Blood Angels at 1850 – the meta is a tough nut to crack
Hey all, TPM here.
We get list requests somewhat frequently and I love it when we do. Its another chance to look at a codex we may have left on the shelf for too long. This request was particularly fun to address because it was about a Christmas gift someone received and it was about my beloved Blood Angels.
This is just the first pass but I like what is shaping up here. The list uses the named character dreadnought from the BA campaign released last year. He doesn’t see a lot of play but him being Objective Secured often goes un-remarked.
The Sang Guard below ride with Dante in the Storm Raven. The priest drops in with a Death Company pod and then joins up with the Guard or a unit of Tac Squad marines once they are on the table.
++ Blood Angels: Codex (2014) (Combined Arms Detachment) ++
Relics and Detachment-rules [Codex: Blood Angels]
+ HQ +
Sanguinary Priest [Bolt Pistol, Valour’s Edge]
+ Elites +
Death Company Squad [4x Bolter, 5x Chainsword, 5x Death Company Marine, Power Fist]
····Drop Pod [Storm Bolter]
Death Company Squad [4x Bolter, 5x Chainsword, 5x Death Company Marine, Power Fist]
····Drop Pod [Storm Bolter]
Sanguinary Guard Squad [3x Angelus Boltgun, Chapter Banner, 2x Inferno Pistol, 2x Power Fist, 5x Sanguinary Guard]
+ Troops +
Cassor the Damned [Lucius Pattern Dreadnought Drop Pod]
Tactical Squad [Flamer, Heavy flamer, 9x Tactical Marine, Tactical Sergeant]
····Drop Pod [Storm Bolter]
Tactical Squad [Flamer, Heavy flamer, 9x Tactical Marine, Tactical Sergeant]
····Drop Pod [Storm Bolter]
+ Fast Attack +
Assault Squad [4x Assault Marines, Jump Packs, 2x Meltagun]
····Assault Sergeant [Combi-Melta]
Assault Squad [4x Assault Marines, Jump Packs, 2x Meltagun]
····Assault Sergeant [Combi-Melta]
+ Heavy Support +
Stormraven Gunship [Twin Linked Lascannon, Twin-linked Multi-melta]
+ Lord of War +
Commander Dante, Chapter Master of the Blood Angels
We talk about this a bit in the second half of episode 127.
Let us know what you think!
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Here is what I am running at 1850
PRIMARY DETACHMENT- Baal Strike Force (1540pts)
HQ: Chaplain (WARLORD)- 135: Terminator Armour, Crozius, Storm Bolter, The Veritas Vitae
HQ: Librarian: 115- Mastery Level 2, Jump Pack, Force Weapon, Bolt Pistol, Gallian’s Staff
Elites: Terminator Assault Squad (5)- 205 (475 w/DT): Sarge w/ TH&SS, 4 x Terminators w/ LC
Dedicated Transport: Land Raider Redeemer- 270: Pintile Multi-melta, Legacy of Glory: War of Murder
Troops: Scout Squad (5)- 55 : 5 x Bolt Pistol & Shotguns
Troops: Tactical Squad (10)- 190 (225 w/DT): Grav-gun, Multi-melta, Sarge w/ Power Axe and Bolt Pistol
Dedicated Transport: Rhino- 45
Fast Attack: Assault Squad (5)- 110: Jump Packs, 2 x Flamers, Sarge w/ Power Sword and Bolt Pistol
Heavy Support: Relic Sicarin Battle Tank- 200: Lascannon Sponsons, Legacy of Glory: Mars Schism
Heavy Support: Fire Raptor Gunship- 225: TL Autocannons
SECOND DETACHMENT- Flesh Tearer’s Strike Force (310)
HQ: Sanguinary Priest- 81: Jump Pack, Bolt Pistol, CCW, Auspex
Troops: Scout Squad (5)- 84: 4 x Sniper Rifle, Missile Launcher, Cammo Cloaks
Fast Attack: Assault Squad (5)- 145: 2 x Melta-guns, Sarge w/ Powerfist and Inferno Pistol
SO it is light on scoring units, yes, but without OBSEC anyways, this is less of a concern as I can’t contest other obsec units. I have to destroy them.
