Sons of Horus "Shock Assault" army [UPDATED with LR Spartan]

[Cmdr Shepard]

Greetings fellow Legionaries,

 

I'd like to build a Sons of Horus/Luna Wolves army around a core of a 20 men Assault Squad led by a Praetor and supported by a Primus Medicae.

The purpose is to create an army that can hit the enemy weak points fast and hard while maximazing the effectiveness of Merciless Fighters rule.

If possible I'd like to recreate the "Shock Assault" modus operandi the Legion was famous for.

 

I wrote several lists and I need your assistance. Let me know what do you think about them. I'm also open to completely different builds.

 

Option 1

 

HQ

Praetor

Jump Pack, Iron Halo, Paragon Blade, Thunder Hammer, Digi Lasers, melta bombs

 

Primus Medicae

Jump Pack, Refractor field, melta bombs

 

TROOPS

20 Men Assault Squad [ Catulan Reaver Squad]

4 power weapon ,Sergeant with dual claws, Artificer armour and melta bombs

 

20 Men Assault Squad [Despoiler Squad]

Additional CCW, Legion Vexilla

 

8 Men Tactical Support Squad

7 Volkite Calivers

 

FAST ATTACK

Stormeagle

2 twin-linked lascannons, armoured ceramite, missile launcher

 

Stormeagle

2 twin-linked lascannons, armoured ceramite, missile launcher

 

HEAVY SUPPORT

Vindicator

Machine Spirit and dozer blade

 

Total: 2000 pts.

 

NOTES: The machine spirit equiped vindicator can move as fast as the Assault squad and provide 24" fire support. The Despoiler Squad moves behind Catula Reavers while the Volkite squad hold the objective, if present, in the deployment zone and fire on any viable target that comes into its range.

Stormeagles fly over the battle field performing their duties.

 

Option 2

 

Praetor, Primus medicae , Assault squad, Vokite Squad and Despoiler Squad as above.

 

10 men Cataphractii Terminator Squad

Mix of power fists and claws (possibly 1 chainfist) and combi weapons, if points available.

 

Stormeagle

 Twin linked lascannons and Upgrades depending on points avaialble. It carries TDA unit.

 

Option 3

 

 Assault Squads spam

With 3x 20 men Assault squads plus the HQs and a 10 men Tactical Squad for deployment zone objective I should reach 1930 pts.

It should have a lot of problems in dealing with AV and flyers but it should reach the enemy lines fast.

 

Option 4

 

The "core" of the first option with a sort of 20 men tactical squads spam plus any supporting unit I can field.

 

Option 5

Going with the Angel's Wrath Rite of War. I'm not very confident with putting non Cataphractii models in flyers. If the flyer is shot down you lost nearly the entire squad.

 

What do you think?

I know the topic has a lot of text but I really need your help.

Thank you for your assistance.

 

EDIT: Feb. 24th 2013

Title updated. For Land Raider Spartan veriosion see post number 20.

[TheForgottenAngel]

Hey man! I have to say that I favor the first list more than the rest. Those others could be included for higher point games, namely the terminator squad. My only question is the tactical support squad and the vindicator. I feel that the vindicator will be targeted first and won't be of much use, it will definitely be destroyed the 2nd turn (if I was aging against you) if I were you I'd think about adding a Moritat and an attached destroyer squad with jump packs. You could do rocket launchers and phospex bombs to great effect and it'd fit the theme of the fast attack list.

 

I love the two storm eagles by the way. Great all rounders and provide alot of support to the assault squads.

[Cmdr Shepard]

Hey man! I have to say that I favor the first list more than the rest. Those others could be included for higher point games, namely the terminator squad. My only question is the tactical support squad and the vindicator. I feel that the vindicator will be targeted first and won't be of much use, it will definitely be destroyed the 2nd turn (if I was aging against you) if I were you I'd think about adding a Moritat and an attached destroyer squad with jump packs. You could do rocket launchers and phospex bombs to great effect and it'd fit the theme of the fast attack list.

 

I love the two storm eagles by the way. Great all rounders and provide alot of support to the assault squads.

 

Honestly the vindi is here for that reason. To keep weapons away from my 20 men assault squad led by a more than 200 pts Praetor and a Primus medicae ;)

However I'll be more than happy to field other units in its place. Any suggestion?

 

I strongly agree on the TDA. The Assault Squad and the Stormeagle(s) are not cheap so the TDAs will drastically reduce the number of models at 2000 pts.

