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Chapter Tactics: torn between Iron Hands or Raven Guard, mostly depending on whether I'm facing massed melee or not.

Relic: Armor Indominus on Librarian, or Teeth of Terra on Captain if I do the melee swap detailed below

Warlord Trait: Iron Resolve

Default Psyker Powers: Veil of Time, Psychic Scourge or Null Zone

Detachments: Batallion + Spearhead (if Chaplain) or Auxiliary Support (if Vindicare)

HQ's:
Captain - Mastercrafted Boltgun, Relic Blade (98) *Warlord
Librarian, Jump Pack - Force Axe, Plasma Pistol (139)
Chaplain, Jump Pack - Crozius Arcanum, Bolt Pistol (90) -> usually swapped out for a Vindicare Assassin

Troops:
3 x 10 Intercessor Squads - Auxiliary Grenade Launchers by combat squad (606)

Elites:
1 x 10 Vanguard Veterans, Jump Pack - 5 twin Lightning Claw, 2 Storm Shield + Lightning Claw, 2 Thunder Hammer + Storm Shield, Sergeant Relic Blade + Storm Shield + Melta Bomb (339)
Vindicare Assassin (in place of the Chaplain in most games) (90)

Heavy Supports:
1 x 10 Hellblasters - Plasma Incinerators (330)
2 x Predators - Lascannon sponsons, Predator Autocannon turrets, hunter-killer missile, storm bolter (394)

Total: 1996

I've found this list to be pretty flexible and effective, though hoards give it some problems. I have three effective groups: the core fire base of the Captain in the middle of the two Predators with the Hellblasters in front; all 30 of the Intercessors phalanxed up, preferably combat squaded and generally marching up the board, necron style; and the deep strike group, with the Librarian and Chaplain supporting the large Vanguard Veteran squad, grabbing objectives or finding targets that are weak to moderate strength in melee to go murder. If I have the chaplain benched, the Vindicare is set up last in whatever cover has the best visibility, possibly infiltrated if my deployment zone terrain is subpar. I usually try to drop the jump team in cover with movement + easy charge range of a juicy target, rather than trying to risk a deep strike charge given that even with Veil of Time they only have a coin toss chance of succeeding.

Two possible changes that I'm considering are replacing the non-captain HQ(s) and Vanguard Vets with a Lieutenant and 5 man custode squad with storm shields, plus either a Primaris Psyker or Inquisitor to form a patrol detachement with the vindicare, and replacing the predators and Captain's relic blade with a pair of Forge World Contemptor Mortis Dreadnoughts with two twin Lascannons each.

The Lieutenant, Custodes and Imperium Psyker would mean that I would sacrifice my only mobile unit for a much, much tougher dedicated melee unit capable of taking on hammernators or Boyz alike, while regaining a command point in the balance. The Dreads would leave my heavy anti armor essentially the same, but with 2+ WS & BS, an invuln save and benefiting from chapter tactics.

I'm honestly not sure if either proposed change would be a meaningful improvement, especially since I already have this list built and base coated except for half of the Vanguard Veterans, whom I'm proxying with Assualt Marines.

Thoughts?

Hello fellow iron hands player! This list isn't that bad! A few things to consider would be to switch out those intercessors for three 5 man tactical squads with plasmas and combi plas and give them razorbacks with twin assault cannons. This will give you a faster way to get board control, secure objectives, is 21pts cheaper and would help with your trouble against hordes. Predators are good anti tank, but consider some twin lascannon mortis dreads. They are cheaper and give your anti tank chapter tactics. I would actually go for the vindicare assassin as he could help pick off characters with ease. The captain should sit with those hellblasters and let them supercharge every turn and with the leftover points you could put in a lieutenant with the mortis dreads for rerolls in wounding where they will need it. Also don't forget you have the dread stratagem for rerolling 1's to hit if you are really worried about that being a problem. Hope this helps, Cheers!

I would choose RG as the tactic. Keep the Chaplain and swap out the Preds for Mortis Dreads with 2 twin las, then split the Intercessors into 6 5 mans, use the few leftover points you have to add in a techmarine and run it as 2 battalions. You may need to cut the Relic Blade for points, but you can always do Teeth of Terra as you mentioned instead. This will give you durable lascannons (-1 to hit because of the CT) and flexibility on deploying the Hellblasters as well. Plus you don't gain much by taking 10 man units of Intercessors vs 2 units of 5.

It's nice to get such specific, positive feedback so quickly! I honestly wasn't counting on any replies this soon.

I'd considered swapping the predators for contemptor mortis dreads, owing to their 2+ BS and 5+ Invuln, but as was pointed out regular mortis dreads are compelling on their own.

Thrst77: I really like the idea of the tacs in TWC Razorbacks for hoard removal dakka. The way I magnetized my three predators I can swap their sponsons for doors and run them as rhinos or razorbacks at need, and haven't had call to do so yet. If I'm bothering to get 2-3 Mortis Dreadnoughts + lascannons from Forgeworld, I might as well get 3 Twin Assault Cannons for my wannabe Razorbacks.

Captain Garius: The main reason that I have 10 man squads of Intercessors is to minimize the unit count for initial deployment. I've found that if I can go first with this force, then the resulting alpha strike can pack enough punch to justify passing on the extra command points. That said, you have a point and I'll see about testing out the two Battalion version with a Lieutenant for the time being (all 3 of my tech marines are on bikes. Long story.)

I think I might use the razorbacks + tacs, skip the plasmas to help afford a lieutenant, then put the mortis deads, LT and hellblasters in a spearhead. That would offset the CP lost for the vindicare and the added anti-hoard potential of the razorbacks would let me capitalize on Raven Guard tactics much more effectively. I love Iron Hands flavor, but the main reason I've been using them instead of Raven Guard is that I've been facing a lot of strong melee armies at my local store. Mowing them down with assault cannons might just be what the doctor ordered as far as keeping things from degenerating into more melee combat than I can muster.