Deathwing Tactics

[Stromal]

Inspired by the recent tyranid post i figured it would be nice to have a tactics post for footslogging cml spamming deathwing lists.

 

There might be a post like this already, but all the ones i have found are pre-faq and our playstyle have changed significantly since the faq.

 

So here goes, what tactics do you employ against the diffrent common armies seen in the tournament scene these days, tips like having genestealers assault you in cover are golden :)

[RayJ]

Step 1: deploy utilizing good fire lanes and with squads supporting each other.

Step 2: Move towards objectives (or against appropriate targets for annihilation)

Step 3: Shoot missiles at appropriate targets (you want to aim for AV 11/12 things before you go after AV 13/14 things)

Step 4: Assault disembarked squads if in range

Step 5: Goto Step 2

 

That's really simplified, I know, but that's about the only information that will be remotely true against every opponent. This list is assuming a very large terminator presence (4+ squads at 2000 points) with at least 3 storm shields per squad.

 

I typically deep strike Belial and his command squad (who are all equipped with storm shields. Belial frequently has lightning claws), as the feel no pain and extra wounds from Bels makes them able to soak a lot on turn 1 and then they are primed for wrecking face.

 

As for facing off against opposing armies:

 

vs Tyranids:

 

Shoot the Tervigons down quickly if you are able to. Stay in cover if you want simultaneous attacks with the enemy. you're not likely running many high-initiative weapons. Ignore Tyrannofexes until you get into assault. be careful about Trygons and Tyrants, as they can force a lot of invulnerable saves. Typically try to assault multiple units, and if Belial has a storm shield, use him to absorb some MC hits. Shoot warriors with missiles. Avoid them in assault unless they for some reason don't have boneswords (or are down to maybe 2 models).

 

Tyranids should really be a very easy fight for Deathwing. I have NEVER had a problem vs Tyranids, even without the storm shield updates.

 

vs IG:

 

Suppress as many vehicles as possible and set up charges vs his tanks to get in close. Be mindful of melta-vets and plasma-vets, but overall it's just a matter of making it into his stuff through all the firepower.

 

vs Tau:

 

Suppress vehicles, assault crisis suits, and win. Pretty much that easy.

 

vs Eldar/Dark Eldar:

 

Suppress vehicles and shoot wyches before they can tie you up for several combat phases. Both of these armies will play similarly to guard from the defender's perspective but will have better quality shooting and more mobility. Also both armies have upgrades to make their tanks more survivable.

 

vs Dark Eldar, watch out for low-ap blasts and templates (properly scatter your dudes).

 

vs Space Marines:

 

kill the Librarian quickly, even if you have to sacrifice a unit to do so, suppress the vehicles, assault the puny power armored guys. Null Zone really is that effective against your army.

 

vs Blood Angels:

 

protect your firebase, suppress the vehicles (noticing a trend?), shoot them with Krak missiles to deny Feel no Pain.

 

vs Space Wolves:

 

watch the flanks. Thunderwolves move slowly when they don't have an assault target, but the 12-inch assault move lets them get up to 24 inches in a single turn. Also, scouts can enter from your own board edge, creating trouble for your firebase and back-field support.

 

Otherwise, hit their firebase early to diminish shots (you don't need to wipe them out, just get them down to 1-2 heavy weapons per long fang squad) then focus on whittling down their troops. You should be able to mop up everything in assault.

 

Against mas-terminator loganwing, stay in cover and whittle the squads down before they get to you (likely with Frag missiles). You want to negate their speed bonus for mass power weapons, and you want to limit their number of attacks. if it's just 1 terminator per Wolf Guard squad, mow them down in close combat.

 

vs Grey Knights:

 

Treat them as mass-terminator loganwing if they lots of have purifiers or termies. Ignore vehicles with shooting unless you are staring at dreadknights and vehicles only. Suppressing them is next to impossible. If you have no infantry to shoot, focus fire a vehicle until it's destroyed. usually it's good to try to focus down a few transports on turn 1 and then deal with the squads that disembarked.

 

you wreck power-armored guys in assault and really only have to fear halberds since they go at initiative 6 (7 on HQs). Grey knights have assault grenades (even terminators), so hiding in terrain is a no. You want to try to bait them into overextending and assault an isolated squad on your turn.

 

vs Orks:

 

Blow up their transports and watch them run away. get side armor shots on battlewagons. Beat the crap out of them in assault. If they are running green tide, just carpet them with Frag missiles.

 

vs Daemons:

 

Focus fire squads until they are severely hindered as they come in. Your biggest threats are Fiends and Khornse units (since they tend to force invulnerable saves). You will wreck most other units in close combat, or any unit after it gets whittled down.

 

That's some general information that should help against most opponents.

[Stromal]

Sweet reply RayJ, thanks :D