The 13th Primarch novel (novella) takes us to the Dark Angels and their Primarch – Lion El’Jonson.
From the book:
Each primarch is an exemplary being, derived from the Emperor’s own genetic stock to embody a facet of His personality. Their powers are unfathomable, but only one of them is the First. Lion El’Jonson is the paragon of what it is to be a primarch. His Legion, pre-eminent for most of their long history, typify the virtues of temperance, pride, and martial excellency that the Lion embodies. They are the Emperor’s last line and final sanction. They are His Dark Angels.
Now, while the Emperor gathers His mightiest sons for an assault on Ullanor Prime, the Lord of the First instead draws his Legion to the farthest reaches of the known galaxy, seeking to subdue a single rebellious world. Is this but another example of the Lion’s infamous pride, or is there more afoot amidst that graveyard of empires that is the Ghoul Stars, more than the Lion will share even with his own sons?
One of my favourite things in the novella’s and books of the Horus Heresy is hearing about the different alien species the Emperor’s sons meet alien species that will never appear in a rulebook and will never have miniatures. This freedom allows the authors to explore alien species without limitation.
The enemies facing Lion El’Jonson and his Dark Angels are facing the Khrave who are able to take over the minds of weaker species… but in the Dark Angels – and The Lion – they may have finally met their match.
The Khrave are well written, spooky and scary and use psyker powers in some extreme ways – they definitely add peril to the book as the human elements of the Dark Angels fleet and Imperium army cannot be trusted to stand alongside the Space Marines – and so they must fight the enemy – and those members of the fleet/army taken over by the Khrave – on their own.
Guymer also throws in scenes between the Lion and the Emperor – it is always interested to read above the Emperor in these books – and this definitely adds flavour to the Dark Angel’s Primarch…
However the way they kill the Khrave – using weapons only they have access to – is characterful but always leaves the question ‘why not against Horus then…?’ and this is a question I found difficult to overlook.
Overall it’s a good book, with a well written and described enemy which is let down a bit by a disappointing ending.
⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3 out of 5.
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This is the top three 40k lists for the Warhammer Fest that took place in England on the 29th and 30th of April. It involved 359 players vying to be crowned champion in a 9 game tournament.
As we head into 10th edition and beyond we wanted to start providing a source for lists that are being used successfully in tournaments around the world. The size of the 40k community and the sheer number of events means we won’t be commenting.
Before I jump into the Top Three Lists, I wanted to remind everyone of our friendly Discord server where you can join in the conversation with the Woehammer crew and suggest articles or series for the website.
If you like what we’re doing, why not join our Patreon and help keep it going?
Also if there’s a one day or two day tournament you’d like us to cover drop us a comment on this post and we’ll have a look at it for you.
The Top Three 40k Lists
Pre-Game Stratagems: March of the Ancients, Hero of the Chapter x2, Warlord Trait, Scion of the Forge Starting Command Points: 0
Rogal Dorn Battle Tank [15 PL, 320pts]: Armoured Tracks, Castigator Gatling Cannon, Heavy stubber, Knight of Piety, Stat Damage (Rogal Dorn) 2 Meltaguns: 2x Meltagun 2 Multi-meltas: 2x Multi-melta Oppressor Cannon and Co-axial Autocannon: Co-axial Autocannon, Oppressor Cannon
Dedicated Transport
Chimera [5 PL, 85pts]: Chimera Heavy Flamer, Lasgun Arrays, Stat Damage (Chimera) Heavy Flamer: Heavy flamer Chimera [5 PL, 85pts]: Chimera Heavy Flamer, Lasgun Arrays, Stat Damage (Chimera) Heavy Flamer: Heavy flamer
Total: [120 PL, 8CP, 2,000pts]
Arks of Omen Detachment (Aeldari – Craftworlds) [63 PL, 1,248pts, 4CP]
Arks of Omen Compulsory Type: Fast Attack
Craftworld Selection *Far-Flung Craftworld*: Masterful Shots, Swift Strikes
Librarian [6 PL, 105pts]: 1) Mind Worm, 3) Righteous Repugnance, Boltgun, Force sword, Jump Pack Primaris Chaplain on Bike [8 PL, 135pts, -2CP]: 1. Litany of Faith (Aura), 6. Canticle of Hate (Aura), Chapter Command: Master of Sanctity, Litany of Hate (Aura), Stratagem: Relic, Stratagem: Warlord Trait, The Vox Espiritum, Warlord, Wise Orator
This is the top three 40k lists for the Grand Clash 2023 event that took place in the Canada on the 22nd and 23rd of April. It involved 47 players vying to be crowned champion in a 6-game tournament.
