The Blood Angels embody a tragic frenzy that transforms fury into a devastating weapon — and this is where the true chaos begins. But here's where it gets controversial: embracing their savage, uncontrollable side might just turn them into the deadliest force on the battlefield. Curious? Keep reading to discover how a new Detachment brings this primal rage to life in Warhammer 40K.
As we reach the halfway point of this year's Grotmas Calendar, featuring six exciting new Detachments, today we pause to honor the Blood Angels—those noble Space Marines haunted by the destructive curse of the Black Rage. After paying respects, we unleash these ferocious warriors onto the tabletop, chainswords roaring into action.
If you've ever wanted to strip away the veneer of nobility and let your Blood Angels run wild with their primal instincts, then this is the Detachment for you. It might even cause the more cautious Chaos Space Marines players (remember their recent release?) to rethink their strategies.
Unleashing the Rage: The Power of Frenzy
The twin curses of the Blood Angels—the Red Thirst and the Black Rage—are infamous spiritual afflictions that they hide from their allies out of fear of shame or mistrust. Yet, in moments of dire need, these curses can be transformed into powerful weapons of last resort. But be warned: no Blood Angel makes this decision lightly. To succumb to the Red Thirst means victory might be achieved at the cost of their nobler ideals, while giving in to the Black Rage is often seen as a form of living death—a loss of their mind and soul.
Despite their internal conflicts, enemies on the battlefield find no mercy. Blood Angels charging forward in a fury are practically unstoppable: their armor-clad figures shrug off incoming fire as they close in with terrifying speed. As they hit their targets, blood seems to splatter with each crunch of armor—Sanguinius’ sons tearing apart or mutilating enemies in a frenzy of savage violence. At the core of this assault are the Death Company—fighting with unrelenting fury, driven by rage so intense that they will fight to the death or until their foes are completely annihilated.
This themed Detachment emphasizes the Red Thirst and Black Rage, making it especially attractive to players who command a substantial Death Company force. Units benefit from re-rolling 1’s to wound in combat, and when they charge, they gain +1 attack—doubling to +2 if they’ve been battle-shocked.
The list of Enhancements is diverse and impactful. You can grant a unit scout 6” moves, and it also provides a 6” aura that re-rolls battlefield-shock results (which could be exploited for strategic advantages), along with a 6” aura boosting Strength (+1) for Death Company units. There’s a once-per-game ability for the unit to fight first, as well as the option for Sustained Hits 2 against Characters, Monsters, and Vehicles.
Many of the strategic options come with a risk-reward mechanic: you can choose a more powerful buff at the expense of suffering a battle-shock, or activate abilities like advance-and-shoot or charge—other options include boosting melee damage (+1 Str or +1 AP) or stacking +1 Str and +1 AP by suffering battle-shock. You can also reduce enemy AP, secure objectives when enemies kill your units within range, give units a 5+ Feel No Pain, and even allow Death Company to fight on death.
After analyzing these rules, it’s hard not to notice how the spirit of chaos begins to feel a little… Horus-y. Are we witnessing the beginning of something darker? While we prepare to address that question, be sure to download your own copy of this Detachment and come back tomorrow for yet another new addition to the Grotmas Calendar.
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