How do you like the Vanguard Spearhead detachment in 10th?

[Helias_Tancred]

Hi all. I was curious now that 10th edition has been out for a good year, how do you like playing the Raven Guard-inspired marine detachment? Especially if you play Raven Guard and use it?

 

I'm very curious ;)

 

 

[Tawnis]

While I haven't played them yet myself, I did tournament a while ago where it was 2v2 1k points each, but you couldn't pick the same codex, I ran my Kroot and my friend ran their Raven Guard, it was a really good combo and we went undefeated. 

 

- Shrike giving Jump Intercessors Lone Op and Up/Down is really good, they didn't even get touched until they closed with the enemy and they just blendered when they connected. 

- He also ran a Judiciar leading Bladeguard vets with The Blade Driven Deep to give them Infiltrate and he deployed them last, always right in the way of enemy melee units which created this big awkward bubble they needed to play around. They were positioned so they couldn't really be shot much, and our opponents couldn't effectively charge them either since the Judiciar game them Fights First. 

 

Beyond that, just the general playstyle of sneaky mobility shenanigans and ranged buffs like Strike From the Shadows parried really well with the Kroot's aggressive playstyle, but I could see them working very well on their own too. 

Edited August 23, 2024 by Tawnis

[Galron]

I havent played it in PN. I did play it quite a bit in Levi. Biggest problem it has is dealing with big stuff and fast melee together. Your sneakiness and fast movers only go so far until you run into a well played nidzilla list or a space wolf list with multiple thunder wolves and enough infiltrators, scouts and wolves to screen you out of his entire back field. At lower points, even going 50/50 fast and sneaky /heavy shooty you will bounce off a heavy list like I did vs Bully Boyz. Skrike is cool, but a combat character he is not, at all, dont even try unless its a last ditch and he doesnt have assassination up.

[INKS]

Captain in Gravis Armour 
• 1x Boltstorm gauntlet
1x Power fist
1x Relic fist
• Enhancement: Blade driven deep

 

Librarian in Phobos Armour 
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Force weapon
1x Smite

Apothecary Biologis 
• 1x Absolvor bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon

 

Kayvaan Shrike 
• Warlord
• 1x Blackout
1x The Raven's Talons

 

Lieutenant with Combi-weapon 
• 1x Combi-weapon
• 1x Paired combat blades

 

Aggressor Squad 
• 1x Aggressor Sergeant
• 1x Auto boltstorm gauntlets
1x Fragstorm grenade launcher
1x Twin power fists
• 5x Aggressor
• 5x Auto boltstorm gauntlets
5x Fragstorm grenade launcher
5x Twin power fists

Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs 
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• 9x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs
• 9x Astartes chainsword
7x Heavy bolt pistol
2x Plasma pistol

 

Scout Squad 
• 1x Scout Sergeant
• 1x Astartes chainsword
1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
• 2x Astartes shotgun
4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Heavy bolter
1x Scout sniper rifle

 

Scout Squad 
• 1x Scout Sergeant
• 1x Astartes chainsword
1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
• 2x Astartes shotgun
4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Heavy bolter
1x Scout sniper rifle

 

Gladiator Lancer 
• 1x Armoured hull
2x Fragstorm grenade launcher
1x Icarus rocket pod
1x Ironhail heavy stubber
1x Lancer laser destroyer

Gladiator Lancer (160 points)
• 1x Armoured hull
2x Fragstorm grenade launcher
1x Icarus rocket pod
1x Ironhail heavy stubber
1x Lancer laser destroyer

 

Inceptor Squad 
• 1x Inceptor Sergeant
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Plasma exterminators
• 2x Inceptor
• 2x Close combat weapon
2x Plasma exterminators

 

Inceptor Squad 
• 1x Inceptor Sergeant
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Bolters
• 2x Inceptor
• 2x Close combat weapon
2x Bolters

 

Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs 
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs
• 4x Astartes chainsword
3x Heavy bolt pistol
1x Plasma pistol

 

Infiltrator Squad 
• 1x Infiltrator Sergeant
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Marksman bolt carbine
• 4x Infiltrator
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Helix Gauntlet
1x Infiltrator Comms Array
4x Marksman bolt carbine

 

Infiltrator Squad 
• 1x Infiltrator Sergeant
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Marksman bolt carbine
• 4x Infiltrator
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Helix Gauntlet
1x Infiltrator Comms Array
4x Marksman bolt carbine

 

Redemptor Dreadnought 
• 1x Icarus rocket pod
1x Macro plasma incinerator
1x Onslaught gatling cannon
1x Redemptor fist
1x Twin storm bolter

 

Shrike with the 10 assault intercessors / JPs

Gravis captain with infiltrate, the Apothecary and 6 aggressors.