As we head into 10th edition and beyond we wanted to start providing a source for lists that are being used successfully in tournaments around the world. The size of the 40k community and the sheer number of events means we won’t be commenting.
Before I jump into the Top Three Lists, I wanted to remind everyone of our friendly Discord server where you can join in the conversation with the Woehammer crew and suggest articles or series for the website.
If you like what we’re doing, why not join our Patreon and help keep it going?
Also if there’s a one day or two day tournament you’d like us to cover drop us a comment on this post and we’ll have a look at it for you.
The Top Three 40k Lists
Iron Hands Successor (Custom Chapter, Master Artisans, Whirlwind of Rage) Unbound Army (Faction) 0 CP, 1997 pts, 130 PL
HQ
Primaris Lieutenant [65 pts, 5 PL, -1 CP] – Neo-volkite pistol – Master-crafted power sword and Storm Shield – Rites of War, Stratagem: Warlord Trait, Warlord Primaris Techmarine [70 pts, 4 PL, -1 CP] – Stratagem: Hero of the Chapter – Target Protocols
This is the top three 40k lists for Nerd Bar Spring GT that took place in the USA on the 14th and 15th of April. It involved 23 players vying to be crowned champion in a 5-game tournament.
As we head into 10th edition and beyond we wanted to start providing a source for lists that are being used successfully in tournaments around the world. The size of the 40k community and the sheer number of events means we won’t be commenting, at least for now, but simply providing a resource of formatted lists you can search.
Before I jump into the Top Three Lists, I wanted to remind everyone of our friendly Discord server where you can join in the conversation with the Woehammer crew and suggest articles or series for the website.
If you like what we’re doing, why not join our Patreon and help keep it going?
Also if there’s a one day or two day tournament you’d like us to cover drop us a comment on this post and we’ll have a look at it for you.
The Top Three 40k Lists
++ Arks of Omen Detachment (Imperium – Adeptus Astartes – Dark Angels) [109 PL, 2,000pts, 1CP] ++
+ Configuration +
**Chapter Selector**: Dark Angels
Arks of Omen Compulsory Type: Elites
Battle Size [6CP]: 3. Strike Force (101-200 Total PL / 1001-2000 Points)
Detachment Command Cost
Game Type: 5. Chapter Approved: Arks of Omen
+ HQ +
Ezekiel [7 PL, 105pts]: 1) Mind Worm, 3) Righteous Repugnance, 6) Mind Wipe
Primaris Captain [5 PL, 80pts, -1CP]: 5. Decisive Tactician (Aura), Master-crafted power sword, Stratagem: Warlord Trait, Warlord . Heavy bolt pistol, Master-crafted power sword and Relic shield
Ravenwing Talonmaster [9 PL, 160pts, -1CP]: Rites of War, Stratagem: Hero of the Chapter
Ravenwing Talonmaster [9 PL, 160pts, -1CP]: Arbiter’s Gaze, Stratagem: Relic of the Chapter
Shield-Captain on Dawneagle Jetbike [10 PL, -3CP, 175pts]: 3. Superior Creation, 4. Impregnable Mind, Auric Aquilas, Hurricane Bolter, Misericordia, Stratagem: Relic, Stratagem: The Emperor’s Heroes, Stratagem: Victor of the Blood Games, Tip of the Spear
Trajann Valoris [8 PL, 200pts]: 1. Master of Martial Strategy, 2. Champion of the Imperium, Stratagem: Warlord Trait
This is the top three 40k lists for the London Open that took place in the UK on the 14th and 15th of April. It involved 143 players vying to be crowned champion in a 5-game tournament.
