1750 Tournament Army List

I am putting together a list for a tournament later in the year. I have a fair bit of painting to do, so can swap in some alternatives if need be.

While I realize it will struggle to justify the cost, the Voidraven is my centerpiece model at the moment, so it needs a spot in the list. Anything else is open for criticism and change.

List One

Combined Arms Detachment
Archon with Agoniser, Shadowfield, Armour of Misery (140)
4 Lhamaeans 4 Sslyth in Raider with Night Shields (210)
4 Incubi in Raider with Night Shields (150)
5 Kabalite Warriors in Venom with Splinter Cannon (105)
5 Kabalite Warriors in Venom with Splinter Cannon (105)
4 Scourges with 4 Haywire Blasters (120)
4 Scourges with 4 Heat Lances (120)
Voidraven Bomber (160)

Combined Arms Detachment
4 Lhamaeans 4 Sslyth in Raider with Night Shields (210)
5 Kabalite Warriors in Venom with Splinter Cannon (105)
5 Kabalite Warriors in Venom with Splinter Cannon (105)
3 Reavers with Cluster Caltrops, Heat Lance (73)
3 Reavers with Cluster Caltrops, Heat Lance (73)
3 Reavers with Cluster Caltrops, Heat Lance (73)

Total 1749

The second list drops the Archon in favour of filling out the melee units some more.

List One

Combined Arms Detachment
5 Lhamaeans 5 Sslyth in Raider with Night Shields (245)
7 Incubi including Klaivex in Raider with Night Shields (220)
5 Kabalite Warriors in Venom with Splinter Cannon (105)
5 Kabalite Warriors in Venom with Splinter Cannon (105)
4 Scourges with 4 Haywire Blasters (120)
4 Scourges with 4 Heat Lances (120)
Voidraven Bomber (160)

Combined Arms Detachment
5 Lhamaeans 5 Sslyth in Raider with Night Shields (245)
5 Kabalite Warriors in Venom with Splinter Cannon (105)
5 Kabalite Warriors in Venom with Splinter Cannon (105)
3 Reavers with Cluster Caltrops, Heat Lance (73)
3 Reavers with Cluster Caltrops, Heat Lance (73)
3 Reavers with Cluster Caltrops, Heat Lance (73)

Total 1749

Keen to hear your thoughts on the two lists and any suggestions to improve the lists.

Edit - missed both units of Scourges from the list, which were paid for - oops.

Whats the plan with the tournament? Is it comped? Are the missions Eternal War or Maelstrom or a combo of both? Are you familiar with your local tournament meta in that you have somewhat of an idea on what to bring and how to play it?

A few ideas to mull over:

Most lists that buy Reaver special weapons seem to favour Blasters over Heat Lances.
Consider some Grotesques in place of one Court unit.
Your anti tank is pretty limited. I don't think there's anything outside of the Reavers that can even kill a Rhino. Consider adding in Ravagers/Blasterborn/Hayscourges by dropping something.

1++ There are no special restrictions on the tournament, but typically about 50-60 players, with a wide variety of opponents. Last time out I played Orks, Nids, Grey Knights, Dark Eldar, Chaos Marines and Space Marines. Missions were a hybrid of Maelstrom (primary) and Eternal War (secondary), so most competition points on a Maelstrom type basis.

hydranixx - My list should have included two units of Scourges, one Heat Lance and one Haywire Blasters, which I had paid the points for. That should make the anti-tank seem a little more sensible.

What is the reasoning for preferring Blasters to Heat Lances?

As good as Grotesques are, I don't much like the models, and I would need the Archon or some other character to accompany them, which would leave the Incubi unit really light on bodies. If one Court was swapped for say 4 Grotesques (same points in list one) what would you drop to get the Incubi to say 6 models?

I must admit ranged anti tank/monsterous creature hunting is a concern, being able stop something at range during T1 usually makes or breaks games. Yes you have the Scourge but I would like to see them backed up with 2 Ravagers.

Reavers with guns comes down to personal playstyle but for me I'm loving them with caltrops as your killing more with them compared to the cost of a single blaster/heat lance. But the decision is purely based on you and your playstyle.

Being that the Voidraven is your centrepiece, have you looked at adding in reserve manipulation, like a Comma Relay? There will.be games where it may not arrive until T4....

I take the point about anti-tank still being a bit light. How about the following (dropping the Archon and Incubi for Ravagers)

Combined Arms Detachment
4 Lhamaeans 4 Sslyth in Raider with Night Shields (210)
5 Kabalite Warriors in Venom with Splinter Cannon (105)
5 Kabalite Warriors in Venom with Splinter Cannon (105)
4 Scourges with 4 Haywire Blasters (120)
4 Scourges with 4 Heat Lances (120)
Voidraven Bomber (160)
Ravager with 3 Dark Lances, Night Shields (140)
Ravager with 3 Dark Lances, Night Shields (140)

Combined Arms Detachment
4 Lhamaeans 4 Sslyth in Raider with Night Shields (210)
5 Kabalite Warriors in Venom with Splinter Cannon (105)
5 Kabalite Warriors in Venom with Splinter Cannon (105)
3 Reavers with Cluster Caltrops, Heat Lance (73)
3 Reavers with Cluster Caltrops, Heat Lance (73)
3 Reavers with Cluster Caltrops, Heat Lance (73)

That would come to 1739, which would leave 10 points for some kind of minor upgrade. Maybe a single Khymera, or a Sybarite to get a warlord trait.

So now posing a real threat to any mech target in the game with the Ravagers and the Haywire Scourge, nice. I would also be inclined to drop one of the Court units and field either Trueborn with 4 Blasters or change a CAD to the Realspace Raiders and take 3 more empty Venoms. Either of those two will contribute more than a Court unit IMO.
Also, i like the Sybarite idea....I use it myself

Hmm, if you consider taking 1++'s advice(which isn't bad), I'd do it in a slightly different way. Honestly, if you cut both courts down to the 1 Lhamean minimum in a dual cannon venoms, giving you 281 free points with the 11 you already had, you could use these points to give your army some more alpha strike punch, such as:

1 Fast attack dual cannon venom 65
2x 5 Warriors in dual cannon venoms 210
OR
(in the 2nd CAD)
2x Ravagers w/Triple Lances & Night Shields 280
OR
(If you want to use every last point)
1x 5 Warriors in dual cannon venom 105(CAD1)
1x Ravager w/Triple Lances & Night Shields 140(CAD2)
3x Mandrakes 36(CAD1)

Up to you to decide if it's worth it. I'd probably personally go with the 2 ravagers or the last option for a mix of extra obsec plus more AT, but I generally prefer to have too much AT rather than too little. Good luck, and let us know what you decide and how you do!

I'm a little worried about having no melee ability at all if I drop the Courts to a single Lhamaean in each, as tempting as four Ravagers would be. The other concern is whether there would be sufficient cover on most tables to get four Ravagers in.

A less important issue is as a 4th-5th ed player, who has just returned, I have a fleet of Raiders and one Venom. If I went the 4 Ravager option, then I have a lot more vehicle painting to do, as I would need 5 more Venoms and 2 more Ravagers (or one if I use Vect as a mere Ravager).

Will think about it and give the options a bit of a test run.

You don't need much melee when all your guns are 36" range.