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Warhammer 40K: Blood Angels Codex Overview

4 Minute Read
Dec 3 2020
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We’re taking a quick tour of the new Blood Angels Codex Supplement – come see what’s inside!

There’s a new Blood Angels Codex Supplement in town and it’s got all the new rules and Blood Angels specific units you’ll need to get your Red-flavored Space Marines out and on the tabletop in 9th edition:

Sons of Sanguinius – 9th Edition

By now, you’ve probably seen Abe’s take on the Blood Angels. In his opinion, they have some strong things, but they lost a lot of stuff and feel a little bland – at least in the rules department. I think he’s got some valid points. But I’d also like to point out that this is also a Codex Supplement. You still need the Space Marine Codex to build the army (unless you want to go full Death Company which is an whole other ball of wax). So, ya, at the end of the day, the Blood Angels are still Space Marines can feel a like a copy of those things, but with a red tint in this case.

I’d even wager to say that if the Blood Angels book had come out before the Space Wolves book, then the Space Wolves book would feel kinda of bland. When you’re only eating Vanilla Ice Cream, it’s hard to catch the differences between say French Vanilla and Homemade Vanilla. Is there a difference? I’m sure! However, if you haven’t had a palette cleanser in between it’s going to be difficult to notice.

But there are differences and the Blood Angels army does things different than a Space Wolves army. You’ve got to work with your strengths and shore-up those weaknesses if you want to win. One of the stronger looking options (at least in terms of volume of attacks) is the new Death Company Intercessors. We’ve covered them already. But they can pump out a ridiculous number of attacks and look like they could be fun to run. Part of that fun will be trying to figure out how to best deliver them into the heart of the enemy – a challenge for sure!

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There aren’t a ton of shocks or surprises in the codex either. Why? Well, all the new Marine stuff came out in the Space Marine Codex already. And if you’re a long time Blood Angels player, you’ve already seen Death Company Primaris Intercessors and Librarian Dreadnoughts. The Characters are tweaked but all basically there, too. At least we got the Assault Intercessor box out at the same time as the codex.

Anyhow, I don’t want to gloss over the number and facts here so here’s some of the important stuff to know:

  • 80 pages
  • Hardback
  • Tons of Lore
  • 18 Datasheets specific to Blood Angels
  • New Crusade Rules
  • Stratagems, Warlord Traits, Psychic Powers, Secondary Objectives, Wargear – all the rules you’d expect!

And you WILL need the Space Marines Codex in combination with this book to really build an army. So pick one of those up, too – if you haven’t already. As a Blood Angels player, am I happy with this Supplement? Overall, I think I will be eventually. It didn’t blow my mind or anything. But that’s also coming off the fact that we’ve had a whole lot of Space Marines and I’m personally just kind of wanting to try a non-Power Armored army out again.

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Codex Supplement: Blood Angels $30

The Blood Angels are the beatific sons of Sanguinius, the Great Angel. Inside this 80-page hardback codex supplement, you’ll find everything you need to unleash the Blood Angels in battle, plus thrilling lore and art to inspire your own collection.

Inside this book, you’ll find:

– The history of the Blood Angels, with a look at how their valiant defence of Terra and loss of their Primarch at the hands of the Arch-traitor Horus forever changed their fate
– A detailed description of Chapter organisation and iconography
– A Blood Angels bestiary with background details for every unit and Character featured
– A showcase of stunningly painted Citadel miniatures
– Rules for units that are only available to the Blood Angels Chapter and their successors – including 18 datasheets
– Stratagems, the Sanguinary psychic discipline, Relics, and optional secondary objectives that define the ways that the Blood Angels wage war
– Bespoke Crusade rules providing new Agendas, Requisitions, Battle Traits, Honorifics, and Crusade Relics that are unique to the Blood Angels
– And more!

You will need a copy of Codex: Space Marines and the Warhammer 40,000 rulebook to use the rules included in this codex supplement.

 

It’s not bad! It’s just not Mind Blowingly Awesome.

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Author: Adam Harrison
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