Trying out the raven guard? (list opinions too?)
Older player (4ed) getting back into the hobby after many moons of absence. Since finishing my astra militarum and emperors children armies, I've been really interested in getting into either raven guard or deathwatch. Probably raven guard first, since I'd be going 100% with deathwatch, buying multiple kits just to get 1 unit, getting all the chapter pauldrons etc and seems a bit excessive since I could also use some of the raven guard list i made for other space marine armies if i want to switch it up. I know raven guard hasn't been used much on the tournament scene in recent months after some nerfs (i forget what they were, but i remember they made quite a stir) but I play a lot of local tournaments, and I still see some real potential, as well as just plain fun in playing them. So I got a shadowmark talons list whipped up (actually a few variations, but I think this is the one I'm most interested in) and would like some thoughts and feedback on your experiences with the army mostly, and some list feedback would be cool too.
Also got a little section with explanation at the end, so wait on bashing the suppressors 😂
CHARACTERS
Aethon Shaan (110 points)
• 1x Claws of Severax
1x Heavy bolt pistol
Captain with Jump Pack (75 points)
• 1x Hand flamer
1x Power fist
Chaplain with Jump Pack (75 points)
• 1x Crozius arcanum
1x Inferno pistol
Kayvaan Shrike (100 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Blackout
1x The Raven’s Talons
Lieutenant with Combi-weapon (85 points)
• 1x Combi-weapon
1x Paired combat blades
BATTLELINE
Intercessor Squad (80 points)
• 1x Intercessor Sergeant
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Bolt rifle
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Intercessor
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Bolt rifle
4x Close combat weapon
OTHER DATASHEETS
Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (170 points)
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• 9x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs
• 9x Astartes chainsword
7x Heavy bolt pistol
2x Plasma pistol
Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (170 points)
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• 9x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs
• 9x Astartes chainsword
7x Heavy bolt pistol
2x Plasma pistol
Incursor Squad (80 points)
• 1x Incursor Sergeant
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Occulus bolt carbine
1x Paired combat blades
• 4x Incursor
• 4x Bolt pistol
1x Haywire Mine
4x Occulus bolt carbine
4x Paired combat blades
Incursor Squad (80 points)
• 1x Incursor Sergeant
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Occulus bolt carbine
1x Paired combat blades
• 4x Incursor
• 4x Bolt pistol
1x Haywire Mine
4x Occulus bolt carbine
4x Paired combat blades
Repulsor Executioner (230 points)
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Heavy laser destroyer
1x Heavy onslaught gatling cannon
1x Icarus rocket pod
1x Ironhail heavy stubber
1x Repulsor Executioner defensive array
1x Twin Icarus ironhail heavy stubber
1x Twin heavy bolter
Repulsor Executioner (230 points)
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Heavy laser destroyer
1x Heavy onslaught gatling cannon
1x Icarus rocket pod
1x Ironhail heavy stubber
1x Repulsor Executioner defensive array
1x Twin Icarus ironhail heavy stubber
1x Twin heavy bolter
Scout Squad (70 points)
• 1x Scout Sergeant
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Boltgun
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
• 4x Bolt pistol
2x Boltgun
4x Close combat weapon
1x Heavy bolter
1x Scout sniper rifle
Scout Squad (70 points)
• 1x Scout Sergeant
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Boltgun
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
• 4x Bolt pistol
2x Boltgun
4x Close combat weapon
1x Heavy bolter
1x Scout sniper rifle
Suppressor Squad (75 points)
• 1x Suppressor Sergeant
• 1x Accelerator autocannon
1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
• 2x Suppressor
• 2x Accelerator autocannon
2x Bolt pistol
2x Close combat weapon
Vanguard Veteran Squad with Jump Packs (200 points)
• 1x Vanguard Veteran Sergeant with Jump Pack
• 1x Inferno pistol
1x Vanguard Veteran weapon
• 9x Vanguard Veteran with Jump Pack
• 9x Hand flamer
9x Vanguard Veteran weapon
Vanguard Veteran Squad with Jump Packs (100 points)
• 1x Vanguard Veteran Sergeant with Jump Pack
• 1x Inferno pistol
1x Vanguard Veteran weapon
• 4x Vanguard Veteran with Jump Pack
• 4x Hand flamer
4x Vanguard Veteran weapon
Soooo, the repex's are obligatory, and Aethon and combi-LT are here to do Aethon and combi-LT things...
Also kinda just love the hand flamers all over the place. Don't know if the melta pistols are actually worth it since you can't range them properly if you come in from reserves. Thoughts?
- Jump captain is probably gonna go with the with the 5 Vanguard JPI for free rapid deep strike (easier to fit 6 vs 11 models) to mess up their back field one they move forward a bit and disrupt their decision making.
- Chaplain with the 10 man Vanguard JPI for the extra wound and some mortals in case i gotta chop big shit.
- Kayvaan goes in a 10 man JPI squad for obvious reasons.
- another 10 JPI for points efficiency and nice mortals
- 2x5 scouts for cheap infiltrating screens for my load of JPI. Very valuable in possibly making the opponent commit early and expose themselves. And they can be pretty annoying if they don't kill them since i can up/down all over the place, harassing them with the sniper and heavy bolter.
- 2x5 incursors cause that +1 hit roll is killer since it's ranged and combat. Can get the Vanguard lethal on a 5+. Also synergizes nicely with the Suppressor Squad since their autocannons have bs4. Also the mortals from the mine is a nice touch.
- Suppressor Squad... now I know people don't really use these but i really like them in this list. With the additional buff from the incursors I feel like the Stunning Fusillade strat was practically made for them. NOW they're a credible threat. A small and highly mobile infantry unit with 12in movement (getting army buffs) busting out 9 shots hitting on 2's, often rerolling 1's, at s8 ap-2 d2 is pretty dangerous. Add that -1 hit roll ability and i can really mess up my opponents most effective shooting units on top of army wide stealth, making them -2 on rolls to hit infantry. Also helpful for screening backfield once i commit. Honestly I think they're kind of a steal for 75pts in this list.
So yeah. This is basically my plan. Let me know what you all think about raven guard in general right now, as well as this list!