Firestorm: Evolving The List

Edit: Apparently this is going to be a living post. My Firestorm seems likely to be constantly evolving, so rather than a new post every time I come up with a variation, I'm just going to update this post.

Following my experience at Winter Assault, I've spent some time thinking about how to evolve the list to improve it. Stripping out some elements I think underperformed affords points to make adjustments. I have 2 variations I'm working on. I'd like to share what I've come up with.


Variation 1:

+++ Dark Angels 2K Firestorm Assault Force v1.0 (Warhammer 40,000 10th Edition) [1,975pts] +++

++ Army Roster (Imperium - Adeptus Astartes - Dark Angels) ++

+ Configuration +

Battle Size: 2. Strike Force (2000 Point limit)

Detachment: Firestorm Assault Force


+ Epic Hero +

Azrael: Warlord

+ Character +

Captain

. Heavy Bolt Pistol, Master-crafted power weapon and 1 Relic Shield

Captain

. Pistol and Melee Weapon: Master-crafted Power Weapon, Plasma Pistol

Lieutenant: Forged in Battle

. Neo-volkite pistol, Master-crafted Power Sword & Storm Shield


+ Battleline +

Heavy intercessor Squad

. Heavy Intercessor Sergeant

. 4x Heavy Intercessors: 4x Bolt Pistol, 4x Close Combat Weapon, 4x Heavy Bolt Rifle


+ Infantry +

Devastator Squad

. Devastator Marine w/ Heavy Weapon: Multi-melta

. Devastator Marine w/ Heavy Weapon: Multi-melta

. Devastator Marine w/ Heavy Weapon: Multi-melta

. Devastator Marine w/ Heavy Weapon: Multi-melta

. Devastator Sergeant: Plasma Pistol, Power Fist


Devastator Squad

. Devastator Marine w/ Heavy Weapon: Multi-melta

. Devastator Marine w/ Heavy Weapon: Multi-melta

. Devastator Marine w/ Heavy Weapon: Multi-melta

. Devastator Marine w/ Heavy Weapon: Multi-melta

. Devastator Sergeant: Plasma Pistol, Power Fist


Hellblaster Squad: Plasma Pistol

. 9x Hellblaster: 9x Close Combat Weapon, 9x Plasma Incinerator

. Hellblaster Sergeant


Inceptor Squad: Plasma Exterminators

. 2x Inceptor: 2x Close Combat Weapon

. Inceptor Sergeant


Inceptor Squad: Assault Bolters

. 2x Inceptor: 2x Close Combat Weapon

. Inceptor Sergeant


Infernus Squad

. 4x Infernus Marines: 4x Bolt Pistol, 4x Close Combat Weapon, 4x Pyreblaster

. Infernus Sergeant


Infernus Squad

. 4x Infernus Marines: 4x Bolt Pistol, 4x Close Combat Weapon, 4x Pyreblaster

. Infernus Sergeant


Scout Squad

. Scout Sergeant: Astartes Shotgun

. Scout w/ Heavy Weapon: Missile Launcher

. Scout w/ Scout Sniper Rifle

. 2x Scouts w/ Astartes Shotgun: 2x Astartes Shotgun, 2x Bolt Pistol, 2x Close Combat Weapon


+ Vehicle +

Land Raider: Multi-melta, Storm Bolter


+ Dedicated Transport +

Impulsor: 2 Storm Bolters, Bellicatus Missile Array, Ironhail Heavy Stubber

Impulsor: 2 Storm Bolters, Bellicatus Missile Array, Ironhail Heavy Stubber

Razorback: Hunter Killer Missile, Storm Bolter, Twin Lascannon

Razorback: Hunter Killer Missile, Storm Bolter, Twin Lascannon

Created with BattleScribe (https://battlescribe.net)

This is pretty much just a straight up exchange of stuff that didn't perform well for me for more of what did, with some tweaks to address situations as they came up.

The first big change is the inclusion of the Heavy Intercessor Squad. I'd wanted the Heavy Intercessors in my original list, but didn't think I could get them painted adequately in time, so the points went to a couple squads of Scouts instead. I was thinking I'd have my lasgrav Devs sit on a back objective in their Rhino and that would be good enough. The problem with that plan was that it was a mobile unit with some firepower I was unreasonably optimistic about, so I wound up leaving a squad of Scouts and/or my combi-weapon Lieutenant to hold down my backfield objective. They were a little too squishy for my tastes, and I'd wanted the Heavy Intercessors anyway, so they made it into both lists. They should be a little harder to pick up than the Scouts and combi-Lieutenant, and being OC 2 they should help me hang onto the backfield objective even if opponents drop in something that can deep strike extremely close.