As we head into 10th edition and beyond we wanted to start providing a source for lists that are being used successfully in tournaments around the world. The size of the 40k community and the sheer number of events means we won’t be commenting, at least for now, but simply providing a resource of formatted lists you can search.
Before I jump into the Top Three Lists, I wanted to remind everyone of our friendly Discord server where you can join in the conversation with the Woehammer crew and suggest articles or series for the website.
If you like what we’re doing, why not join our Patreon and help keep it going?
Also if there’s a one day or two day tournament you’d like us to cover drop us a comment on this post and we’ll have a look at it for you.
The Top Three 40k Lists
++ Arks of Omen Detachment (Imperium – Adeptus Astartes – Dark Angels) [129 PL, 2,000pts, 1CP] ++
Arks of Omen Compulsory Type: Elites
+ Agents of the Imperium +
Acolytes [1 PL, 10pts]: Ordo Malleus . Acolyte: Chainsword, Laspistol
+ HQ +
Primaris Captain [5 PL, 80pts, -1CP]: 5. Decisive Tactician (Aura), Stratagem: Hero of the Chapter . Heavy bolt pistol, Master-crafted power sword and Relic shield
Ravenwing Talonmaster [9 PL, 160pts, -1CP]: Rites of War, Stratagem: Warlord Trait, Warlord
Bladeguard Ancient [6 PL, 90pts, -2CP]: Chapter Command: Chapter Ancient, Pennant of Remembrance, Steadfast Example, Stratagem: Hero of the Chapter, Stratagem: Relic of the Chapter
War Dog Executioner Squadron [16 PL, 310pts]: House Korvax . War Dog Executioner: Diabolus heavy stubber . War Dog Executioner: Diabolus heavy stubber
++ Total: [105 PL, 2,000pts, 3CP] ++
++ Arks of Omen Detachment (Chaos – Chaos Knights) [99 PL, 2CP, 1,860pts] ++
Arks of Omen Compulsory Type: Lord of War
+ Lord of War +
War Dog Brigand Squadron [9 PL, 170pts]: Bound Vassals (Vextrix), Infernal Household . War Dog Brigand: Diabolus heavy stubber, Tzeentch – Cursed Rune of Fate
War Dog Brigand Squadron [16 PL, 310pts]: Bound Vassals (Vextrix), Infernal Household . War Dog Brigand: Diabolus heavy stubber . War Dog Brigand: Diabolus heavy stubber
War Dog Brigand Squadron [8 PL, 155pts]: Bound Vassals (Vextrix), Infernal Household . War Dog Brigand: Diabolus heavy stubber
War Dog Executioner Squadron [25 PL, -1CP, 480pts]: Bound Vassals (Vextrix), Infernal Household . War Dog Executioner: Diabolus heavy stubber, Helm of Warpsight, Stratagem: Corrupted Heirlooms . War Dog Executioner: Diabolus heavy stubber, Tzeentch – Mirror of Fates . War Dog Executioner: Diabolus heavy stubber
War Dog Stalker Squadron [16 PL, -2CP, 290pts]: Bound Vassals (Vextrix), Infernal Household . War Dog Stalker: Character (Traitoris Lance), Daemonbreath spear, Diabolus heavy stubber, Helm of Dogs, Reaper chaintalon, Stratagem: Relic, Warlord . War Dog Stalker: 3. Warp-haunted Hull, Character (Tyrannical Court), Daemonbreath spear, Diabolus heavy stubber, Reaper chaintalon
War Dog Stalker Squadron [25 PL, -1CP, 455pts]: Bound Vassals (Vextrix), Infernal Household . War Dog Stalker: Character (Tyrannical Court), Daemonbreath spear, Diabolus heavy stubber, Favour of the Dark Mechanicum (Vextrix), Reaper chaintalon, Undivided – Blessing of the Dark Master . War Dog Stalker: Daemonbreath spear, Diabolus heavy stubber, Slaughterclaw . War Dog Stalker: Daemonbreath spear, Diabolus heavy stubber, Reaper chaintalon
War Dog Karnivore Squadron [8 PL, -1CP, 140pts]: Frenzied Invaders, Iconoclast Dreadblade . War Dog Karnivore: Diabolus heavy stubber, Stratagem: Corrupted Heirlooms, Veil of Medrengard
