Lists of the Week: Top Performers Roundup 4/8/24

 Hello, battle brothers! It was a busy weekend for events, and as a result there are a lot of Dark Angels lists that performed well. I thought instead of focusing on one of them, I'd touch on all the ones that appeared in the Meta Monday roundup. The usual Ironstorm Spearheads are well represented, but there were a few surprises.

Let's start with Cam Hawkins' list. Cam took a Dark Angels Ironstorm Spearhead to 1rst place at the Iron Cage GT: Bedford Beatdown in Bedford TX, a 56 player, 5-round event. As you may have guessed from the article photo, Cam took the double Stormraven list that's been making the rounds. Here's a quick look at the list.

Azrael
Techmarine: Target Augury Web
Techmarine: Adept of the Omnissiah
Techmarine: Master of the Machine War
Ravenwing Darkshroud
Redemptor Dreadnought
Redemptor Dreadnought
Redemptor Dreadnought
Scout Squad: 5 sneaky lads
Scout Squad: 5 sneaky lads
Storm Speeder Thunderstrike
Stormraven Gunship
Stormraven Gunship
Callidus Assassin
Inquisitorial Henchmen: 4 squishy fellows

Dang, Cam didn't even spend points on a squad for Azrael to hang out with. He must just be keeping Azrael hidden in a corner to feed him CP.

In order, in the first round Cam faced a Blood Angels Firestorm with 2 big squads of Aggressors and 2 Redeemers, winning 95-36.  In the second round, he faced a Custodes Shield Host with a couple Calladius grav tanks, winning 90-33. I guess when your list mostly consists of 3-wound elite infantry, it's tough to go up against a list that's full of high-AP 3-damage guns. Third round, Cam went 100-58 against a Sororitas list that looked so familiar I wondered if I'd seen it before. Probably not, I imagine anyone trying to be competitive with the Sisters will probably be playing pretty similar lists. Anyway, 4th round Cam went 85-69 against an Astra Militarum Combined Regiment list with a Hellhammer and a Stormsword, which is not what I've typically seen in Miltiarum lists. In the 5th and final round, Cam went 93-77 against another Militarum Combined Regiment list that was a little more typical, with a couple of Rogal Dorns.

Beford Beatdown was a little unusual in that the current bogeymen of the meta, Necrons and Custodes, didn't make it into the top 10, and Necrons didn't even make it into top 20! I wonder what's going on with the meta in Bedford!

The next best performance for us over the weekend was at Dark Sphere April 40K GT over in England. There, Danny Evison went undefeated and took 2nd place out of 60 players. As we've come to expect, he played an Ironstorm Spearhead, the short version of which is below.

Azrael
Librarian in Phobos Armor: Master of the Machine War
Techmarine: Target Augury Web
Techmarine: Adept of the Omnissiah
Infiltrator Squad: 5 sneaky boys
Infiltrator Squad: 5 sneaky boys
Scout Squad: 5 sneaky lads
Ravenwing Darkshroud
Redemptor Dreadnought
Redemptor Dreadnought
Redemptor Dreadnought
Repulsor Executioner
Storm Speeder Thunderstrike
Stormraven Gunship

Again, no unit for Azrael to join, though maybe he hangs out next to one of the squads of Infiltrators on the backfield objective. The Librarian must join the other squad of Infiltrators and follow the vehicles around to keep them in his aura. Danny just has the one squad of Scouts to score secondaries, but it was evidently enough.

Danny's 1rst game ended with a tight 66-64 win against a Craftworld Aeldari Battle Host. The space elves brought an Avatar of Khaine, 3 D-cannon batteries, and assorted other jank. His second game was a much more convincing 76-33 win against a Grey Knight Teleport Strike Force, that was remarkable in that it had only 1 Dreadknight chassis (a Grand Master). I imagine it was hard for the GK player to play into all that 3-damage plasma blast. Round 3, Danny won 94-43 against an Ultramarines Vanguard Spearhead that didn't have the typical big unit of Centurion Devastators, which may somewhat explain the disparity in scores. Round 4, Danny went 94-65 against a Custodes Shield Host. 3 characters, a bunch of Custodes infantry, and a couple units of Sisters of Silence for utility work. His 5th round was against another Custodes Shield Host that was fairly similar, which is probably unavoidable with Custodes. It was a tight game, 88-83. As with the GK, going up against the Dark Angels Ironstorm is probably a rough matchup for Custodes, because Custodes are mostly 3-wound infantry, which is going to be fairly easy to pick up with a list full of macro plasma incinerators and twin heavy plasma cannons.

