Blood Angels Unit of the Week series Unit of the Week: Commander Dante

[Jolemai]

 

Welcome to part one of the Blood Angels Unit of the Week series!

 
Following the release of the 10^th edition Codex Supplement, there is no better time to discuss all the units we have access to. Each week a different unit will appear, with the idea being that we discuss how best to use that model on the battlefield. Where part one will discuss the units from the units found within Codex Supplement: Blood Angels, parts two to four will discuss Codex: Space Marines, part five will be Imperial Armour, and part six will be Legends.
 
Note, this isn't to lament any nerfs, etc, from previous editions; the rules are as they are so try to unlock its potential for those who wish to use them all the same. Similarly, this thread is only for using the option being discussed; it matters not if you feel something is a better choice as such comments aren't constructive to the topic and shall be removed.
 
Without further ado, here's this week's entry:

 

Commander Dante

What are you thoughts here folks? How best would you use Commander Dante?

• To compliment a list, or to build a list around? 
• Which Detachment are you using?
• What delivery options are you using? 
• What deployment options are you using?
• What unit is he leading, and how are they set up?
• Stratagem synergy of note?

 

Over to you.

[Jolemai]

Should you want your model on display here (or on another thread), then submit a photo here please.

 

(Once I work out how best to float it!)

 

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As an aside, the thread setup may change over the coming weeks until I'm happy with them. This includes the photos.

[Casual Heresy]

I've only played one game with my BA,/ and Dante was an utter beast, carving through Chaos Marines like they were wet cardboard.

 

I took him leading a unit of six Sanguinary Guard and between their speed and special rules they were untouchable and essentially claimed the left flank on their own. Dante alone accounted for over half a ten man raptors squad, a 5 man marine squad and 5 terminators. I fully expect him to die horribly and early next time I have a game against my best mate thanks to that performance.

[Karhedron]

What can we say? Dante is 130 points of pure beatstick. His +1 to Advance, Charge and Hit will nicely buff any unit he leads but the obvious place for him is in a unit of Sanguinary Guard. There is nothing subtle or tricky about how to use him, you add him to the SG as a top-tier hammer unit. With the +1 to Charge, you can try charging out of Deep Strike but even with a CP reroll, that is only a 66% chance of success so I prefer to start them deployed (preferably in cover) and then move up for a T2 charge.

 

I have only tried him in the Liberator Assault Group so far but he works very well as 9 S10 attacks on the charge is just brutal. There are several useful stratagems to further boost their melee output but against a lot of opponents, it will be overkill. in my last game, Dante and his bodyguard wiped out Vaal and her Paragon bodyguards on the charge.