With Event Horizon drawing to an end and my post-game analysis all wrapped up it's time to look at unfolding the army list I want to base my building and playing around for the next several months. The original army list I took to Event Horizon was based on this list analysis which combines the efficiency of MSU style squads to bring maximum firepower and vehicles to bear with a larger squad mentality for reliability and durability in midfield. This was all based around the Librarian which could make the large squads formidable in combat to ensure a unit was finished off and otherwise buffed everything around him. For the most part this list concept worked and I don't want to stray too far from it. It fits nicely in how I like to play, doesn't screw over my own movement too easily (can happen with an MSU army) and I've got large units on which to anchor my forces with enough units to happily split my army.
What I didn't like however was the Librarian and combat weaknesses of the list. I found as well my firepower a little lacking in terms of range and dealing with enemy tanks effectively as well but range I'm not too fussed about. Getting some more reliable anti-tank however (i.e. AP1), I am though. Combat I'm not really going to be able to do much about without investing in something like GKT/Paladins (potential) or Death Cult Assassins. Otherwise it's going to be an Achilles heel of the list and that's that.
So with this understanding we scrap our HQ and Henchmen units instantly. This still gives us 40 MEQs with Storm Bolters/Psycannons and eight vehicles all up. An excellent core on which to build and a grand total of 1560 points used. I'd love to develop a list which can easily move from 1750 to 2000 and back as these are the major point players in Australia and with my core in my mind, this shouldn't be too difficult. Losing the Librarian is a double-edged sword. I lose a central focus to my army which obviously has both benefits and downsides but I'm also losing some excellent utility powers and hard psychic defense.
First off we're going to give each Purifier squad a Hammer. I know Hammers in 5-man squads seems unwise but these guys come with 2A base and it gives me some extra reliability in combat knowing I have four potential S10 hammers around. Add in the unit is already good in combat against hordes and they become a multi-purpose unit both in shooting and combat if a little vulnerable. This helps address the issue of combat somewhat and isn't too expensive so is a pretty easy choice to make.
We then need to look at my HQ and the obvious choice is Coteaz. He's going to allow me to get two Henchmen units without needing a second Inquisitor and brings a whole swag of utility himself which includes Sanctuary (one of the best Librarian psychic powers). At 100 points his utility alone is very nice so I'm more than happy to take him. He's also going to make my henchmen units I do take scoring giving me lots of options in that department. We're up to 1670 points though so don't have much wiggle room for the 1750 range. With that in mind we'll add what I had in my old list which was three MM servitors in a Chimera for 85 points and sending us to 1755. The drop of an upgrade and we have our 1750 basis of a list:
Coteaz
5x Purifiers w/Hammer, 2x Psycannons, Psyback
5x Purifiers w/Hammer, 2x Psycannons, Psyback
10x Grey Knight Strike Squad w/2x psycannons, Hammer, psybolt ammunition, Rhino
10x Grey Knight Strike Squad w/2x psycannons, MC Hammer, psybolt ammunition, Rhino
5x Grey Knight Strike Squad w/psycannon, Psyback
5x Grey Knight Strike Squad w/psycannon, Psyback
3x Multi-melta Servitors, Chimera
Dreadnought w/2x twin-linked autocannons, psybolt ammunition
Dreadnought w/2x twin-linked autocannons, psybolt ammunition
Totals: 1750 points
44 infantry
9 tanks
So looks pretty much exactly like my Event Horizon list at 1850 but with no Librarian and Coteaz instead and just a little bit more combat punch. Seems fine for now but I might toy with changing one of the small Strike Squads to get more henchmen units with meltaguns in the future. For now though, let's see what we can do at 2000.
We have a quick choice here to make. Add another Purifier, Vindicare or Psyfledread? With only 250 points to play with I'm not going to be able to take a double of anything in Fast Attack (Interceptor squads being 140-155 points, Storm Ravens 200+) and singular squads can find themselves heroes or failures (like the Librarian). For now I'm going with an extra Psyfledread and this leaves me some points to get another henchmen squad and therefore more melta. My ranged anti-tank options are increased which is helpful and addresses one of my earlier points.