The next 2 big changes are an additional Impulsor with Infernus Marines, and a Captain joining each squad. I like having the second squad of Impulsor-Inferni because they are good, mobile Overwatch threats, and even opponents using fairly elite infantry are going to be somewhat concerned about 5D6 Torrent hits. The Captains join the squads because Immolation Protocols is a Battle Tactic stratagem, allowing me to play it once per turn for free. Also, they provide some melee punch to the squads and to the list as a whole. Hopefully that will be enough to prevent them from being hung up by a chaff squad again.

The other changes are tweaks based on gameplay experience. I originally had heavy bolters on my Razorback to maximize the shots so their Fire Support rule will trigger. However, since I'm generally trying to get my MM Devs within 9", the Razorbacks are within rapid fire range of the storm bolters, and the odds of all 4 shots missing are pretty slim. They got twin lascannons because I had transports get locked in combat with things like Rhinos or Sentinels and wanted something that would conceivably let them shoot their way out. Ditto the Belicatus Missile Arrays on the Impulsors. And, for that matter, the power fists and plasma pistols on the Dev Sergeants, though I figure the plasma pistols are also good for possibly putting an extra wound on the targets I'm putting multimeltas into.

That pretty much covers it for the first evolved version of the list. Here's the second version.

+++ Dark Angels 2K Firestorm Assault Force v2.1 (Warhammer 40,000 10th Edition) [2,000pts] +++

++ Army Roster (Imperium - Adeptus Astartes - Dark Angels) ++

+ Configuration +

Battle Size: 2. Strike Force (2000 Point limit)

Detachment: Firestorm Assault Force


+ Epic Hero +

Azrael: Warlord

+ Character +

Captain in Gravis Armour: War-tempered Artifice

. Boltstorm Gauntlet, Powerfist, and Relic weapon Chainsword: Relic Chainsword

Lieutenant

. Neo-volkite pistol, Master-crafted Power Sword & Storm Shield


+ Battleline +

Heavy intercessor Squad

. Heavy Intercessor Sergeant

. 4x Heavy Intercessors: 4x Bolt Pistol, 4x Close Combat Weapon, 4x Heavy Bolt Rifle


+ Infantry +

Devastator Squad

. Devastator Marine w/ Heavy Weapon: Multi-melta

. Devastator Marine w/ Heavy Weapon: Multi-melta

. Devastator Marine w/ Heavy Weapon: Multi-melta

. Devastator Marine w/ Heavy Weapon: Multi-melta

. Devastator Sergeant: Plasma Pistol, Power Fist


Eradicator Squad

. 5x Eradicator: 5x Bolt Pistol, 5x Close Combat Weapon, 5x Melta Rifle

. Eradicator Sergeant


Hellblaster Squad: Plasma Pistol

. 9x Hellblaster: 9x Close Combat Weapon, 9x Plasma Incinerator

. Hellblaster Sergeant


Inceptor Squad: Assault Bolters

. 2x Inceptor: 2x Close Combat Weapon

. Inceptor Sergeant


Inceptor Squad: Plasma Exterminators

. 2x Inceptor: 2x Close Combat Weapon

. Inceptor Sergeant


Infernus Squad

. 4x Infernus Marines: 4x Bolt Pistol, 4x Close Combat Weapon, 4x Pyreblaster

. Infernus Sergeant


Scout Squad

. Scout Sergeant: Boltgun

. Scout w/ Heavy Weapon: Missile Launcher

. Scout w/ Scout Sniper Rifle

. 2x Scouts w/ Boltgun: 2x Bolt Pistol, 2x Boltgun, 2x Close Combat Weapon


Scout Squad

. Scout Sergeant: Astartes Chainsword

. Scout w/ Heavy Weapon: Missile Launcher

. Scout w/ Scout Sniper Rifle

. 2x Scouts w/ Boltgun: 2x Bolt Pistol, 2x Boltgun, 2x Close Combat Weapon


+ Vehicle +

Land Raider: Hunter Killer Missile, Multi-melta

Land Raider Crusader: Hunter Killer Missile, Multi-melta


+ Dedicated Transport +

Impulsor: 2 Storm Bolters, Bellicatus Missile Array, Ironhail Heavy Stubber

Razorback: Hunter Killer Missile, Storm Bolter, Twin Lascannon

Created with BattleScribe (https://battlescribe.net)

This iteration of the list is based on the idea that if one Land Raider full of powerful close-ranged shooting is good, 2 Land Raiders full of close range shooting is twice as good. The Eradicators also have the advantage of packing their own rerolls versus their preferred target, so I could presumably send them after one thing and put my Oath of Moment on something else. The Gravis Captain is there because having to get within 9" to light something up to full effect makes getting stuck in seem likely, so having a character that can do some punching seems prudent. Plus, Battle Tactic strats for free seems good. 

