Vs. Blood Angels v7.0

[yoritomo]

7th edition is here. Now that is has been out for a while it is time for us to combine our knowledge and share what we have learned.

This thread is for everything we know about the Blood Angels. If you know something about the strategies that Blood Angels players use, or units to watch out for, or how the meta is developing with the Blood Angels, or popular ally choices, or units you’ve had success with, or anything else that will help fellow nid players do well against Blood Angels then we’d love for you to share it here.

This is for serious discussion about Blood Angels armies only. As such, flaming will not be tolerated, if you’re going to debate then use facts and don’t break down into make calling or other such nonsense. Also, this isn’t the place for army list reviews; please take those to the appropriate board. And as always, the moderators reserve the right to delete any off topic replies or inappropriate responses.

[slithernaut]

Nothing? I constantly get murdered by Blood Angels, unless we are doing a 2v2 game. Imotep with 4+ seize the initiative and those night fighting rules really really really buff our nids.

[slithernaut]

Look out for Death Company, fast Vindicators, Fast Baal Predators, Angels Descent Drop Pod 1d6 scatter. Just hope that he leaves his Imperial Knight in the box...

[undertow92182]

Something to keep an eye out for is the Stormraven. If you see your opponent bringing one think of it as a delicious pinata filled with points. Send every Dakkaflyrant you've got at it and if you can ground it the turn it comes on the board you probably just destroyed a good portion of their strategy.

[gigasnail]

One stormraven isn't really a big deal on its own. It becomes a big deal when it's loaded with allied grav centurions or the like. Or when brought as a formation coming in turn 1, etc.

[elfmonkey16]

Anyone know how to deal with the stormraven formation from white dwarf? Angel Fury Spearhead Force? Turn 1 charges? And he'll be dropping in 3 or 5 podded dreadnoughts. Help?

[WestRider]

How many Points are you playing that he's dropping in 5 Podded Dreads along with that. The Storm Raven Formation alone is like 1100+ Points, and most Lists don't manage to hit 9 Pods (the minimum to drop 5 on Turn 1) until 1850 or 2K, even if they're rocking nothing but Pods.

Regardless, the answer is the same: Bubble wrap. Put screens of Gaunts/Gargs out in front of whatever you actually care about. Start your FMCs either somewhere that they're getting 2+ Cover, or in Reserves if you're going second and can't manage 2+ Cover. If you're going first, just fly off the table Turn 1, so you automatically come back on Turn 2 and can start going to town on the Storm Ravens.

List-wise, you probably want multiple Flyrants, multiple Crones, and Venom/Malanthrope support.

[gigasnail]

They pod 2 dreads, the other 3 ride the birds.

[elfmonkey16]

Oh I should have given more detail. He pods in 3 dreddy 1st turn cause he has 5 pods total. The other two are scouts or something, can't remember but they're not relevant for 1st turn. The ravens drop tac squads on their run into the board on objectives or near them. The dreddys are 2 furioso (I think) and one librarian (warlord). The furioso obviously burn to death ignoring cover saves. So how much bubble wrap should I bring for 1850?

[WestRider]

Ideally, I'd go for enough screening Units to make two rings around the stuff you want to protect, with about 3" gaps or so between the main stuff and the first ring, and then between the two rings. That'll be enough to keep the stuff you care about out of Flamer range and it should still be pretty easy to trail the screens back into Spore Cloud range.

Also, remember that, to benefit, the DS Models must be placed within 12" of at least two different Models from the Formation that have Teleport Homers. That's just the Tactical Sergeants. Storm Ravens can get Locator Beacons, but not Teleport Homers. So if he's dropping the Tac Squads off in his backfield, that's also the only area he can drop the Dreads in and gain the benefits.

[elfmonkey16]

But since it all arrives via deeps trike first turn (minus the stormravens) can't he choose the order they appear and measure the homing beacon from the vehicle's hull THEN drop the tacs (mid board)?

[WestRider]

Ugh, you're right. I was thinking about how it would actually work if they were jumping out of an airplane, but I hadn't thought about the timing of Skies of Fury in the Rules. It's part of the Squad's movement, not the Raven's, so they actually have to stay in the Raven until after all Reserves are in, and then retroactively jump out halfway back the board. That's kinda weird even by GW standards

You should still be able to screen well enough to blunt his alpha strike with 30-40 Gaunt types.

[gigasnail]

Yeah, but outside of gargs/sky tyrant, are we running 40+ griblies now? I know I'm not.

[WestRider]

I was under the impression he was looking for Army-building advice as much as anything. Worth taking them for this matchup.

[elfmonkey16]

I know it doesn't make sense as those rules are very abstract. Rules as written and intended support it though =/ I reckon with endless swarm I'd easily be able to field more than that amount. It's just it's an expensive formation. Termagants would make the better meat shield, right? Especially with a Tervigon nearby for counter attack.