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I dubbed this list skyfall because everything it brings is dropping on the opponents head one way or another. The list brings a vanguard, spearhead, and air wing detachment - with the spearhead being solely AM, and everything else DA. The AM element is a company commander with five mortar team squads to provide the bulk of the anti-infantry. The Dark Talons have long been a pet unit for me, but having them go from 188 points to 160 in the codex was a big boon. The list brings 3, and they really pull their weight: 24 bolter shots withing 12", the rift cannon is a great tank/monstrous hunter, with a reliable flat 3 damage, and getting those d3 mortal wounds makes up nicely for only having d3 shots - finally, the stasis bomb averaging 5 mortal wounds on a group of 10 or better is just fantastic, especially when you bring 3. The hammer of the list are the knights and drop pod coming in somewhere, together. 10 knights with the ancient for +1 attacks on deep strike, the drop pod brings azrael for re roll all hits as well as 4++ all around and +1 CP, asmodai for an additional +1 attack, and 8 veterans all with plasma guns to make use of the killer new DA plasma stratagem. Now your 50 point knight is still two wounds with a 2+ 3++ but also brings 4 attacks base, 5 for the sergeants, and with 10 of them they can statistically wreck anything in combat. Having 18 rapid fire plasma shots in the "star" gives you a lot of versatility. Those plasma vets will benefit from the re roll all hits, and 4++, and with there shooty potency you aren't forced to drop them in and feel like you must make the 9" charge, you can keep them positioned more conservatively if needed and thin things down with all that plasma. Culexus Assassin gives you a nice durable out to smite spam lists, and when brought in near your star will protect them well. Nice little bonus, Azrael and Asmodai both have the deathwing keyword, so they also will both be on +2 attacks, 7 sword of secret attacks? Yes please. The list actually has 14 spare points, not sure yet where to put them.


Vanguard, Spearhead & Air Wing Detachments 7 CP

HQ – Azrael

HQ – Asmodai

HQ – Company Commander

Elites – 5x Company Veterans w/ Combi-Plasma, 4x Plasma Guns & 5x Chain Swords

Elites – 3x Company Veterans w/ Combi-Plasma, 2x Plasma Guns & 3x Chain Swords

Transport – Drop Pod w/ Storm Bolter

Elites – Deathwing Ancient w/ the Blade of Caliban

Elites – 5x Deathwing Knights

Elites – 5x Deathwing Knights

Elites - Culexus Assassin

Flyer – Ravenwing Dark Talon

Flyer – Ravenwing Dark Talon

Flyer – Ravenwing Dark Talon

Heavy Support – 3x Heavy Weapons Team w/ 3x Mortars
Heavy Support – 3x Heavy Weapons Team w/ 3x Mortars
Heavy Support – 3x Heavy Weapons Team w/ 3x Mortars
Heavy Support – 3x Heavy Weapons Team w/ 3x Mortars
Heavy Support – 3x Heavy Weapons Team w/ 3x Mortars

brutal. doesn't Azreal also provide 2 command points now if Warlord?

I think azrael is just 1 still. Either way for both azrael or creed, they have to be the warlord to get the bonus, so you can't stack them unfortunately. If Azrael was changed to 2 CP, then I'd probably drop Creed and just run a Company Commander for 30 points, pick up 40 points and add some other kit, maybe some power fists, etc.

Quite a good list, but it has some issues:

1. Is the Blade of Caliban a relic? If yes, the Deathwing Ancient can't use it, because Creed is your Warlord.

2. Your Deathwing Knights will never get into close combat against a decent opponent. I would either replace them with a large unit of shooty Terminators or buy a transport vehicle (Land Raider or Stormraven).

3. You really want to have some Scouts. Otherwise your opponent can easily deny you good deep strinking locations during the first turns. Three small units will also give you two more command points.

4. I am not a huge fan of Azrael in this list. He isn't your warlord and thus (most likely) won't give you an additional Command point. Furthermore only your Company Veterans will benefit from his invulnerable save. Together with the Drop Pod that's a lot of points that could be spent better elsewhere.

5. Smite spam (and some other strong psychic powers) will destroy you. Get a Librarian (Ezekiel?). The Interromancy Discipline is also quite good.

6. Do you really need six Heavy Weapons Teams? Drop three of them and replace Creed with a Company Commander with Grand Strategist and Kurov's Aquila. This should give you more command points.

Scallywag wrote:
Quite a good list, but it has some issues:

1. Is the Blade of Caliban a relic? If yes, the Deathwing Ancient can't use it, because Creed is your Warlord.

2. Your Deathwing Knights will never get into close combat against a decent opponent. I would either replace them with a large unit of shooty Terminators or buy a transport vehicle (Land Raider or Stormraven).

