The Warhammer-community team brings us updates on the incoming Blood Angels for 9th ed 40k!
The new codex supplement for the noble sons of Sanguinius is available to pre-order this weekend, but to help pass the time until then (after all, we don’t want you to go all Black Rage on us), we’re treating you to a sneak preview of some of their ace new rules. Let’s take a look!
Temper, Temper!
As you’ll no doubt be aware, the Blood Angels have some serious anger management issues (if not, read our article on The Flaw and learn all about it). This barely controlled aggression is represented on the battlefield in a number of ways. First up is their Battle-forged Detachment ability, Savage Echoes, which makes the Assault Doctrine deadlier when active – especially when you consider this is IN ADDITION to Shock Assault!
Believe it or not, it gets even better for Blood Angels who have given in to the Black Rage and been consigned to the Death Company.
Yes, that’s a potential +3 Attacks each if the Assault Doctrine is active!
Stratagems
The Blood Angels have a healthy dose of new and updated Stratagems they can use, in addition to those featured in Codex: Space Marines, that exemplify how the sons of Sanguinius fight. One of the most powerful is Red Rampage, which affects not just one unit, but YOUR ENTIRE ARMY – and for just a single Command point!
You may only be able to activate it once per battle, but when you do, that’s a potential AP -3 with your Astartes chainswords and a whopping AP -5 with power swords! If you time it right (and roll lots of 6s), your opponent’s force will effectively be stripped of their armour.
Warlord Traits
The Blood Angels are well known for the aesthetic – and devastating – quality of their wargear. If you want to properly tool your Warlord up with all the best death-dealing equipment, make them an Artisan of War.
This Warlord Trait enables you to kit them out with an item of Special-issue Wargear AND a Relic for a killer melee/ranged or attack/defence combo.
Relics
Speaking of which, the new supplement includes five Relics for the Blood Angels and another two for the Flesh Tearers. If you’re looking to get stuck into the enemy as fast as possible (you’re a Blood Angels player – of course you are!), then the Icon of the Angel is like a gift from Sanguinius himself.
Note that it doesn’t just affect Core units, but EVERY FRIENDLY BLOOD ANGELS UNIT – it’s the melee equivalent of point and click (rev and slice?).
Wargear
A number of wargear items used by the Blood Angels have been improved. The magna-grapples that can be mounted on Furioso and Death Company Dreadnoughts, for example, are a lot of fun!
“Where do you think you’re going? Get back here – I haven’t finished tearing you to pieces yet!” – attributed to a very angry Blood Angels Dreadnought
As you can see, there are a lot of welcome, narrative-driven additions to the Blood Angels rules throughout the new codex supplement, even before you take a look at the Crusade section. Speaking of which, we’ll be covering the Blood Angels’ bespoke Crusades rules later in the week, as well as taking a closer look at the Death Company and Flesh Tearers, so keep an eye out for them. And remember, the codex supplement may not be up for pre-order until Saturday, but you can pick up Codex: Space Marines online and in stores right now, so make sure you have your copy!