MBG back again with an interesting look at selecting drop pods. It seems like ever since the Space Marine codex came back out in 2008 pods have been at the forefront of most battles. First came the Kantor/Sternguard lists, then the podding Vulkan He’stan armies, and now we have Blood Angels throwing their weight around.
But what is the magical number of Pods to have? You get half rounded up on turn one, so it seems to me that an odd number of pods (1,3,5…) would be optimal to maximize points, arrival of units etc. However with most lists that I see out there, it seems like the choice to pod something was an afterthought, done on a whim or due to point constraints.
I think that you should build an army with pods in mind at the time. Granted one pod is easily worked into most lists, but why stop there? Build your list around the pods, you know when most of them will arrive so why not optimize your army for that?
With the Blood Angels, their are only a few units that would actually benefit from pods, because the rest has Descent of Angels special rule, BUT that doesn’t mean you wont see BA lists with pods. On the contrary I think a good build of the army *should* have pods. Let me explain.
Honor Guard with 4 meltas, and Furioso Dreadnoughts scream to be taken in a drop pod. Lets face it the ability to turn one have 4 meltas pretty much on target of anything on the table is devastating. Plus the squad can have Feel no Pain and Furious Charge too- BONUS.
I know you can field Furiosoes with the wings Psychic power, but if its gets shut down by a Psychic Hood, your guy is doing nothing but hoofing it across the board, furiously. Why not land him near the enemy’s battle line where he can do some damage, and if there are no P-Hoods on the board unleash some Psyhic attacks (Blood Lance?) as well. Armor 13 front is decently tough to deal with, I wouldn’t want one of these guys running around in my back lines.
I think a Blood Angels list working around a spearhead of 3 pods, 2 Librarian Furiosoes and an Honor guard, would have great synergy and striking power. You can choose which two to get in play first, which gives you some tactical flexibility, or leave them out of pods entirely. Follow up behind them with some razorbacks, or deep striking assault marines and you have a pretty hard hitting list.
What do you think about odd podding Blood Angels, or even odd podding in general? Pod picture stolen from JAWABALLS!
-MBG
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 the Las Vegas Open, each of which attracts thousands of 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 2011 Adepticon 40k Team Tournament. He was even featured for his painting in issue #304 of Games Workshop’s White Dwarf Magazine.
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.
