[Ace cipher zer0]

From my experience with Blood Angels, and the ponderings of my overly-focused mind, I have decided to do this guide! Most of the experience has come from my experience with my Blood Angels in a modular list (to be found here: http://forums.tauonline.org/index.php?topic=70604.0, still WIP); However, I also draw upon many experiences from the other armies I have played: My Tau, both hybrid and Mech, My Chaos, of either an Iron Warriors approach and a more plague marine-centered strategem, And my experience playing with the other assaulty meat: the Tyrranids, in my elitist style.

I like to play Blood Angels because of thier numerous advantages: Their Codex is free, Their speed can give the ravenguard a run for their money and they are one of two chapters to retain the Special rule "And They Shall Know No Fear." (and if your opponent says, you don't, point to the codex special rules page where it is.)

This is not only for the Blood Angels, but any other Marine Player that wants to try a Blood Angels List.

Feel free to comment on my guide, because I'm not perfect, and another perspective is usually helpful (even if it is still WIP).

And now for the show!

Sons of sanguinus- How to Effectively Field The Blood Angels 8th Company on the Battlefield
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HQ
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For the purposes of simplicity, All HQ units are assumed to have Jump Packs or Bikes, or some other method of transport to keep up with the rest of the army- after all, you are playing an assault company, aren't you?

Dante-He is an extremely great HQ unit for Blood Angels. He can keep up with your army, and gives them preferred enemy, along with weakening the enemy. It is a great option to field him, as your troops will perform as godless killing machines that worship the God Emperor. IMO, much better than Abbadon, or any of the Chaos Special Characters for points value and mobility (and his invul save is higher), and definitely better than any Tau HQ. He's even comprable to a Hive Tyrant. I highly promote his usage in your army.

Mesphiton-Even though he does not have a jump pack, the Wings of Sanguinus ability allows him to act as if he had one. As a psyker, he is outstanding- his powers can bolster your forces as well as harm your enemies, and he can perform both in the same turn! He is also a great complement to Lemartes, as the piling together of powers is qui9te gratifying for those of you with the Red Thirst. However, he is too risky for my tastes, as his psychic powers give him a chance to wound. He is probably the safest Plasma Pistol user possible, seeing as he has his Artificer Armor and FNP; however, the amount he costs kills him for use in my army. In addition, he is very vulnerable to instant death from weapons such as railguns, and has no invul save, so with one wound, you may have just lost quite a big chunk of your army. Even if he does survive the barrage of weapons that may cause him instant death, the lack of an invul save puts him in grave danger of Power Weapons.

Lemartes- This man has made me smile greatly. He has all of the benefits of a normal chaplain- bolstering your forces and battering the foe's Ld- He is the perfect complement to Death Company.

Chaplain- Really, if you think of taking this guy, try Lemartes. In order to make him comply with the speed of 8th Company, you'll either have to make him nearly the same points as Lemartes with a Jump Pack, or make him even more expensive with a bike. With the first option, for just five moer points, you will have +1 Wound, +1 Leadership and the Death Mask. That is not too bad a compromise for 5 points- for the first and the last of those options, it would cost a tyranids player 25 Ponts for the same effects. As to the Bike, you do get 1 more toughness, but will it make up for +1 wound and +1 Leadership? And with a bike, you'll either be outran by the Death Company with their Run, or you'll overshoot them with Turbo Boosting. If you think it will work, then go for it.

Librarian- the Blood Angels Librarian is truly awesome in how powerful it is. It is truly fearful to have it in Tactical Dreadnought Armour and use the Wings of Sanguinus power. Its low points cost makes it a much more viable option tha Mesphiton due to cost. However, like Mesphiton, he is vulnerable to instant death and power weapons without an invulnerable save (unless terminator armour is taken).

Company Captain- A great all-around choice. You could make him an anti-infantry slaughtering machine with a pair of lightning claws and a storm bolter or combi-flamer, or have him be a lone tank hunter with a Powerfist or Meltabombs and a combi-melta or plasma pistol. You could make him into whatever you want. If you can't decide on any other HQ unit, take this guy.

Honor Guard- These guys are like Icing: you get a special character, and then you get a ton of super-customizable dudes who can take can be upgraded like nobody's business. They are just like assault veterans, except you can customize them in different ways and these guys take up no FOC slot. I will cover much of the weaponry-specific things in the assault veteran section, preferring to discuss the various "jobs" you can have your Honor Guardsmen take.

-Sanguinary Priest-One of the best upgrades possible. it allows you assurance that you won't be wiped out all at once. One of the best uses for this is to place it near a squad of marines with a plasmagun, or take one in the squad. That way, if it overheats, you can be sure that the gun will keepfiring even if you fail your save. In addition, it is a failsafe against Instant Death for your fancy Characters who have invul saves.With the addition of vehicle cover saves, it could easily save a tank from death.

[Tyndmyr]

Quick correction with regards to Mephiston...you get a normal armor save against plasma overheats, so with artificer armor and FNP, he's actually the safest plasma pistol user in the entire game. His high leadership also makes it relatively unlikely that he'll fail, so you tend to get some crazy output from this guy.

He combos extremely well with lemartes, if you want to take the route of piling all the hateful stuff together, and now that killzones are gone in fifth, he can be amazingly potent at removing an entire unit solo. Another amusing combo is to put another lib, with Might of Heros with him. base attacks + charging + 2d3 = death.

[Ace cipher zer0]

Originally Posted by Tyndmyr

Quick correction with regards to Mephiston...you get a normal armor save against plasma overheats, so with artificer armor and FNP, he's actually the safest plasma pistol user in the entire game. His high leadership also makes it relatively unlikely that he'll fail, so you tend to get some crazy output from this guy.

He combos extremely well with lemartes, if you want to take the route of piling all the hateful stuff together, and now that killzones are gone in fifth, he can be amazingly potent at removing an entire unit solo. Another amusing combo is to put another lib, with Might of Heros with him. base attacks + charging + 2d3 = death.

Yeah, I started this when it was 2AM, sorry. I'll fix that. However, If I were to pair him with Lemartes, he would be going with the Death Company. And that would not be fun for anyone who would feel my wrath.

[Vallessian]

The new Mephiston is simply the best special character of Warhammer40K. If you are a fan of godlike special characters who can annihilate whole platoons, don't let the very high points cost dissuade you from using him. Mephiston always earned his points back when I used him.

And besides, hes still cheaper than a land raider...barely...

[Ace cipher zer0]

Originally Posted by Vall

The new Mephiston is simply the best special character of Warhammer40K. If you are a fan of godlike special characters who can annihilate whole platoons, don't let the very high points cost dissuade you from using him. Mephiston always earned his points back when I used him.

And besides, hes still cheaper than a land raider...barely...

One problem:



INSTANT DEATH!

Against my friends, he would just get ripped to pieces under the fire of about 3 broadsides even before he could get into range. That is a problem.