Experimental 'Multiwing' Lists
With the introduction of the new Dark Angels Codex has caused much headscratching for many Deathwing commanders.
Which way to go? Stay as a 'pure' Deathwing army and suffer the loss of squad firepower, a compulsory HQ and more expensive Dreads? Or, go the 'multiwing' route which is exactly where Games Workshop intended the shift to go with a combined Deathwing/Ravenwing force to take advantage of Deathwing Assault, or a 'Termy-heavy' battle force utilising Deathwing, Ravenwing, Armoury and battle company support.
Well I have decided to steer my Deathwing towards the 'multiwng' option. Also, I am seriously thinking of playing larger 2000 point games as my new standard list simply works better this way. I have also looked into 1500 point multiwing too, but for now I am aiming for the larger force.
List 1
|
Belial w/ lightning
claws |
|
|
Ven Dreadnought
w/ TLLC/ML/Xa |
190 |
|
Deathwing Terminator
Squads |
|
|
Ravenwing Bike Squadron
1 |
|
|
Ravenwing Bike Squadron
2 |
|
|
Land Speeder w/ multi-melta/heavy flamer |
75 |
|
|
2000 |
The idea behind the selection in List 1 is that everything is focused on
the needs of the terminator squads. The two bike squadrons have been set-up
as anti-armour and anti-infantry respectively (although the Sarge of the
anti-infantry unit has a melta bomb just in case), both can have their Attack
Bike detached giving double the options for Deathwing Assault landing sites.
Dreads provide long-range support fire - one a traditional Deathwing support
unit with hard-hitting twin-linked lascannon and a missile launcher. The
other the a twin-linked autocannon - useful for hitting fast skimmers/light
vehicles penetrating up to AV12 and with good range too. The option here
is to swap the autocannon for the plasma cannon, a good horde-killer but
useful against light vehicles if the need arises.
But the real meat here are the termy squads. Each has an assault cannon
(naturally) and one trooper with a pair of lightning claws for extra close
combat punch. The sarge retains his power weapon for additional Initiative
attacks to support the claws.
The four squads allows me the flexibility to hold them all in Reserve and bring two plus Belial in on a Deathwing Assault. But, should I decide to deploy one squad on the table (leaving three in Reserve) two squads are still available to DWA on turn one. I shall need to give this a few games to see the potential shooting benefits of deploying a single squad initially, though due to the medium range of its weapons it isn't going to be firing much before turn two anyway.
As for the HQ, well Belial is armed with lightning claws as I feel these offer greater potential for that decisive turn one drop. Notice too the Apothecary upgrade Belial unlocks for me. This guy can potentially save x8.6 the cost of his upgrade in saved wounds, more in fact if Belial himself is saved, Seems like a solid choice.
List 2
|
Belial w/ lightning
claws |
|
|
Deathwing Terminator
Squads |
|
|
Ravenwing Bike Squadron
1 |
|
|
Ravenwing Bike Squadron
2 |
|
|
Land Speeder w/ assault cannon/heavy flamer |
110 |
|
Destructor w/ autocannon
turret, LC sponsons, Xa |
145 |
|
|
2000 |
This list differs from the first in the use of Predators replacing the Dreadnoughts. I am as yet undecided on which is the better way to arm them. The heavy bolter sponsons allows the tanks to move and fire all weapons which is quite useful and the HBs add considerably to the forces' firepower, but the TLLC turret is likely to be the first to go on a Weapon Destroyed result so neutering it considerably. Now, the lascannon sponson means the tank can has all str 7 or greater weapons so can only fire one of these weapons as well as move. The up side is that the lascannons on two mounting points are slightly better protected.
The Land Speeder has been upgraded to carry an assault cannon and a heavy flamer for toasting infantry.
Another significant improvement is the inclusion of a Standard Bearer upgrade. This confers extra attacks on the accompanying squad. To be honest I am not completely made up on this upgrade, I may well rejig this option to upgrade the Annihilator Pred to a full lascannon spec.
