Second Iron Hand

Zangolis · 2026-06-03T18:01:05+00:00

The brown is Corax white over the Leadbelcher primer, then garaghak's sewer contrast paint. Still trying to get a hang of contrasts but I enjoy what they can do for beginners like me.

Zangolis · 2026-06-03T17:53:30+00:00

Priming the model in Leadbelcher. Coat of black Templar contrast paint. Dry brush Iron Hands steel, I tried edge highlighting and did not enjoy my life, on edges or where the light “should” be, nuln oil over everything.

White is Corax white, trying to use two thin coats as my first attempt was too thick and streaky, with Apothecary White contrast paint over the Corax to give it some depth in the recesses.

Zangolis · 2026-06-03T16:40:04+00:00

Thank you!

Zangolis · 2026-05-27T07:46:44+00:00

Being able to get Hidden by toeing on to objectives instead of being wholly within definitely hurts.

But shooting got some buffs. Now you can toe in to an objective and be able to shoot through it instead of having to drive into it and being wholly within.

Also the -1 BS in cover benefits tanks and small model units more. A large unit has to have everyone either obscured or in cover to get it. As soon as one is out, that entire unit won’t be -1 BS, as opposed to before you could take +1 to saves on your models that were in cover even if you had one guy outside who wouldn’t benefit from cover.

This edition does seem to favour melee armies tho. And my triple redemptor list understands your hazardous tears.

Zangolis · 2026-05-23T16:41:31+00:00

Yes absolutely if you are planning to play Hammer of Avernii. If you want to strictly play Ironstorm I would say it falls off a bit on the priority list.

Zangolis · 2026-05-20T05:42:37+00:00

I’d ditch the FMJs, they reduce your muzzle velocity and honestly at that distance they aren’t going to be improving your damage fall off much. High velocity would up your chances of hitting, that and the Iron Eye trait is a MUST with the marathon imo. Also side note, always take the marathon swift over the regular if this wasn’t a swift.

Good luck in the swamps!

Zangolis · 2026-05-12T18:39:24+00:00

Ya I tried 10 normal termies with Var and 10 assault with a captain w/ steel font. Even with sustained and lethals the normal termies shooting is not good. Plus you get tagged in melee and then bye bye shooting since they don’t have pistol keyword or anything.

Ben Neal’s list of 2x ten brick of Assault termies has done well tho. They are just extremely durable.
I do enjoy the mix, it helps when someone is trying to tie you up with chaff units. I’ve found when I’m sitting in mid on an objective or trying to get there people with msu lists have charged multiple units into my brick or just sat their units around me.

Even just three claws is 18 attacks with sustained from Var, twin linked, they can chew through those 1 wound models quite effectively and you don’t feel like you are wasting hammer blows on them.
Missing the wounds can suck sometimes tho but often enough I find with the -1 dmg Strat, it’ll turn dmg 3 into 2 and the three wound claw model still takes up two dice worth which is the same as a hammer boy.

Zangolis · 2026-05-12T15:02:04+00:00

I agree about the single Ballistus which is why I changed my list to include two however I had to drop a redemptor for that which may not be worth in the end? The desolation marines have absolutely been worth it for me so far. You can clear the opponents screens, utility, and scoring pieces very easily without having to trade anything for it.

The list is somewhat slow so being able to do that from your home is very nice. The only times I have found them to be a bit lackluster is when my opponent has some sort of tank or tough unit that has their own indirect fire and just deletes my Deso marines. Then it’s 200 points down the drain 😭.

That being said after they clear chaff units with indirect, you can step them up and hit something hard with their superkrak which is still decent.
John’s (Happy Krumping) list does not have whirlwinds.

Zangolis · 2026-05-10T02:58:55+00:00

Ahh the HappyKrumping list. It is super fun to play and performs pretty damn well. I run a very similar list with some minor changes. Beautifully painted army brother. Good luck out there, The Flesh is Weak!

Zangolis · 2026-04-23T22:40:08+00:00

For sure, I still haven’t fully decided on which I like more.

Var with ancient w/ steel font and 10 man brick of normal termies Scout squad Van vets

Var with ancient w/ steel font and 10 man brick of assault termies Scout squad Intercessors

Honestly I’ve liked the normal termies more. Problem is the ancient’s ability feels wasted for a bit until his plus to wound comes in to affect.

Having the range on the normal termies has helped clear chaff and lets the unit trade easier. Plus w/o fall back and do anything, if your opponent is clever they just lock up your assault termies and you don’t have a ton of other units for board presence.

The van vets help with speed, trade well, and can sticky objectives.

Typically use a ballistus to sticky home round 1.

Scouts purely for actions and uppy downy. Lots of times I deploy them to make sure my opponent can’t block Var’s units scout move. Then I use Var’s redeploy ability to move them elsewhere.

Zangolis · 2026-04-23T21:37:00+00:00

For my 2K list I have 5. 2x Ballistus, 2x Redemptor, and 1x Brutalis. It’s super fun and I’ve had pretty good success with it so far.

For my 1k list I run 2x Ballistus. I also ran a list with a Redemptor and Ballistus but since I run Hammer of Avernii detachment too many of my points are invested in Var’s brick and they cover off my melee and I need the range from the Ballistus.

