Age of Darkness Starter Series Pt 10: Blood Angels

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

Blood Angels are one of the most iconic armies in Warhammer 40,000 and their Horus Heresy ancestors worthy antecedents. If you’re choosing the IX Legion it’s probably because you love the idea of savage warriors who are also artisans with a penchant for Renaissance era aesthetics. Also, you want to paint a lot of red.

Boy are you in luck, because the Age of Darkness starter can build a pretty good Blood Angels army without additional purchases! While you can readily build a starting Blood Angels force using the Pride of the Legion rite of rar, this set of figures provides a good entry point to one of the more esoteric builds out there. The Blood Angels have two special RoWs, and Day of Sorrows is meant to model how the IX fights in desperate, last stand circumstances. The RoW really shines with the use of Crimson Paladin units, but even without the, you’re getting some nice bonuses at the starter, 2,000 point level. All of your infantry gain Stubborn while within 6″ of an objective and when reduced to 50% or less of their starting number of models further gain Heart of the Legion and (Hatred: Everything) making your terminator squad particularly devastating and difficult to finish off.

Your Praetor is going to be a beast in close combat thanks to his Encarmine Paladin warlord trait, and Axe of Perdition, capable of routing all but the toughest of squads. He’d do well attached to your terminator unit, while your centurion champion will shore up one of your tactical squads and make them a real terror against other lightly armored infantry.

Naturally, your next steps with this army as you build to a full 3,000 point list should probably be a unit or two of Crimson Paladins since you can take them as non-compulsory troops who gain Line(!) but the list here is a great starting point for your meat and potatoes units.

++ 1. Crusade Force Organisation Chart (LA – IX: Blood Angels) [1,996Pts] ++

Allegiance: Loyalist

IX: Blood Angels

+ Rite of War: +

Rite of War: The Day Of Sorrows (BA)

+ HQ: [290Pts] +

Centurion [130Pts]
. Champion [95Pts]: Artificer Armour, Frag Grenades, Krak Grenades, Meltabombs [10Pts], Refractor Field
. . Inferno Pistol [10Pts]
. . Power Weapon [15Pts]: Power Sword
. Champion [35Pts]: Paragon Blade

Praetor [160Pts]: Encarmine Paladin, Warlord
. Legion Praetor [160Pts]: Artificer Armour, Frag Grenades, Iron Halo, Krak Grenades, Master of the Legion, Master-craft one weapon [10Pts]
. . Inferno Pistol [10Pts]
. . Power Weapon [20Pts]
. . . Perdition Weapon [5Pts]: Axe Of Perdition

+ Elites: [1,100Pts] +

Contemptor Dreadnought Talon [220Pts]
. Contemptor Dreadnought [220Pts]: Atomantic Deflector, Gravis Lascannon [20Pts], Gravis Power Fist with in-built ranged weapon, Havoc Launcher [10Pts], Meltagun [15Pts]

Terminator Cataphractii Squad [880Pts]: Cataphractii Terminator Armour
. Cataphractii [45Pts]: Chainfist [15Pts], Combi-Bolter
. Cataphractii [40Pts]: Combi-Bolter, Power Fist [10Pts]
. Cataphractii [30Pts]: Combi-Bolter
. . Power Weapon: Power Sword
. Cataphractii [30Pts]: Combi-Bolter
. . Power Weapon: Power Sword
. Cataphractii Sergeant w/TLC [15Pts]: Grenade Harness [5Pts], Pair of Lightning Claws [10Pts]
. 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]
. 3x Cataphractii w/Lightning Claws [120Pts]: 3x Pair of Lightning Claws
. Land Raider Spartan [450Pts]
. . Land Raider Spartan [450Pts]: 2x Lascannon Array, Flare Shield [50Pts], Hull (Front) Mounted Twin-linked Lascannon [25Pts], Legiones Astartes (X), Multi-Melta [20Pts], Searchlights [5Pts], Smoke Launchers

+ Troops: [606Pts] +

Tactical Squad [303Pts]: Frag Grenades, Krak Grenades, Power Armour
. Legion Tactical Sergeant [35Pts]: Bolter, Inferno Pistol [10Pts], Meltabombs [10Pts], Power Armour, Power Fist [15Pts]
. 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]

++ Total: [1,996Pts] ++