Too many people instantly see a mechanized Imperial Guard force, see that it is set up for a good alpha strike and call it a Leaf Blower list. So it is time to break down exactly what Leaf Blower is, and how it works. This is it:2 Company Command Squads – 3 Plasma, Medic, and Powerfist in each, mounted in Chimeras. An Astropath and a Master of the Fleet.
Elite Daemonhunter Inquisitor - Terminator Armor, Psycannon, Force Weapon, and retinue (Mystics, Hierophant, Sage).
Psyker Battle Squad – in a Chimera
Infantry Platoon – 3 Squads in Chimeras with Heavy Weapons, Command with 4 Flamers in a Chimera
2 Special Weapons Squads – Flamers and Demo Charge, Meltaguns and Flamer.
2 Veteran Squads – Meltaguns and Shotguns in a Chimera. Meltaguns, Shotguns, and Demolitions.
2 Valkyries – Multiple Rocket Pods.
2 Medusas – Enclosed Crew Compartments. 10/2 Ordnance Blasts are obvious.
2 Hydras – 72” range twin-linked no Moving Fast saves Autocannons are obvious.
Manticore – d3 10/4 Ordnance Barrage Blasts.
First off Leaf Blower is good list. Is it all that? not really. Taking 09 ard boyz with this list, took great generalship, and some luck. We have 15 vehicles on the table. This is pretty average for mechanized lists, and even a little light for IG mechanized lists.
This list is set up to control the game from the get go. Astropaths provide outflanking possiblities, with the master of the fleet letting your opponent know that if he reserves, there is a good chance he will come in piecemeal.
Inquisitor with mystics. Cut down deep strikers with large direct fire big str10 templates. The heavy firepower comes from a few heavy weapons in the platoon, but most of it comes from the Manticore, two Hyrdas, and two Medusa's. Lots of str10 templates, with the ability to deal with light armor (hyrdas). Then we have the multiple rocket pods, and battle psykers for additional large blasts templates. All in all, it is a list that uses alot of large blasts. The big guns are meant to catch alot of people under them with a possible total of 14 large blasts templates being dropped in a round when you count the 4 demolition charges. The large blasts are going to hurt if they catch you.
The rest of the units are moving and moving quickly to get into the game. Veteran Melta squads move quickly to reliably take down heavy armor, and plasmas in the command squads to help take out areas of infantry that are out and about. Dont forget that the vets have demolitions, and therefore can scout forward to take down forward sitting land raiders or other heavy armor.
This list is not geared towards a massive alpha strike. It controls the opponent (command, battle psykers, mystics), limits his deployment options, and hits hard with large templates and hydra flak to cripple the opponent. Meanwhile fast moving troops hit vulnerable and stunned areas. A strong list, but more importantly had a good general behind it, some luck on going first and in what armies he faced.
Weakness? Put this up against a strong Marine or IG alpha strike list, have leaf blower lose the die roll to go first, and leaf blower is hanging out to dry. It simply doesnt have the durablity to keep up the firepower under heavy fire. In fact at this point, it might have to reserve itself to survive.
Point: I will say it again. Lots of mech in an IG list that shoots alot, alpha strikes, has hydras in it, manticores, or whatever, does not mean it is a Leaf Blower list. Everything in this list is vital to pulling it off. There will always be elements of leaf blower in lists. Dont take a chimera hull or you might be labeled leaf blower. Really it's quite common to be referred to in this way. We might as well just call all alpha strikers leaf blower, including marines, spacewolves, etc..... Leaf Blower is about control, large templates, and crippling the enemy while other units move in quickly to dissect you.