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Dark Angels 'Ravenwing' - 2,000 points
HQ
Sammael
Ravenwing Command Squd - 2 x black knights, apothecary, grenade launcher & standard of devastation
Techmarine - bike, auspex & power field generator
Troops
6 x Ravenwing Attack Squad w/ Attack Bike - 2 x meltaguns - Sgt w/ melta bombs - Attack Bike w/ multi melta
6 x Ravenwing Attack Squad w/ Attack Bike - 2 x meltaguns - Sgt w/ melta bombs - Attack Bike w/ multi melta
6 x Ravenwing Attack Squad w/ Attack Bike - 2 x plasma guns - Attack Bike w/ multi melta
6 x Ravenwing Attack Squad w/ Attack Bike - 2 x plasma guns - Attack Bike w/ multi melta
6 x Ravenwing Attack Squad w/ Attack Bike - 2 x flamers
Fast Attack
7 x Ravenwing Black Knights - 2 x grenade launchers
Total:1,999
This list really likes to go first as the entire army has scout; they zoom forward 12" and in the Ravenwing first turn move 12" again, this brings all the short ranged weapons into range extremely quickly and the Ravenwing are straight down the opponent's throat.
The RCS (Ravenwing Command Squad) has the banner, this gives all units salvo 2/4 bolters within 6" and the ability to re-roll failed morale and leadership tests for units within 12" (I always forget this!) This banner doubles the fire power of the Rvaenwing as they are relentless and count as not moving, in total the army can knock out 140 twin-linked bolter shots! That's a massive amount of fire power. To keep the banner safe the RCS has a Techmarine who bounces off the saves along with a power field generator for a healthy 4+ invulnerable. An Apothecary has been thrown in for good measure and Sammy can take some wounds as has eternal warrior and 4+ inv himself.
Along with shooting the Ravenwing aren't too bad at close combat. They are a little bit better than normal Space Marines as bikes get hammer of wrath. The true close combat power comes from the Black Knights (inc RCS as they are Black Knights), these units have the corvus hammer which gives +1 strength and rending. As it is a melee weapon you get the +1 for having two close combat weapons (units have pistols). That's some serious punchy death coming your way.
Close combat can be used as a blessing in disguise even if hurling the Ravenwing into harms way. The entire army has hit and run, this is a great tool as it allows the Ravenwing to tie up the enemy shooting units, jump out of combat at the end of the opponent's turn, shoot in the Ravenwing turn and assault again! This is an awesome defence as units locked in close combat cannot be shoot at!
The weakness of the list is hordes and fliers. I haven't been against a true horde yet, but Tyranids along with other big monsters seem to cause trouble for the Ravenwing. Mass fliers would be an issue, though it is rare I see any more than 2-3 fliers. Generally the hit and run tactic works, though thanks to Ravenwing's speed and twin-linked weapons they can easily get into the rear and bring down enemy fliers.
Why I Started This Army
When the new Chaos Daemons codex come out it drastically changed my Flamer-Screamer spam. The list needed nerfing as it was pretty powerful, though it changed the army as whole as it no longer had the tools to deal with everything. While deciding what to do with Chaos Daemons playable wise I sold the army. I have always fancied a bike army and while reviewing the Dark Angels codex I read about Ravenwing. I have zero interest in Dark Angels, but the Ravenwing seemed like a cracking bike force and if you wanted to do an all bike army then Ravenwing would do the job.
The army plays exactly to my play style; fast, shooty and with elements of assault.
The Ravenwing are also a different army for me to play as they are quite elite. 47 bikes seems a lot but when they start dropping the numbers really add up.
