Email in: 2000 points Deathwing!

"Hey Kirby-

I've been following your blog for a few months now and really like the content that you and the other contributors have posted. I find your tactics and army list articles to be top notch along with some of the most detailed and professional-looking battle reports out there! Recently my roommate purchased about 15,000 points of 40k (legit 15,000 points- true story) for a ridiculously low price ($700) from a guy who just needed the space in his apartment. In the lot is a collection of 20 Deathwing Terminators (with DA Forgeworld shoulder pads). My roommate will be selling me these at a deeply discounted rate since my birthday is coming up soon. I already play Mech BA's and Tyranids but I can't pass up such a good deal! Especially with the rumors of a DA codex soon (although rumors are rumors...). So here is a list I came up with for 2,000 points combining Deathwing with a bit of Ravenwing.


Belial w/ th/ss

Venerable Dreadnought w/ TLLC, DCCW

Venerable Dreadnought w/ TLLC, DCCW

Deathwing Terminator Squad 1
1 x cyclone/th/ss, 1 x th/ss [apoth], 1 x th/ss [banner], 2 x th/ss

Deathwing Terminator Squad 2
1 x cyclone/th/ss, 4 x th/ss

Deathwing Terminator Squad 3
1 x Assault Cannon/pf, 3 x th/ss, 1 x cf/sb

Deathwing Terminator Squad 4
1 x Assault Cannon/pf, 3 x th/ss, 1 x cf/sb

Deathwing Terminator Squad 5
1 x Assault Cannon/pf, 3 x th/ss, 1 x cf/sb

Land Speeder Typhoon w/ Typhoon missile launcher/multi-melta

Land Speeder Typhoon w/ Typhoon missile launcher/multi-melta

Land Speeder Typhoon w/ Typhoon missile launcher/multi-melta

The overall strategy I envision with this list is Squads 1-3 are held in reserve with Squads 1 and 2 performing a Deathwing Assault. Belial will go with Squad 1. These squads have the highest survivability in the army and I intend on being very bold with their deep striking location choices. Their cyclones will hopefully get close and pop a tank/transport or two first turn (rear armor anyone?). Squad 3 will remain in reserve. Squads 4 and 5 will be legging it up the field with the Dreadnaughts providing fire support and eventually getting into CC/taking objectives mid-field. The speeders are my mobile fire support and objective contestors in emergencies. They can be expected to slag tanks turn 1 if necessary.

I'd love to hear your comments/criticisms! Thanks, OIF Knight"

All the Deathwing need CML - Assault Cannons are nice by heavy 2 CMLs give you a lot more options and allow you to deploy on the board and move up aggressively with the option to deepstrike (you don't want to be forcing yourself to deepstrike all the time).

Since you're running mostly TH/SS you're ranged anti-infantry is lacking so instead of Dreadnoughts w/TLLC I'd run some Dakka Preds to up your anti-infantry at range. Grabbing one or two cheapie Dreads (Assault Cannon + DCCW) isn't a bad idea either to have a unit you can throw into things like Blood Crushers but Deathwing suffers from anti-infantry and solving that issue is more important.

Keep at least one chainfist in each squad as well to make sure you can deal with those Dreads/vehicles in combat more reliably.