40k 9th Ed Battle Report: Grey Knights vs Drukhari

Kitchen Table Wargaming 2,000 pt Battle Report

From the Hostile Galaxy team: Special thanks to Kitchen Table Wargaming for submitting this batrep! We really enjoyed it. Be sure to catch more KTW batreps on his YouTube channel HERE! Also, check out more written batreps by KTW and others in our MONTHLY MAGAZINE! Thanks for reading!

Scenario: The Grey Knights have been receiving disturbing reports of a barren world, covered in some kind of runes, with odd stones scattered across the landscape.  The reports seem to indicate that some of the stones might even be part of Chaos rituals.  As such, the Grey Knights descend upon this unknown planet intent on removing any threat of Chaos.  

Little did the Grey Knights know that this barren planet was actually a planet that certain Drukhari raiding parties used as a treasure hold, away from the prying eyes of Commoragh.  The ancient Dark Eldar technology placed there notified them that a ship had entered into orbit around their “treasure planet.”  With just enough early warning for the Drukhari they immediately set about devising a plan to repel these invaders and protect their treasures.

Mission: Priority Orders Received, mission number 33 from the Warhammer 40k Grand Tournament pack.  This mission has opponents deploy in triangular deployment zones and there are 5 objective markers placed on the board.  However, after deployment zones are chosen but before the first player begins deployment the players alternate moving the 4 outer objective markers up to 6 inches in any direction and then each player chooses one of the markers to be their Priority Objective.  

Players can take the mission specific secondary to hold the Priority Objective and if the player holds their own priority objective they score 3 points at the end of their turn and if they hold both of the priority objectives they receive 5 points at the end of their turn.  

Secondaries for each army are as follows:

Grey Knights select Engage on All Fronts, Bring it Down and the mission specific objective: Priority Orders.

Drukhari select Engage on All Fronts, Assassinate and Abhor the Witch.

The Armies:  Grey Knights Strike Force

Drukhari Raiding Party

Units in Deep Strike for the Grey Knights: Grand Master Nemesis Dreadknight, Kaldor Draigo, Purgation squad and Strike squad.

Units in Deep Strike for Drukhari: Scourge and Raider containing Drazhar and Incubi (using the Screaming Jets stratagem).

Deployment: Grey Knights

Interceptors and one Terminator squad deploy on the far edge within easy move distance to reach the priority objective marker for the Grey Knights. 

Both Paladin squads and Voldus deploy behind the large terrain piece within 12 inches of the front Terminator squad so that a buffed Paladin unit can jump anywhere turn one. 

Finally, the other Terminator squad deploys behind the rocks on the front edge of the deployment zone holding the other objective marker and protecting the Apothecary who deploys with them.  This squad has full line of sight to the center of the board and will not need to move unless directly threatened. 

Deployment: Drukhari

The Drukhari deployed the entire Prophets of Flesh coven, minus the Wracks, right in the center of the deployment zone in order to threaten the middle of the board. The Reaper deployed away from that end in order to provide screening from deep strike units and still have line of sight for the board with it’s 36” range weapon. 

The Archon and Ravagers deploy in the back of their zone on their own priority objective and mostly out of line of sight but with their 14” movement can easily peek out and shoot things without giving up room in the backfield for deep strike.  

This Raider has the Prophets of Flesh Wracks inside and closes off the deployment zone on this end, the Venom has the Kabalite Warriors embarked and at the opposite end of the deployment zone is the other Raider with a squad of Wracks and Haemonculus from the Dark Technomancer coven in easy range of the other objective marker on their side of the board.  

Both armies have arrived, seen each other and prepared accordingly.  Both have their Priority Orders but only one will be victorious this day.  As both sides plan and prepare the Grey Knights make the first move!

Turn 1: Grey Knights

CP 12, one was spent pregame to place the Purgation squad in the teleportarium taking them to 11 but then they gained 1 for the turn and regenerated one in the psychic phase going up to 13 CP turn 1.

This Terminator squad moves forward taking control of their priority objective and advances to get further behind the rock, unfortunately they only roll a 1 on the advance so the right side of the line is still slightly exposed.

The Interceptor squad jumps into the center of the board landing closest to the Grotesque unit and casts a Vortex of Doom that deals 3 wounds to the Grotesque, 2 wounds to the Homunculus and 3 wounds to the Talos.  None of which were ignored using Power from Pain.

This front Paladin unit receives all of the spells from Voldus, their fellow Paladin unit and then gets launched forward by the Terminator squad nearby landing just in front of the Interceptor squad within striking distance of the entire Prophet of Flesh coven and announcing that the center of this battlefield belongs to the Grey Knights.  Come and take it!

