fbpx JOIN LOGIN JOIN

Custodes VS Blood Angels: Resupply Drop

custode talons wal hor

Check out this battle report from the SN Team, starring Adeptus Custodes versus Blood Angels in a Dawn of War resupply drop!

The two shield captains gazed upon the killing field from atop a ruined manufactorum, their gilded auramite glinting in the pale light of the dying sun and their crimson cloaks snapping about them in the stiff breeze. Their focus fixed upon the scene of utter butchery that would render less dispassionate souls mad with horror. Here traitor guardsmen and heretic astartes lay scattered and indistinguishable from one another, red meat and viscera on an abattoir floor.

The sounds of battle could still be heard in the middle distance as the carnage continued apace, its perpetrators driving deep into their enemies defenses like a butchers cleaver cutting down to the marrow. One of the custodies broke the silence. “So the reports do not exaggerate for once.” “The psychological and genetic degradation of the IXth and its scions is well known.” Responded the second. “Still, to see it with ones own eyes… The Sons of the Angel have fallen far indeed.” “I’ve read that these…afflictions were first apparent even during the Great Crusade. The Emperor designed each of the legions with a purpose in mind. The IXths bestial fury was a part of its design though it seems that shorn of their, ahem, father, as they are want to call their primarchs, they seem to have lost the focus and discipline to hold it in check.”

The other shield captain nodded at this. “You are indeed right. Without the primarchs the astartes are lost children though still dangerous. I hear that the Blood Angels call this the Black Rage and the Red Thirst. So unimaginative and melodramatic even for Sanguinius’ lot.” “We cannot let this stand, they are mad! Better to put a mad dog down whilst it still recognises its master, before it turns.”  The second shield captain rounded on the first sharply, “These are not dogs but Adeptus Astartes. The IXth stood with us on the walls during the Great Heresy. They are loyal!”  “So was Horus.” Replied the first and more senior. “Until he wasn’t.”

At that, the more junior of the two turned and looked back upon the killing fields. “I know what must be done. I know our duty, our oath. If there is even but a slight possibility that the Blood Angels may turn then we must act as if it was an absolute. It still rankles though, we do the enemies work by slaying them.” “I have no passion for this either my friend but we have seen the results of indulging in leniency. Had our predecessors been possessed of a more sanguine mien then Horus might never have had the chance to… We have no time for debate! Now is the time for action, swift and deadly. Make ready the Shield Host, we make war on the angels!”

Mission: Resupply Drop

Points: (Blood Angels) 2400 (Adeptus Custodes) 2000

Deployment: Dawn of War

++ Battalion Detachment +5CP (Imperium – Adeptus Custodes) ++

+ HQ +

Shield-Captain: Eagle’s Eye, Guardian Spear, Superior Creation, Warlord
. Categories: Character, Faction: Adeptus Custodes, Imperium, Infantry, HQ

Shield-Captain: Guardian Spear
. Categories: Character, Faction: Adeptus Custodes, Imperium, Infantry, HQ

+ Troops +

Custodian Guard Squad
. Categories: Faction: Adeptus Custodes, Custodian Guard, Infantry, Troops
. Custodian: Guardian Spear
. Custodian: Guardian Spear
. Custodian: Guardian Spear
. Custodian: Guardian Spear
. Custodian: Guardian Spear

Custodian Guard Squad
. Categories: Faction: Adeptus Custodes, Custodian Guard, Infantry, Troops
. Custodian: Sentinel Blade, Storm Shield
. Custodian: Sentinel Blade, Storm Shield
. Custodian: Sentinel Blade, Storm Shield
. Custodian: Sentinel Blade, Storm Shield
. Custodian: Sentinel Blade, Storm Shield
. Custodian: Sentinel Blade, Storm Shield

Custodian Guard Squad
. Categories: Faction: Adeptus Custodes, Custodian Guard, Infantry, Troops
. Custodian: Guardian Spear
. Custodian: Guardian Spear
. Custodian: Guardian Spear

+ Elites +

Contemptor-Achillus Dreadnought (Beta): Achillus Dreadspear, 2x Lastrum Storm Bolter
. Categories: Elites, Faction: Adeptus Custodes, Vehicle, Imperium

Venerable Contemptor Dreadnought: Combi-bolter, Dreadnought Combat Weapon, Kheres Pattern Assault Cannon
. Categories: Venerable Contemptor Dreadnought, Vehicle, Faction: Adeptus Custodes, Imperium, Elites

Vexillus Praetor: Misericordia, Storm Shield, Vexilla Imperius
. Categories: Character, Faction: Adeptus Custodes, Imperium, Infantry, Elites

+ Heavy Support +

Venerable Land Raider: Storm Bolter, Twin Heavy Bolter, 2x Twin Lascannons
. Categories: Faction: Adeptus Custodes, Imperium, Venerable Land Raider, Vehicle, Transport, Heavy Support