Dark Sphere had a more typical spread, with 2 Custodes lists and 1 Necron list in the top 10, which also featured a Thousand Sons list, 2 Sororitas lists, 2 Black Templars lists, and Death Guard taking the top spot. 

The next list I'd like to discuss was played by Cuervo Marcos (according to Google Translate, 'cuervo' means 'raven') at I GT Iberian Barcelona in Barcelona Spain. Marcos went 4-1 to score 13th out of 121 players, which doesn't sound as sexy as going undefeated and scoring 1rst or 2nd, but this was also the biggest event where Dark Angels rose into the upper echelon. Marcos played an Ironstorm Spearhead, but it wasn't the typical configuration we've been seeing all the time. Check it out!

Techmarine: Target Augury Web
Techmarine: Adept of the Omnissiah
Techmarine: Master of the Machine War
Impulsor
Eliminator Squad: bolt carbine & 2 las fusils
Eliminator Squad: bolt carbine & 2 las fusils
Gladiator Lancer
Gladiator Lancer
Gladiator Lancer
Ravenwing Darkshroud
Redemptor Dreadnought
Redemptor Dreadnought
Repulsor Executioner
Scout Squad: 5 sneaky lads
Scout Squad: 5 sneaky lads
Scout Squad: 5 sneaky lads
Callidus Assassin

Okay, so I suppose it's not that different. It's got a Repulsor Executioner, which is the alternative to the Stormraven in these lists, but it doesn't have Azrael, and it has the 3 Gladiator Lancers, which we haven't seen in high performing lists as much. There's also the Impulsor full of (presumably) Eliminators. I keep wondering why people give the bolt carbines to Impulsor riding Eliminators, but I suppose it's so they can unass and do movement shenanigans.

Marcos' first game he went 91-14 (ouch!) against a Chaos Space Marines list. I think his opponent was counting on a Land Raider to deliver a bunch of close combat troops into melee, which against 3 Lancers and an Executioner is a tough proposition. I'm inclined to wonder of the army wasn't fully painted, because dang, did he only score 4 points plus the 10 for Battle Ready?

Anyway, 2nd game Marcos beat a Grey Knights Teleport Strike Force 64-58. The GK force consisted of 3 Dreadknights plus a Grand Master Dreadknight, 10 Paladins, 2 Strike Squads, and some assorted other characters. It was a pretty close game, so the list is clearly competent. Round 3 was Marcos' loss, 95-49 against a Necron Hypercrypt legion that included 2 C'tan Shards, a Monolith, and assorted other stuff. Marcos avenged himself against Necrons in the 4th round, winning 99-58 against another Necron Hypercrypt Legion. This one did not include C'tan Shards, but instead had 2 big bricks of Wraiths and not 1, but 2 Monoliths. I'm tempted to say the lack of C'tan Shards made the difference, but probably relying on Monoliths against 3 Lancers and an Executioner is not a winning strategy. For the final round, Marcos won 96-73 against a Chaos Daemons Daemonic Incursion force led by Be'lakor and that leaned pretty heavily into the Khorne daemons. 

Unlike the previous two players, Marcos didn't manage to dodge the Necrons. In fact, he got a double helping of them. Instead, he didn't play into Custodes, but it's hard not to conclude that the Dark Angels Ironstorm is a hard counter to the Custodes lists currently in play. 

The last list I'd like to discuss was played by Toby Bennett at the Peterborough Slam GT 6! in England. Toby went 4-1 to score 7th out of 40, which while it got him listed in the Meta Monday roundup isn't as sexy as the performances of the earlier lists. However, he did it not with an Ironstorm, but with a Firestorm Assault Force! Here's the short version of his list:

Azrael
Librarian in Phobos Armor
Intercessor Squad: 5 bolter boys
Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs: 5 chainsword boys
Eradicator Squad: 3 chonky melta boys
Gladiator Reaper
Gladiator Reaper
Inceptor Squad: 3 plasma boys
Inceptor Squad: 3 plasma boys
Inceptor Squad: 3 bolter boys
Infiltrator Squad: 5 sneaky boys
Redemptor Dreadnought
Redemptor Dreadnought
Scout Squad: 5 sneaky lads
Scout Squad: 5 sneaky lads
Scout Squad: 5 sneaky lads
Storm Speeder Thunderstrike

This is definitely not a list I was expecting to pop up in a Meta Monday roundup, but I can see how it leverages the Firestorm's detachment rule. It obviously is quite capable of dealing with infantry, and if it has to it can deal with bigger targets by putting the Thunderstrike and the 2 Reapers into them and shredding them down by throwing buckets of dice at them.