First off my warlord is the Terminator Chaplain, basically to minimize the chances of an easy Slay the Warlord. And the Veritas Vitae is one of the best pieces of wargear in the game. AND if you get the Warlord Trait that can give infiltrate, you can get the DEDICATED TRANSPORT LR to Infiltrate with him and the Terminators.
With War of Murder on the LR, everything within 6″ is fearless and you gain monster hunter, which can really help with LoW and Flyrants, especially with the Assault Cannon and Multi-melta on it.
The Lib and the SP start in the Assault Squads. They can later join the Terminators if needed. One assault squad is to hunt vehicles, the other low S/T infantry blobs. Put the SP in whichever is more vital that game.
you can only use one Glory upgrade per full 1000 points. the power fist on the sarge probably better as another infernos pistol. you really need them to do the job on the drop, it’s hoping a lot that he’ll survive the next round and also survive after swinging at i1.
the grav gun on the tac squad in the rhino..isn’t too bad, but you’ve armed the sarge for combat and you can’t shoot grav and assault[once you are out of the rhino a turn that is] you also lose out on higher initiative and are pretty much dog meat in a challenge.
lightning claw terms are pretty terrible, you’re pretty much better off taking sanguinary guard to do the same job. thunder hammer storm shield terms are fantastic and if you take your chaplain and terms form an archangel detachment you can take the banner to give the whole unit preferred enemy which is freakin naughty:P
I fail to see how charging out of a land raider, assault i5 s6 4 attacks ap3 reroll hit reroll wound is bad though
it’s incredibly unlikely that your land raider will survive even turn one against any decent army, but even if it does and you get a charge off. you only charge one target, which probably explodes leaving you open to being shot to death. Or you charge an actually good close combat unit and get wrecked. like…. a unit of thunder hammer termies, or a wolf star.
once they get out they are really slow as well. if you want lots of strength 5[not six how did you come up with that?] ap3 attacks you may as well take the much cheaper and faster sanguinary guard. and spend the points of the land raider and cheaper guys to get dante or a gorgon chain wielding bike master that can get 2+ 3++ and feel no pain on a 3++ with the bonus of a priest. he’ll live a lot longer than a laider, do more damage and keep that unit moving much faster and keep them alive better
it’s incredibly unlikely that your land raider will survive even turn one against any decent army, but even if it does and you get a charge off. you only charge one target, which probably explodes leaving you open to being shot to death. Or you charge an actually good close combat unit and get wrecked. like…. a unit of thunder hammer termies, or a wolf star.
once they get out they are really slow as well. if you want lots of strength 5[not six how did you come up with that?] ap3 attacks you may as well take the much cheaper and faster sanguinary guard. and spend the points of the land raider and cheaper guys to get dante or a gorgon chain wielding bike master that can get 2+ 3++ and feel no pain on a 3++ with the bonus of a priest. he’ll live a lot longer than a laider, do more damage and keep that unit moving much faster and keep them alive better
Tactical Sarge is more defensive than offensive as they will likely need to hold an objective
if he’s holding an objective the axe is pretty much a waste of points. it’s not going to scare anyone off, they’ll happily charge the unit and challenge him. at least with a sword you have the option of charging a nearby unit and mashing stuff up. Anything you need ap2 against is already going to tear that unit apart. the sword at least has purpose and utility. you can kill their backfield guys before they swing hopefully:)
Yeah, but sometimes a model is built and painted already. Plus local opponents can determine tools
oh sure man, If we are talking looks or models in reality go out and have blast:). I’m only talking hypothetically and maybe helping people to a more educated position.
First.. thanks a lot for the detailed comments. Second, I love your theory on unit removal so obsec is less of a factor.
Working in some legacies of glory into lists really does make a difference. I wish they were accessible to more players.
If I had points I would have added another special weapon to the sarges for that gun slinger effect.