Phobos Lib and 5 Infiltrators to protect the backfield

5 more infiltrators to protect the mid and infiltrate up early

2x5 scouts for forward deploy

combi wpn lieutnant - lone operative - mark midfield objectives which makes the enemy easier to kill

Then Anit tank things

and 2x Inceptors

2nd small assault intercessor w/JP for moving around and actions and a +1 unit to fights.

 

Don't know if this is the best list but this is what I've been running with some success. There are just some match ups where they can block you out and just out gun or move you. Space marines in general need help. I wish there was more actual Raven Guard flavour in the rules. But we work with what we have.

 

Eliminators also work fairly well. with move shoot move, but i went with this over them.

[Galron]

I was watching on Youtube and a guy is running a Vanguard list which kind of goes against the grain but seems pretty interesting and he seems to do well at tournaments.

2 Phobos LTs

3 Assault intercessor squads

3 Impulsors

3 Gladiator Lancers

2 predator annihilators

2 Gladiator Reapers.

Obviously he uses the -1 to be hit thing and bounces the phobos LTs around to various objectives as needed. With the price drop on Annihilators he can probably add the lone op on one LT and drop the other LT for a combi-weapon LT.

[INKS]

wonder why impulsors so much

 

This list just placed 1st. it would need to be adjusted for ravenguard but could work well? also new points need to be adjusted.

 

Apothecary Biologis 
• 1x Absolvor bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
• Enhancement: The Blade Driven Deep

Captain Sicarius (85 points)
• 1x Artisan plasma pistol
1x Talassarian Tempest Blade

 

Lieutenant with Combi-weapon 
• 1x Combi-weapon
1x Paired combat blades
• Enhancement: Shadow War Veteran

 

Marneus Calgar 
• 1x Marneus Calgar
• Warlord
• 1x Gauntlets of Ultramar
• 2x Victrix Honour Guard
• 2x Victrix power sword

 

Uriel Ventris 
• 1x Bolt Pistol
1x Invictus
1x Sword of Idaeus

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Impulsor 
• 1x Armoured hull
2x Fragstorm grenade launcher
1x Ironhail heavy stubber
1x Shield dome

OTHER DATASHEETS

Centurion Devastator Squad 
• 1x Devastator Centurion Sergeant
• 1x Centurion fists
1x Centurion missile launcher
1x Twin lascannon
• 5x Devastator Centurion
• 5x Centurion fists
5x Centurion missile launcher
5x Twin lascannon

 

Company Heroes 
• 1x Ancient
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Bolt rifle
1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Company Champion
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Master-crafted power weapon
• 2x Company Veteran
• 2x Bolt pistol
2x Close combat weapon
1x Master-crafted bolt rifle
1x Master-crafted heavy bolter

 

Company Heroes 
• 1x Ancient
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Bolt rifle
1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Company Champion
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Master-crafted power weapon
• 2x Company Veteran
• 2x Bolt pistol
2x Close combat weapon
1x Master-crafted bolt rifle
1x Master-crafted heavy bolter

 

Eradicator Squad 
• 1x Eradicator Sergeant
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Melta rifle
• 5x Eradicator
• 5x Bolt pistol
5x Close combat weapon
3x Melta rifle
2x Multi-melta

 

Inceptor Squad 
• 1x Inceptor Sergeant
• 1x Assault bolters
1x Close combat weapon
• 2x Inceptor
• 2x Assault bolters
2x Close combat weapon

 

Inceptor Squad 
• 1x Inceptor Sergeant
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Plasma exterminators
• 5x Inceptor
• 5x Close combat weapon
5x Plasma exterminators

 

Infiltrator Squad 
• 1x Infiltrator Sergeant
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Marksman bolt carbine
• 4x Infiltrator
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Helix Gauntlet
1x Infiltrator Comms Array
4x Marksman bolt carbine

 

Scout Squad 
• 1x Scout Sergeant
• 1x Astartes chainsword
1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Boltgun
4x Close combat weapon

 

Scout Squad 
• 1x Scout Sergeant
• 1x Astartes chainsword
1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Boltgun
4x Close combat weapon

 

i think we drop the UM characters.

the company hero squads

add in Shrike. and maybe some jump guys to go with him.

not sure what else.

[Galron]

I just played a variation of the list I posted above versus a competitive Nidzilla list. Now my opponent is a long time opponent of mine, we have been playing each other pretty often for the last several years and I generally will not win with a TAC list. I have only done so once and that was with a Born Soldiers guard light cavalry list which spammed light vehicles which meant a crap ton of lethal hits every round. His philosophy with some minor variation each game is to basically build a list and tailor it to fight marines and thats about as deep tactically that he goes. He will drop and add a unit here and there to experiment but the core is just massive amounts of T11+, 4++ saves, and minimum -2ap and 3 damage weapons with a lot of shots. I always liken his deployment to an SEC football offensive line against a JV high school team. So I wanted to surprise him after a string of defeats and told him I wanted to try a different marine variation against him and over the week since our last game, printed up 3 lancers. I dislike meta chasing, and really only planned on using this against him so I dont really have any moral issue against this. I built two predators that I had in boxes for another project, slapped some primer and Baal Red(since I hated unpainted armies) on them and here we go.