Toby's first game gave him his loss, 100-47 against Chaos Knights. It's easy to see how this list wouldn't play well into a Chaos Knights or similar list. He then flipped the score, getting 100-46 against a Drukhari Skysplinter Assault force. 3rd round, Toby won 98-76 against an unusual Grey Knights Teleport Strike Force that was very heavily meched up - 4 Dreadknights (one a Grand Master), 2 Strike Squads in Razorbacks, a Stormraven, and not 1, but 2 Land R,aider Redeemers! Considering how much trouble Toby had against the Chaos Knights, I'm surprised he did so well against this list. 4th round, Toby won 74-55 against an Aeldari Battle Host with an eclectic (but not senseless) collection of Craftworld, Harlequin, and Drukhari units, and one would think Toby's list would be tailor made to carve through such a list, so his opponent must have known what he was doing to not get crushed. In the 5th and final round, Toby won 90-84 against a Thousand Sons list with over 1000 points in characters, including Magnus and Ahriman. That kind of list is wild to me, but it must be the way to go for Thousand Sons, because they were playing for a pretty high ranking, and it was a tight game.

What I like about Toby's list is that it demonstrates that one can compete with something other than the by-now cookie cutter Ironstorm list. That said, Toby did manage to dodge both Necrons and Custodes, though I imagine his list would have performed decently against Custodes - still packing plenty of 3 damage plasma. His list actually outperformed such a list at that event. 

One thing I'd like to point out is that a Storm Speeder Thunderstrike made it into 3 of the 4 lists I covered here. I think it's probably worth a review, but that will be a topic for another article. In the meantime, it's probably worth your time to check it out.

That wraps up the coverage of the high-performing Dark Angels lists of the weekend. Congratulations to all of our battle brothers who represented the legion chapter with such distinction! Keep up the good work, and may we all rise to your examples!

Lists as they appeared on BCP are below

Cam Hawkin's Ironstorm Spearhead

Big Guns With No Tires (2000 points)

Space Marines
Dark Angels
Strike Force (2000 points)
Ironstorm Spearhead


CHARACTERS

Azrael (105 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Lion’s Wrath
1x The Lion Helm
1x The Sword of Secrets

Techmarine (95 points)
• 1x Forge bolter
1x Grav-pistol
1x Omnissian power axe
1x Servo-arm
• Enhancement: Target Augury Web (Aura)

Techmarine (80 points)
• 1x Forge bolter
1x Grav-pistol
1x Omnissian power axe
1x Servo-arm
• Enhancement: Adept of the Omnissiah

Techmarine (75 points)
• 1x Forge bolter
1x Grav-pistol
1x Omnissian power axe
1x Servo-arm
• Enhancement: Master of Machine War (Aura)


OTHER DATASHEETS

Ravenwing Darkshroud (115 points)
• 1x Assault cannon
1x Close combat weapon

Redemptor Dreadnought (210 points)
• 1x Icarus rocket pod
1x Macro plasma incinerator
1x Onslaught gatling cannon
1x Redemptor fist
1x Twin fragstorm grenade launcher

Redemptor Dreadnought (210 points)
• 1x Icarus rocket pod
1x Macro plasma incinerator
1x Onslaught gatling cannon
1x Redemptor fist
1x Twin storm bolter

Redemptor Dreadnought (210 points)
• 1x Icarus rocket pod
1x Macro plasma incinerator
1x Onslaught gatling cannon
1x Redemptor fist
1x Twin fragstorm grenade launcher

Scout Squad (65 points)
• 1x Scout Sergeant
• 1x Astartes shotgun
1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
• 3x Astartes shotgun
4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Missile launcher

Scout Squad (65 points)
• 1x Scout Sergeant
• 1x Astartes shotgun
1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
• 3x Astartes shotgun
4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Missile launcher

Storm Speeder Thunderstrike (160 points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Stormfury missiles
1x Thunderstrike las-talon
1x Twin Icarus rocket pod

Stormraven Gunship (240 points)
• 1x Armoured hull
2x Hurricane bolter
2x Stormstrike missile launcher
1x Twin heavy plasma cannon
1x Twin multi-melta

Stormraven Gunship (240 points)
• 1x Armoured hull
2x Hurricane bolter
2x Stormstrike missile launcher
1x Twin heavy plasma cannon
1x Twin multi-melta


ALLIED UNITS

Callidus Assassin (90 points)
• 1x Neural shredder
1x Phase sword and poison blades