Three Paladins raise their blessed storm bolters and kill one of the Grotesques that threatens them with psybolt ammunition while the other two Paladins level their psilencers at the Venom and destroy it completely, resulting in 3 of the 5 Kabalite Warriors dying as they attempt to jump from the flaming vehicle!!  However, the Paladins fail to make their 9” charge into the front lines (even with a reroll) so instead they buckle down and prepare to receive the Drukhari’s retaliation.  

Turn 1: Drukhari 

CP: 11, one co was spent pregame for Screaming Jets but Diabolical Soothsayer Gaines 3 cp at the start of the game plus one for the command phase so Drukhari started with 7 and gained an additional 4 in turn one!

Both Ravagers move forward in order to level their Disintegrator cannons at either the Paladins or the Interceptor squad holding the center objective and threatening psychic powers.  

The Talos, Grotesques and Homunculus simply charge forward to engage the Paladins in glorious hand to hand combat.

The Raider on the left side shoots forward claiming this objective and gaining line of sight on all of the Terminators holding objectives for the Grey Knights. 

This Raider launches into the back field coming to rest atop this rock where it can freely fire upon ALL of the Grey Knights as it sees fit…

As the dust slowly settles after all of the running, flying and shooting the Grey Knights hear shots and groans and when the first strike of the Drukhari is over they discover that the Interceptor squad is simply gone.  All five brothers destroyed by Xenos firepower and two of the Terminators holding the Priority Objective are likewise cut down.  

Just as the Grey Knights are recovering from the barrage the monstrosities in front of the Paladins charge in and meet them head on.

The Paladins fire over watch at the Grotesques just hoping to reduce the number of bodies assailing them and succeed in killing the previously wounded one.  But nothing stops the charge and with the Homunculus wearing the Vexator mask the Paladins find themselves dodging attacks desperately until they get their turn to strike.  The Paladins prove that their reputation is well deserved as not one of them dies during this first round of combat, however they also discover that the Prophets of Flesh are equally resilient as they are unable to kill a single model in this first clash.  

Turn 1 Summary: Grey Knights strike first scoring 2 points for Bring it Down and 3 points for Priority Orders.

Drukhari retaliated by scoring 2 points for Engaging on all Fronts and 3 points for Abhor the Witch by killing the Interceptor squad.

Turn 2: Grey Knights

CP: 4, the Grey Knights paid a hefty price for the initial strike using 10 command points in turn 1 bringing them to 3 at the start of turn 2 and with the new command point added at the beginning of the turn they now had 4.

Turn 2 movement phase brings the arrival of reinforcements!  The Purgation squad, Lord Draigo and the Grand Master Nemesis Dreadknight all land in the Drukhari back left battle zone with clear site lines on the left hand Raider, the Reaper and both Ravagers.  the Grand Master clearly has eyes for the Reaper while Draigo was set to storm the Raider, or what might be left after the shooting phase ended.  

Voldus and the other Paladins moved forward to lend their firepower to the threats that now almost surrounded them.  Then, in an effort to thwart the Drukhari Voldus sends the second Paladin unit to the newly arrived reinforcements so that they could shoot at closer range and then charge the Talos and lend their brothers the support they needed.  

Unfortunately, the second Paladin squad was unable to make the charge leaving the first unit to defend themselves which they did rather well.  Only losing two from the squad and killing one more Grotesque.  However the Homunculus has healed the wounded Talos in the previous turn so the deadly fighting machines lived on. 

The Grand Master did make his charge and utterly destroyed the Reaper. Draigo, sadly, was unable to get close enough to the Raider to engage it.  

The Grey Knights added threats to the board and killed some Drukhari shooting but failing so many charges meant that a lot of Grey Knights were now quite exposed to the weight of fire that would be coming their way.  

Turn 2: Drukhari

CP: 8, Drukhari generated one for the start of the turn and the Archon stole a command point after a Grey Knights stratagem.

The extra command points were crucial as the Drukhari were able to use Vect to deny the Grey Knight Strike squad landing in their back corner near the Archon and in position to steal that priority objective from them.  This forced the Strike squad to remain in the teleportarium as there was no other viable landing zone. 

The Raider on the hill dropped in to shoot and then charge the wounded Terminator unit in order to steal their priority objective.  This Raider has miraculously survived a hail of bolter rounds and psycannon ammunition from the Terminators.  

The green Ravager moves forward to cut off the path of the rampaging Dreadknight while the Archon moved closer to level his blast pistol and the Scourge dropped in to use their haywire destruction on the Dreadknight. 

On this side the Wracks and Homunculus disembarked to hold the objective while the Raider moved forwards to stall Lord Draigo in his efforts to claim the objective for the Grey Knights. 

