Raven Guard - 2500pts - Decapitation Strike - HH Tournament

[MorgothNL]

Hi everyone, I'm preparing on taking my RG to a HH tournament coming up, and I'm looking for some input:

HQ:

Alvarex Maun (cameleoline)

Kaedes Nex (infravisor)

ELITES:

6 Mor Deythan (4x Combi-Melta, 2x Meltagun, Artificer Armour, Melta Bomb, Rhino, Dozer Blade)

7 Mor Deythan (5x Combi-flamer, 2x Plasma Gun, Artificer Armour, Melta Bomb, Rhino, Dozer Blade)

1x Deathstorm Droppod (Droppod assault, krak launchers)

2x Legion Rapier (Grav Cannon)

TROOPS:

14x Legion Tacticals (Vexilla, Artificer Armour, Melta Bombs)

10x Legion Tacticals (Artificer Armour, Melta Bombs, Droppod)

7x Legion Tactical Support Squad (Meltaguns, Artificer Armour, Drop Pod)

FAST ATTACK:

10 Dark Furies (Melta Bombs on Shade)

1x Javelin Speeder (CML, 2x HKM, Multi Melta)

1x Javelin Speeder (CML, 2x HKM, Multi Melta)

HEAVY SUPPORT:

1x Fire Raptor (Hellstrike Missiles, Reaper Autocannons)

- I'm running Decapitation Strike ROW

I like the setup of my army and the way it feels Raven Guardy and I'd like to stick to that feeling.

I could drop Nex in favour of some recon marines with snipers, I have those and with the preferred enemy, those could be quite good objective campers. The Deathstorm is not a must, but I like it, it's Raven Guardy and it brings my droppod total to 3, so I can drop both it and the melta's T1. It also has the obvious benefit of being a big distraction and hopefully will slow elements of his army down.

My concerns are super-heavies and knights. I don't know if I can deal with those (Typhon )

I don't mind landraiders and Spartans that much, cause the lascannons are no real threat to my infantry army and I can probably out-deploy or out-manoeuvre them long enough to not be too much of a problem

Almost every legion will be represented at the tournament, so I can be facing anything.

Tournament rules:

- 1-Grenade FAQ in effect (this cripples the list I usually run, and negates all anti-heavy-armour I had)

- No primarchs (meh!)

- Max 1 Rapier Squad

- No allies

Any comments are welcome!

[Nusquam]

How attached to the deathstorm pod are you? BS2 krak shots are not effective, even shooting at everything within 12", and being AV12 HP3 open-topped it is not going to see a turn with full BS. I'd drop it for another grav rapier in your battery

 

The melta squad is only 230. Even with infiltrate they have to get within 6" to use the melta rule. I'd give them a pod or drop them entirely for a lightning with strafing run, tank hunters, and 4 kraken missiles. Significantly more effective against AV14 and superheavies. You'll likely only have one effective phase with either and the lightning punches far above it's weight. I just reread your list, did you give them a pod? You mention it but it would be 265 with a pod. Are you doing the free combi weapon on the sarge instead? If you want three pods, you can drop the 4 extra tacs and give them one. Put Maun with the rapiers to give them stealth.

 

Alternatively you can put the points of the krakstorm towards a lightning and play with the model count. It's really the weakest link in the list for a tournament, BS2 without blasts when it enters, easy First Blood and Kill point to prevent a boatload of kraks at full BS the next turn..

[MorgothNL]

How attached to the deathstorm pod are you? BS2 krak shots are not effective, even shooting at everything within 12", and being AV12 HP3 open-topped it is not going to see a turn with full BS. I'd drop it for another grav rapier in your battery

 

The melta squad is only 230. Even with infiltrate they have to get within 6" to use the melta rule. I'd give them a pod or drop them entirely for a lightning with strafing run, tank hunters, and 4 kraken missiles. Significantly more effective against AV14 and superheavies. You'll likely only have one effective phase with either and the lightning punches far above it's weight. I just reread your list, did you give them a pod? You mention it but it would be 265 with a pod. Are you doing the free combi weapon on the sarge instead? If you want three pods, you can drop the 4 extra tacs and give them one. Put Maun with the rapiers to give them stealth.

 

Alternatively you can put the points of the krakstorm towards a lightning and play with the model count. It's really the weakest link in the list for a tournament, BS2 without blasts when it enters, easy First Blood and Kill point to prevent a boatload of kraks at full BS the next turn..

Yes, the melta squad had a drop pod, I've corrected the first post.

 

I'm not super attached to the deathstorm pod, I haven't even received it (but have ordered it). I've never used one, but I really like the idea and RG fluff they bring. I understand they are not competitive, and I have no issues dropping it for a tourney list. I think it will see action in more casual games, and when I'm more comfortable playing RG. Also hoping for a buff someday.

So I can drop that one.

 

Lightning is certain a good anti-armour unit, but my Emperor's children already have one, and taking one in my RG army too, feels like it's going to much towards the same idea (which is why I don't like the grenade FAQ). But anyways, I want to stay away from a lightning.

Besides, the dark furies are a must, and so are the 2 speeders. I could make them into 1 squad to free up the slot, but I feel that lone speeders do better because the are much more flexible and survivable that way due to better positioning options.

 

Maun is going with the rapiers yes.

 

 

So I can remove the deathstorm, but that doesn't free up enough points, nor free up the correct slots. The tournament does not allow more that 1 rapier unit (wouldn't want a second unit regardless).

 

 

What do you think about the melta supports in the pod? And what about the 2 mor deythan units?

