Angel's Keep: A 40K Dark Angels Blog

 Hello battle brethren! Games Workshop released a new Balance Dataslate! You can download it over on Warhammer Community , and I highly recommend it, because there are some extensive changes you should be aware of. I've written at some length about the failings of the rules for Ravenwing, both at the individual unit level and the detachment rules. At the core of that has been the disconnect between Black Knights' best mode of attack being shooting but their datasheet rule being a buff to melee. I kind of figured the solution to that would be to give them a datasheet rule that buffs their shooting, but GW went a different route.  Well, that is interesting. Giving Dev wounds to the Black Knight combat weapons does put more emphasis on their assault capability. Remember they have Anti Vehicle/Monster 4+ on the charge. Now, instead of maybe taking the last couple wounds off a mostly-dead monster, they can actually do a respectable chunk of damage on the charge. Average dice if you...

  Hello battle brethren! I'm afraid to report it wasn't a great weekend for us, but at least it wasn't a complete wash. Two DA lists went 4-1, both at the same event, the SA40k Commissar Cup GT in Edwardstown Australia, which was a mid-sized event with 44 players at it. Let's look at the lists and then discuss statistics. The highest scoring DA list of the weekend was played by Benjamin Reggett of Indomitable Phalanx. He went 4-1 with his Gladius Task Force and took 3rd place. You can see Ben's list on BCP. The short version is below. lion Lion Dad - Warlord Azrael Judiciar Lieutenant with Combi-weapon Lieutenant with Combi-weapon Assault Intercessor Squad: 5 choppy boys Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs: 5 flying choppy boys Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs: 5 flying choppy boys Deathwing Knights: 5 awesome chonky macey boys Deathwing Knights: 5 awesome chonky macey boys Infiltrator Squad: 5 sneaky stay-off-my-lawn boys Inner Circle Companions: 6 spooky awe...

Hello battle brethren! There weren't a lot of events in the United States over Thanksgiving weekend, but the rest of the world kept on playing 40K. We don't have a lot of lists to look at, but there are a couple, including one that was the event winning list, so let's start off taking a look at that! The event in question was 40Kings Cup in Emden, Germany, a 5-round, 50 player event. The event was won by Sebastian Müller of Groundzero Kiel, who went undefeated with his Gladius Task Force. You can see Sebastian's list on BCP. The short version is below. DA: Der König der Möwen Lion Dad Azrael Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs: 5 flying choppy boys Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs: 5 flying choppy boys Deathwing Knights: 5 awesome chonky macey boys Deathwing Knights: 5 awesome chonky macey boys Deathwing Knights: 5 awesome chonky macey boys Gladiator Lancer Gladiator Lancer Infiltrator Squad: 5 sneaky stay-off-my-lawn boys Inner Circle Companions: 6 spooky awesome...

Hello battle brethren! We have the good fortune of receiving the second new detachment from Games Workshop's Grotmas Calendar, the Lion's Blade Task Force . I'd been hoping Games Workshop would deliver a detachment that emphasizes the cooperation between the Ravenwing and the Deathwing, and GW delivered on that! Unlike our bespoke detachment from our codex, this one is, at least on first blush, at least a little spicy. Let's take a look at what GW gave us to work with! Detachment Rule: In The Lion's Claws Right out of the gate, the detachment rule emphasizes a mixed-Wing approach. It has separate effects for Ravenwing units and Deathwing units, meant to represent the Ravenwing pinning enemy units in place for the Deathwing to come in and smash. The Ravenwing mechanic requires opposing units (excepting Monsters and Vehicles) in Engagement Range with a Ravenwing unit to make a Desperate Escape attempt if they fall back, with a -1 penalty on the roll if they're Bat...