 

The tactical support squad has been included in order to hold objective in my deployiment zone. The Assault Squad and the "Despoiler" squad will move toward enemy lines where their numbers will make Merciless Fighters useful.

So I need a unit in the backflield. A 10 men tact squad costs 30 points less then the support squad I included and the latter can deliver a good amount of 30" volkite shots.

At least that was my first impression ;)

 

I really thought about the Moritat and destroyer squad (possibly with Jump Packs as well). when I wrote the list. The only problem was the scoring unit for the backfield objective.

 

I also thought about a Ground Version of the army, namely with heavy support squads instead of Stormeagles. It's not an easy decision. The stormeagle are very cool and very fluffy for the "Shock Assault" concept but they have the limitations of flyers  (especially arc of fire). The support squads may be useful when I encounter footslogging hordes.

Sometimes I play my Legiones Astartes armies against Xenos armies and autocannons/ missile lauchers heavy support squads decimate orks for example.

Not to mention a 10 men ML squad means about 5 dead MEQ per turn.

 

What do you think?

[TheForgottenAngel]

Well I would keep the Storm Eagles for close air support, no question there. They will be invaluable in HH lists where aircraft will be very limited and the Anti-Air is even more so. People forget that Contemptors in HH don't have skyfire/interceptor. As for the vindicator, that is probably the cheapest option to bait your opponent into firing at it. Nothing else for that amount of points will do it except for a conversion beamer predator. I think that your list is fine after you explained it. The support squad gave me ideas on my own army and I might adjust my next list to do the same. Cheaper troops and better equiped too boot, their only weakness is their troop count. I don't forsee them being harried much though due to your main for pressing the enemy lines, beware of deepstrikers though. Overall this is a solid list and I can't wait to read some battle reports. When you expand it I would add another support squad with flamers to protect the other squad from assaulting units. There are ALOT of World Eaters players and we both know what they like to do.

What I've found for HH lists that are footslogging you want ALOT of pie plates. The 20 man Legion Tactical Squads are disgustingly powerful and durable. Most people will take 3 20man squads and take an Apothecarion detachment of 3. This makes them very hard to kill. They then use Consuls with a Master of Signal and a Siegebreaker. Throw a few contemptors in there or predators and you have a very VERY durable army that will be tearing your lines apart. You could do this with support squads as well and have them all with Volkites and a few flamers. Hordes HATE volkites.

Anyways I hope that helps. You have an extremely solid 2k list and base to expand on.

[depthcharge12]

Ahhh no bikes cmdr? ;)

 

I'm still trying to figure out why you have the TH on the praetor. The paragon blade strikes at initiative with ap 2 and strength 6 with ID on 6s and you have melta bombs to deal with tanks and such so the points might go elsewhere? Maybe chuck a fist or a sword and pistol on the despoiler sarge to shorten combats

 

I too approve of the first list but wish there were bikes in there...but not really SoHorusy.

 

I wish you had another vindi too bc it's cheap firepower and one will get immediately blasted by Autocannoners and kheresnaughts, so pack another for survivability. But if you have assaulters it might not be worth it as they will have less to shoot at and might scatter on your own guys...

 

Check out the BoLS batrep with the death gaurd guy, I just watched his army face a droppy grey hunter and long fang craziness with two backfield 20 man tac squads that absolutely held out like pros. What to take from this is that a bunch of grey hunters (about 30) who are just despoilers with some extra shredded cheese on top got ripped a new one by 20 man tac squads and tarpitted them in cc the whole match. It's good that you have PWs but you need more unless your troops will get dogged for the whole match.

 

If you take caties either make pure assault from a storm eagle or footslog bc if you teleport them they WILL get boltered back to the stone age or a moritat will John woo you :lol:

 

I also don't like the 3 scoring units at 2000 points (ymmv but makes sense bc you will get multi assaulted or easily flanked)

[Cmdr Shepard]

Well I would keep the Storm Eagles for close air support, no question there. They will be invaluable in HH lists where aircraft will be very limited and the Anti-Air is even more so. People forget that Contemptors in HH don't have skyfire/interceptor.