The noble knights of the First Legion were too far to intervene at Istvann and were drawn to Thramas to stop the atrocities being committed by the Night Lords. This misdirection occupied the legions for years, leading to the destruction of several inhabited sectors. Lion El’Johnson, the Primarch of the Dark Angels, embarked on the Passage of the Angel of Death, a campaign meant to punish the traitor legions by targeting strongholds and home worlds. This campaign ended once the Siege of Terra began, redirecting the Dark Angels to the defense of the Imperial home world.
In the lore, the Dark Angels are the archetypical legion. They have the tools and resources for any task, and the sectioning of their legion leads to flexibility on the battlefield. This is reflected in the rules through their legion trait, rites of war, warlord traits, and specific units.
The Dark Angels Primarch – Lion El’Johnson
The Hexagrammaton
The Hexagrammaton represents the flexibility of the Dark Angels. Every unit you choose to be in your army must be assigned to one of six “wings”, with each wing providing different effects. There are additional restrictions concerning transport, independent characters, apothecaries, and techmarines, explained in detail in the Liber Astartes.
The wings provide different bonus allowing you to tailor each unit in your army to the job it’s meant to perform. As an example, the Stormwing provides a hit bonus when firing bolters, combi-bolters, or bolt pistols, making it a decent choice for tactical marines to take full advantage of the extra shots provided by Fury of the Legion. The Firewing, on the other hand, applies bonuses to wound rolls when targeting an independent character, making it a potent bonus to the units that you want to take character hunting. One of my favorite wings perfectly highlights the flavor present in the ruleset of the Horus Heresy: the Deathwing allows a bonus to Hit rolls for all types of swords, including any close combat weapons modeled as swords.
The Dark Angels’ advanced reaction, The Angels of Death, provides a unit the ability to respond to an enemy charge by becoming harder to shift. The reliance on a Leadership test makes the reaction slightly weaker, and requires more careful planning on unit selection to get the maximum benefit, but the use of Fear(X) and Fearless/Stubborn can come in clutch when trying to defend an important mid-board objective.
Warlord Traits
The Hexagrammaton provides for an immense degree of flexibility and is an excellent rule allowing for tons of flavor and performance from the legion.
Then there are the warlord traits.
There are two to choose from that are specific to the Dark Angels. The first, Marshal of the Crown, provides a minuscule leadership buff to any unit of the same wing as the warlord that has at least one model that can draw line of sight to the warlord. The second, Seneschal of the Keys, allows the controlling player to select a faction, and then state that a turn is decisive. During the decisive turn, the warlord and any unit to which they are attached gain a small buff to their WS or BS (not both) when targeting a unit of the chosen faction for the duration of the turn.
There are certainly uses to both of these traits; depending on what army your opponent is running your mileage will vary. There is an argument to make, however, that the Horus Heresy is not a competitive game, but a narrative one, in which case either of these options will add flavor to the game, but probably won’t be the reason you win a battle.
Rites of War
To make up for the slim number of warlord traits there are six Rites of War for the first legion. Each Rite is tied to an individual wing of the Hexagrammaton and provides appropriate buffs and restrictions to emphasize building your army around whichever wing you feel would be the most fun to put on the table.
