With the Las Vegas Open arriving, and subsequently coming to an end, we get a look at some of the high end lists out there in the meta. You can see them all over the place, but for the sake of this article, I will post up the winning list in a moment. However, this is not going to an article that discusses how to beat such a list, but rather discussing the list building trends going on over the past few large tournaments. Then we can continue to evolve our own BT lists to match.
So which list won LVO? It was Nick Brown's Ynari soup list. Soup seems to be a trend and you either love or hate it. I have a feeling that most of us BT players are not a fan of extreme soup, but we cannot deny the power it grants an army.
So there you have it. Lots of foot-based Eldar. There is a couple transports in there, but really are an after thought. After studying pictures from LVO, as well as several of the larger tournaments in the last 6 months, it is clear that terrain will continue to be featured on boards in sufficient quantities to support footslogging armies. With that in mind, we need to realize that cover goes both ways. Thus, this list was created!
~ Battalion Detachment ~
HQ:
* Marshal (Captain) w/ Thunder Hammer, Storm Shield, and Jump Pack. [129] *Warlord*
* Castellan (Lieutenant) w/ Power Axe, Bolt Pistol, and Jump Pack. [83]
ELITES:
* Vanguard Veteran Squad (1x Vet Sergeant and 9x Vets) w/ 1 Thunder Hammer, 8 Plasma Pistols, 9 Chainswords, 2 Storm Shields, and Jump Packs. [262]
TROOPS:
* Intercessor Squad (1x Sergeant and 4x Intercessors) w/ 5 Bolt Rifles. [90]
* Intercessor Squad (1x Sergeant and 4x Intercessors) w/ 5 Bolt Rifles. [90]
* Intercessor Squad (1x Sergeant and 4x Intercessors) w/ 5 Bolt Rifles. [90]
~ Battalion Detachment ~
HQ:
* High Marshal Helbrecht. [170]
* The Emperor's Champion. [75]
ELITES:
* Apothecary w/ 1 Bolt Pistol and 1 Chainsword. [55]
* Company Ancient w/ 1 Chainsword and The Crusader's Helm. [63]
TROOPS:
* Crusader Squad (1x Sword Brethren, 9x Initiates, and 10x Neophytes) w/ 1 Thunder Hammer, 1 Power Sword, and 18 Chainswords/Combat Knives. [260]
* Neophyte Squad (1x Veteran and 4x Scouts) w/ 5 Combat Knives. [55]
* Neophyte Squad (1x Veteran and 4x Scouts) w/ 5 Combat Knives. [55]
~ Outrider Detachment ~
HQ:
* Saint Celestine (1x Celestine and 2x Geminae Superia). [250]
FAST ATTACK:
* Seraphim Squad (1x Superior and 4x Seraphim) w/ 2 Pairs of Inferno Pistols. [91]
* Seraphim Squad (1x Superior and 4x Seraphim) w/ 2 Pairs of Inferno Pistols. [91]
* Seraphim Squad (1x Superior and 4x Seraphim) w/ 2 Pairs of Inferno Pistols. [91]
TOTAL POINTS/CP: [2000]/[10 CP]
The list is entirely foot-based, but contains slightly over 500 points of Adeptus Ministorum. However, those 523 points pack a huge punch and are essential to the function of the list. As you can see, the list features bits and pieces of many different archetypes. Some of them are not very happy to purist BT players. Primaris marines and allies don't always ring true for those players, but being a competitive website, I don't hold such reservations about using units that can help us win.
