razor-spam, it's what I'm coming to expect from most Grey Knight armies, with psybolt ammo being a low cost upgrade, why not? I just don't like it, oh well. I agree with you, Sparing 180 points in a list is tough with Grey Knights, you'd end up cutting an entire squad out to make your dreads Venerable. Sure, they may last long, but maybe they won't. Nice report.

Good report Mercer, how does this list play in terms of being similar to your BA razor spam? Is it just a shooty version of the BA list?

Matt1785 wrote:Definitely a massive screw-up to leave the Vendettas off the table. That could have easily gotten him two more kill points off the bat by shooting at your Razors.

I also agree that trying to fire them directly was an error in judgment, as what are you saving 3"? Pfft, why bother throwing up the cover save?

I've never been a fan of seeing plasma guns on vets, far too often you're going to end up killing yourselves. Meltas have better AP, sure you get half the shots, but at least you won't kill your own people.

Good match though, Razor-spam, it's what I'm coming to expect from most Grey Knight armies, with psybolt ammo being a low cost upgrade, why not? I just don't like it, oh well. I agree with you, Sparing 180 points in a list is tough with Grey Knights, you'd end up cutting an entire squad out to make your dreads Venerable. Sure, they may last long, but maybe they won't. Nice report.

Yes the Vendettas were a major boo boo and would have caused more carnage.

No, not saving 3" at all. If the ordnance fires it fires and scatters full that could be a waste of three shots totally missing, had that before.

Plasmas and meltas are different things, plasmas have a risk but so much better when using bring it down though unfortunately no monstrous creatures and other stuff to shoot at rather than vehicles.

ironicsilence wrote:Good report Mercer, how does this list play in terms of being similar to your BA razor spam? Is it just a shooty version of the BA list?

I prefer the Blood Angels tbh. It's got same amount of shots as each G.K Razorback fires 3 shots and so doe Angel Razorbacks only different is the two Vindicators over three Dreadnoughts.