Dark Angels vs Thousand Sons – Warhammer 40,000 Battle Report

After an unintended hiatus, the Maelstrom is back in business! This time we have Justin in from the Dragon’s Forge Games and Hobbies. His Dark Angels have arrived to find a particular Thousand Sons sorcerer, for the information located in his ancient mind. Josh has no intention of going quietly into the clutches of the Interrogator-Chaplains, however. Whatever happens, it is certain to be bloody.

The Armies

The Unforgiven

Dark Angels

Battalion Detachment

HQ

Supreme Grand Master Azrael

Captain in Gravis Armor

TROOPS

5 Intercessors: Stalker Bolt Rifles

5 Intercessors: Stalker Bolt Rifles

5 Tactical Marines: Plasma Cannon

5 Tactical Marines: Plasma Cannon

5 Tactical Marines: Plasma Cannon

HEAVY SUPPORT

5 Devastators: 4 Grav-Cannons with Grav-Amps

5 Devastators: 4 Lascannons

5 Hellblasters: Heavy Plasma Incinerators

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Razorback: Lascannon and Twin Plasma Guns

Razorback: Lascannon and Twin Plasma Guns

FLYER

Stormraven Gunship: Twin Plasma Cannons, Twin Multi-Meltas, 2 Stormstrike Missile      Launchers, 2 Hurricane Bolters

Ahriman’s Own

Thousand Sons

Battalion Detachment

HQ

Demon Prince with Wings: WARLORD; Demonic Axe, Malefic Talons

Exalted Sorcerer

TROOPS

10 Rubrics

10 Rubrics

9 Rubrics

9 Rubrics

FAST ATTACK

3 Spawn

3 Spawn

HEAVY SUPPORT

Forgefiend: 2 Hades Autocannons, Demon Jaws

Forgefiend: 2 Hades Autocannons, Demon Jaws

Predator Annihilator: Twin Lascannons, Lascannon Sponsons

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Rhino: 2 Combi-Bolters

Rhino: 2 Combi-Bolters

After Action Review

The Rubric horde proved to be well-suited to doing war with the Dark Angels in this particular engagement. With the small squads advancing across the length of the Chaos line, the Inferno Bolters made a huge difference to the end result. The incoming firepower simply wasn’t enough to make a dent in the veritable wall of automata they faced, while the return volleys were simply brutal.

I think it might have paid for the Dark Angels to use their superior range for another turn or two, and in particular it would have been useful for them to protect their Devastators in the early turns. Once those heavy weapons started falling, the game became a difficult uphill battle that the minimum-sized squads simply couldn’t come back from.

When those heavy weapons went, they definitely went in style! That Razorback explosion set a huge precedent for the way the initiative would go for the rest of the game, especially with Azrael being damaged so badly. Those additional wounds from Infernal Gaze can never be discounted, and the fire line simply never was able to get it going.

I’m interested to see how both lists modify going forward. Stay tuned for that destruction as it comes!