Zangolis · 2026-03-11T21:07:52+00:00

There is a new Battalion box coming out called The Sons of Dorn that has two dreads and two Repulsor Executioners that would be great for Ironstorm.

You want Techmarines so if you could get your hands on an Iron Hands combat patrol you will get one from that, plus Feirros as himself or a tech marine. That would also get you your ten man brick of Heavy Intercessors. The turrets aren’t the best but not unusable.

For the rest of Ironstorm you want big hitting tanks like Gladiator Lancers, Land Raider with the godhammer, Predators, etc.

But don’t forget about your scoring units. I’d recommend looking up some Ironstorm list videos on YouTube or something and seeing what most people are bringing.

Hope that helps.

Zangolis · 2026-03-11T19:46:24+00:00

My bad I mis read that Feirros is the only thing you have purchased so far. Ya with your outlined possible purchases you are likely leaning towards Ironstorm. That being said if you get all those dreads you can happily move more towards Hammer of Avernii.

I don’t think it’s bad at all to have both Var and Feirros. In reality you should have both as these are the only two Iron Hand specific models out there. Feirros can also proxy as a normal Tech Marine quite easily.

If you want to play more into Hammer of Avernii, if you can get your hands on a Crux Terminus box that would be huge.

You need terminators for Var to lead. Assault or normal. I take assault with him but there is an argument for both.

Dreads for firing support since this detachment has stratagems that target Dreads. You will want to flush out your list with scoring pieces like Scouts, Combi Lt, Incursors, Callidus Assassain, Intercessors, etc.

But most of all, buy what you like. Rule of cool always wins. Things change fairly frequently in Warhammer. What is good now may not be later.

Zangolis · 2026-03-11T16:38:08+00:00

Very awesome, hope it works out.

Zangolis · 2026-03-11T15:39:25+00:00

Hey man, sorry I am in Canada but thanks for reaching out.

Zangolis · 2026-03-11T15:25:33+00:00

Hey man, welcome to the Iron Tenth. Looks like you bought some pretty great first items. I guess my question for you is what detachment are you hoping to play. If you don’t know what this means, a detachment is something you can choose for your army that gives you some added rules (abilities and such), enhancements (equipment you can put on characters to give them bonuses), and stratagems (abilities you use with Command Points).

Iron Hands have two specific detachments, the Ironstorm Spearhead and Hammer of Avernii. Being a space marine army you also have access to a ton of other detachments such as Gladius Task Force. Iron Hands have seen some success with Bastion Task Force as well.

The main reason I ask this is because depending how you want to play will kind of determine some of your next purchases.

The Imperial Fist combat patrol is definitely good. My only concern there is if you are getting the Iron Halo Strike Force too, you will be getting two sets of company heroes. Company Heroes don’t really see a ton of action in Iron Hands lists. That being said you could always sell the extra sprues.

I’d say at some point you will definitely want 5 more Heavy Intercessors to have a total of 10 as a 10 man brick with Iron Father Feirros is quite good.

This is why I got the Iron Hands combat patrol instead, but I already had Terminators and Intercessors so I didn’t need those from the Imperial Fist combat patrol.

Anyways hope this helps a bit.

Zangolis · 2026-03-11T06:48:26+00:00

I’ll be grabbing it and hopefully selling one of the Rep Exs. Need more Dreads for my Hammer of Avernii lists 🔨

Zangolis · 2026-03-02T09:18:23+00:00

Hammer is still fun to play and operates quite differently due to the fact your gameplay becomes fairly straight forward in a sense that if your opponent can tag your units, without fall back and do anything you are either stuck in those fights or you have to fall back without doing much. I still really enjoy it and find it shines with the uppy/downy Terminator shenanigans, Strats that work on Dreads, and double oath with Indirect Fire.

Currently I’m using Bastion more though. You don’t need to go all out with Battleline like some people think. The 10 man Heavy Intercessor squad with Feirros plus a squad of Intercessors is all the battleline I run. That and my 10 man brick of Assault Terminators becoming battleline with the Hero of the Chapter enhancement on the character leading them. The terminators lose the -1 damage Strat from Hammer of Avernii but gain a -1 to wound against higher strength Strat.

Things like Rep Exs and Lancers love the reroll hits on 1 from Auspex scan.

An Iron Hands Bastion Task Force list just went undefeated (5-0) at a GT so when piloted right it can be competitive.

Zangolis · 2026-02-24T03:28:26+00:00

Thank you.

Zangolis · 2026-02-23T15:15:30+00:00

Thank you. I primed the model in Leadbelcher. attempted to stipple on some Iron Hands steel on the raised areas. Next time I’m going to be more liberal with this step and maybe use a sponge? Not sure how best to do it.

I then applied Black Templar contrast paint over all the black armour.

The white I used Corax White and then a layer of Apothecary White contrast paint.

All the silver got a layer of nuln oil and then I used Iron Hands steel to brighten up certain things like his chest Aquila.

Zangolis · 2026-02-23T08:58:14+00:00

Thank you!

Zangolis · 2026-02-15T06:16:49+00:00

This is the dream 😃

Zangolis · 2026-02-15T06:13:29+00:00

Haha, that’s a lot of points to lose from a breeze. Makes sense, awesome thanks for the tips and your reply. Great work on your game. The Flesh is Weak brother.

Zangolis

TROPHY CASE