Warhammer 40,000 Battle Report #44 – Blood Angels vs Craftworlds

Welcome back to the Maelstrom! Today we have a war between the Blood Angels and their Craftworld foes. Whatever happens, it is sure to be bloody!

The Armies

Knights of Baal

Blood Angels – 1,850

Combined Arms Detachment

HQ

Sanguinary Priest: WARLORD (Heroic Bearing)

TROOPS

Tactical Squad: Razorback transport with Lascannon and Twin Plasma Guns

Tactical Squad: five additional Space Marines; Heavy Flamer, Flamer, Drop Pod transport with    Deathwind Missile Launcher

ELITES

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

Death Company Dreadnought: Heavy Flamer, Meltagun, Blood Talons, Magna Grapple, Drop     Pod transport with Deathwind Missile Launcher

HEAVY SUPPORT

Devastator Squad: three additional Space Marines; 4x Lascannon

Librarius Conclave (Salamanders)

Librarian: Psyker (Mastery Level 2); Terminator Armor, Force Staff

Librarian: Psyker (Mastery Level 2); Force Sword

Librarian: Psyker (Mastery Level 2); Force Staff

Archangels Sanguine Wing

Sternguard Veteran Squad: four additional Sternguard Veterans; 5x Combi-Grav, 4x Combi-       Flamer

Vanguard Veteran Squad: 3x Power Sword, Power Axe, Lightning Claw

Vanguard Veteran Squad: Power Sword, Lightning Claw, Power Axe, 2x Power Maul

Storm Raven: Twin Multi-Meltas, Locator Beacon

Iybraesil

Craftworlds – 1,850

Combined Arms Detachment

HQ

Maugan Ra: WARLORD (Mark of the Incomparable Hunter)

Farseer: Psyker (Mastery Level 3)

TROOPS

Windriders: 2x Scatter Laser

Guardian Defenders: Scatter Laser

Dire Avengers: one additional Dire Avenger; Wave Serpent transport with Twin Scatter Lasers    and Holo-fields

Dire Avengers: one additional Dire Avenger; Wave Serpent transport with Twin Scatter Lasers    and Holo-fields

FAST ATTACK

Swooping Hawks: one additional Swooping Hawk, Exarch

HEAVY SUPPORT

Falcon: Bright Lance, Holo-fields

Fire Prism: Holo-fields, Spirit Stones, Shuriken Cannon

Aspect Host (+1 BS)

Warp Spiders: Exarch

Dark Reapers: two additional Dark Reapers, Exarch; Starshot Missiles

Fire Dragons: Exarch; Wave Serpent transport with Twin Scatter Lasers and Holo-fields

After Action Review

Normally I love the Devastators in Josh’s Blood Angels lists, but they didn’t feel like they had a place in this force. I think that he was too worried about them taking damage during the first turn because of their isolated nature, and I think this fear was warranted. I think to get better mileage out of the list, he would be better off to either put in a few more armored elements, or focus instead on doing everything from Drop Pods and Reserves.

I also believed this game was over after the first turn. The units he had on the table didn’t have the punch necessary to make it a game, and the Eldar were ascendant in that early period. If the veterans had failed to come in on turn two, I still think he would have been routed in short order. However, he played the long game well and the Blood Angels managed to make it a resounding victory in their favor.

The Eldar made a big error in leaving their tanks so exposed to enemy charges. Even if the enemy was normal Space Marines, Krak Grenades would have made a very real threat. With all those Furious Charge attacks, though, it was suicide. I’ve been impressed by how many times in recent weeks the Eldar have closed with the Blood Angels, only to have the Devastators destroy tanks in melee. The Craftworlds will fare much better when they learn the respect of distance against these melee berserkers!

Overall the Eldar battle plan was solid. That initial wave of reinforcements was just brutal, however, and the damage they sustained was too much. From there they gradually dwindled away each turn. If only they had put those Dark Reapers into the fight early on!