That's a good point. The only problem is the somehow prohibitive cost of the two stormeagles( more than the 25% of the army), the fact they have fixed arcs of fire with mandatory movement and no vector dancer. I know everyone consider the stormraven quite resiliant and the stormeagle has even one more HP but AV12 is not invulnerable, especially when I play my HH armies against my friends' standard 40K lists (We do it sometimes ;) )

Don't misunderstand me, I think the stormeagle is a wonderful unit but I'm just wondering if that 25% of the army points would be more useful elsewhere. Just wondering and always open to suggestions.

Concerning Contemptors: I doubt the presence of skyfire will make any difference. I'm quite unlucky with contemptors. My dual kheres contemptor's highest glory was to kill 6 TDA in one match. He never, destroyed a single vehicles, not even a rhino or a 40K razorback

As for the vindicator, that is probably the cheapest option to bait your opponent into firing at it. Nothing else for that amount of points will do it except for a conversion beamer predator.

But the conversion beamer preadator has to reamain stationary so if it moves alongside your units it cannot fire so it's not a prioritary target.

I think that your list is fine after you explained it. The support squad gave me ideas on my own army and I might adjust my next list to do the same. Cheaper troops and better equiped too boot, their only weakness is their troop count. I don't forsee them being harried much though due to your main for pressing the enemy lines, beware of deepstrikers though.

I could remove the melta bombs from the Primus Medicae and give an Augury scanner to the Support squad's Sergeant. It won't help a lot against MEQ but consider this army is not made for attrition. It's problably the deep strikers will land between the support squad and the despoiler 24" range, if they arrive on turn 1-2. It's a lot of shots.

As I said this army is made with fluff in mind... shock strike against enemy's weakest point and redeploy... if something goes wrong...well something went wrong ;)

Overall this is a solid list and I can't wait to read some battle reports. When you expand it I would add another support squad with flamers to protect the other squad from assaulting units. There are ALOT of World Eaters players and we both know what they like to do.

WE don't have much more advantages. Their chainaxes are as effective as chainswords against MEQ and the need to destroy a unit or forcing it to fall back in order to gain furious charge. SoH will bring more attacks.

I'll try to play test the list(s) as soon as possible, however I'll do it against some friend's standard 40K army and I know the list will have a lot of troubles...

What I've found for HH lists that are footslogging you want ALOT of pie plates. The 20 man Legion Tactical Squads are disgustingly powerful and durable. Most people will take 3 20man squads and take an Apothecarion detachment of 3. This makes them very hard to kill. They then use Consuls with a Master of Signal and a Siegebreaker. Throw a few contemptors in there or predators and you have a very VERY durable army that will be tearing your lines apart. You could do this with support squads as well and have them all with Volkites and a few flamers. Hordes HATE volkites.

Anyways I hope that helps. You have an extremely solid 2k list and base to expand on.

As I said above the problem is the cost of several units. The two stormeagles will prevent me from fielding anything else at 2000 pts. That will drastically reduce the chances to expand the army, unless I remove the stormeagles...

Ahhh no bikes cmdr?

I'm still trying to figure out why you have the TH on the praetor. The paragon blade strikes at initiative with ap 2 and strength 6 with ID on 6s and you have melta bombs to deal with tanks and such so the points might go elsewhere? Maybe chuck a fist or a sword and pistol on the despoiler sarge to shorten combats

I tried to make the list "fluffy" so I preferred to include Assault Squads and "despoiler squads". Not that bikes will appear out of context since SoH/Luna Wolves were known for the tactical versatility.

About the Thunder Hammer the asnwer is simple: It gives me an additional attack (spending the points for a claw seems useless since I already have the Paragon Blade) and allows the Praetor to deliver deadly blows to everything that strike before him.

he has a high Ini but since I often play against 40K armies, Eldar and DE, for example) will strike first so with the Hammer I know everything I need is a wound and the xenos are dead ;)

Beside a couple of melta bombs do not guarantee the destruction of a vehicle... a couple of melta bombs (sergeant and primus medicae) plus 7 TH attacks, should ;)

I know I could save those points but honestly I won't add anything game changing...if you have any idea I'm open to suggestion.