3. You really want to have some Scouts. Otherwise your opponent can easily deny you good deep strinking locations during the first turns. Three small units will also give you two more command points.

4. I am not a huge fan of Azrael in this list. He isn't your warlord and thus (most likely) won't give you an additional Command point. Furthermore only your Company Veterans will benefit from his invulnerable save. Together with the Drop Pod that's a lot of points that could be spent better elsewhere.

5. Smite spam (and some other strong psychic powers) will destroy you. Get a Librarian (Ezekiel?). The Interromancy Discipline is also quite good.

6. Do you really need six Heavy Weapons Teams? Drop three of them and replace Creed with a Company Commander with Grand Strategist and Kurov's Aquila. This should give you more command points.

So helpful points, though I have a few follow up points?questions:

1. Good point, Azrael can be Warlord, I lose one command point, but at that point I would drop creed for a commander and pick up some points.

2. I don't see how a land raider or stormraven completely redefines their ability to get into close combat, enhances it, yes, but I disagree that they will always fail to deep strike and then get into combat.

3. I like scouts, I agree a list like this could use them to good effect, I again disagree that it's a 100% fail rate to acquire a decent deep strike location without them - that's entirely dependent on the opponents army make up.

4. Azrael as warlord over creed, point 1, will grant the command point, provides re rolls of all hits to both the plasma vets and the knights, and the 4++ on the vets is significant in my opinion.

5. Smite spam destroys everything at the moment, so I agree with you in essence, but also am choosing not to care? A finely tuned smite spam list is basically not countered by anything at the moment. I have also found that a single psyker does next to nothing against true smite spam.

6. No, I don't absolutely need the full six teams, and your suggestion is sound.

peteralmo wrote:

Scallywag wrote:
Quite a good list, but it has some issues:

1. Is the Blade of Caliban a relic? If yes, the Deathwing Ancient can't use it, because Creed is your Warlord.

2. Your Deathwing Knights will never get into close combat against a decent opponent. I would either replace them with a large unit of shooty Terminators or buy a transport vehicle (Land Raider or Stormraven).

3. You really want to have some Scouts. Otherwise your opponent can easily deny you good deep strinking locations during the first turns. Three small units will also give you two more command points.

4. I am not a huge fan of Azrael in this list. He isn't your warlord and thus (most likely) won't give you an additional Command point. Furthermore only your Company Veterans will benefit from his invulnerable save. Together with the Drop Pod that's a lot of points that could be spent better elsewhere.

5. Smite spam (and some other strong psychic powers) will destroy you. Get a Librarian (Ezekiel?). The Interromancy Discipline is also quite good.

6. Do you really need six Heavy Weapons Teams? Drop three of them and replace Creed with a Company Commander with Grand Strategist and Kurov's Aquila. This should give you more command points.

So helpful points, though I have a few follow up points?questions:

1. Good point, Azrael can be Warlord, I lose one command point, but at that point I would drop creed for a commander and pick up some points.

2. I don't see how a land raider or stormraven completely redefines their ability to get into close combat, enhances it, yes, but I disagree that they will always fail to deep strike and then get into combat.

3. I like scouts, I agree a list like this could use them to good effect, I again disagree that it's a 100% fail rate to acquire a decent deep strike location without them - that's entirely dependent on the opponents army make up.

4. Azrael as warlord over creed, point 1, will grant the command point, provides re rolls of all hits to both the plasma vets and the knights, and the 4++ on the vets is significant in my opinion.

5. Smite spam destroys everything at the moment, so I agree with you in essence, but also am choosing not to care? A finely tuned smite spam list is basically not countered by anything at the moment. I have also found that a single psyker does next to nothing against true smite spam.

6. No, I don't absolutely need the full six teams, and your suggestion is sound.

Glad you liked some of my suggestions.


2. Without a Land Raider or a Stormraven your units only have a 27,78% chance to get into close combat after deep striking. If you fail your charge roll they will either get killed or kited for the rest of the game. That's way too risky. With a transport they are not able to charge in the first turn, but they will make it into melee in your second turn.

3. Against some armies you won't need Scouts. But against others they are crucial. For only roughly 165 points I would always take them.

4. I still think that's not enough to justify him and a Drop Pod. But feel free to test it.

5. Yes, against a hardcore smite spam you will probably lose nevertheless. Being able to deny the witch twice is still very useful against lots of armies, even if they only use smite. On top of that you get some really good spells and a decent aura from Ezekiel.

I got it, Culexus, anti-psyker problem solved. He can single handedly neuter a smite spam list.