This leaves me with 115 points, 60 when we add in the extra Chimera. This isn't too much, especially since we don't have the points for another Inquisitor to babysit some Servitors. Let's drop the Psybolt Ammunition and MC status from the large Strike Squads and the other henchmen unit (not the Chimera) then taking us to 135 points to play with and let's look at some Jokaero Weaponsmiths. These guys are expensive but do two things for the list: add ranged anti-tank (lascannons) and improved reliability (multi-meltas) all in one lovely package. Add in they are scoring and they can also hold backfield objectives without me having to worry about moving my Strike Squads back and forth. With 135 points I'm just shy of being able to field four of them so let's drop a Hammer from the Purifiers (Coteaz can now go here and since Hammerhand now stacks, still get S10) and we end up at a round 2000 points!
Oh damn though, we need a minimum squad size of three for the Henchmen units. Fail. Where am I going to gather the minimum eight points necessary for two Acolytes when I've pretty much shaved everything possible off already? I could turn the Chimeras (or a Chimera) into Rhinos but I like having those six extra S5-6 shots at 36". It helps support the Psybacks and adds anti-infantry firepower at range. I could drop a psycannon from the Purifiers or some Psybolt ammo upgrades from the Psybacks but that defeats their purpose so I think we're going to have to forego our previous endeavour. We'll drop a Jokaero from each squad and add back the Hammer from the Purifier squad giving us 65 points. Let's then add in an Inquisitor and two Multi-Melta Servitors to each squad which takes us to a round 2000 points with two melta-bunkers and a degree of ineffeciency. Let's take a peek:
Coteaz
Inquisitor
5x Purifiers w/Hammer, 2x Psycannons, Psyback
5x Purifiers w/Hammer, 2x Psycannons, Psyback
10x Grey Knight Strike Squad w/2x psycannons, Hammer, Rhino
10x Grey Knight Strike Squad w/2x psycannons, Hammer, Rhino
5x Grey Knight Strike Squad w/psycannon, Psyback
5x Grey Knight Strike Squad w/psycannon, Psyback
2x Multi-melta Servitors, Jokaero Weaponsmith, Chimera
2x Multi-melta Servitors, Jokaero Weaponsmith, Chimera
Dreadnought w/2x twin-linked autocannons, psybolt ammunition
Dreadnought w/2x twin-linked autocannons, psybolt ammunition
Dreadnought w/2x twin-linked autocannons, psybolt ammunition
Totals: 2000 points
48 infantry
11 tanks
20-40 S7 rending @ 24"
4 MM and 2 MM/2 Lascannon @ 24"/48"
12 S6 TL @ 36"
64 S4 @ 24"
12 S8 TL @ 48"
6 S6 @ 36"
6 S5 @ 36"
All in all some pretty impressive firepower with anti-infantry covered between 24" and 36" and anti-tank covered between 12" and 48". The Jokaeros have the advantage of being able to improve the guns of their units (36" MMs!) but I want rely on that. For now it gives me ranged objective holders and increased anti-tank presence from early on whilst also having melta-bunkering options. The Chimeras gives me more ranged anti-infantry and support the mass of Grey Knights moving forward.
Overall I'm not thrilled with the 2nd Inquisitor as it really means I should probably drop Coteaz and give those guys some upgrades but then I'd rather not have the Jokaero as they are no longer scoring. I could always make the 2nd henchmen unit 2x Jokaero + 10 points of henchmen units by dropping the Inquisitor and MM servitors. It will require some play-testing. The list has solved the ranged and anti-tank issues I came across in my previous list (in theory at least) but I'm still lacking in the assault department. Welcome to Grey Knights. The other variant I need to consider is replacing the large GKSS squads with a big GKT squad with Brotherhood banner, psybolt ammo and double Psycannons. This reduces my firepower somewhat but gives me a unit which is actually pretty scary in combat and allows me to MSU around it completely. Thoughts for the future...
