Dark Angels Review: Vindicator

The vindicator is an excellent choice, and a fire magnet, but slightly more pricey than its chaos counterpart.  The options are all reasonably: grab an extra weapon to lower the chances of having the main cannon destroyed.  Take extra armour and the storm shield: both great choices.  Then on the tabletop, roll forward with your S10 cannon and shoot away!  The S10 ranged weapon is awesome.

Let's look at a pair of builds:

Vindicator, siege shield (135 points)

Add on a cheap third weapon to taste and you've got a winner.  This should/would be the basic set-up for most "standard" vindicators out there.

Chaos Vindicator, siege shield, extra armour, extra storm bolter, hunter-killer missile (160 points)

A fully decked-out vindicator with all the options (except the dozer blade -- whats the point with a siege shield!).  Use the missile on turn one, and then plough forward shooting at liberty.  Even take a pot shot at a tank shock if the tank lasts long enough.

Dark Angels Review: Whirlwind

The main issue I have with the Whirlwind is that it is almost exclusively anti-infantry.  If facing an infantry heavy opponent, then its bound to be useful -- particularly as the weaponry can ignore cover if required.

But if you don't know in advance, then it is perhaps a poorer option to take.  Especially if facing a mechanized opponent.  But that's by no means guaranteed these days.

Sure, an hunter-killer missile can be added to the chassis for a little bit of dual mode.  But realistically, we want the whirlwind sitting behind cover and out of the line of sight for an optimized firing solution.

In its favour is the points value.  At 65 points for a basic variety, or 75 points with an hunter-killer missile, its is very very attractive.  I can see why I still see a few of these on the table top even in 6th.

Dark Angels Review: Predator

My review of the predator can pretty much be copy and pasted from my review of the chaos predator.  Some, here's there pertinent details:

Firstly, note that it can be constructed with autocannon or twin-linked las-cannon as the primary turret weapon, with the usual sponson options.  In addition, it also gets access to the chaos vehicle equipment list for extra load-outs.

The predator needs a role realistically.  The triple-lascannon set-up (the annihilator) will be popular to take down opposing vehicles and monsters, whereas the autocannon (the destructor) and heavy bolter option is much better suited to anti-horde duty.  The cross-over variants are rarer. I regard only the lascannon sponson one as viable since the other variant tries to do two jobs at once and never gets much bang for its buck; whilst I've not seen the mono-turret version played anywhere in a long long while.  Still, the points cost is very comparable to havocs.  i.e. if you want 3 lascannons amongst those havocs, you're paying about the same points cost as for the predator.  So you've got to make the choice: is a vehicle better than infantry?  Maybe and maybe not, depending on circumstance, set-up and opponents.

Here's a few potential builds that are worth consideration.

Predator, Autocannon, Heavy Bolter sponsons (95 points)

Cheap and great at pumping out plenty of shots every turn.  The classic "dakka pred" is still a cheap cost option to threaten squads of infantry and hordes, whilst having a reasonable reach and also able to threaten light transport style tanks.

Predator, Autocannon, Lascannon sponsons (115 points)

This is the one to take down monstrous creatures and provides anti-tank capability to boot.  It also has a reasonable price tag.

Predator, Twin-Linked Lascannon, Lascannon sponsons (140 points)

The tank-buster.  And can put hurt on greater daemons, big tyranids and other monsters to boot.  It can even take on flyers with a reasonable probability.  But I personally don't play this variant.  I prefer alternate ways of taking down tanks, so please take this entry as a suggestion for apocalypse only.

Predator, Twin-Linked Lascannon, Hunter-killer missile, Dozer Blade, Extra Armour (125 points)

A different idea here.  Its a tank hunter that once its done its job goes for a tank shock.  Not quite as good as my chaos predator variant due to lack of destroyer blades, but what the heck.

Dark Angels Review: Devastator Squad

We now turn to the heavy support options of the DA codex.  The devastator squad is actually a tempting option, particularly in the infantry heavy meta game that 6th edition seems to be.  The weapons themselves provide the real options for the squad to select from, and they are costed quite reasonably.  The interesting option here would probably have to be plasma cannons- despite the "gets hot" rule, I think they're attractive.  But then again, they're also competing against the missile launcher (with flakk options) which is bound to be popular.

The veteran sergeant is also an extremely tempting upgrade.  When combined with the stubborn special rule, I think these guys aren't going to be running anywhere quickly.  Particularly sat on top of a bastion or behind a defence line.  I'm not convinced melta bombs are such a good option (why are they getting close and personal?) unless paried with melta guns maybe.  The transport options do provide a means of getting from A to B in a good way, though I'm not sure about drop pods (why waste a turn on snap shots? ... but then again, who's to say you won't need to reposition your squad anyway during the game?).

Lets have a peek at a few builds:

Devastator squad, 3 plasma cannons, veteran sergeant (125 points)
I like this one -- its fluffy, cute and not too pricey.  Sit atop a bastion for a good line of sight (or other backfield ruin) and start targeting enemy terminators.  Several of these squads is something to be feared.

Devastator squad, 4 missile launchers with flakk, veteran sergeant (180 points)
The skyfire solution to enemy fliers.  The flakk option makes them super pricey though and I wonder if countering incoming airforces might be better handled in a different manner.  Equally, if targeting a flier, I think this squad is going to do well to be honest, just from the statistics point of view.

Devastator squad (ten strong), 2 lascannons, 2 multimeltas, veteran sergeant, rhino transport (245 points)
Combat squad these guys.  Have the lascannons on the backfield with the veteran sergeant and take the multi meltas in the rhino searching out a suitable target.

Loken and Abaddon from ForgeWorld

And if the daemons release wasn't exciting enough, Forge World has just release the miniatures for Abaddon and Loken in 30k / Horus Heresy Betrayal.  The image below is sourced directly from Forge World (all copyright to them - no issue intended by reproducing it here and am happy to take it down.).

I really adore these sculpts!  The Loken miniature is exceptionally dynamic with his cloak billowing behind him as he races forward, taking shots with the bolt pistol whilst the chainsword is revving and itching for its next bite.

Abaddon in his cataphractii armour is similarly appealing.  His gait is one of towering imposition: he looks like he means business and is ready to face down anything or anyone.  Least of all Loken!

The price tag for the pair is 55UKP.  Comparable to Angron.  I'm sorely tempted to be honest.  But then again, maybe I'll wait until Mortarion show's his face (...or cowl).

Daemons for pre-order

Very excited to see that the new daemons are already up for pre-order!

Herald of Nurgle / Khorne / Slaanesh at 15UKP // 39AUD
Codex at 30UKP // 83AUD
Special edition codex in 4 forms (one for each power) at 55UKP // 150AUD
Bloodthrone of Khorne / Skull Cannon of Khorne at 25UKP // 55AUD
Herald of Tzeentch on Burning Chariot / Burning Chariot at 25 UKP //
Plague Drones of Nurgle at 35UKP // 91AUD
Psychic cards at 4.5UKP // 10AUD

So, how soon will the special edition codexes be sold old?  Very soon I'm guessing.
Regardless, I'm super excited by the Plague Drones!  They're beautiful ... in a Nurglesque way!  Roll on March 2nd!

(there's also a typo on the Aussie page, I think: the herald of Nurgle is listed as 25AUD, rather than 39AUD as the other two are).