If you want to run nothing but tanks, that is an option by running The Steel Fist, allowing you to take Predators as troops, Kratos tanks as elites, and gives the option to take Land Raiders as dedicated transports for your infantry. Opposite of that is The Storm of War, which pushes the use of massed infantry, giving you the option of filling your fast attack and elite slots with troops units.
The Eskaton Imperative gives you great board control, making everything outside of your deployment zone difficult terrain and allowing you to take Destroyer and Interemptor squads as troops, but providing your opponent with extra victory points if they can keep a unit in their deployment zone at the end of the battle that isn’t Pinned or Falling Back. The Unbroken Vow also provides you opponent with the chance at getting more victory points based on objective control but allows you to take Terminators as troops.
The final two Rites emphasize the use of fast attack slots. The Seeker’s Arrow giving you Sky-hunter and Outrider squads as troops, while providing some buffs and movement shenanigans to your cavalry units. The Serpent’s Bane allows you to take Seeker Squads as troops and allows you to select three priority target units in your opponent’s force, giving your Firewing units bonuses to hit against them.
Overall, every Rite of War is solid, and will have a major impact on your list building. Two Dark Angels armies will play vastly differently from one another, with all possibilities being viable, flavorful, and fun.
Unique Units
The unique units available to the Dark Angels include their Primarach, Lion El’Johnson, two characters, and three infantry units. As with every Primarch, the Lion has a ton of rules that could be covered, but to sum up you can think of him as a very flexible leader and duelist. His warlord trait, Sire of the Dark Angels, provides your army with the ability to reliably perform sweeping advances and provides a small Leadership buff for those units that can draw line of sight to him more reliably. He also is the only unit in the first legion that does not select a wing of the Hexagrammaton at the beginning of the battle, but chooses a wing at the start of the controlling player’s turn that will last the remainder of the round. This provides him with a level of flexibility to perform whatever function you need from him in the moment.
The two characters, Corswain and Marduk Sedras, are each powerful martial combatants. Corswain is the Champion of the Dark Angels, carrying a sword called “The Blade” which gains the Instant Death keyword on 50% of all wound rolls. His armor provides a 3+ Invulnerable save against close combat attacks allowing him to outlast many opponents once a melee begins. Marduk Sedras provides slightly more utility than Corswain, as he provides the Preferred Enemy special rule. This utility does not hamper his damage output, however, as he has an Unwieldy close combat weapon that hits at Strength 9 with the ability to reduce enemy invulnerable saves. It’s worth noting that at the time of writing this article Corswain does not have a model on the Forgeworld store, so if you want to run him in your army you will need to be prepared to kit-bash him from a praetor model.
The first of the three unique units are the Deathwing Companions, an HQ unit meant to act as a retinue for your praetors with a special rule equivalent to bodyguard, ignoring Precision Shots and Precision Strikes. The second is an Elites unit, Inner Circle Knights Cenobium, which are heavy-hitting terminators with the ability to tailor their strengths to the opposing army at the start of a battle. The final unit is the Dreadwing Interemptor Squad, a unit of Elite Dreadwing marines carrying special weapons which act as a combination of plasma guns and flamers.
Final Thoughts
Overall the Dark Angels meet the expectation of being an extremely flexible legion. The wings of the Hexagrammaton allow you to increase the function of each unit, increasing their ability to excel in the role chosen for them. I feel this may open the door for a crafty opponent to play around this, meeting Stormwing units in close combat, or destroying Deathwing units at range before they can make use of their improved swords. While the warlord traits are not the strongest showing, they certainly aren’t bad, and the Rites of War and unique units more than make up for whatever weakness may be in the army.
What’s Next
As this article is part of a series, I will spend the next few months going into more detail about the rules of the game and the specifics of each legion. I would like to know if there is specific content our readers would like to see, so leave a comment or join us in the Woehammer discord to let us know what points you would like to see discussed.