The problem with the sergeant is we currently don't know if HH sergeants are considered characters or not. Personally I think the current trend is for the squad leaders to be characters but the recent FAQ said nothing about it. That's why I kepts the despoiler squad in a support role to the assault squad. A Power Sword on the sergent means a dead MEQ per turn, so I used the assault squad as the "assault workhorse". I may be wrong, though... it's just a preliminary list so the strategy is open to chances, that's the reason I need the help of the community :)

I too approve of the first list but wish there were bikes in there...but not really SoHorusy

I thought to remove the stormeagles and add several jetbikes... Praetor on jet bikes sounds nice ;)

As for the list, I thought you found several flaws in my list... well I'm founding them as well so I'm trying to correct them. ;)

I wish you had another vindi too bc it's cheap firepower and one will get immediately blasted by Autocannoners and kheresnaughts, so pack another for survivability. But if you have assaulters it might not be worth it as they will have less to shoot at and might scatter on your own guys...

I agree on the vindi. Two vindis marching alonside a 20 men assault squad screams "effective target saturation". Once more I'm having troubles in putting them in the 2000 pts army due to the eagles.

A vindi has a 30" range (6" movement plus 24" of the demolisher) while a machine spirit ones has an effective range of 36". Even if the target is equidistant from the vindi and the assault squad it's impossible for the blast to scatter on the assault squad. Obviously no targer closer than 11" (max value of 2d6 - 4 is 8 plus the 2.5 radius with get 10.5) should be selected but that shouldn't be a problem, I suppose...

Check out the BoLS batrep with the death gaurd guy, I just watched his army face a droppy grey hunter and long fang craziness with two backfield 20 man tac squads that absolutely held out like pros. What to take from this is that a bunch of grey hunters (about 30) who are just despoilers with some extra shredded cheese on top got ripped a new one by 20 man tac squads and tarpitted them in cc the whole match. It's good that you have PWs but you need more unless your troops will get dogged for the whole match.

Honestly everything capable of tarpitting a 20 men assault unit with 4 power weapons, a pair of claws, a Praetor with 7 AP2 attacks on charge, FNP and Merciless Fighters is capable of tarpitting every known unit in the games. I may be wrong, though ;)

If you take caties either make pure assault from a storm eagle or footslog bc if you teleport them they WILL get boltered back to the stone age or a moritat will John woo you

Deep strike a 20 men assault squad, plus two ICs, is a nearly suicide ;). The problem with storm eagle assault is the fact you have to enter hover mode and you will assault the turn after the flyers arrives and if it is destroyed before you lose the entire squad (actually 4 tacticals should survive but they can hardly be a threat).

I have considered the assault squads spam and the assault squad plus despoiler squads spam... what do you think about them?

I also don't like the 3 scoring units at 2000 points (ymmv but makes sense bc you will get multi assaulted or easily flanked)

Once again the two stormeagles will prevent me from fielding anything else. If I remove them I'd have more than 500 pts available...

Thanks to all of you for your precious comments, fellow Legionaries

[TheForgottenAngel]

So I was doing some thinking and I feel for your fluffy list I'd do either a pair or triple vindicators with PoTMS. If one goes down it's not too much of a loss and it will absolutely force your opponent to target atleast one of them. That much firepower will be devastating and will be less point prohibitive as two storm eagles and play to your style. Making an opponent choose target priority will be key. You could even have the vindicators behind your assault troopers to give them some cover (I think it's a 5+).

 

I'm a huge fan of a praetor on Jetbike as you already know. It's brutal and will be scary of he's attached to a Jetbike team with a melta or volkite. I'd stay away from plasma bikes due to overheating.

[Cmdr Shepard]

So I was doing some thinking and I feel for your fluffy list I'd do either a pair or triple vindicators with PoTMS. If one goes down it's not too much of a loss and it will absolutely force your opponent to target atleast one of them. That much firepower will be devastating and will be less point prohibitive as two storm eagles and play to your style. Making an opponent choose target priority will be key. You could even have the vindicators behind your assault troopers to give them some cover (I think it's a 5+).

 

I'm a huge fan of a praetor on Jetbike as you already know. It's brutal and will be scary of he's attached to a Jetbike team with a melta or volkite. I'd stay away from plasma bikes due to overheating.

It's a nice idea: 3 vindis should bring a lot of death on the battlefield. What survives is slain by the Preator and assault squad.

I will miss some anti-air but I could see If I find the room form ML heavy support squad with flak (removing a vindi).

 

I truly believe a single vindi would not be enough for such strategy. In fact yesterday I went to local store a two persons were playing a 40K match BA vs SM. The BA player had a vindi that was destroyed in a single turn by the fire of 2-3 devastator squads. I don't know if the SM fired with all of three squads since I was talking with a friend of mine while the match took play. However between 8 and 12 S8 shots destroyed it on turn 1. The BA players made a lot of mistaken, like keeping the vindi in oper field while he may have gained some form of cover.