++ Battalion Detachment +5CP (Imperium – Blood Angels) ++

+ HQ +

Commander Dante

Librarian: 2. Unleash Rage, 6. Wings of Sanguinus, Force axe, Inferno pistol, Jump Pack, The Veritas Vitae, Warlord

+ Troops +

Tactical Squad
. 3x Space Marine
. Space Marine (Special weapon): Flamer
. Space Marine Sergeant: Bolt pistol, Power sword

Tactical Squad
. 3x Space Marine
. Space Marine (Heavy weapon): Missile launcher
. Space Marine Sergeant: Bolt pistol and boltgun

Tactical Squad
. 4x Space Marine
. Space Marine Sergeant: Combi-flamer

+ Fast Attack +

Assault Squad: Jump Pack
. Space Marine Sergeant: Bolt pistol, Power sword
. 7x Space Marine w/ bolt pistol and chainsword
. Space Marine w/ special weapon: Meltagun
. Space Marine w/ special weapon: Meltagun

+ Flyer +

Stormraven Gunship: 2x Stormstrike missile launcher, Twin lascannon, Twin multi-melta

++ Vanguard Detachment +1CP (Imperium – Blood Angels) ++

+ HQ +

Lemartes

Sanguinary Priest: Bolt pistol, Chainsword, Jump Pack

+ Elites +

Death Company: Jump Pack
. Death Company Marine: Bolt pistol, Power fist
. Death Company Marine: Thunder hammer
5x Death Company Marine: Bolt pistol and chainsword
3x Death Company Marine: Bolt pistol, Power sword

Sanguinary Guard: Death mask
. Sanguinary Guard: Encarmine axe, Inferno pistol
. Sanguinary Guard: Angelus boltgun, Encarmine sword
. Sanguinary Guard: Angelus boltgun, Encarmine sword
. Sanguinary Guard: Angelus boltgun, Encarmine sword

Vanguard Veteran Squad: Jump Pack
. Space Marine Veteran: 2x Lightning Claw
. Space Marine Veteran: Bolt pistol, Power axe
. Space Marine Veteran: Bolt pistol, Power axe
. Space Marine Veteran: Bolt pistol, Thunder hammer
. Veteran Sergeant: Inferno pistol, Relic blade

++ Vanguard Detachment +1CP (Imperium – Blood Angels) ++

+ HQ +

Sanguinary Priest: Bolt pistol, Jump Pack, Power sword

+ Elites +

Dreadnought: Multi-melta
. Dreadnought combat weapon with ranged weapon: Dreadnought combat weapon, Storm bolter

Dreadnought: Assault cannon
. Dreadnought combat weapon with ranged weapon: Dreadnought combat weapon, Storm bolter

Furioso Dreadnought: Furioso fist (pair), Meltagun, Smoke launchers, Storm bolter

At the studio today we present another stunning board for you using the Admech terrain set from Wargames Terrain Factory. We are particularly excited to use this board and get some seriously good close combat action in along the way.

Steven G was very confident that the Custodes would outperform the Blood Angels, so much so that he decided to set challenge allowing the Blood Angels to have an additional 400 points advantage. We shall see whether he’s right or whether the wings of Sanguinius would punish the Custodes for being so brash.

The mission for this battle is one of the newer missions from Chapter Approved 2017, Resupply Drop. In its basic form it consists of six objectives, represented by these skull tokens from Kromlech. However, at the start of turn 3, the player who’s turn it is selects three objectives and randomly removes two of them. The second player does the same when he begins his turn 3, and the players fight for the two remaining objectives. It is an interesting scenario as neither side knows exactly where to focus their forces during the beginning of the battle.

Julian places half of his forces in reserve, basically consisting of the Vanguard Veterans, Sanguinary Guard and all of the characters. The Stormraven has the Furioso Dreadnought, plus a unit of Tactical Marines embarked within and is deployed free from line of sight from the Custodes Land Raider.

The Death Company spread across the central point of the Blood Angels deployment zone, ready to gain their free movement before the game begins thanks to the Forlorn Fury stratagem.

Steven G places his Custodians at the centre of his deployment zone, and uses his stratagem to hold one of the Custodian Guard squads in reserves.

battle report

Julian, despite not winning the roll off to go first, opts to use Forlorn’s Fury anyway and move up the Death Company. He rolls a 6 for his advance roll, which was just enough to fit the entire unit on top of the terrain centerpiece, increasing the probability of a first turn charge while also protecting them from any oncoming charges.

With limited options for the Custodians at this point, they opt to close the gap. They move directly forward to cleanse the area of the intruders. The Land Raider moves enough to gain a visual on the Storm Raven, while the Dreadnoughts hold back a bit as the Death Company are already too close for their liking.

Who will win out? Let’s do this! Check out all the action in the full battle report back at SN Battle reports site!

warhammer horus heresy sn battle reports

More SN Battle Reports

About the Author: Steven Pardo