 

He expected my usual attempt to use mass deep striking drop pods and terminators. Instead I brought:

phobos LT with cloak

techmarine

 

5 hellblasters in an impulsor

5 infernus in an impulsor

6 plasma inceptors

5 JAI

 

3 lancers

2 predators(autocannon version)

2 Ballistus dreads

Vindicator

 

Did I feel bad about it? Maybe a little. Was it fun? Was kind of boring to be honest. Did I win? He conceded turn 3.

Turn 1: I killed two of his big gun bugs, got a lictor down to one wound, killed 4 out of 6 Neurothropes. He did a little damage to a predator and almost killed an impulsor.

Turn 2: Killed the third big gun bug, both lictors, dropped a brain bug to 4 damage, cleared the gargoyles, and the remaining meurothropes leaving the tyrant. He killed a predator and managed to engage every tank in close combat but did no damage.

Turn 3: Killed tyranofex, hive tyrant, the 4 wound brain bug on the center objective, the biovore, and took what would be the final objective from him as well(supply drop). Left on the board were two pyrovores and two damages brain bugs and a neurothrope. I still had everything alive except a predator and an impulsor and a single infernus marine who died when that impulsor blew up. 

 

What I learned: Vanguard is awesome for a vehicle army. The stealth and the cover is invaluable especially since the AoC nerf. With the buff to OoM I had enough units who were OoM independent that I didnt need support characters. Vindicators kind of suck. 

 

If I play this again, especially if I play it against someone else, what I am considering is dropping the techmarine and the vindicator and bringing another JAI, Reiver and scout squad to go do objectives. It gives me more tools to work with and my opponent more things to shoot at, but makes the list less one dimensional. It also leans more into other strats in the detachment as all I was using was AoC and once I used the +1 BS and +1 AP at 12+" strat. I need to figure out how to better take primary objectives early on or at least prevent my opponents from just storming them for early points. 

 

[jpwyrm]

On 1/13/2025 at 9:13 AM, Galron said:

What I learned: Vanguard is awesome for a vehicle army. The stealth and the cover is invaluable especially since the AoC nerf. With the buff to OoM I had enough units who were OoM independent that I didnt need support characters. Vindicators kind of suck. 

 

If I play this again, especially if I play it against someone else, what I am considering is dropping the techmarine and the vindicator and bringing another JAI, Reiver and scout squad to go do objectives. It gives me more tools to work with and my opponent more things to shoot at, but makes the list less one dimensional. It also leans more into other strats in the detachment as all I was using was AoC and once I used the +1 BS and +1 AP at 12+" strat. I need to figure out how to better take primary objectives early on or at least prevent my opponents from just storming them for early points. 

 

 

Nicely done! I must confess I would never expect to hear that Vindicators sucks, they're so awesome! I've been playing two regularly since the begining of 10th and they've always been useful. Sometimes they don't kill much, but they're always a pain to remove. Also, the fact they're not affected by being tied in melee makes them a nice piece to take objectives early and draw enemies out. 

That being said, I think you're right, you need more objective play units. If you could squeeze Shrike in, the 2 x JPI would get OC2 which is massive. Did you take the Phobos Lt over the combi-weapon one for it's Deepstrike ability? If so, including Reivers in your list like you're planning should cover Deepstrike and I think the Combi-lt brings a little bit more to the table than the Phobos Lt.

[Galron]

At the time I forgot that I had the techmarine in the list who could have been the warlord and the combi-LT would have been far more useful with how much activity that happened around the center objective. 

 

I think with the Vindicator I am a bit spoiled by my Iron Warriors where I bring three. The chaos versions for 10 more points get d6+3 shots with the option for sustained or lethal or both(I bring hellbrutes for this). Just a measely d6 is kind of meh. It will be a few weeks until I play again, too much going on. The original list was kind of boring as I said, maybe some more troopers will make it a little more interesting. 

[jpwyrm]

3 hours ago, Galron said:

At the time I forgot that I had the techmarine in the list who could have been the warlord and the combi-LT would have been far more useful with how much activity that happened around the center objective. 

 

I think with the Vindicator I am a bit spoiled by my Iron Warriors where I bring three. The chaos versions for 10 more points get d6+3 shots with the option for sustained or lethal or both(I bring hellbrutes for this). Just a measely d6 is kind of meh. It will be a few weeks until I play again, too much going on. The original list was kind of boring as I said, maybe some more troopers will make it a little more interesting. 

 

Wait, Space Marines Vindicators are D6+3 shots too! We don't get Lethals or Sustained Hits like CSM you're right, but it's the only difference.

[Galron]

Guess I missed the +3 part. Ok that makes them a little more reliable.