Astra Militarum vs Dark Angels, 11.11.2025

Inspired by an old timey narrative scenario called "Hold your gains", the defender, the Dark Angels, deploy at most 1/3 of their force in the middle. This is the single objective and only holding this matters at the end of the game.

The attacker, the Astra Militarum Scions, can deploy on both short edges. With my rather tiny force for 2000 points, I decided to bunch up at one end.

Everything else the defender has will come in from reserves, so I had two turns to assault the middle. Start with a squad and Inquisitor Caecilia disembarking, and giving it to the Sternguard.

In response, the Deathwing marched out, and clobbered everything to death.

Round 2

A new round, a new inquisitor disembarking. All the remaining Greenwing died, leaving Azrael in the center.

I laid into the Deathwing, but of course they survived and charged in during my turn.

Overwatch almost useful! Of course, one wound is plenty for Azrael to mop up the squad.

Reserves start coming in, and making 9" charges.

Round 3

With the black menace of the Deathwing close at hand, all hands on deck! Barely enough to kill off the small squad.

I also had some firepower to deal with in my back lines... fortunately, they didn't even kill an artillery team.

Scouts came on the sides, so time for a low effort takedown: Tank shock!

And finally, counter assault the one squad that did not make their 9" charge. The Vanguard and their jump captain died to the deep striking large nun squad.

But then the rest of the reserves shop up, including the Lion!

Shooting all around, with the heavy units trying to clear their way towards the middle.

Round 4

The Lion failed his 9" charge, so I used a mission stratagem to bring a unit back. The combined firepower took down the primarch.

My forces greatly diminished - as they usually are by round 4, I still kept up the shooting. I ignored the heavies in my back lines and focused on the infantry menacing the middle.

Including these Inceptors! At least one of them blew up himself.

Round 5

I took my shots but the Dark Angels cleared out the middle. But the game did not end on a 3+!

 

Round 6

Using every tool at my disposal to run my nuns into the center. Advance and shoot to clear out most of the Deathwing. Last Terminator died to psychic overwatch by Inquisitor Lucretia.

The Dark Angels' last hope was some long range shooting to clear out my tank and inquisitor, but with some lucky 5+ saves, I maintained my hold of the middle.

With nothing to reach the middle in time even during turn 7, the Angels conceded.

A super fun scenario and down to the wire at the very last moment. Rolling for reserves was a nerve wracking experience. Everything converging on the middle was a very cool narrative moment to witness.