 

In HH context a ML heavy support squad with their 48" range should support the advancing "speartip" pretty well, if I found the points for it.

 

Praetor on Jetbike is amazing since he becomes immune to S8 insteand death, among many other things ;),

While the Praetor on Jetbike should be able to join the assault squad (with the usual limitations to movement, obviously) I think he would be better placed in a jetbikes unit. Perhaps I could add a sky hunter unit. Anyway I won't have the points for 2 vindis, a 10 ML heavy support squad, and a Sky Hunters unit.

 

I'll try to see what I can field at 2000 pts. I will play test these lists, including the "Option 1", and see how they will perform, after all that's what play tests are for ;)

 

What do you think about the above ideas?

[depthcharge12]

Hmm Shepard you have unintentionally given me a good idea with the jet bike praetor.

 

Him and a squad with THs or PF on jet bikes would absolutely destroy caties and contemptors with little fear of PF instant death as he and the standard bearer have two wounds and T5. You have 2+ saves with T5 and can single out the odd PF with the bearer and the rest of the squad can damage with impunity the PW equipped guys.

 

Throw a MM on the Praetor to precision shot any axes or any other fists and you should be able to burn through most specialized cc guys in the HH at the moment.

 

Just some food for thought

 

Edit: actually I believe the whole command squad are characters so throw the MM on another joe to get that precision shot and leave the heavy bolter on the Praetor to benefit from his BS

[W0lfie]

A single vindicator will likely never get to fire a single shot.  I'd stretch points for a second one or drop it entirely

[TheForgottenAngel]

As far as I'm aware you can't add a multimelta to the Jetbike if its a comman squad, only Skytalons, otherwise I'd do that with mine. If that's te case then I'm busting off a heavy bolter!!!!!

[Cmdr Shepard]

Hmm Shepard you have unintentionally given me a good idea with the jet bike praetor.

 

Him and a squad with THs or PF on jet bikes would absolutely destroy caties and contemptors with little fear of PF instant death as he and the standard bearer have two wounds and T5. You have 2+ saves with T5 and can single out the odd PF with the bearer and the rest of the squad can damage with impunity the PW equipped guys.

 

Throw a MM on the Praetor to precision shot any axes or any other fists and you should be able to burn through most specialized cc guys in the HH at the moment.

 

Just some food for thought

 

Edit: actually I believe the whole command squad are characters so throw the MM on another joe to get that precision shot and leave the heavy bolter on the Praetor to benefit from his BS

 

 

As far as I'm aware you can't add a multimelta to the Jetbike if its a comman squad, only Skytalons, otherwise I'd do that with mine. If that's te case then I'm busting off a heavy bolter!!!!!

 

The Command Squad cannot take weapon upgrades for their jet bikes. I recognize 2+ save T5 models equiped with power weapons/power fists are quite impressive in CC. The mani problem is their number: it's a 5 models squad. However with the Praetor they have a Merciless Fighters value of 18 (bikes are very bulky per recent FAQ).

However you have to consider the standard will find itself away from the rest of the army if you start to turbo boost. Another thing you have to consider is the lack of weapons upgrades.

The unit will also cost a lot. Anyway I think it's worth to play it ;)

 

 

A single vindicator will likely never get to fire a single shot.  I'd stretch points for a second one or drop it entirely

 

 

Indeed... That's what I mentioned in the BA vs SM match example I posted above

With 2 vindis the list would be:

 

Praetor, Primus Medicae, Assault Squad and Despoiler squad as above.

2 Vindies, 10 men ML heavy support squad, Volkite support tactical squad (maybe upgraded at 10 men unit).

Heavy support and Tact support with augury scanner to take care of deep strikers.

With Flak upgrade to heavy support I should have about 65 pts available for upgrading tact support to 10 men and buy some upgrade for the other squads.

 

What do you think, legionaries?

 

Next time I'll try to make a list for the jet bikes ;)

[TheForgottenAngel]

I like it! I'd say get some game in with both and decide which you favor! As for the Jetbikes that is what I assumed because of the wording. Still T5 2+ save CC monsters will be fun! What's that you're on the 2nd story? No where to hide!!! Muahaha ha!!!!!

