Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Hey all, trying out a few Deathwatch lists to see what would work for a competitive game. Please let me know of any weaknesses you see, or anything you'd change. Thanks!

Black Spear Strike Force

(Watch Commpander)
Watch Master
Auspex

(Watch Company)
Watch Captain Artemis

Aquila Frag team
Terminator
2x vets w/ frag cannons
3x vets w/ boltgun shotgun
Drop pod

Aquila Frag team
Terminator
2x vets w/ frag cannons
3x vets w/ boltgun shotgun
Drop pod

Aquila Infernus
Terminator
2x vets w/ Infernus heavy bolter
3x vets w/ boltgun shotgun
Drop pod

Aquila Missile
Terminator w/ cyclone missile launcher
5x vets boltgun shotgun

(Ancient)
Dreadnought
TL Lascannon


Skyhammer Annihilation Force

Devastators
4x Grav Cannons w/ grav amps
Drop pod

Devastators
4x Mutli-melta
Drop pod

Assault Squad
Sarge w/ Meltabomb

Assault Squad
Sarge w/ Meltabomb

All of my Aquila's reroll 1's to wound, and they can reroll all wounds if the enemy unit has a Warlord, Psyker or Independent Character in it.
I can switch Mission Tactics 3 times, and I get to reroll the WL trait on the Watch Master.
Four pods coming down on the first turn, with the last on in reserves.

Thoughts? Anything helps

Thanks.

Is four grav-cannons overkill? Maybe that's what it takes to flatten a wraithknight in one shot?

Firstly, I'm unsure if Artemis can be subbed as the Watch Captain for a Watch Company. I know you can't on Battlescribe and last time I looked at the Blackspear chart, I don't remember that addendum for special characters.


Secondly it looks like a fine list for Alpha Strike. If you don't go first however, all you've got is a barebones Aquila Team and a Dread on the field. This could result in very short games for you!


Finally I'm a big fan of the Stalker Pattern Boltguns. If you could free up 25pts (probably from your Command and Ancient slots) you could turn that Missile Aquila Team into a solid 30" ranged shooting unit. In my own build, I am attaching Coteaz to a similar unit to give it diet Interceptor.


Have you played any games with this list yet?

I haven't played any games yet, I have a good amount of models but I really want to get a good list going before I make anything else.

I believe you can sub Artemis for it, my friend has my Death Masque rules atm, but if I can't then I'll sub him for a Captain.

Yeah, definitely low model starting count. Would hope for good terrain or first turn.

I had stalkers with the missile team, only problem was I felt like if I shot them at a tank they'd kind of be wasted shots. But I guess I'd be firing them at more elite units anyway.

You're definitely not going to be targeting armor with that unit. Absolutely.


As part of a Watch Company, this Stalker Patrern Aquila Team will be rerolling to wound and 1's vs units containing Psykers, Independent Characters, and Warlords. With ammo that is AP3, Poisoned (2+), or Ignores Cover. At 24-30" this setup is ideal for camping in cover and taking out Bikes, Deep Strike units, and various Command Squads, no matter their buffs. Not to push it or anything, but it'll at least be more fun to model.

Very true, I'll see if I can fit it in! Thanks.

Just thought I'd weigh in to say that the death masque rules say Artemis can be used to replace ANY instance of the words watch captain so yeah he can be thrown in. I feel if you're going to spend that many points though maybe consider the watch master?

Other than that yeah the stalker bolters seem to be overlooked but are kind of insanely good.

Apart from that you seem to have all bases but anti air covered but that can be ignored for the large part unless your meta spams them.

And don't forget that with the FAQ drafts the drop pod doors count towards the model when opened, so you can deploy from the tip of them and enemy models can't move over them, use that to block terrain and such and deny them any contact with you.

Cheers,

Qwerty

 axisofentropy wrote:
Is four grav-cannons overkill? Maybe that's what it takes to flatten a wraithknight in one shot?

Yeah, they're there to melt a wraith knight, riptide wing, whatever.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Alright, made the changes. Think losing the TL Las and melta bombs are worth it?

List is now as follows:
Black Spear Strike Force

(Watch Commpander)
Watch Master

(Watch Company)
Watch Captain Artemis

Aquila Frag team
Terminator
2x vets w/ frag cannons
3x vets w/ boltgun shotgun
Drop pod

Aquila Frag team
Terminator
2x vets w/ frag cannons
3x vets w/ boltgun shotgun
Drop pod

Aquila Infernus
Terminator
2x vets w/ Infernus heavy bolter
3x vets w/ boltgun shotgun
Drop pod

Aquila Missile
Terminator w/ cyclone missile launcher
5x vets stalker bolter shotgun

(Ancient)
Dreadnought
Plasma cannon


Skyhammer Annihilation Force

Devastators
4x Grav Cannons w/ grav amps
Drop pod

Devastators
4x Mutli-melta
Drop pod

Assault Squad

Assault Squad


Also, suggestions on where the Watch Master and Artmeis should go? Was thinking Watch Master in a Frag cannon squad, and Artemis in the one with Infernus heavy bolters.