I'm struggling a little with only having 1 each of the Infernus Squads and MM Devs and their respective transports, and I may have overinvested in utility units - 2 squads each of Scouts and Inceptors may be a bit much. But, I figure I'm not any the worse off as far as anti-tank because the Eradicators take the place of the 2nd MM Dev squad, and the LRC brings some of the extra crowd clearing that I'd wanted out of the second Impulsor-Inferni in the first iteration of list evolution.

Of the two lists, the second one is more likely to get played first, because I can put it on the table faster. I proxied Infernus Marines at Winter Assault with Firstborn Marines with flamers, and that worked okay, but I don't think I have enough for 2 squads of them, and I figure if I like them well enough to bring 2 squads, I can invest the time in painting up the proper models.

1/2/2024
I played the version of the list with the Crusader full of Eradicators at a local RTT on 12/30. You can read about that here. Afterwards, I went back to scheming and came up with a variation of the list that basically splits the difference between the two older variations of the list above. It retains 6 Eradicators, but drops the Gravis Captain and the LRC. It also drops one squad of Scouts. It adds second Devs+Razorback and Inferni+Impulsor squads because those were valuable units, and they give me more maneuver elements than the version with the LRC enjoyed. The Eradicators, instead of having a ride, will go into Strategic Reserve so I can have them come out and destroy backfield threats. That version of the list is below.

+++ DA 2K FAF v3.0 (Warhammer 40,000 10th Edition) [2,000pts] +++

++ Army Roster (Imperium - Adeptus Astartes - Dark Angels) ++

+ Configuration +

Battle Size: 2. Strike Force (2000 Point limit)

Detachment: Firestorm Assault Force


+ Epic Hero +

Azrael: Warlord

+ Character +

Lieutenant: Champion of Humanity

. Neo-volkite pistol, Master-crafted Power Sword & Storm Shield


+ Battleline +

Heavy intercessor Squad

. Heavy Intercessor Sergeant

. 4x Heavy Intercessors: 4x Bolt Pistol, 4x Close Combat Weapon, 4x Heavy Bolt Rifle


+ Infantry +

Devastator Squad

. Devastator Marine w/ Heavy Weapon: Multi-melta

. Devastator Marine w/ Heavy Weapon: Multi-melta

. Devastator Marine w/ Heavy Weapon: Multi-melta

. Devastator Marine w/ Heavy Weapon: Multi-melta

. Devastator Sergeant: Plasma Pistol, Power Fist


Devastator Squad

. Devastator Marine w/ Heavy Weapon: Multi-melta

. Devastator Marine w/ Heavy Weapon: Multi-melta

. Devastator Marine w/ Heavy Weapon: Multi-melta

. Devastator Marine w/ Heavy Weapon: Multi-melta

. Devastator Sergeant: Plasma Pistol, Power Fist


Eradicator Squad

. 2x Eradicator: 2x Bolt Pistol, 2x Close Combat Weapon, 2x Melta Rifle

. Eradicator Sergeant


Eradicator Squad

. 2x Eradicator: 2x Bolt Pistol, 2x Close Combat Weapon, 2x Melta Rifle

. Eradicator Sergeant


Hellblaster Squad: Plasma Pistol

. 9x Hellblaster: 9x Close Combat Weapon, 9x Plasma Incinerator

. Hellblaster Sergeant


Inceptor Squad: Assault Bolters

. 2x Inceptor: 2x Close Combat Weapon

. Inceptor Sergeant


Inceptor Squad: Plasma Exterminators

. 2x Inceptor: 2x Close Combat Weapon

. Inceptor Sergeant


Infernus Squad

. 4x Infernus Marines: 4x Bolt Pistol, 4x Close Combat Weapon, 4x Pyreblaster

. Infernus Sergeant


Infernus Squad

. 4x Infernus Marines: 4x Bolt Pistol, 4x Close Combat Weapon, 4x Pyreblaster

. Infernus Sergeant


Scout Squad

. Scout Sergeant: Boltgun

. Scout w/ Heavy Weapon: Missile Launcher

. Scout w/ Scout Sniper Rifle

. 2x Scouts w/ Boltgun: 2x Bolt Pistol, 2x Boltgun, 2x Close Combat Weapon


+ Vehicle +

Land Raider: Hunter Killer Missile, Multi-melta


+ Dedicated Transport +

Impulsor: 2 Storm Bolters, Bellicatus Missile Array, Ironhail Heavy Stubber

Impulsor: 2 Storm Bolters, Bellicatus Missile Array, Ironhail Heavy Stubber

Razorback: Hunter Killer Missile, Storm Bolter, Twin Lascannon

Razorback: Hunter Killer Missile, Storm Bolter, Twin Lascannon


Created with BattleScribe (https://battlescribe.net)


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