Is pure Deathwing viable in 11th Edition?

[Lathe Biosas]

I've been playing around with list construction and noticing the Adeptus Custodes doing really well with an almost all Terminators list... I was wondering if the Dark Angels could still compete in that arena.

 

(Most of the DA lists I see lately involve a lot of old bikes)

 

Here's my list (built around The Lion’s Protectorate):

 

Battle Size

Strike Force (2000 Point limit)

 

Detachment 3 Detachment Points

Inner Circle Task Force, Librarius Conclave

 

Force Disposition

Priority Assets

 

 

Lion El'Jonson 265 pts

Warlord

 

Deathwing Knights 240 pts

• 4x Deathwing Knight: Mace of absolution • 1x Knight Master: Great Weapon of the Unforgiven

Belial 75 pts

• Leading: Deathwing Knights[1]

 

Deathwing Knights 240 pts

• 4x Deathwing Knight: Mace of absolution • 1x Knight Master: Great Weapon of the Unforgiven

Librarian in Terminator Armour 100 pts

Champion of the Deathwing, Storm bolter • Leading: Deathwing Knights[2]

 

Deathwing Terminator Squad 330 pts

Watcher in the Dark • 7x Deathwing Terminator • 2x Deathwing Terminator w/ Heavy Weapon: Power Fist, Cyclone Missile Launcher & Storm Bolter

Librarian in Terminator Armour 110 pts

Temporal Corridor, Storm bolter • Leading: Deathwing Terminator Squad

 

Inner Circle Companions 160 pts

• 6x Inner Circle Companion

Azrael 140 pts

• Leading: Inner Circle Companions

 

5 Scout Squad 65 pts

• 1x Scout Sergeant: Astartes Chainsword • 1x Scout w/ Heavy Weapon: Missile Launcher • 1x Scout w/ Scout Sniper Rifle • 2x Scouts w/ Combat Knife

 

5 Scout Squad 65 pts

• 1x Scout Sergeant: Astartes Chainsword • 1x Scout w/ Heavy Weapon: Heavy Bolter • 1x Scout w/ Scout Sniper Rifle • 2x Scouts w/ Combat Knife

 

Land Speeder 105 pts

Onslaught gatling cannon

 

Land Speeder 105 pts

Onslaught gatling cannon

[Shark in Exile]

Not used my Deathwing yet in 11th Edition but going to try this list next week against Orks. 

 

 

1x Belial (75 pts): Warlord, Master-crafted storm bolter, The Sword of Silence

1x Ancient in Terminator Armour (65 pts): Storm bolter, Power weapon

1x Captain in Terminator Armour (85 pts): Storm bolter, Relic Weapon

1x Chaplain in Terminator Armour (75 pts): Crozius arcanum, Storm bolter

 

5x Deathwing Knights (240 pts): Watcher in the Dark

• 4x Deathwing Knight: 4 with Power Weapon

• 1x Knight Master: Relic Weapon

 

5x Deathwing Terminator Squad (165 pts): Watcher in the Dark

• 4x Deathwing Terminator

    2 with Power Fist, Storm Bolter

    1 with Chainfist, Storm Bolter

    1 with Power Fist, Plasma cannon

• 1x Deathwing Sergeant: Power Weapon, Storm Bolter

 

5x Deathwing Terminator Squad (165 pts): Watcher in the Dark

• 4x Deathwing Terminator

    2 with Power Fist, Storm Bolter

    1 with Chainfist, Storm Bolter

    1 with Power Fist, Plasma cannon

• 1x Deathwing Sergeant: Power Weapon, Storm Bolter

 

10x Deathwing Terminator Squad (330 pts): Watcher in the Dark

• 9x Deathwing Terminator

    7 with Power Fist, Storm Bolter

    2 with Power Fist, Assault cannon

• 1x Deathwing Sergeant: Power Weapon, Storm Bolter

 

1x Land Speeder (105 pts): Close combat weapon, Multi-melta, Stormfury Missile Launcher, Onslaught gatling cannon

 

1x Land Speeder (105 pts): Close combat weapon, Multi-melta, Stormfury Missile Launcher, Onslaught gatling cannon

 

1x Redemptor Dreadnought (205 pts): Icarus Rocket Pod, Redemptor Fist, Macro Plasma Incinerator, Heavy Flamer, Twin Storm Bolter

 

1x Ballistus Dreadnought (150 pts): Armoured Feet, Ballistus Lascannon, Ballistus Missile Launcher, Twin Storm Bolter

 

1x Repulsor Executioner (230 pts): Armoured Hull, Heavy Onslaught Gatling Cannon, Icarus Rocket Pod, Ironhail Heavy Stubber, Repulsor Executioner Defensive Array, Twin heavy bolter, Twin Icarus ironhail heavy stubber, Macro Plasma Incinerator

 

[Lathe Biosas]

What Detachments or Enhancements are you using?

[Tacitus]

Because Dreads are now (so far) only Deathwing then in theory Pure Deathwing is possible.  Pure Deathwing without Dreads will be missing anti-vehicle/monster punch - especially from range.  Ballistus Dreads and Redemptor/Brutalis (fists/claws) are about the only thing you'll have that hits S12.  You will already have a small/slght mobility problem, and a moderate numbers problem.  Without the Dreads you'll have a large T12 problem.  Even T9ish is going to stretch for you - a Dev Squad had 4 Krak Missiles per 200ish points.  A 10 man Terminator squad has 4 Kraks for about 400 Points.   They kind of slapped a bandaid on Deathwing Knights getting Anti Monster/Vehicle 4+ on their Absolution maces - and of course Chain Fists also have Anti-Vehicle - but you've got to work harder with that due to the decreased opportunities (Melee range, fewer models, etc)

[Shark in Exile]

On 9/8/2026 at 5:07 AM, Lathe Biosas said:

What Detachments or Enhancements are you using?

Just the Inner Circle Task Force at the moment to see how it plays before the update version is posted as a PDF when the new Space Marine Codex is released 

[Lathe Biosas]

Looks like it's going to be a fun filled adventure waiting for our update while the minor marine chapters figure out their lists.

 

In the meantime, does look like Terminator Storm is going to be the Deathwing Detachment for a while?

[Tacitus]

The (Generic/Codex for now) Terminators are much better than they were.   Storm Bolters are back.  Their Power and Chain Fists are AP3 when you consider their AP Buff in Fury of the First.  Most of their Rapid Fire Storm Bolters should be AP2.  I think Cyclones are still king, but the Assault Cannon closed the distance.  Sternguard are generally nice again (Though the Infernus Profile is kinda meh as they appear to be just intercessors without any buff - and only at half range - for that profile?), and part of the Deathwing now.  Vanguard Vets are also much improved as Deathwing.  Bear in mind The Lion does not - as yet - have Deathwing/Ravenwing/Inner Circle etc keywords which means many of the DA Specific Dets Strats that require those keywords won't hit him.

[Tacitus]

Just did a shallow dive on my Ultramarines.  They may do Terminators better for a while.  They can get a deathstar of 20 Terminators, 2 Leaders (and optional Two Support) plus Guilliman all running around in Superdoctrine, rerolling 1s to hit and wound - Plus more layered wombo combo enhances on 1 Terminator Captain, and 2 optional Supports.  (Meaning this is before you pick your Detachment(s), Enhancement(s), and Stratagems.