Warhammer 40,000 Battle Report #22 – Blood Angels vs Tyranids

Today we break out the new Blood Angels for a trial run, as they try their hand against the assaulting swarms of Hive Fleet Nug.

The Armies

The Angelic Host

Blood Angels – 2,000

HQ

Chaplain: WARLORD (Artisan of War)

ELITES

Death Company Squad: five additional Death Company Marines, Jump Packs; one has Thunder   Hammer and Bolter

Furioso Dreadnought: Frag Cannon, Magna-Grapple, Heavy Flamer, Drop Pod transport with      Deathwind Launcher

TROOPS

Tactical Squad: five additional Space Marines; Heavy Flamer, Flamer, Veteran Sergeant has         Combi-Flamer and Power Fist, Rhino transport

Tactical Squad: Plasma Gun, Razorback transport with Lascannon and Twin Plasma Guns

Tactical Squad: Plasma Gun, Razorback transport with Lascannon and Twin Plasma Guns

FAST ATTACK

Assault Squad: five additional Space Marines; 2x Meltagun, Veteran Sergeant has Power Fist

Land Speeder: Typhoon Missile Launcher, Heavy Bolter

Land Speeder: Typhoon Missile Launcher, Heavy Bolter

HEAVY SUPPORT

Stormraven: Twin Multi-Meltas, Twin Assault Cannons

Baal Predator: Twin Assault Cannons, Sponson Heavy Bolters, Dozer Blade, Storm Bolter

Baal Predator: Twin Assault Cannons, Sponson Heavy Bolters, Dozer Blade, Storm Bolter

Nug

Tyranids – 2,000

HQ

Hive Tyrant: WARLORD (Princeps of Deceit); Wings, Thorax Swarm with Electroshock Grubs, 2x Twin Devourers with Brainleech Worms; Dominion, Onslaught, Paroxysm

ELITES

Zoanthrope Brood: four additional Zoanthropes; Neurothrope; Dominion, Spirit Leech, Warp       Blast, The Horror

Hive Guard Brood: two additional Hive Guard; Impaler Cannons

Venomthrope Brood: one additional Venomthrope

TROOPS

Hormagaunt Brood: five additional Hormgaunts; Adrenal Glands

Hormagaunt Brood: five additional Hormgaunts; Adrenal Glands

Hormagaunt Brood: five additional Hormgaunts; Adrenal Glands

Hormagaunt Brood: five additional Hormgaunts; Adrenal Glands

FAST ATTACK

Ravener Brood: two additional Raveners; Rending Claws and Scything Talons

Hive Crone: Cluster Spines

HEAVY SUPPORT

Carnifex: 2x Scything Talons, Adrenal Glands, Spine Banks

Carnifex: 2x Scything Talons, Adrenal Glands, Spine Banks

Mawloc: Adrenal Glands

After Action Reviews

There really isn’t much to say on this one. My opponent’s volume of dice went south fast, as he failed save after save with little to show for it. His plan to hold the center of the table was sound, and when his Death Company broke my Raveners I knew I was in serious trouble. I had plans to throw everything I had at them in the following turn, and then they just fell apart.

With that said, I did see several shining bits out of the Blood Angels codex. It was a ton of fun to see infantry actually fighting from the tabletop again! The jump pack squads add a nice bit of initiative for the Space Marines that they simply don’t have when fighting from transports. The speed allowed him to close and punish me because of my overt aggression.

Furious Charge on everything is also much more powerful than it seemed at first glance. Every charge he made broke me to pieces, and that is saying something when I consider how terrible his armor saves were. I think a little tweaking will see the Blood Angels a valid contender in the melee madness that happens at my place of residence. Add to that the Baal Predators, and my little bugs are in for some serious hurt!