Inquisitorial Henchmen (40 points)
• 4x Inquisitorial Acolyte
• 4x Acolyte firearm
4x Acolyte melee weapon
1x Eviscerator
1x Plasma pistol

Exported with App Version: v1.11.0 (39), Data Version: v352 Danny Evison's list  A teste for you, a keychain for me, as I have spoken, so shall it be


++ Army Roster (Imperium - Adeptus Astartes - Dark Angels) [2,000pts] ++

+ Configuration +


Battle Size

Detachment: Ironstorm Spearhead

Show/Hide Options: Agents of the Imperium are visible, Unaligned Forces are visible, Unaligned Fortifications are visible

+ Epic Hero +


Azrael [105pts]

+ Character +


Librarian in Phobos Armour [90pts]: Master of the Machine War [Aura], Warlord

Techmarine [95pts]: Target Augury Web [Aura]

Techmarine [80pts]: Adept of the Omnissiah

+ Infantry +


Infiltrator Squad [100pts]: Helix Gauntlet, Infiltrator Comms Array

. Infiltrator Sergeant
. 4x Infiltrators: 4x Bolt Pistol, 4x Close Combat Weapon, 4x Marksman Bolt Carbine

Infiltrator Squad [100pts]: Helix Gauntlet, Infiltrator Comms Array

. Infiltrator Sergeant
. 4x Infiltrators: 4x Bolt Pistol, 4x Close Combat Weapon, 4x Marksman Bolt Carbine

Scout Squad [65pts]

. Scout Sergeant: Astartes Chainsword
. 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 +


Ravenwing Darkshroud [115pts]: Heavy bolter

Redemptor Dreadnought [210pts]: Icarus Rocket Pod, Macro Plasma Incinerator, Onslaught Gatling Cannon, Twin Storm Bolter

Redemptor Dreadnought [210pts]: Icarus Rocket Pod, Macro Plasma Incinerator, Onslaught Gatling Cannon, Twin Storm Bolter

Redemptor Dreadnought [210pts]: Icarus Rocket Pod, Macro Plasma Incinerator, Onslaught Gatling Cannon, Twin Storm Bolter

Repulsor Executioner [220pts]: Heavy Laser Destroyer, Icarus Rocket Pod, Ironhail Heavy Stubber

Storm Speeder Thunderstrike [160pts]

Stormraven Gunship [240pts]: Hurricane Bolter 2 Hurricane Bolters, Twin Heavy Plasma Cannon, Twin Multi-melta

++ Total: [2,000pts] ++

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

Cuervo Marcos' list

Los movilizados (2000 Points)

Space Marines
Dark Angels
Ironstorm Spearhead
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Techmarine (95 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Forge bolter
1x Grav-pistol
1x Omnissian power axe
1x Servo-arm
• Enhancements: Target Augury Web (Aura)

Techmarine (80 Points)
• 1x Forge bolter
1x Grav-pistol
1x Omnissian power axe
1x Servo-arm
• Enhancements: Adept of the Omnissiah

Techmarine (75 Points)
• 1x Forge bolter
1x Grav-pistol
1x Omnissian power axe
1x Servo-arm
• Enhancements: Master of Machine War (Aura)

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Impulsor (80 Points)
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Bellicatus missile array
1x Ironhail heavy stubber
2x Storm bolter

OTHER DATASHEETS

Eliminator Squad (75 Points)
• 1x Eliminator Sergeant
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Instigator bolt carbine
• 2x Eliminator
• 2x Bolt pistol
2x Close combat weapon
2x Las fusil

Eliminator Squad (75 Points)
• 1x Eliminator Sergeant
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Instigator bolt carbine
• 2x Eliminator
• 2x Bolt pistol
2x Close combat weapon
2x Las fusil

Gladiator Lancer (160 Points)
• 1x Armoured hull
2x Fragstorm grenade launcher
1x Icarus rocket pod
1x Ironhail heavy stubber
1x Lancer laser destroyer

Gladiator Lancer (160 Points)
• 1x Armoured hull
2x Fragstorm grenade launcher
1x Icarus rocket pod
1x Ironhail heavy stubber
1x Lancer laser destroyer

Gladiator Lancer (160 Points)
• 1x Armoured hull
2x Fragstorm grenade launcher
1x Icarus rocket pod
1x Ironhail heavy stubber
1x Lancer laser destroyer

Ravenwing Darkshroud (115 Points)
• 1x Assault cannon
1x Close combat weapon

Redemptor Dreadnought (210 Points)
• 1x Icarus rocket pod
1x Macro plasma incinerator
1x Onslaught gatling cannon
1x Redemptor fist
1x Twin fragstorm grenade launcher

