Todays detachment is the Lions Blade Task Force, a very flavorful (and maybe pretty good?) detachment which mixes Deathwing and Ravenwing together for some neat one-two punches.

The detachment rule is In The Lion’s Claws. It has two abilities’. The first is for the Ravenwing which makes it so that whenever a non-monster or vehicle model falls back while in engagement range of a Ravenwing unit, those models have to make a desperate escape test, and if they’re battle-shocked, they take the test at -1.

This first half is fine. I don’t know if you want your Ravenwing units in combat too often, and if you do have them in combat they likely wont survive most counter punches to get that far. Still, its neat and helps incentivize the second ability. The second ability makes it so that Deathwing units get +2 to charge rolls when charging an enemy unit in engagement range of a Ravenwing unit.

This is very good. A 7″ charge out of deep strike is killer and those Deathwing Knights are happy to have it.

As far as detachment bonuses go, this ones pretty good and you won’t be sad to be making more charges.

Enhancements

The enhancements are all very good, some of which might make the detachment worth taking in their own right.

First is Calibanite Armaments which lets you make an Adeptus Astartes character add +1 damage to their melee weapons. At 15 points it will be a nice bonus for those lists with the extra points laying around. Damage 3 is never a bad thing. Solid A.

Lord of the Hunt is for Ravenwing models and it lets you fall back, shoot and charge. With a small bonus to re-roll desperate escape tests. It’s cute, at 15 points I don’t know if you take it over the others. We’ll have to see if Black Knights are worth taking first. Ill give it a solid B, with potential to be an A.

Stalwart Champion comes in at a big 25 points for Captain, Chaplain and Lietenant models. It simply gives models in your units +1 OC while not battle-shocked. It’s good, Deathwing Knights are going to start holding objectives even better than before, take this. A+

Lastly we have the Fulgus Magna which for only 20 points lets you treat your Deathwing Knights like Swooping Hawks and put them into strategic reserves at the end of your opponents turn. Take this in every list. S+

Stratagems

The stratagems are a weird mixed bag of fun tricks which don’t always make it clear when the best time to use is. A skilled player will not be without opportunities to shine however. In addition, the detachment, like all Space Marine detachments, has armor of contempt so we won’t be covering it. You know it’s good.

The first stratagem named, Overpowering Exaction is a bit of a dud. Making it so that in either the Command phase or the start of the fight phase (but not both) you cause enemy units in engagement range with one of your units to take a battle-shock test. If your unit is Ravenwing or Deathwing, the test is at -1. You’re probably not using this. D-

Next is Strength in Unity. This one is used in the fight phase and makes a selected unit more survivable if the enemy unit attacking them is engaged with Ravenwing or Deathwing (or both?) If they’re engaged with Ravenwing, the enemy unit gets -1 to hit. If they’re engaged with Deathwing, they get -1 to wound if their strength is higher than the defending units toughness. Pincer the opponent, get bonuses. It’s what the detachment ability already wants you to do. A+

Knights of Iron is the perfect tool to get your bikes in position to get that tasty +2 charge bonus. Letting you move, advance and charge through walls with Ravenwing units. Note that you can’t use this stratagem to fall back behind walls. This is great, you’ll be using it a lot for those detachment bonuses. A+

The next one is a little funky, its called Illuminating Fire and makes it so after a Ravenwing unit has shot, you can select an enemy unit with 12″ of the unit which was shot by said Ravenwing unit, and give your Deathwing units +1 t wound against that target until the end of the phase. Now, Deathwing isn’t exactly known for its shooting ability, but did you know that Azrael gives Hellblasters the Deathwing keyword? Is it crazy expensive? Yes. Is it fun and maybe worth it? Probably and yes. Also Ballistus Dreadnaughts are Deathwing, so that’s fun. B

Last is Inescapable Wrath, the only 2 CP stratagem of the bunch which lets you Heroically intervene without the enemy unit needing to have charged. Note that you don’t get any charge bonuses when you do so. Might make your opponent think twice before ending within 6″ of a Deathwing Knight unit. Killer. A+

Overall, the stratagems are awesome, perhaps a little tricky to pull off right, with Inescapable Wrath being the most telling self-report of player skill in a while.

