In this ongoing series we present an accessible and thematic starting list for each of the 18 Space Marine Legions. Each list utilizes the Age of Darkness starter set as a foundation from which to build a 2,000 point list using as few additional components as possible from readily available official plastic kits.

To build this force yourself you’ll need:

1 Age of Darkness Starter Set
1 Deimos Pattern Rhino
1 Legion MkVI Tactical Squad
1 Heavy Weapons Upgrade Set – Volkite Culverins, Lascannons, and Autocannons

In this, the latest instalment of our Starter Series, we take a look at the very first space marine legion, the Dark Angels. These guys are so secretive that they went and did a whole heresy to themselves without anyone even noticing! Why are they like this?

The contents of the Age of Darkness set are fantastic but not often useful for building lists using the legion-specific rites of war. But pleasantly enough, you can use these models to build a reasonably thematic Dark Angels list using their Storm of War rite! The big blocks of bolt gun infantry are perfectly suited for the Storm Wing benefit, and that +1 to hit goes a long way with massed bolter fire. The Rite of War then lets you add a centurion to these squads, and the sword wielding character from the set makes a great choice. With one squad lead by a centurion to support your terminators in close combat and a second squad to stay in the rear and protect objectives or otherwise lay down covering fire you’ve got a versatile little list. Your terminators can be accompanied by your leader (though you might consider having him with your other tactical squad to provide a second surprisingly heavy hitting unit) and stick them in the spartan. The Contemptor dreadnought adds heavy hitting support with a gravis lascannon for enemy vehicles and a power claw to wreck whatever you need. From here, outside the box you’ll add a 5-man Heavy Support Squad armed with lascannons and stuck in a rhino to get them wherever they need to go. They’ll be great for softening up enemy terminators, dreadnoughts and armor in general. They’re likely to draw some fire early in the game so consider deploying them in a rhino unless you’re sure you’re gonna get them through at least 1 turn of enemy fire before they heroically perish.

From here you could easily grow bigger Storm of War army buy adding more blocks of infantry accompanied by centurions. Remember, the centurions gained from the Storm of War don’t count as Elites or HQs so you can pepper them liberally across your army. This is a great way to play Dark Angels if you like lots of infantry and lots of tough officers.

++ Crusade Force Organisation Chart (LA – I: Dark Angels) [1,998Pts] ++

Allegiance: Loyalist

I: Dark Angels

Rite of War: The Storm Of War (DA)

+ HQ: [145Pts] +

Praetor [145Pts]: Marshal of the Crown, Stormwing, Warlord
. Legion Praetor [145Pts]: Artificer Armour, Frag Grenades, Iron Halo, Krak Grenades, Master of the Legion
. . Archaeotech Pistol [15Pts]
. . Charnabal Weapon [10Pts]: Charnabal Tabar

+ Elites: [995Pts] +

Contemptor Dreadnought Talon [205Pts]: Ironwing
. Contemptor Dreadnought [205Pts]: Atomantic Deflector, Combi-Bolter, Gravis Lascannon [20Pts], Gravis Power Fist with in-built ranged weapon, Havoc Launcher [10Pts]

Terminator Cataphractii Squad [790Pts]: Cataphractii Terminator Armour, Deathwing
. Cataphractii [30Pts]: Combi-Bolter
. . Power Weapon: Power Sword
. Cataphractii [40Pts]: Combi-Bolter, Power Fist [10Pts]
. Cataphractii [45Pts]: Chainfist [15Pts], Combi-Bolter
. Cataphractii [40Pts]: Combi-Bolter, Power Fist [10Pts]
. Cataphractii [45Pts]: Chainfist [15Pts], Combi-Bolter
. Cataphractii Sergeant [5Pts]: Combi-Bolter, Grenade Harness [5Pts]
. . Power Weapon: Power Sword
. Cataphractii w/Heavy Weapon (1 in 5) [50Pts]: Chainfist [15Pts], Heavy Flamer [5Pts]
. Cataphractii w/Heavy Weapon (1 in 5) [45Pts]: Heavy Flamer [5Pts], Power Fist [10Pts]
. 2x Cataphractii w/Lightning Claws [80Pts]: 2x Pair of Lightning Claws
. Land Raider Spartan [355Pts]: Ironwing
. . Land Raider Spartan [355Pts]: 2x Lascannon Array, Hull (Front) Mounted Twin-linked Heavy Bolter, Legiones Astartes (X), Searchlights [5Pts], Smoke Launchers

+ Troops: [663Pts] +

Tactical Squad [375Pts]: Frag Grenades, Krak Grenades, Power Armour, Stormwing
. Centurion (Storm of War) [87Pts]: Stormwing
. . Legion Centurion [87Pts]: Artificer Armour, Bolt Pistol, Frag Grenades, Krak Grenades, Refractor Field, Terranic Greatsword [25Pts], Volkite Charger [2Pts]
. Legion Tactical Sergeant [20Pts]: Bolter, Plasma Pistol [10Pts], Power Armour
. . Power Weapon [10Pts]: Power Sword
. 16x Legionaries (collective) [192Pts]: 16x Bolt Pistol, 16x Bolter, 16x Chain Bayonet [32Pts]
. Legionary w/ Options: [22Pts]: Augury Scanner [10Pts], Bolt Pistol, Bolter, Chain Bayonet [2Pts]
. Legionary w/ Options: [22Pts]: Bolt Pistol, Bolter, Chain Bayonet [2Pts], Legion Vexilla [10Pts]
. Legionary w/ Options: [22Pts]: Bolt Pistol, Bolter, Chain Bayonet [2Pts], Nuncio-Vox [10Pts]

Tactical Squad [288Pts]: Frag Grenades, Krak Grenades, Power Armour, Stormwing
. Legion Tactical Sergeant [20Pts]: Bolter, Plasma Pistol [10Pts], Power Armour
. . Power Weapon [10Pts]: Power Sword
. 16x Legionaries (collective) [192Pts]: 16x Bolt Pistol, 16x Bolter, 16x Chain Bayonet [32Pts]
. Legionary w/ Options: [22Pts]: Augury Scanner [10Pts], Bolt Pistol, Bolter, Chain Bayonet [2Pts]
. Legionary w/ Options: [22Pts]: Bolt Pistol, Bolter, Chain Bayonet [2Pts], Legion Vexilla [10Pts]
. Legionary w/ Options: [22Pts]: Bolt Pistol, Bolter, Chain Bayonet [2Pts], Nuncio-Vox [10Pts]

+ Heavy Support: [195Pts] +

Heavy Support Squad [195Pts]: Frag Grenades, Ironwing, Krak Grenades, Lascannon [50Pts], Power Armour
. Legion Support Sergeant: Bolt Pistol, Power Armour
. 3x Legionaries (collective) [45Pts]: 3x Bolt Pistol
. Legionary w/ Options [25Pts]: Augury Scanner [10Pts], Bolt Pistol
. Rhino Transport [35Pts]: Smoke Launchers, Twin-linked Bolter

++ Total: [1,998Pts] ++

In our next starter series installment we’ll tackle the Loyalist poster boys of this edition, the Imperial Fists!