Playtesting Angelic Inheritors

[Karhedron]

I have just had my first game using Angelic Inheritors and I am a lot more impressed than I expected to be. My initial impression of AI was that it was over-costed and was a downgrade over its 10th edition incarnation. But actually rerolling 1s to Hit and Wound is pretty strong in a post-OOM world with the new Marine profile. I just played my first 1000 point game against Necrons and tabled them Turn 3. My list is below:

 

Jump Captain with TH/SS leading 3 Sanguinary Guard

Sanguinary Priest leading 10 Hellblasters

Sanguinary Priest leading 6 BGVs

Ballistus Dreadnought

5 Intercessors

 

While the primary ability only benefits the larger squads, it is always on and is pretty good. The Detachment also has a good suite of Stratagems with "Strike Now For Glory" (Sustained Hits 1 for shooting) and Focussed Fury (Lethal Hits in melee with Lance if you have a Character) really boosting the damage output when you need it. SNFG on 10 Hellblasters with Plunging Fire was incredible!

 

The downside is that list building options are somewhat limited. Only Death Company and Sanguinary Guard can natively use the Detachment bonus. Codex squads can be granted it by adding Dante, a Sanguinary Priest or a Blood Angels Captain on foot. This restricts the combos you achieve and also makes your units quite expensive since you are paying a Character tax for each unit you want to access the detachment bonus. Even so, I will be playing it some more and look forward to our escalation league going to 1500 points.

 

[jaxom]

I’m not surprised with its success at 1000 points. I’m very curious to see how it scales and how it handles armies with more tools.

[Karhedron]

7 hours ago, jaxom said:

I’m not surprised with its success at 1000 points. I’m very curious to see how it scales and how it handles armies with more tools.

 

I agree, a sample size of one is not conclusive and I may have been lucky or just benefitting from the overall buffs to the Marine statline. However, my initial experiences have been better than I was expecting when I first looked at the rules. 

[Brother Raul]

I've gone the other way and playing Codex SM red version.

 

I just found the AI character tax is too steep, and we have too few genuine HQ datasheets, and it duplocates DC's datasheet too.

 

I see you used hellblasters, how are you finding them? At 230 points with overcharged, plundging rapid fire I am finding 10 are a stsr performer. They would be brutal rerolling 1's to hit and wound and with the AI strat for shooting.

[Karhedron]

6 hours ago, Brother Raul said:

I see you used hellblasters, how are you finding them? At 230 points with overcharged, plundging rapid fire I am finding 10 are a stsr performer. They would be brutal rerolling 1's to hit and wound and with the AI strat for shooting.

 

The firepower is impressive. Between the Strat and Plunging Fire, I outright deleted a fully buffed Necron Warrior blob with FNP. Into tougher targets, I calculate that they actually outperform dedicated anti-tank units like Lancer or RepEx, even without stratagem usage. With the RepEx now costing 260 points, the Hellblasters + Priest only cost 30 points more and certainly have some advantages. Of course they are more vulnerable to anti-infantry fire than a tank but I find the Sanguinary Guard and Death Company yeeting towards the enemy tends to attract the majority of anti-infantry firepower. The ability to tackle even tough targets means AI can run our beloved all-infantry builds, even if we can't crack tanks in melee as well as before. 

[Brother Raul]

They are pulling anti tank duty at times for me as well. The AP4 is a shock to some people and tanks don't get a save.

 

I hear you on running them behind the assault. I have 20 terminators that are rocking the terminator detachmemt and people still prioritise my melee so the hellblasters put in serious work.

 

Be sure to try them on over watch too. I am averaging 6 wounds into an invuln and 10 on a armour save.

 

Actually better than the Baal at overwatchimg big stuff.

[Karhedron]

2 hours ago, Brother Raul said:

They are pulling anti tank duty at times for me as well. The AP4 is a shock to some people and tanks don't get a save.

 

Not anymore unfortunately. Hellblasters have gone down to Ap-2 basic and -3 on overcharge. Still good, just not quite as good.