Wanna go fast? The Blood Angels have a formation that can let you assault with pretty much your whole army on turn 2, but just how good is it?
Guest poster Ender wrote this breakdown for making an army list using the Angel’s Fury formation from White Dwarf #47.
1850 pts – BAAL STRIKE FORCE – PRIMARY
90 Sanguinary Priest (60), The Angel’s Wing (25), M-Bombs (5)
55 Scouts x5 (55), CCW
55 Scouts x5 (55), CCW
207 Death Company x9 (180), Jump Packs (27)
207 Death Company x9 (180), Jump Packs (27)
135 Death Company Dreadnought (125), Talons (10), Grapple
135 Death Company Dreadnought (125), Talons (10). Grapple
220 Commander Dante [WARLORD]
ANGEL’S FURY SPEARHEAD FORCE
140 Tacticals x10, Locator Beacon (Free)
140 Tacticals x10, Locator Beacon (Free)
140 Tacticals x10, Locator Beacon (Free)
200 Stormraven (TL Las, MM)
200 Stormraven (TL Las, MM)
200 Stormraven (TL Las, MM)
How it Works
Basically the spearhead of Stormravens laden with Dreadnoughts and Tactical squads comes in from reserves first on turn 1 with re-rolls. Next Dante attached to a squad of Death Company gives them re-rolls for coming in on turn 2. Combo that with a Priest attached to the same squad and he gives Dante a FnP and prevents the 9-man unit from being intercepted at full BS (from The Angel’s Wing).
The Dreads on the back of two of the Stormravens disembark and join the assaulting Death Company for a second turn assault and everyone is now assaulting at I5 or higher!
Does it Work?
So this list (or any list that uses this formation with two units deep striking) will work 86% of the time, that is, getting the ravens in Turn 1 and then a Death Company Squad coming in Turn 2. Over 70% of the time it will work with both Squads arriving on Turn 2.
It seems like of all the permutations for the possibilities, over 94% of the time one these three things will happen;
- 70% Formation Arrives Turn 1, Both DC Squads arrive Turn 2
- 16% Formation Arrives Turn 1, only one DC Squad arrives Turn 2. The other Squad arrives Turn 3. (8% that it is either squad)
- 8% That the Formation and both DC Squads arrive on Turn 2.
Roughly the rest of the time, this tactic really is not going to work and your squads are going to get annihilated before they can charge (remember that that 8% result above is bad for this army list too).
Basically the major downside of this formation is that with such little on the table, if you are going up against a drop pod type army and do not get your formation in on turn one, you are probably getting tabled. Also if your opponent gets the warlord trait with -1 to your reserve rolls then things start getting 14% worse quickly as well too.
On the plus side, if you do get everything in, you could also charge with the 3x tactical squads (but at I4) so that would be 7 units that you could be charging with on turn 2 so there is that fun factor too!
Tell Me More..
One more thing, I looked at Termies but they seem to be too expensive and do not have a way to get a reliable re-roll without taking a comms relay or hoping for a warlord trait.
Overall, as far as survivability of the formation arriving, one Stormraven may die. However, it is very likely that the sergeant with the beacon will live along with the other two ravens.
Personally I think this formation is most viable at 2500 points when you can reinforce with both DC squads to full strength and put about 450 points of IG on the ground for support. the problem is the 1020 base point cost, that supplemental strenght is too expensive to be reliable at 1850 points.
Editor’s Note- There was a problem with the math, this list only works at 2k. Checkout the revised army list and points HERE
About the Author: Rob Baer
Rob Baer
Job Title: Managing Editor
Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
Socials: Rob Baer on Facebook and @catdaddymbg on X
About Rob Baer: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor of Spikey Bits, the leading tabletop gaming news website focused on the hobby side of wargaming and miniatures.
Rob also co-founded and currently hosts the Long War Podcast, which has over 350 episodes and focuses on tabletop miniatures gaming, specializing in Warhammer 40k. and spent six years writing for Bell of Lost Souls.
Every year, along with his co-hosts, he helps host the Long War 40k Doubles Tournament at Adepticon and the Long War 40k Doubles at Las Vegas Open, which attracts over 350 players from around the world.
Rob has won many Warhammer 40k Tournaments over the years, including multiple first-place finishes in Warhammer 40k Grand Tournaments over the years and even winning 1st place at the Adepticon 40k Team Tournament.
With over 30 years of experience in retail and distribution, Rob knows all the products and exactly which ones are the best. As a member of GAMA (Game Manufacturers Association), he advocates for gaming stores and manufacturers in these difficult times, always looking for the next big thing to feature for the miniatures hobby, helping everyone to provide the value consumers want.
While he’s played every edition of Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy (since 5th Edition) and has been hobbying on miniatures since the 1980s, Titans of all sizes will always be his favorite! It’s even rumored that his hobby vault rivals the Solemnance Galleries, containing rulebooks filled with lore from editions long past, ancient packs of black-bordered Magic Cards, and models made of both pewter and resin.
