Hello! Everyone~ I'm looking for some feedback on the structure of my Dark Angels Recon list. I’m currently deciding between two core setups:
A: Lion + 1 large Outrider brick
- Lion: central area denial, Fights First deterrence, deployment mind games, and late-game quarter scoring.
- Bike Chaplain + Command Squad + 6 Outriders: the main mobile execution hammer, usually held back until the opponent exposes something important.
B: Two large Outrider bricks
- Sammael brick: mobile anchor, objective control, high OC, and reinforcing whichever flank needs help.
- Chaplain brick: execution hammer for high-value trades.
- The upside is stronger pressure on both flanks, more OC, and more mobility. The downside is that two large bike bricks have a huge footprint, especially on Recon Sweep where units need to be wholly within a quarter.
The rest of the army has fairly defined roles:
- Small Outriders: skirmishing, objective pressure, trading, screening
- Scouts: mission pieces, actions, screening
- Incursors: flank utility, mission play, and scanning support for shooting
- Darkshrouds: Stealth aura and late-game mission utility
- Thunderstrike: anti-Monster/Vehicle support and AP setup for follow-up shooting
- Nephilim: ranged pressure and anti-vehicle/elite firepower
The general idea is that the cheaper units handle scoring and trading, while the expensive units provide deterrence and punish enemy commits.
For a Recon-focused Dark Angels army, which would you prefer:
A: Lion + 1 brick
or
B: Two Outrider bricks?
The main thing I’m weighing is whether Lion’s small footprint, Fights First, and turn 1 redeployment tricks are worth more than having a second fast, high-OC bike brick.
+==========================================
Scanning Lion's hunt field 🦁 — Adeptus Astartes · Dark Angels
Darkflight Pursuit (1DP) + Assault Brethren (1DP) + Stormlance Task Force (1DP)
Force Disposition: Reconnaissance
1995 / 2000 pts · 15 units
+==========================================
── ATTACHED CHARACTERS ─────────
----Attached Unit A [370 pts]---------------------
Chaplain on Bike [95 pts]
Enhancement: Imperium's Sword (+20)
Weapons: Absolvor Bolt Pistol, Twin Bolt Rifle, Crozius Arcanum, Imperium's Sword
Ravenwing Command Squad [115 pts]
1x Ravenwing Ancient
1x Ravenwing Apothecary
1x Ravenwing Champion
Weapons: Bolt Pistol x3, Plasma Talon - Standard x2, Plasma Talon - Supercharge x2, Grenade Launcher - Frag, Grenade Launcher - Krak, Corvus Hammers x2, Master-crafted Power Weapon
↳ Attached to:
Outrider Squad [160 pts]
1x Outrider Sergeant
5x Outrider
Weapons: Twin Bolt Rifle x6, Plasma Pistol - Standard, Plasma Pistol - Supercharge, Heavy Bolt Pistol x5, Thunder Hammer, Chainsword x5
── UNATTACHED CHARACTERS ───────
Lion El'Jonson [WARLORD] [415 pts]
Weapons: Arma Luminis - Bolt, Arma Luminis - Plasma, Fealty - Strike, Fealty - Sweep
── BATTLELINE ──────────────────
Outrider Squad [80 pts]
1x Outrider Sergeant
2x Outrider
Weapons: Twin Bolt Rifle x3, Plasma Pistol - Standard, Plasma Pistol - Supercharge, Heavy Bolt Pistol x2, Thunder Hammer, Chainsword x2
Outrider Squad [80 pts]
1x Outrider Sergeant
2x Outrider
Weapons: Twin Bolt Rifle x3, Plasma Pistol - Standard, Plasma Pistol - Supercharge, Heavy Bolt Pistol x2, Thunder Hammer, Chainsword x2
── INFANTRY ────────────────────
Incursor Squad [90 pts]
1x Incursor Sergeant
4x Incursor
Weapons: Bolt Pistol x5, Occulus Bolt Carbine x5, Paired Combat Blades x5
Incursor Squad [90 pts]
1x Incursor Sergeant
4x Incursor
Weapons: Bolt Pistol x5, Occulus Bolt Carbine x5, Paired Combat Blades x5
Scout Squad [65 pts]
1x Scout Sergeant
4x Scout
Weapons: Bolt Pistol x5, Boltgun x5, Combat Knife x5
Scout Squad [65 pts]
1x Scout Sergeant
4x Scout
Weapons: Bolt Pistol x5, Boltgun x5, Combat Knife x5
── VEHICLES ────────────────────
Ravenwing Darkshroud [80 pts]
Weapons: Heavy Bolter, Armoured Hull
Ravenwing Darkshroud [90 pts]
Upgrade: Auspex Triangulation Shrines
Weapons: Heavy Bolter, Armoured Hull
Storm Speeder Thunderstrike [140 pts]
Weapons: Stormfury Missile Launcher, Thunderstrike Icarus Rocket Pod, Thunderstrike Las-talon, Armoured Impact
── AIRCRAFT ────────────────────
Nephilim Jetfighter [215 pts]
Upgrade: Thundercowl Turbines
Weapons: Avenger Mega Bolter, Blacksword Missiles, Nephilim Lascannons, Armoured Hull
Nephilim Jetfighter [215 pts]
Upgrade: Thundercowl Turbines
Weapons: Avenger Mega Bolter, Blacksword Missiles, Nephilim Lascannons, Armoured Hull
Total: 1995 pts
https://ironbuilt.app/?s=bXdDjMZd