 

I bought them to have an excuse for Pre-Heresy ravenwing

[Cmdr Shepard]

I like it! I'd say get some game in with both and decide which you favor!

I'll test both soon, in the very next days if possible. A friend of mine want to test a SM army led by the IA Vol.9 Fire Angels character (I don't know if you are familiar with such HQ... he is the one who give Tank Hunters to comabt tactics models awhnd free extra armour to their dedicated transports).

Since in the 40K context my HH armies represent a chapter/demi-legion who dislikes the Ecclesiarchy it could led to a couple of nice narrative games ;)

As for the Jetbikes that is what I assumed because of the wording

undoubtedly. The command squad entry has no option for upgrading the jetbikes heavy bolter. 18 (squad+ Praetor) relentless, fast moving Heavy Bolters are not to be underestimated, though.

Still T5 2+ save CC monsters will be fun!

Indeed they will. If want to make them even more "death star-like" add a Primus Medicae on Jetbike! So the T5 2+ save CC monsters will become T5 2+ save CC monsters with FNP...

and you will fire three additional Heavy Bolter shots for a total of 21! Beside Praetor and Primus Medicae have BS5.

I think the best way to field such unit is to build an army around it rather than put it into an existing one.

I'm tempted to build one of such units for every Legion, regardless fluff ;) , but sadly jetbikes kits are quite expensive...

Among the four Betrayal Legions I think Sons of Horus and Emperor's Children will benefir most from the jetbikes.

The first thanks to Merciless Fighters and very Bulky: Praetor plus Command Squad have a Merciless Fighters Value (can we call it MFV? ) of 18 (21 with the Primus Medicae)

The second can find their crusader rule quite effective.

[TheForgottenAngel]

So would you go Apothecary over a Chaplain on Jetbike?

[Cmdr Shepard]

So would you go Apothecary over a Chaplain on Jetbike?

Praetor has WS6 and Command squad has WS5 so they will hit most enemies on 3+. Reroll are always nice but getting FNP on T5 2+ save models is quite impressive. Even if they are hit by ML they get both their saves and FNP!

Beside since they have the same armour save you can make Look Out, Sir! roll after you rolled your armour save ;)

I'll play test some of these lists soon. I have to decide if play-testing the Stormeagles (I'll use stormravens, after all it's a play test ;) ) or the grounded version.

Currently I'm thinking about removing the two vindis and o with 2 heavy support squads... maybe I just found the reason for another play test

[Cmdr Shepard]

Important UPDATE:

I finally playtested one of the lists. I decided to test the two stormeagles. I slightly modifed the original list and I removed the vindi, put the Praetor on a jetbike (a decision that saved the day ;) ), added an Apotechary to Despoiler Squad and used the spare points for some upgrade (increased the support squad to 10 men, artificier armour and claw to tac Sergeant, combi melta on Praetor and multi-meltas on the eagles.

My friend built, following few of the advices I gave him in the past, the army around Captain Tarnus Vale from IA vol.9 (the character that exchance combat tactics with tank hunter and gives free extra armour to dedicated transports.

He fielded 3 Tac squads on rhinos, 7 Assault Terminators wih hammer and shield inside a Land Raider crusader (Vale joined this unit), 3 ML Devastators with razorbacks used for fire support (2 with twin linked las cannons)

We rolled relic mission with Hammer and Anvil deployment.

Here some tactical analysis.

Praetor on Jetbike: it was an amzing choice. If I played the Preator with jump pack he would have died when he fought against the hammer-nators.

He absorbed an unbeliavalbe quantity of damage but he ended the match with one wound lost. The definitive list will have him on the Jetbike ;)

Stormeagles: The Eagles was wonderful the turn they arrived. One destroyed the Land Raider and 2 devastators with the vengeance launcher while the other destroyed a rhino (killing 2 tacticals) and killed two more devastators. Then the problems begun. One was forced to evade in order to avoid a pen hit. The other destroyed another rhino with 1 tactical.

On 3rd Turn the first eagle was blasted out the sky :he rolled 2 6 to hit, one 6 to pen and rerolling he got a 5. Never saw so much luck!

The second Eagle survived the 6 turns ending the match with only one HP left. The fixed arcs of fire, the mandatory movement ( I know why vector dancer is so appreaciated. If it only had it) and the fact the action took place on the center of table, where the relic lied, reduced its killing power.