Lists

Admittedly, I am not a Dark Angels player so I went to the one person I know who actually plays Dark Angels even when they’re not the meta. So here’s Ryan King’s take on Dark Angels.

Ryan “I Hate The Lion” King’s List

Grotmas (1965 Points)
CHARACTERS
Azrael (115 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Lion’s Wrath
• 1x The Lion Helm
• 1x The Sword of Secrets

Captain in Terminator Armour (95 Points)
• 1x Relic weapon
• 1x Storm bolter

Ravenwing Command Squad (120 Points)
• 1x Ravenwing Champion
◦ 1x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Master-crafted power weapon
◦ 1x Plasma talon
• 1x Ravenwing Apothecary
◦ 1x Black Knight combat weapon
◦ 1x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Plasma talon
• 1x Ravenwing Ancient
◦ 1x Black Knight combat weapon
◦ 1x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Plasma talon

Sammael (115 Points)
• 1x Bolt Pistol
• 1x Master-crafted plasma cannon
• 1x The Raven Sword
• 1x Twin storm bolter

BATTLELINE

Intercessor Squad (80 Points)
• 1x Intercessor Sergeant
4x intercessor

Impulsor (80 Points)
• 1x Armoured hull
• 1x Ironhail heavy stubber
• 1x Shield Dome
• 2x Storm bolter

Deathwing Knights (250 Points)
• 1x Knight Master
◦ 1x Great weapon of the Unforgiven
• 4x Deathwing Knight
Deathwing Knights (250 Points)
• 1x Knight Master
◦ 1x Great weapon of the Unforgiven
• 4x Deathwing Knight
Gladiator Lancer (160 Points)
• 1x Armoured hull
• 1x Lancer laser destroyer
• 2x Storm bolter
Gladiator Lancer (160 Points)
• 1x Armoured hull
• 1x Lancer laser destroyer
• 2x Storm bolter
Inner Circle Companions (180 Points)
• 6x Inner Circle Companion
◦ 6x Calibanite greatsword
◦ 6x Heavy bolt pistol
Ravenwing Black Knights (180 Points)
• 1x Ravenwing Huntmaster
◦ 1x Black Knight combat weapon
◦ 1x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Plasma talon
• 5x Ravenwing Black Knight
◦ 5x Black Knight combat weapon
◦ 5x Bolt pistol
◦ 5x Plasma talon
Ravenwing Black Knights (180 Points)
• 1x Ravenwing Huntmaster
◦ 1x Black Knight combat weapon
◦ 1x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Plasma talon
• 5x Ravenwing Black Knight
◦ 5x Black Knight combat weapon
◦ 5x Bolt pistol
◦ 5x Plasma talon

Here are some of Ryans thoughts:

“The lions blade taskforce is what I was hoping for from the dark angels as a thematic detachment focused on the first and second company working together. it won’t dethrone gladius but it has way more play than the supplement detachments. You give the terminator captain the once per game (womp womp) uppies attach him to one Deathwing knight squad and just have him charge whatever Sammael is in combat with as if that unit is battle shocked they are at a 1-4 fails desperate escape checks. The ravenwing command squad takes the fallback and charge enhancement just for a little bit extra mobility.”

Final Thoughts

The detachment is good. Maybe not the most straight forward playstyle. It’s certainly no Gladius, but it’s fun, different and interactive. Giving lots of opportunities for an engaging game of counter-play on both sides of the table.

The only shame is that The Lion doesn’t have either keyword to function in the detachment. He’s obviously still good enough to bring, but you won’t be see as many benefits as you would if you brought Gladius.

If you’re a fan of the Dark Angels and love both companies, give this a try. You likely won’t regret it.

That’s all from us today though, tomorrow we have Tyranid’s and I couldn’t be more excited.

Be safe, and remember to drink water.