Swarm Lord is overpriced, right? 8-+D

Hello friends.

So I've been playing a couple of 1000 point games with my newly assembled Blood Angels army. The first two were against FuZ's voracious (and overpowered) Tyranids. Featuring your hated enemy and mine, the Swarm Lord. Considering my army had at the time 800 points of dedicated assault troops, well ... it didn't go as well as I had hoped.

Two rather big losses to start with.

I remember in one game after seven assault phases, I had two marines left and the only thing he had even attacked with all game was my great friend 'Swarmy.

In case your unfamiliar with this HQ choice, In a melee and on the Swarm Lord has five T6 wounds with a 3+/4+ invulnerable save and the psychic skill leech essence (1-2 stolen wounds a turn). Pretty respectable for 280 points right? On the offense he comes with four I6 S6 W9 power attacks, which force re-rolls of successful invulnerable saves and then cause instant death.

He destroys tanks, special characters, infantry and elite assault units with ease. Anything he can reach he will basically beat.

We even tried a mock up of Mephiston vs the Swarm Lord, they cost the same points and are meant to do pretty much the same job. The poor enraged librarian managed to only pull off one wound (the only wound he could cause, which swarmy thankfully failed) before being ID'd.

Normally Meph would then use his Force Sword to go for the throat, but shadow in the warp leaves him with only a 45% shot at the kill before facing the 99% ID retaliation from Swarmy. When the points costs are so even, those are some very bad odds.

Rough indeed.

On my 3rd game though I managed to scare FuZ off from fielding the Swarm Lord by filling my army with melta and missile weapons at every turn. Weapons which deny him any kind of save because he needs to be in melee to get his 4+ invulnerable save. 3+ to hit, 2+ to wound, 5 wounds = dead. Six melta shots and five missiles seeking him out, and his fucked.

Without Swarmy and with my new (shown below) all-comers or "tournament" list poor FuZ didn't stance a chance. His stealer's were melted and his gaunts bombarded. GG old chap.

As it stands, here is my army. Meet the BLOOD HAWKS.

HQ: (170 pts) Reclusiarch with Jump Pack and Infernus Pistol

Elite: (90 pts) Sanguinary Priest with Jump Pack and Infernus Pistol

Troop: (260 pts) 10 Assault Marines with 2 Meltaguns, Sergeant with Power Fist and Infernus Pistol

Troop: (260 pts) 10 Tactical Marines with Missile Launcher, Sergeant with Power Fist and Infernus Pistol + Razorback Transport with Heavy Bolter

Heavy: (130 pts) 5 Devastator Marines with 4 Missile Launchers

Heavy: (90 pts) Whirlwind Tank

Total: (1000 pts)

"We are Blood Hawks! Our thirst may be forever ... but we feast tonight!"

- Chaplain Commander Haimael