Richard's Warhammer 40,000 List Building: Blood Axe Blitzkrieg

Hello comrades, I think it's time we Waaagh in here! To start off, we all know the indomitable story behind the Leman Russ Battle Tank. Named after the Space Wolves Primarch, it's characterized as a robust, if not simple tank that gets the job done. In other words, it kills aliens dead. It's also heavily armoured with an AV 14/13/11 or 10. What matters is that front facing. Now in 5th edition, mechanized/armour spam was highly competitive because it reduced the effectiveness of your opponent's ability to destroy enough of your transports/tank before you overwhelmed him with fire power and/or tank shock.

In sixth edition, mechanized spam is still very important, although with hull points, tanks can be focus fired down and removed as almost a sure bet provided you have the fire power to do it. Of course, AV 14 creates issues for some codices out there, and all armies simply need to put in more shots to take out a Leman Russ, Battle Wagon or especially a Land Raider or Monolith. And thus, I present to you the Blood Axe Blitzkrieg.

2000 pts Imperial Guard w/ Ork Detachment

1400 pts Imperial Guard:

HQ - Company Command Squad - 180 pts

Company Commander, Astropath & 4 Veterans w/ 3 Plasma Guns in Chimera w/ Hull-Mounted Heavy Flamer

Troops - Veteran Squad - 155 pts

10 Veterans w/ 3 Melta Guns in Chimera w/ Hull-Mounted Heavy Flamer

Troops - Veteran Squad - 155 pts

10 Veterans w/ 3 Melta Guns in Chimera w/ Hull-Mounted Heavy Flamer

Troops - Veteran Squad - 155 pts

10 Veterans w/ 3 Melta Guns in Chimera w/ Hull-Mounted Heavy Flamer

Fast Attack - Vendetta Gunship Squadron - 130 pts

Fast Attack - Vendetta Gunship Squadron - 130 pts

Heavy Support - Leman Russ Squadron - 165 pts

Leman Russ Demolisher w/ Hull-Mounted Heavy Flamer

Heavy Support - Leman Russ Squadron - 165 pts

Leman Russ Demolisher w/ Hull-Mounted Heavy Flamer

Heavy Support - Leman Russ Squadron - 165 pts

Leman Russ Demolisher w/ Hull-Mounted Heavy Flamer

600 pts Ork (Blood Axes!) Detachment:

HQ - Warboss - 115 pts

Mega Armour, Cybork Body, Bosspole

Elites - Nobz - 230 pts

5 Nobz w/ Power Klaw & Waaagh! Banner in Battle Wagon

Troops - Nobz - 255 pts 

6 Nobz w/ Power Klaw, Boss Pole & Waaagh! Banner in Battlewagon

Thoughts & Summary:

HQ - 2

Elites - 1

Troops - 4

Fast Attack - 2

Heavy Support - 3

Soooo, you like five AV 14 Hulls rushing towards the enemy? I know I'd be worried even if I did have Melta-Vets as three Demolishers backing up those Battle Wagons is going put the hurt out the moment those Vendetta's and Veterans begin cracking my transports. Lets be frank here though by declaring the two Nobz squads and attending Warboss to be fire and forget missiles of doom. You throw them at something that needs to die, and it'll die...hopefully.

The nice part about this list though that it forgoes the traditional mid to long range lists that Imperial Guard are known for and pretty much forces big, fat cannons down your throat. And while you're choking on AV14 hulls, they deposit their squads and leave you in a mess. Alright, sexual euphemisms aside your strengths are close range pie-plates; suicide Nobz squads that should be able to handle whatever is left before they bite the dust; Vendetta's to handle opposing fliers and hunt back-field tanks that survive your initial onslaught; and finally plasma/melta support when your Blitzkrieg reaches enemy lines.

I'd rate this list as competitive, although not super competitive. It does not spam shooting to the extent that a super competitive list requires in sixth edition. But it does have Orks which are always badass and you could even potentially utilize them in a counter-attack role where the Battle Wagons advance behind the Leman Russes, and then engage when the close-range fire fights and melee erupt. Regardless, it's a damn fine excuse to go out and buy Kromlech Orc War 2 miniatures and paint up your own Blood Axes army with all the conversions and fun that is Orks.

Next week: Mymeara Madness!