So how does the list work? In the most simplistic terms, it works by overloading your opponent's ability to deal with bodies in their face. Distract with strategically placed deep striking units, while you have your more durable Intercessors hold the fort down, and you can use late turn objective capturing with your Neophytes. You may be saying, where is the long range firepower? Ironically...there isn't any, though I have always been an advocate of it. If the points were more feasible, I would take Auxiliary Grenade Launchers on the Intercessors and possibly Heavy Bolters for the Scouts. But that is about it. We utilize the paired Inferno Pistols of our Seraphim squads (Acts of Faith anyone?) to quickly neutralize the worst of our opponents, though keep in mind that they are not particularly useful the turn deep strike due to a 6" range. That leaves our friends the Vanguard Veterans, packing lots of plasma. These guys are backed by both our Marshal and a Lieutenant, which gives re-rolls on those 1's, making this alpha strike particularly nasty. Once they fire, off to the races and charging into battle. Given our ability to re-roll failed charges, giving us a handy 48% chance to make a 9" charge, we will see combat frequently on our first turn. Even against bubblewrap units, your opponent will fear staying into combat with these for long due to the sheer weight of attacks and will devote a lot of resources to killing them. Which frees up the Seraphim to do what they do best. Or they will kill the cheap, and frankly expendable, Seraphim in lieu of the Vanguard. Or even better yet...they will focus their attentions at Saint Celestine who is barreling at them full speed and can take several lascannon shots to the face and laugh it off. If you get to close combat, its over.
But the kicker? You have a beast of a footslogging unit coming right up the center of the board led by High Marshal Helbrecht himself. For funsies, we have The Emperor's Champion tagging along, as well as an Apothecary and Company Ancient to ensure maximum efficiency for the unit. The Apothecary helps make sure the unit lives long enough to get where it is going, the Ancient helps with moral and additional damage to the enemy once damage does start coming. The fun part is, being in your opponent's shoes, which unit do you focus on killing? The massive Crusader squad that is hyper-focused on killing you with buffs from Helbrecht? Or Celestine, who is an one-woman wrecking ball? Maybe the Vanguard Veterans, who are also adept at killing anything on the board? Kill something in your face now and you risk allowing the Crusader squad to get to you. Kill the Crusader squad and you have those units rampaging in your lines all game. All the while, the Intercessors claim territory and the Neophytes join the battle when its convenient for you. You can sprinkle in Acts of Faith and Stratagems as needed, since we are packing quite a few CP (10 to be exact).
All of this is reliant on cover, and a little bit of luck...but there are several highly placed lists at LVO that are running something similar and did well. I don't see why the Black Templars can't also join the group. Hard counters are psyker heavy lists (since I could not fit in any assassins) and extremely mobile foes. Otherwise, I feel that this list can definitely go toe-to-toe with any close combat based army if it needs to and if properly utilizing cover, should have the durability to withstand shooty lists.
~ Battalion Detachment ~
HQ:
* Marshal (Captain) w/ Thunder Hammer, Storm Shield, and Jump Pack. [129] *Warlord*
* Castellan (Lieutenant) w/ Power Axe, Bolt Pistol, and Jump Pack. [83]
ELITES:
* Vanguard Veteran Squad (1x Vet Sergeant and 9x Vets) w/ 1 Thunder Hammer, 8 Plasma Pistols, 9 Chainswords, 2 Storm Shields, and Jump Packs. [262]
TROOPS:
* Intercessor Squad (1x Sergeant and 4x Intercessors) w/ 5 Bolt Rifles. [90]
* Intercessor Squad (1x Sergeant and 4x Intercessors) w/ 5 Bolt Rifles. [90]
* Intercessor Squad (1x Sergeant and 4x Intercessors) w/ 5 Bolt Rifles. [90]
~ Battalion Detachment ~
HQ:
* High Marshal Helbrecht. [170]
* The Emperor's Champion. [75]
ELITES:
* Apothecary w/ 1 Bolt Pistol and 1 Chainsword. [55]
* Company Ancient w/ 1 Chainsword and The Crusader's Helm. [63]
TROOPS:
* Crusader Squad (1x Sword Brethren, 9x Initiates, and 10x Neophytes) w/ 1 Thunder Hammer, 1 Power Sword, and 18 Chainswords/Combat Knives. [260]
* Neophyte Squad (1x Veteran and 4x Scouts) w/ 5 Combat Knives. [55]
* Neophyte Squad (1x Veteran and 4x Scouts) w/ 5 Combat Knives. [55]
~ Outrider Detachment ~
HQ:
* Saint Celestine (1x Celestine and 2x Geminae Superia). [250]
FAST ATTACK:
* Seraphim Squad (1x Superior and 4x Seraphim) w/ 2 Pairs of Inferno Pistols. [91]
* Seraphim Squad (1x Superior and 4x Seraphim) w/ 2 Pairs of Inferno Pistols. [91]
* Seraphim Squad (1x Superior and 4x Seraphim) w/ 2 Pairs of Inferno Pistols. [91]
TOTAL POINTS/CP: [2000]/[10 CP]
The list is entirely foot-based, but contains slightly over 500 points of Adeptus Ministorum. However, those 523 points pack a huge punch and are essential to the function of the list. As you can see, the list features bits and pieces of many different archetypes. Some of them are not very happy to purist BT players. Primaris marines and allies don't always ring true for those players, but being a competitive website, I don't hold such reservations about using units that can help us win.
