Deliverance Reborn - Talking about Raven Guard

So it has taken me a little while to devise a way on how I would use the Raven Guard in the new codex. The Chapter Tactics do not come off as strong as the other Chapters, but can still be used to quite a good effect. Let look at these.

Strike from the Shadows gives models the scout USR and in the first turn of the game allows those units to have stealth as well. You can read this and think to yourself that you would rather be playing White Scars....

Winged Deliverance allows for Jump Infantry models to use there jump packs in the movement and assault phase and must re-roll Hammer of Wrath hits. Also, this is not very strong but can make some good uses if utilized well.

I think using this detachment as many pre game force choices that are very important. The idea of the Raven Guard is sneak in and plan the strike before attacking from the shadows.

1. You are blessed for picking Jump Infantry. RavenGuard are one of the best jump pack using Chapters ( Can't compare to the Blood Angels :) ).

2. You get that bonus to cover saves on the first turn.

So how do you play to this effectively you say.... Well it starts with a well thoughs out army.

Ofcourse I am going to say to use Shrike. He is a nice choice for a Captain with his weapons and has the awesome ability to infiltrate with a unit of jump troops. I recommend taking him with a fully loaded out squad of Vanguard Vets.

Then you take a Techmarine... There is a reason for this dont worry, will describe more later.

Then add scout squads with sniper rifles and camo cloaks for troops. Try to pin down the units that are a melee threat to your assaulting units so that they cannot get into the fight until you can bring the full power of your forces against them.

Then add assault and Vanguard units to your liking. Since you are using power armored troops to fight with, it will be hard to get AP2 close combat weapons without using an unweildy weapon. For this I recommend using one of the vanguard units full of plasma or grav pistols to take out those guys.

So here is the plan for this force. I would try to pick the biggest piece of area terrain that you have and place towards the middle of the board and try to make so that some of the terrain is in your deployment zone, but it is also mostly in the dead mans zone and getting closer to the opponents Deployment. Use the techmarine to bolster the cover save in there (if you go an extra 50 pts get the Thunderfire cannon instead of just techmarine).

Now let your opponent set up first and take the first turn. You want to deploy your forces around this big piece of terrain that is bolstered to make your initial strike. I would make sure to try and deploy in such a way that I am out of LOS of units that ignore cover or Tau pathfinders. (before you say what about Wave Serpent Spam or missile sides, and how this will work against that. All I can nothing I hope you dont have to play against that crap).

So move all your scouting guys closer and deploy Shrike and his infiltrating unit towards the bulk of the enemy forces (but remember try to remain unseen at first).

Now that you are going second you can charge on your turn. Move all those jump units forward and bounce of the targets. Try to make Shrikes unit purposely do a disorderly charge with the Vanguard vets and get as many units locked into combat before charging with the rest.

With the combined might of most of your forces engaging in combat so quickly and hopefully few casualties the first round of shooting you should be able to shred your opponent.