Assault Squad: The judgement on this unit is a difficult one. It's very effective and merciless fighters made them to survive 2 turns against Assault TDA and kill them in the third. Mostly thanks to the fact we fight in a "bottle neck" area and the Praetor was on fron line. The Jetbikes saved him for good. The Jump Pack Praetor would be dead in the first turn but T5 made FNP usable. Merciless Fighters is a game changing and in most circumstances game winning ability. If he wasn't so lucky with armour rolls they would have cleared the TDA one turn before. However it's a very expensive unit and it forced me to play with a very limited number of units. Perhaps Assault Squad+ Stormeagles is a too expensive combo.

Volkite Caliver Support Squad: My opinion of them is positive. Sadly the nature of the mission played turned the game into a furious melee at the center of the table (Assault+TDA, then one of his tac, the surviving models, and my own tact joined the melee) prevented them from playing at the best of their possibilites. However they killed 1 TDA, 5 Tacticals and glanced a rhino to death. They didn't pay their cost back but Relic mission is peculiar ;)

Despoiler Squad: No need to talk about it. It's the tact squad we all love. Effective and always reliable. ;) It never let you down

The match was a victory for my Legion: I held the Relic, slay the warlord (in one assault phase the Captain iron halo saved 4 wounds! It was not my lucky day), scored First Blood and Linebreaker but it was not easy to get all of those Heavy Weapons' attention. 6-0 victory

I susect against another army I would have encountered more troubles.

In the end I'm re-thinking about the Assault squads+Stormeagles. They are amazing untill their mandatory movement puts their fixed arcs of fire away from Line of Sight.

I believe the Heavy Support squad would have dealt a deadly blow since turn 1.

What do you think, legionaries?

Anyway the Legion-ways won the day against the Fire Angels, servants of the Ecclesiarchy. Glory to the true Paragons of Mankind.

Just to give the mini battle reports a narrative feeling... ;)

Feel free to post your comments.

[TheForgottenAngel]

Awesome news! I will definitely adding an Apothecary to the Jetbike Command Group now instead of a Chaplain. I'd say keep one Storm Eagle and then drop the second for more bodies. I think that the Volkite squad will wreck horde armies and should be kept. Possibly add a second? Glad you got a game in with this list. For the Emperor of Mankind!!!!! Now we know what to expect. I'm deathly afraid now of merciless fighters......definitely cringing at the thought if they could do that to terminators.

[Cmdr Shepard]

Awesome news! I will definitely adding an Apothecary to the Jetbike Command Group now instead of a Chaplain. I'd say keep one Storm Eagle and then drop the second for more bodies. I think that the Volkite squad will wreck horde armies and should be kept. Possibly add a second? Glad you got a game in with this list. For the Emperor of Mankind!!!!! Now we know what to expect. I'm deathly afraid now of merciless fighters......definitely cringing at the thought if they could do that to terminators.

Thanks for the suggestions about the bikes... the Praetor on Jetbike ruled ;). Consider he even entertained himself with "transports hunting"... Combi-Melta(ed) one and double six with his heavy bolter glanced another and finished it in CC

The Jetbike turned a "turn 2 dead Praetor" into a hero. The hammer TDAs were very frustrated. Still the best way to deal with them is with shooting but that Relic prevented me from choosing the time of the charges. You cannot run, have to move no more than 6" etc. The best way is to let tacticals to acquire it but he had all of 3 tactical squad ready to grab it and enbark so I had to acquire it by myself ;)

The Volkite were is clear disadvange from the terrain. We chose the random terrain setting and I ended with just two ruins in my deployment zone with bad line of sights to the center of the battle, namely the center of the table.

The only problem with the Eagles were the fixed arcs of fire. My opponent focused all of his ML and twin linked las cannons on them and that's the reason one died fast. They kept the missiles away from other units though.

Is there a way to counter devastators-like units with HH armies?

Heavy support squads are an option: they outgun most opponents. Not to mention how deadly 10 blast attacks are to hordes: it's about 20/25 dead orks per turn.

If I'll ever be as lucky as he was today with ML I'd barely need flakk missiles to take down flyers but since I'm not I think they may be quite useful.

Anyway Drop pod lists may also counter devastator-like units but it's a risky tactic, especially with interceptor guns and first blood VP.

