Imperial Fists vs Imperial Knights

Training Exercise

Mission Source:     Chapter Approved 2019

Mission:                  Eternal War - Scorched Earth

Points:                    2000

Armies:                   Imperial Fists / Imperial Knights

Today we have a match that I have, quite frankly, been dreading. Imperial Knights are...simply one of those armies that, if you haven't built your army accordingly, Knights can just roll over you and you are never "in the game".

Knights going first usually results in a Knights win, because the sheer volume of killing power they can throw out on turn one is insurmountable. Usually that leaves the opponent in the position of trying to play the mission, and survive as long as possible.

That's the position the Imperial Fists are assuming they will be in from the get-go.

Army Lists

Space Marines - Imperial Fists - 111 PL - 2000 points

Imperial Fists Battalion

HQ Chaplain Krysaor, Bolter, Crozius Arcanum, Rosarius, Catechism of Fire, Litany of Hate

HQ Chapter Master Hektor, Grav Pistol, Relic Blade, Iron Halo

T Tactical Squad - 5 Marines, Melta Bombs, Gravgun

T Tactical Squad - 5 Marines, Melta Bombs, Gravgun

T Tactical Squad - 5 Marines, Melta Bombs

EL Relic Deredeo Dreadnought, Anvillus AC, Twin Heavy Bolters, Aiolos Missiles

EL Venerable Dreadnought, Assault Cannon, Dreadnought CCW, Storm Bolter

Imperial Fists Spearhead

HQ Librarian Xenocrates, Bolt Pistol, Force Stave, Wrack & Ruin, Chasm, Smite

HQ Master of the Forge Dexomenon, Bolt Pistol, Power Axe, Servo-arm

       The Eye of Hypnoth <WARLORD>

Devastator Squad, 3 Heavy Bolters, Missile Launcher, Armorium Cherub

Land Raider Achilles, Quad Launcher, 2 Twin Multi-meltas

Land Raider Crusader, 2 Hurricane Bolters, Twin Assault Cannon, Multi-Melta, Storm Bolter

Predator, Twin Lascannon, 2 Heavy Bolters, Storm Bolter, Hunter Killer Missile

Predator, Twin Lascannon, 2 Heavy Bolters, Storm Bolter, Hunter Killer Missile

Thunderfire Cannon

Imperial Knights - House Hawkshroud

I'll be honest, I'm not sure of everything going on in the Knights list. I didn't get a printed list, so from memory;

Knight Valiant - Warlord Character

Knight Castigator

Knight Crusader

Helverin

Helverin

And I have no idea what guns these things have. But I gotta admit, the models do look great.

Pregame

Warlord Traits
Imperial Fists - Master the Machine
Imperial Knights - I don't know.

Psyker Powers
Imperial Fists - Smite, Chasm, Null Zone
Imperial Knights - NA

Deployment

The Imperial Fists won the roll off, and chose to be the Attacker, since they would get to choose who got to go first. The Knights got to choose deployment, and chose Dawn of War, mostly for convenience sake.

Crusader on the left end of the IF line, supported by a Devastator
squad. Directly across the table is the Castigator and the Crusader.

Achilles holding the right flank, supported by the Chaplain.
The Chapter Master and the Master of the Forge are right
behind the Venerable Dreadnought. The Valiant is right
across the table from the Deredeo.

Apparently I forgot to take pictures of the Knight deployment. Probably too focused on how fast I'm about to be obliterated.


Seize the Initiative
The Imperial Knights Seized the initiative. Of course they did. But, in a grand display of sportsmanship, the Knights deferred and let the Fists go first. Well, at least I'll get one shooting phase. 

Turn 1 - Imperial Fists

Crusader moves up 10" to be in range for shooting. The
Castigator is just to the left of this pic. The Crusader tore
chunks out of the Knight Crusader, taking it down to 5 W.

Deredeo and Venerable Dread move up to be in range.
Chapter Master and Master of the Forge in support 6" back.

Ach! Fuzzy picture. Sorry. Achilles moves onto an objective
and is in range to both Helverins. It took the right Helverin
down to 2 W with the 2 Twin-Multi-meltas, and took the left one
down to 8 W with Shattershells.

Burning 4 of 6 remaining Command Points to make...

...this guy an effective tank Hunter.

The Valiant took the firepower from both Predators, the Deredeo, the Venerable Dreadnought and the Thunderfire Cannon, but it did go down, it did not explode, and it used a Stratagem to shoot before it died, causing 2W to the Ven Dread, and 6 to the LR Crusader. Oh yeah, it also fired a Shieldbreaker Missile at the Chapter Master, hitting on a 5+, wounding on 2+, at AP-5 ? and inflicted 6W. Yep, dead Chapter Master. I call Bullshiet.

Considering it got shot with mostly anti-infantry weapons from
a Crusader, getting it down to 5W isn't too bad.

Of course, this beast is untouched, and looking for some retribution.

The Helverins are faced with something well suited to killing them.

Score
Imperial Fists:     2 (First Strike, Slay the Warlord)
Imperial Knights: 0

Turn 1 - Imperial Knights

The Knight Crusader unloaded on the Devastator squad
 to the right of the LR Crusader, wiping them out, and
earning First Strike.

When something that big, carrying a sword that size, smacks you with said sword, you tend to die...

...in huge, fiery explosions when you spend 2 CP. Alas, only 2W were suffered.

And a total of 4 Marines died crawling out of the wreckage.
Three Sergeants armed with Meltabombs, and two Gravguns
are ready to exact some revenge for the loss of their ride.

What I didn't get a picture of was the results of the two Helverins firing at the Predators. The undamaged one fired 10 shots at one Predator, and did no damage, and the one with 2W left fired 10 shots at the other Predator and did 6 damage. Go figure. Always counting as having double your wounds as House Hawkshroud is handy.

Score
Imperial Fists:     2 (First Strike, Slay the Warlord)
Imperial Knights: 1 (First Strike)

Summary

We called it there, partly because of time constraints, and partly because the Knight player was pretty sure things were looking bleak for him. With the Knight Crusader down to 5W, and one Helverin down to 2W, most likely he would have been left with a damaged Castigator and a single damaged Helverin to take his turn with.

So, interesting result, not what I was prepared for. If Imperial Fists get the first turn, they have a chance against Imperial Knights. Or, at least, against THESE Imperial Knights. I have no idea if there are other Knights that might shred my vehicles in a single volley.

Next month, we plan to do a rematch, and the Knights are going to get first turn. That battle report might be even shorter than this one.

Until next time, happy gaming!