Redemptor Dreadnought (210 Points)
• 1x Icarus rocket pod
1x Macro plasma incinerator
1x Onslaught gatling cannon
1x Redemptor fist
1x Twin fragstorm grenade launcher

Repulsor Executioner (220 Points)
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Heavy laser destroyer
1x Heavy onslaught gatling cannon
1x Icarus rocket pod
1x Ironhail heavy stubber
1x Repulsor Executioner defensive array
1x Twin Icarus ironhail heavy stubber
1x Twin heavy bolter

Scout Squad (65 Points)
• 1x Scout Sergeant
• 1x Astartes shotgun
1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
• 2x Astartes shotgun
4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Missile launcher
1x Scout sniper rifle

Scout Squad (65 Points)
• 1x Scout Sergeant
• 1x Astartes shotgun
1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
• 2x Astartes shotgun
4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Missile launcher
1x Scout sniper rifle

Scout Squad (65 Points)
• 1x Scout Sergeant
• 1x Astartes shotgun
1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
• 2x Astartes shotgun
4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Missile launcher
1x Scout sniper rifle

ALLIED UNITS

Callidus Assassin (90 Points)
• 1x Neural shredder
1x Phase sword and poison blades

Exported with App Version: v1.11.1 (34), Data Version: v352

Toby Bennett's list

Why is the Lion so terribly DILF-y (2000 points)

Space Marines
Dark Angels
Strike Force (2000 points)
Firestorm Assault Force


CHARACTERS

Azrael (105 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Lion’s Wrath
1x The Lion Helm
1x The Sword of Secrets

Librarian in Phobos Armour (70 points)
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Force weapon
1x Smite


BATTLELINE

Intercessor Squad (80 points)
• 1x Intercessor Sergeant
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• 4x Intercessor
• 1x Astartes grenade launcher
4x Bolt pistol
4x Bolt rifle
4x Close combat weapon


OTHER DATASHEETS

Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (85 points)
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs
• 4x Astartes chainsword
3x Heavy bolt pistol
1x Plasma pistol

Eradicator Squad (95 points)
• 1x Eradicator Sergeant
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Melta rifle
• 2x Eradicator
• 2x Bolt pistol
2x Close combat weapon
1x Melta rifle
1x Multi-melta

Gladiator Reaper (150 points)
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Icarus rocket pod
1x Ironhail heavy stubber
2x Tempest bolter
1x Twin heavy onslaught gatling cannon

Gladiator Reaper (150 points)
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Icarus rocket pod
1x Ironhail heavy stubber
2x Tempest bolter
1x Twin heavy onslaught gatling cannon

Inceptor Squad (130 points)
• 1x Inceptor Sergeant
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Plasma exterminators
• 2x Inceptor
• 2x Close combat weapon
2x Plasma exterminators

Inceptor Squad (130 points)
• 1x Inceptor Sergeant
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Plasma exterminators
• 2x Inceptor
• 2x Close combat weapon
2x Plasma exterminators

Inceptor Squad (130 points)
• 1x Inceptor Sergeant
• 1x Assault bolters
1x Close combat weapon
• 2x Inceptor
• 2x Assault bolters
2x Close combat weapon

Infiltrator Squad (100 points)
• 1x Infiltrator Sergeant
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Marksman bolt carbine
• 4x Infiltrator
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Helix Gauntlet
1x Infiltrator Comms Array
4x Marksman bolt carbine

Redemptor Dreadnought (210 points)
• 1x Icarus rocket pod
1x Macro plasma incinerator
1x Onslaught gatling cannon
1x Redemptor fist
1x Twin storm bolter

Redemptor Dreadnought (210 points)
• 1x Icarus rocket pod
1x Macro plasma incinerator
1x Onslaught gatling cannon
1x Redemptor fist
1x Twin storm bolter

Scout Squad (65 points)
• 1x Scout Sergeant
• 1x Astartes chainsword
1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
2x Combat knife
1x Missile launcher
1x Scout sniper rifle

Scout Squad (65 points)
• 1x Scout Sergeant
• 1x Astartes chainsword
1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
2x Combat knife
1x Missile launcher
1x Scout sniper rifle

Scout Squad (65 points)
• 1x Scout Sergeant
• 1x Astartes chainsword
1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
2x Combat knife
1x Missile launcher
1x Scout sniper rifle

Storm Speeder Thunderstrike (160 points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Stormfury missiles
1x Thunderstrike las-talon
1x Twin Icarus rocket pod

Exported with App Version: v1.11.0 (39), Data Version: v352