An old article i wrote: Dark Angels vs Codex Space Marines

[Stormlord]

Dark Angels vs Space Marines.

I've been hearing many arguments or comments that the dark angels codex isnt competative and/or the space marine codex is flat out superior. Personally, i honestly feel both sides have advantages and disadvantages and i believe that both are better in areas and weaker in other areas. I just dont believe Codex Space Marines are "superior" to Dark Angels in every way. On the other hand i certainly dont believe the dark angels are "superior" to codex marines either. They just offer different things.

Unfortunately i dont own the dark angels codex so I may be missing some things, so feel free to add to this little article.

Anyways....

Dark Angel Pro's
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Deathwing Terminators (scoring terminators)
Ravenwing Assault Squadrons (scoring bikes and landspeeders)
Doublewing (BOTH scoring terminators and landspeeders)
The ability of deathwing terminators to mix weapons.
3 wound chaplains
unlimited psychic hood
Leadership 10 commander than confers 10 leadership to entire army
Last surviving imperial jetbike

Dark Angel Con's
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Inferior equipment
lack of certain units (sternguard/redeemer/Landspeeder storm, vanguard etc etc)
Higher points for equivalent models
lack of combat tactics
only 4 special characters, 2 of which are required for specialist builds.

The biggest complaint i hear is the inferior equipment (which is true), the lack of certain units (also true) and the fact that dark angels cost more per unit than their space marine counterparts. This means that dark angel lists are smaller than space marine lists with equivalent units. This is a hard argument to overcome, but on the other hand i think it neglects the true power of the dark angel codex.

My argument as to why this doesnt invalidate the dark angels is this. If your going to build an army made up of units found in both codeci's and the only real difference in army build is that your marines are painted green, then yes, why aren't you using the space marine codex.
On the other hand, space marines can never have scoring terminators, and while they can have scoring bikes, they do not have scoring landspeeders. Also space marine bikes lack certain things that ravenwing bikers have. For example, ravenwing bikers are fearless. They will never break (even for a round) from being shot at. On top of that ravenwing bikers come with teleport homers already built into their points cost. All this means that on the face, ravenwing bikers are more expensive, but for what you get they come out pretty well.

Now the terminators. Space marine terminators get 2 shot cyclone missile launchers, space marine terminators get better stormshields (considerably better). Meaning in a pure comparison they will deal more damage and survive more incoming firepower than the deathwing terminator (comparing shooty termies to shooty termies and assaulty termies vs assaulty termies). Also codex marine landraiders even get to carry more terminators than dark angel landraiders.

HOWEVER, deathwing terminators have advantages over their codex counterparts. First, they are fearless, which means they will never run (however unlikely it may happen) and secondly they can mix and match weapons. So you could take an assault cannon, sgt with powersword, 1 lightning claw terminator and 2 thunderhammer/stormshield terminators, or any other combination you wish. You can tailor your terminators to fulfill any job you need them to. Additionally, with units like the ravenwing coming with teleport homers automatically, getting terminators where you need them, combine this with their ability to mix weapons means they can make an impact in the round they land even before they charge in with whatever close combat weapons you chose for them. Last and most certainly not least. Deathwing terminators are scoring units. With the 5th edition rules for taking and holding objectives, having toughness 4, 2+ save with a 5+ invulnerable save troop choice on an objective AND scoring to the last man, makes taking objectives from a dark angel player a daunting task.

So what does this mean? This means that if you enjoy playing dark angels, you should revel in what makes them special instead of bitching about the ways the codex marines have an edge.

For me, i am thinking (if i dont sell them) of buying the dark angels codex and converting my fists to dark angels. I would build a list that codex marine players couldnt. Something like this

HQs
Belial
Librarian with psychic hood - unlimited range woohoo

Elites
Dreadnaught
Dreadnaught
Dreadnaught

Troops
Deathwing terminator Squad
Deathwing terminator Squad
Tactical Squad in rhino
Tactical Squad in rhino

Fast Attack
Land Speeder
Land Speeder
Ravenwing bike squad with meltaguns and teleport homers

Heavy Support
Predator
Predator

this is probably a 2000 point list, but it covers all the bases. It gets me mobility (predators, dreadnaughts, landspeeders, bikes, deep striking terminators and tactical squads in rhinos) It gets me durability (terminator troop choices + 20 tacticals and 3 dreadnaughts) It gives me enough offense to knock enemies off their objectives. Plus its composition is more balanced than a pure deathwing or ravenwing and more models than doublewing.

[Guest]

Hmmm, I like the idea. But dont you need to take special characters to get either of the Wings? :|

[Battle-Brother Cain]

Belial is a special character... Deathwing...