Regarding Merciless Fighters: What a wonderful ability! The TDA just got 16 additional attacks (I lost 2 assault marines before and two of them had axes for AP2 purposes) plus one Praetor attacks and one Primus Medicae one. He was even lucky. I supposed they would have died faster will al of those attacks. That was probably because in order to get the relic I was unable to charge them myself.

Even though TDA are hard to kill they will usually loose a model every 6 wounds. That's why Merciless Fighters is so dangerous to them, especially when they are forced to strike at I1 and thus being unable to reduce the Merciless Fighters Value.

In charge 20 Assault Marines (If you succeed in engaging all of them) brings 60 attacks (the sergeant even more with dual claws) then the make other 20 attacks add the Praetor and they have the chance to bring down even TDA (6.6 dead TDAs without counting the Praetor's attacks).

It's scary indeed...

I'll try the ML Heavy Support squad next time and I'll emend the lists in order to include the Praetor on jetbike.

[Cmdr Shepard]

Important Message: I decided to make another list and I decide to include... a Land Raider Spartan!

Here the most recent version of the Shock Assault Army.

HQ

Praetor

Jetbike, Iron Halo, Paragon Blade, Thunder Hammer, Digi Lasers, melta bombs

Primus Medicae

Jump Pack

TROOPS

20 Men Assault Squad [ Catulan Reaver Squad]

4 power weapon ,Sergeant with dual claws, Artificer armour and melta bombs

20 Men Tactical Squad [Despoiler Squad]

Additional CCW, Legion Vexilla

8 Men Tactical Support Squad

7 Volkite Calivers

HEAVY SUPPORT

10 Men Heavy Support Squad

10 Missile Launchers and Flak missiles.

Land Raider Spartan

Armoured Ceramite, Flare Shield, Dozer Blade, Auxiliary Drive

I should have the points for a couple of Augury Scanners.

NOTES:

I'm aware of the army's limitations: the lack of interceptor weapon and the low number of troop choices (even though it is inevitable when you start to field 20 SM units )

However if the army should be able to recreate the "strike fast, strike hard" concept I based the lists on.

Spartan and Assault Squad are targets difficult to ignore. The first is very hard to damage while the second is feared in CC.

The heavy support provide the support their are named for , adding their firepower to the Spartan's one.

Not to mention the fact the Assault and Despoiler sqaud could potentially charge the same target on the same turn. I haven't made my calculations but it should kill even an 30 orks strong unit.

What do you think?

Thank You for your assistence.

EDIT:

Corrected a typing mistake where Assault had been typed instead of Tactical in the Despoiler Squad line.

[Jim AMM realgenius]

Is Despolier Squad an Assault or Tactical Squad?

[Cmdr Shepard]

Is Despolier Squad an Assault or Tactical Squad?

It's a tactical squad equiped with additional CCW. Exactly like in the fluff

I simply made a mistake with copy and past. I'll correct it Immediatly. Thanks for have brought it to my attention

[Jim AMM realgenius]

Ah, that makes more sense.  I was wondering who would ride in the Spartan.  You do have one more HQ slot available... maybe a Chaplain or Librarian to run with the Spartan guys?

 

I like this list, a good mix of fluffy, cool toys and covering all the bases.  I wonder if I can squeeze this down to 1500 points.

[Cmdr Shepard]

Ah, that makes more sense.  I was wondering who would ride in the Spartan.  You do have one more HQ slot available... maybe a Chaplain or Librarian to run with the Spartan guys?

 

I like this list, a good mix of fluffy, cool toys and covering all the bases.  I wonder if I can squeeze this down to 1500 points.

 

I'm gald you liked the list. I'm also glad I was finally able to make this project "operational" ;)

Sadly I don't have the points for an additional HQ. As you may have already noticed I even hadn't the points for giving some gear to the Primus Medica.

If I know I'm not going against flyers I could use the flak missiles points for something else but they won't allow me to field a Librarian or Chaplain... unless I remove the Primus Medicae with Jump Pack.

 

What do you think?

 

We can try to make a 1500 pta version of this concept but I have to say I had a lot of difficulties in putting all of those unit in a 2000 pts army ;)

[Jim AMM realgenius]

I guess it is a balance of re-rolling attacks vs. getting a 5+ FNP.  I've never used the Primus Medicae, but he does seem like a lot of points.

 

Speaking of re-rolling, with a Chaplain would you get to also re-roll Merciless Fighter attacks?  That might make it even more effective to include a Chaplain and fluff-wise could represent the efficiency of the Catulan Reavers.