Everyone hates Heldrakes, except CSM players, and it is easy to see why; the Heldrake is a flying daemon engine which is tough to take down (av12 5+ inv) though it's feared weapon is the baleflamer. This weapon of death is a S6 AP3 template and comes in torrent form. To make the Heldrake even more badass G.W have done a FAQ which says the Heldrake can fire 360 degrees and is measured from the base, as it is a torrent weapon you measure up to 12" from the base and drop that template down. Anything which hasn't got a 2+ armour save is bbq'd.
So today's article is going to focus on triple Heldrake lists. I won't go into list building detail as there are quite a few lists. Instead I'll post the list and go over tactics etc.
Chaos Space Marines 'Daemon Flyer' - 2,000 points
HQ
Warpsmith
Troops
10 x Chaos Space Marines w/ Rhino - 2 x plasma guns
10 x Chaos Space Marines w/ Rhino - 2 x plasma guns
10 x Chaos Space Marines w/ Rhino - 2 x meltaguns
10 x Chaos Space Marines w/ Rhino - 2 x meltaguns
10 x Chaos Space Marines w/ Rhino - 2 x flamers
10 x Chaos Cultists
Fast Attack
Heldrake - baleflamer
Heldrake - baleflamer
Heldrake - baleflamer
Heavy Support
Forgefiend
Forgefiend
Total: 2,005
The Rhinos rumble out and use smoke or terrain to get cover saves.
Forgefiends lay down supporting fire, the Warpsmith can repair them if they have problems, he hides in the Cultist unit so doesn't get shot up.
Cultists can claim an objective by your table side.
Heldrakes come in and burn anything out of blown up transports, camping units and vector strike/burn monstrous creatures.
Chaos Space Marines 'Dragon Uprising' - 2,000 points
HQ
Dark Apostle - gift of mutation
Dark Apostle - gift of mutation
Dark Apostle - gift of mutation
Troops
30 x Chaos Cultists - mark of khorne & 2 x flamers
30 x Chaos Cultists - mark of khorne & 2 x flamers
30 x Chaos Cultists - mark of khorne & 2 x flamers
5 x Chaos Space Marines - plasma gun
5 x Chaos Space Marines - plasma gun
Fast Attack
Heldrake - baleflamer
Heldrake - baleflamer
Heldrake - baleflamer
Heavy Support
5 x Havocs - 4 x autocannons
5 x Havocs - 4 x autocannons
5 x Havocs - 4 x autocannons
Total: 1,980
This list is going a horde-ish route by taking triple Cultists blobs.
The Apostles allow the Cultists re-roll to hit in the first round of combat and also make them fearless.
The Cultists have mark of khorne so they will be getting a lot of attacks on the charge and can soften up units prior to assault with flamers or put units off assault thanks to overwatch.
CSM take objectives, I like to thing they are hiding away and want to go un-noticed in this uprising, same with the Havocs, who open up vehicles for the Heldrakes and Cultists to deal with.
Problem with this list is it cannot deal with high armour value or heavy mech lists.
Chaos Space Marines 'Air Beats' - 2,000 points
HQ
Chaos Lord - gift of mutation & mark of slaanesh
Elite
Helbrute - reaper autocannon
Helbrute - reaper autocannon
Troops
5 x Noise Marines w/ Rhino - blastmaster
5 x Noise Marines w/ Rhino - blastmaster
5 x Noise Marines w/ Rhino - blastmaster
5 x Noise Marines w/ Rhino - blastmaster
5 x Noise Marines w/ Rhino - blastmaster
5 x Noise Marines w/ Rhino - blastmaster
Fast Attack
Heldrake - baleflamer
Heldrake - baleflamer
Heldrake - baleflamer
Heavy Support
Chaos Predator - lascannon sponsons
Chaos Predator - lascannon sponsons
Total: 2,000
Helbrutes and Noise Marines open up mech vehicles or blast troops away while the dual Predators each sit in a corner and tackle the heavier armour.
Heldrakes come in and bbq anything out in the open.
Chaos Space Marines 'Chosen Dragon' - 2,000 points
HQ
Abaddon the Despoiler
Troops
5 x Chosen w/ Rhino - 2 x plasma guns
5 x Chosen w/ Rhino - 2 x plasma guns
5 x Chosen w/ Rhino - 2 x plasma guns
5 x Chosen w/ Rhino - 2 x meltaguns
5 x Chosen w/ Rhino - 2 x meltaguns
5 x Chosen w/ Rhino - 2 x meltaguns
Fast Attack
Heldrake - baleflamer
Heldrake - baleflamer
Heldrake - baleflamer
Heavy Support
2 x Obliterators - mark of nurgle
2 x Obliterators - mark of nurgle
Predator
Total: 1,979
Still got some points left to burn on this one.
I added the Predator by the way as had 75 points spare. I am not massively keen on it and if anything is to be added the Pred will be the first thing to go.
Pretty much the same setup as the other Rhino lists, roll up and use cover/smoke to save your ass, then next turn roll up and unleash plasma and melta into vehicles etc. Oblits can walk on foot and add fire support or deep strike down. Abaddon should deep strike down on his own and tackle camping units, generally this will no stand a chance against him. Heldrakes come in and burn shit up and vector strike the crap out of it.
What do you think of triple Heldrake lists? They plain evil or just a tad cheeky?