Turn your acquilla killteams into specialized ones. I recommend the Furor Killteam and Malleaus. If you're already bringing a terminator in each, you've already got the makeup for it. If you're smart, you can make great use of the re-rolls they provide.

 xTHExCLINCHERx wrote:
Turn your acquilla killteams into specialized ones. I recommend the Furor Killteam and Malleaus. If you're already bringing a terminator in each, you've already got the makeup for it. If you're smart, you can make great use of the re-rolls they provide.

I figured more overall rerolls was better than specific ones, and putting them in the Watch Company would give me some specific ones too. Why vs. troops and heavy support vs. 1's on everything?

 Buzzdady wrote:

 xTHExCLINCHERx wrote:
Turn your acquilla killteams into specialized ones. I recommend the Furor Killteam and Malleaus. If you're already bringing a terminator in each, you've already got the makeup for it. If you're smart, you can make great use of the re-rolls they provide.

I figured more overall rerolls was better than specific ones, and putting them in the Watch Company would give me some specific ones too. Why vs. troops and heavy support vs. 1's on everything?

YMMV. I just find that re-rolling all to pen/wound is much more common because there are often troops (and their transports, don't forget) than re-rolling 1's. Perhaps you have other experiences. Most things you're not wounding on 2's, so it's not like statistically you'll get better odds with the Acquilla... but again, it really just depends on how you intend to use the squad. FWIW I have so far found that using killteams with specific roles has worked better for me (or course, if you have the option of which to bring in, like you do via drop pod assault)

Some past examples I've found work out nicely (when using the Malleus and Furor Killteams)
- frag cannons re-rolling against pen for troop dedicated transports (often need 3+)
- frag cannons re-rolling against riptides or other large heavy support mc's (sometimes it pays off to use the S6 rending templates to ignore cover and hope for the rend... in that case you will want the re-roll all since you need a 4+, plus hoping for the 6)
- bolters with special issue ammo or shotgun using ignore cover rounds (often lower strength, but ignore cover could be a good option if against entrenched units) so I find that the re-rolls will be more beneficial if they're not really low T anyway, where you already need 2+ to wound.

Good points, I'll play around with it a bit and probably play test a few combinations as well. Thanks very much for the ideas!

Seconding the suggestion for a mix of Furor/Malleaus killteams in the watch company - between the extra mission tactic from blackspear, the kill team and watch company buffs you will have enough rerolls for different targets to last the game.

Also, the beacon angelis relic in a pod seems to me to be the perfect match to go with a skyhammer, scatter free assault squads on turn one to boost your alpha strike and follow it up turn 2 by teleporting any watch unit forward (including your dread) to maintain the momentum of your assault or even to feint an attack on one flank during deployment to then teleport to the other. Personally, I think this relic is one of the more powerful options in the codex.

I definitely love the beacon Angelis, and it was in my original list. Problem is points.

I think I'm going to change the infernus team to another stalker/cyclone missile team whichll give me some points back. Just don't know what else to take out.

Insularum wrote:
Seconding the suggestion for a mix of Furor/Malleaus killteams in the watch company - between the extra mission tactic from blackspear, the kill team and watch company buffs you will have enough rerolls for different targets to last the game.

Also, the beacon angelis relic in a pod seems to me to be the perfect match to go with a skyhammer, scatter free assault squads on turn one to boost your alpha strike and follow it up turn 2 by teleporting any watch unit forward (including your dread) to maintain the momentum of your assault or even to feint an attack on one flank during deployment to then teleport to the other. Personally, I think this relic is one of the more powerful options in the codex.

Yes, I second this is.. I've been doing this and it works as gracefully as it sounds

Updated updated list below. Exchanged Infernus team for another Stalker/Cyclone team to help turn 1 presence against alpha strikes. Beacon Angelis helps with Skyhammer assault squads, and I can bring in my Multi-melta Dreadnought in close turn 1 to pop high armor tanks easily. Any other thoughts? What lists would easily defeat this one?

Black Spear Strike Force

(Watch Commpander)
Watch Master
Beacon Angelis

(Watch Company)
Watch Captain Artemis

Aquila or Malleus Frag team
Terminator
2x vets w/ frag cannons
3x vets w/ boltgun shotgun
Drop pod

Aquila or Furor Frag team
Terminator
2x vets w/ frag cannons
3x vets w/ boltgun shotgun
Drop pod

Aquila or Furor Missile team
Terminator w/ cyclone missile launcher
5x vets stalker bolter shotgun

Aquila or Furor Missile team
Terminator w/ cyclone missile launcher
5x vets stalker bolter shotgun

(Ancient)
Dreadnought


Skyhammer Annihilation Force

Devastators
4x Grav Cannons w/ grav amps
Drop pod

Devastators
4x Mutli-melta
Drop pod

Assault Squad

Assault Squad