I've slightly changed the previous list as follows:

HQ:

Alvarex Maun (cameleoline)

Kaedes Nex (infravisor) - (or 5 recon squad with snipers + cameleoline)

 

ELITES:

7x Mor Deythan (5x Combi-flamer, 2x Plasma Gun, Artificer Armour, Melta Bomb, Rhino, Dozer Blade)

1x Deathstorm Droppod (Droppod assault, krak launchers)

3x Legion Rapier (Grav Cannon)

1x Contemptor-Cortus Class (Drop Pod, Chainfist, Close Combat Weapon, Extra Armour, 2x gravgun)

 

TROOPS:

10x Legion Tacticals (Rhino, Artificer Armour, Melta Bombs)

10x Legion Tacticals (Artificer Armour, Melta Bombs)

6x Legion Tactical Support Squad (Plasmaguns, Artificer Armour, Drop Pod)

 

FAST ATTACK:

9 Dark Furies (Melta Bombs on Shade)

1x Javelin Speeder (CML, 2x HKM, Multi Melta)

1x Javelin Speeder (CML, 2x HKM, Multi Melta)

 

HEAVY SUPPORT:

1x Fire Raptor (Hellstrike Missiles, Reaper Autocannons)

 

- Decapitation Strike ROW

 

 

-So I added an extra grav rapier to the squad, removed one dark fury to free up some points, and swapped 1 Mor Deythan squad for a Cortus in a Pod.

-This gives me 3 pods. Deathstorm and Cortus will drop first and plasmagun support will drop T2 (either killing elite infantry or popping lighter armour/side armour, or just using their range from a good position objective wise).

- One tactical Squad will infiltrate somewhere close to an objective that is relatively safe, and the other one will use their Rhino to get to another and/or to give some extra fire on a squishy unit.

 

- It still has the deathstorm cause I like the idea and seems like a units that could be worth the 1 VP for creating enough distraction, but I have no experience on the matter. (don't have any experience with grav rapiers nor the Cortus either).

 

This list still has all the RG elements I like (Drop Pods, Mor Deythan, Dark Furies, FIre Raptor, Speeders). But adds some extra variety with the Cortus, and hopefully some extra punch. The Cortus will be the RG contemptor, so that will look very RG too.

 

EDIT:

Since I'm painting all my infantry at the moment anyways, and haven't received the deathstorm yet, I could remove the deathstorm + 1 plasma support + 1 Dark Fury and replace it all for a 6 man Veteran Squad all with combi-melta's in a pod. They will also give away a vp T1 or T2 (or 2 even counting the pod too), but they will most likely score one as well. With them and the Cortus on T1 coming in, thats hopefully the 2 biggest threats destroyed either T1 or T2 after the Cortus hopefully assaulted.

 

Still, I'll give the Deathstorm a shot when it arrives. In many cases you could get at least 3 enemy units within range. Thats an average of 18 shots, so 6 S8 hits spread over those units. Cover is unlikely so that could mean 2 dead rhino's. But I guess time will tell. Do you own and have you played any Nusquam? Or is it the underwhelming stats on paper that makes advise against (which I understand)>

 

Also.. where is the Dreadnought drop pod on the FW site? I want to 'buy my plan' but I can't find it.

[Fangbanger]

drop pod is out I'm affraid, the are redoing it but are in no rush too so you won't get one unfortunately.

 

I run a cortus in a pod a lot in my world eaters with the aim to open Armour up, although on paper it looks like it can do the job it hasn't been that successfull with me but I still take him every game!

 

Combi vets with machine killer would do ok I think but neither are ever going to be as good as a lightning.

 

Maybe a Vindicator squad? I know it's a bit change but the beauty is being able to take more in the heavy slots as they are a squad. d3 shots is pretty sweet too.

 

really though, I think your best bet is to drop javs for normal speeders. sure they are more squishy, but they are cheaper and can run Grav. taking a unit of 3 and your rappers means a dead spartan turn 1 I'd you deploy smart

 

**Also you should not really include unit points up so might want to edit that out

[MorgothNL]

drop pod is out I'm affraid, the are redoing it but are in no rush too so you won't get one unfortunately.

I run a cortus in a pod a lot in my world eaters with the aim to open Armour up, although on paper it looks like it can do the job it hasn't been that successfull with me but I still take him every game!

Combi vets with machine killer would do ok I think but neither are ever going to be as good as a lightning.

Maybe a Vindicator squad? I know it's a bit change but the beauty is being able to take more in the heavy slots as they are a squad. d3 shots is pretty sweet too.

really though, I think your best bet is to drop javs for normal speeders. sure they are more squishy, but they are cheaper and can run Grav. taking a unit of 3 and your rappers means a dead spartan turn 1 I'd you deploy smart

**Also you should not really include unit points up so might want to edit that out

Sorry, I could have sworn that totals were ok, but Specific point per upgrade and naked squad were not allowed. I've removed the pts indications in both post, thank you.

 

Thank you also for your comment and suggestions, however, it is changing the whole Idea of my army and requires half of my current expenses to stay home while I spend another 350pounds. Javelin speeders and the Fire Fire Raptor are too iconic for me to leave at home and vindicators are the opposite of what I want to bring to the table.

The lightning is very good and fits the army, and I could squad up my 2 Javelin to fit it in, but he will be last resort if all the other stuff isn't enough to be able to play a decently fun and competitive game (since I already have one in my other army, and I don't like the style of it. Come in, 90% guaranteed kill anything and then die or be useless. Don't like it in my EC army but I have model painted so.. I'll take it.

 

How is the Cortus failing you? Does it not have enough punch? Does it die before doing anything? You run it in a pod with gravs, chain fist and cc too?

[Fangbanger]

Yeah cortus is run like that. I drop it down with the kharybdis turn 1 and he usually gets noped with his weaker save or fluffs his rolls in combat. to be fair to him, he has almost done a glaive in on his own before but really for the points and survivability, a chain Fist termie unit in anvilus would probably fair better