So how does the list work? In the most simplistic terms, it works by overloading your opponent's ability to deal with bodies in their face. Distract with strategically placed deep striking units, while you have your more durable Intercessors hold the fort down, and you can use late turn objective capturing with your Neophytes. You may be saying, where is the long range firepower? Ironically...there isn't any, though I have always been an advocate of it. If the points were more feasible, I would take Auxiliary Grenade Launchers on the Intercessors and possibly Heavy Bolters for the Scouts. But that is about it. We utilize the paired Inferno Pistols of our Seraphim squads (Acts of Faith anyone?) to quickly neutralize the worst of our opponents, though keep in mind that they are not particularly useful the turn deep strike due to a 6" range. That leaves our friends the Vanguard Veterans, packing lots of plasma. These guys are backed by both our Marshal and a Lieutenant, which gives re-rolls on those 1's, making this alpha strike particularly nasty. Once they fire, off to the races and charging into battle. Given our ability to re-roll failed charges, giving us a handy 48% chance to make a 9" charge, we will see combat frequently on our first turn. Even against bubblewrap units, your opponent will fear staying into combat with these for long due to the sheer weight of attacks and will devote a lot of resources to killing them. Which frees up the Seraphim to do what they do best. Or they will kill the cheap, and frankly expendable, Seraphim in lieu of the Vanguard. Or even better yet...they will focus their attentions at Saint Celestine who is barreling at them full speed and can take several lascannon shots to the face and laugh it off. If you get to close combat, its over.
But the kicker? You have a beast of a footslogging unit coming right up the center of the board led by High Marshal Helbrecht himself. For funsies, we have The Emperor's Champion tagging along, as well as an Apothecary and Company Ancient to ensure maximum efficiency for the unit. The Apothecary helps make sure the unit lives long enough to get where it is going, the Ancient helps with moral and additional damage to the enemy once damage does start coming. The fun part is, being in your opponent's shoes, which unit do you focus on killing? The massive Crusader squad that is hyper-focused on killing you with buffs from Helbrecht? Or Celestine, who is an one-woman wrecking ball? Maybe the Vanguard Veterans, who are also adept at killing anything on the board? Kill something in your face now and you risk allowing the Crusader squad to get to you. Kill the Crusader squad and you have those units rampaging in your lines all game. All the while, the Intercessors claim territory and the Neophytes join the battle when its convenient for you. You can sprinkle in Acts of Faith and Stratagems as needed, since we are packing quite a few CP (10 to be exact).
All of this is reliant on cover, and a little bit of luck...but there are several highly placed lists at LVO that are running something similar and did well. I don't see why the Black Templars can't also join the group. Hard counters are psyker heavy lists (since I could not fit in any assassins) and extremely mobile foes. Otherwise, I feel that this list can definitely go toe-to-toe with any close combat based army if it needs to and if properly utilizing cover, should have the durability to withstand shooty lists.
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