The final move of turn two for the Drukhari was to bring the Raider with Drazhar and the Incubi in to threaten Voldus and this Terminator unit.  

This Raider shot and killed a Terminator and the Raider with Drazhar did the same reducing this squad to one lone man holding the objective and then it charged the Terminator.  The resulting combat did nothing to either target and the Grey Knights maintained control of the priority objective. 

The Scourge powered up and dropped the Dreadknight in one go using the Dark Technomancer tricks they inflicted 23 wounds and 21 of those were mortal wounds.  Even with True Silver armor the Dreadknight crumpled.  The Ravagers killed the Purgation squad right after that.  Seriously crippling the Grey Knight firepower. 

Then to add insult to an already great turn the Talos got angry and wiped the remaining Paladins.  

Turn 2 Summary

Grey Knights score 10 points for primary and 9 for secondary. 

Drukhari score 15 for primary and 16 for secondary.  

At this point the game is actually still close in points but the Drukhari have definitely stung the Grey Knights.  

Turn 3 Grey Knights

CP: 2

The Terminators switch places with Voldus in order to get shots off on the Raider carrying Drazhar.

The Paladin sidesteps the rock to draw line of sight on the Wracks and still get closer to the Talos in order to charge them. 

Lord Draigo moves closer with plans to flex his psychic muscles and destroy the Raider then charge the Wracks.  

At the end of the psychic phase Draigo succeeds at blowing up the Raider with Inner Fire (used a command point to extend the range by 6 inches) but also gave himself two wounds in the process.  The line Terminator destroyed the Raider with smite forcing the Wracks out so that they could be shot.  The Paladins cast Hammerhand on themselves in preparation for charging the Talos and Voldus partially buffed the other Terminator squad but failed two spells to make them really durable. 

The Paladins charged into the Talos after shooting some Wracks and a Ravager (killed two Wracks and did nothing to the Ravager).  While their shooting might not have been impressive they were angry with the Talos and dispatched them with ease.  

Draigo made his charge after using the last command point of the Grey Knights for this turn.  He did kill one Wrack and the Homunculus.  But was surprised with the resilience of the Wracks.  

These Wracks proved very durable as well as they only lost two to shooting and one in melee with the Terminator.  They succeeded in stealing the objective too!

Turn 3: Drukhari

CP: 2, both armies were now essentially out of command points and would continue to earn one or two per turn depending on psychic powers and stealing command points with Labyrinthine Cunning. 

The Strike squad did drop in turn 3 in a position where they could threaten a variety of targets.  Unfortunately almost all of their shooting resulted in the death of a single Scourge model.  This Ravager moves up to deal with the Strike squad as the Ravagers move back to stay out of charge range but still in shooting range. 

This Raider unloaded its cargo and flew around behind Voldus hoping to get some sneaky shots on him before Voldus could respond.  Unfortunately the gunner missed with everything and overcharged the gun causing a mortal wound to the Raider!

Drazhar and the Incubi move into position to charge the Terminators with eyes on the Apothecary and Voldus next. 

The Wracks in combat with Draigo fall back allowing the Ravager to pump shots into Draigo.  

The last Grotesque and Homunculus left the Paladins to come and charge the Strike marines if they lived through the shooting phase.  

Drazhar and the Incubi blended the Terminators and tagged the Apothecary in their consolidation move.  The Strike squad was destroyed through shooting and Draigo took four wounds leaving him on one.  

Meanwhile this Terminator was still unable to kill the Wracks while they did manage to inflict a wound on him in return. 

Turn 3 Summary

Grey Knights score 10 pts for primary and 11 for secondary.  

Drukhari score 10 points for primary and only 4 for secondary but they have now nearly maxed their secondaries.  

Turn 4: Grey Knights

CP: 2

The Grey Knights are definitely fighting on their back foot now and the Drukhari can taste blood.  This turn needs to go perfectly or else…

Voldus stands his ground, killing two Incubi and holding the objective while the Apothecary, even with added psychic protection, is destroyed.  

This Raider finally gets the gunner looking the right direction and Draigo is vaporized by an overpowered Disintegrator round. 

The Paladins in the center of the board are unable to kill anything with shooting and the last Terminator is brought down by the Wracks. 

Finally, Voldus is charged by Drazhar and the Incubi and summarily destroyed at the end of turn 4. 

Final score was 96 to 67 with the Drukhari defending their treasure world in style and tabling the Grey Knights by the end of turn 4!

From the Hostile Galaxy team: Special thanks to Kitchen Table Wargaming for submitting this batrep! We really enjoyed it. Be sure to catch more KTW batreps on his YouTube channel HERE! Also, check out more written batreps by KTW and others in our MONTHLY MAGAZINE! Thanks for reading!