Imperial Knights - Post LVO List Ideas

Back to the drawing board! I had a great time in Las Vegas as you probably read already, and I think my list did admirably, considering what it took to cost me the games I lost, but there's aways room for improvement. Since I'm planning on running Imperial Knights for 2015 ITC, I better step up my game if I want to win best Imperial Knight player! As a recap, here's the list I ran:

Imperial Knight Errant Imperial Knight Paladin Cerastus Knight Castigator

Grey Knights Librarian 5 Grey Knight Terminators: 2 falchions, 1 halberd, 2 hammers, incinerator Nemesis Dreadknight: Heavy psycannon, great sword, personal teleporter Nemesis Dreadknight: Heavy psycannon, great sword, personal teleporter

Total: 1850

The Errant as the Warlord is still probably my favorite, the Paladin did fine, nothing special, often died, but did it's job, and the Compensator Castigator just did fantastic. On the Grey Knights side, the Terminators and Librarian did nearly nothing important in any of the games, and the NDK's usually did well, though were frequently redundant. The games I did the best in were games where I could apply a lot of pressure quickly and cause the opponent to falter under pressure.

When I was facing enemy Knights, a Knight on Knight fight is really gruesome, often meaning both Knights would die, in games where they only had 1-2 Knights this wasn't so bad, but in a 3-knight vs 3-knight game, it's really too much of a gamble, so I've got to think about that going forward. I think that the current meta has me facing enough super heavies, between Knights and Stompas, that taking a Lancer may not be such an awful idea.

Idea 1: Knights of the Damned

It's no secret that Legion of the Damned are awesome, what's not to love about a bunch of relentless, fearless, 3++ marines that ignore cover with all their weaponry? Using the Legion of the Damned detachment, you can have up to 4 of these nasty units while paying no tax on extra stuff.

Knight Errant Knight Lancer Knight Castigator

6 Legion of the Damned: multi-melta, plasma gun, sergeant with combi-grav 6 Legion of the Damned: multi-melta, plasma gun, sergeant with combi-grav 5 Legion of the Damned: multi-melta, meltagun, sergeant with combi-grav 5 Legion of the Damned: multi-melta, meltagun, sergeant with combi-grav

Total: 1850

So I'd only start with 3 knights on the board, but having 4 deep-striking combi-gravs that ignore cover, as well as a fistful of multi-meltas, meltaguns and plasma guns, should do a harsh number on enemy Wave Serpents, Hierodules, and really anything else that gets in the way. This list still totally lacks AA outside the Castigator (which usually causes 2-3 hit), so that's a concern, but everything is quite resilient, so I can hopefully outlast enemy fliers.

Idea 2: Blood Knights*

The new Blood Angels book has one disgusting unit that seems to be ubiquitous in any list, Assault Squads with meltaguns. Not to be left out, I think there are a few things I can really take advantage of with that army...

Knight Errant Knight Lancer Knight Castigator

Librarian: terminator armour, storm shield

5 Tactical Marines: heavy flamer, sergeant with grav-pistol, in drop pod

5 Assault Marines: 2 meltaguns, sergeant with 2 infernus pistols, in drop pod 5 Assault Marines: 2 meltaguns, sergeant with 2 infernus pistols, in drop pod

Stormraven Gunship: twin-linked assault cannon, twin-linked multi-melta

Total: 1850

The Librarian can cast Quickening on the Knight Errant (or Lancer if he is Warlord), and on turn 1 I'll have 4 deep striking meltaguns. I have AA support from the Stormraven, plus a tiny bit of anti-horde from the tactical squad. The reason for the grav pistol is for the off chance I need to charge a gargantuan or monstrous creature through cover with a knight, I can try to blast it down to I1 since the pistol is concussive.

Idea 3: Knight Marines*

Similar to the Blood Angels, Space Marines offer quite a few handy options for the aspiring Imperial Knight player. The list doesn't have as much melta as the Blood Angels, though it does bring a tad more anti-air utility.

Knight Errant Knight Lancer Knight Castigator

Librarian: terminator armour

5 Tactical Marines: grav-gun, sergeant with grav-pistol, in drop pod 5 Tactical Marines: meltagun, sergeant with combi-melta, in drop pod 5 Tactical Marines: meltagun, sergeant with combi-melta, in drop pod

Stormtalon Gunship: skyhammer missile launcher Stormtalon Gunship: skyhammer missile launcher

Total: 1850

I'm really torn between generic marines and Blood Angels.  The generics can run any chapter tactics (like Ultramarines to twin-link all that melta), plus 2 Storm Talons feels like some solid air support that can also assist in taking out transports.

* Regardless of which marine rules I follow, they would naturally be painted as Carcharodons, because sharks in space are freakin' awesome. :)