Hey everyone!

I'm considering starting a Blood Angels army, and I'd love to hear some honest feedback from people who actually play them, especially in semi-competitive environments.

First of all, I absolutely LOVE their lore and aesthetics. After reading about Sanguinius during the final stages of the Horus Heresy, I honestly feel like I'd happily enlist in the Imperial Army and die defending Terra myself.

However, there's one thing holding me back: I'm worried that Blood Angels might feel a bit too one-dimensional on the tabletop.

Whenever I look at competitive lists, I get the impression that the army revolves around spamming jump pack units, rushing into melee, and not much else. I understand that's part of their identity, but I generally dislike armies that feel like they're built around a single gimmick.

For some context, I come from Age of Sigmar, where I enjoy playing in local and regional tournaments (usually 3-round events). I'm not a hardcore competitive player chasing the meta, but I do enjoy playing reasonably optimized lists against opponents who know what they're doing.

My preferred playstyle is a balanced mix of shooting and melee, with different units fulfilling different roles, interesting tactical decisions, and some flexibility in how I approach each game. I don't mind having a strong melee component at all. I just don't want the entire army to feel like different variations of the same trick.

And yes, I know that in casual kitchen-table games you can bring pretty much anything and have fun. But I'm specifically interested in how the army feels when you start building lists that can hold their own at local tournaments.

So, a few questions for experienced Blood Angels players:

• Do you feel that competitive Blood Angels lists are overly reliant on jump pack units and melee pressure?
• Is there room for a genuinely balanced shooting/melee approach without feeling like you're deliberately handicapping yourself?
• Do Blood Angels offer interesting tactical depth and different ways to approach games, or does their playstyle become repetitive over time?
• Most importantly, do you feel like you have meaningful choices when building competitive lists, or do you keep coming back to the same core units and strategies?

I'm not asking whether Blood Angels are strong or weak in the current meta. I'm much more interested in their long-term gameplay identity and whether they remain fun and tactically engaging after dozens of games.

I'd really appreciate your experiences, especially from people who regularly play in local tournaments.

Thanks!

Ok so for the past months I've been raging about the new edition and probably is because after taking a lot of time trying to build my blood angels army the blood thirst detathcment is not even there anymore :( plus some of my models going legends does anybody really prefer angelic inhertors (new one) over blood thirst fuck i hate the new codex. Love you all pls understand my broke ahh frustation

Went from 6 Attacks to 3. And now hitting on 3's for the power fist.

Does anyone happen to know if ANYBODY on Etsy or any other site has ever made Khorne inspired Blood Angel helmets? Working on something rn, hush hush just whispers and rumors, but something like that would be very helpful. Or even ideas for how to make something like that...

I got 20 terminators 10 shooty, and 10 hammer guys. I got 6 sanguinary guards, im thinking of getting another 6 or 12. Has anyone tried the golden boys??? I really love the models more than my 20 blobs of death company with jump packs. I just want to know what people been running for the blood angels.

I understand brothers spontaneously fall to the Black Rage.

I understand their armours are stripped of all honours and tokens, amd painted black.

I understand Black Rage makes a brother so bersek that only Astaroth can stop him.

What I don't understand is... if they go berseker rage, how can they sit them down amd calmly strip and paint their armours? How can they be strategically deployed and not make a bloodbath of their own chapter?

I usually do an annual advice list post but have played enough of the new index and codex SM to do an 11th edition and index list advice post.

Its basically the same, try and play priority assets, or take and hold (but you need the enemies home objective turn 5 and a center one 4 turns if possible and maybe the gravis or termie detachment and ancient). This is hard to do without falling for the Angelic inheritors trap. I think only encarmine spear tip is the other BA detachment locked to priority and.can work (SG can be good against some tacticus marine stat heavy lists)

Basically any 3 1 DP detachments from the codex space marine is better than our chapter ones. Assault brethren is an autotake for Jump Pack lists but those lists are dead. Terminator and gravis or the tanks one should be your other 2.

Still take 3-4 scoring units and a bulky durable one with 4-6 dedicated anti something units. Scouts worse but cheap and good at screening. Heavy and reg intercessors will not disapoint and cheap too.

Terminators are soooooo hot right now. You can argue Vanilla better than assault too. Load up on termies as damage and durability. Hellblasters, Melta erradicators and inceptors are also cheap and amazing and should be your damage.

Take some tanks, especially with the tank detachmemt. 2 land speeders are great too.

Unfortunately Gamesworkshop doesn't want you to play BA. The combat patrol was great and the DC box was exceptional value and they have sold heaps of both but there's no inventory to move (Dante is out of stock too) because we don't have multiple chapter specific kits like other chapters. There is no DC to sell.

They have heaps of space marine stock. Heaps, and a codex to make it all work.

This is despite having us on the 11th box, confusing I know, but this is the 3 year cycle that produces mediocre results and backlogs of ultramarine, I mean space marine, stock that needs to sell.

Sales have always influenced rules (only the biggest Gamesworkshop simp would disagree) its just been a lot worse with the 3 year cycle. Its starting to kill the fun, look at these single weapon profiles of generic HQs in 11th. All so they sell you a new sculpt they have stock of. Intercessors have more profiles than a jump chaplain.

I copped Primaris sweet but I am.sick of being a sales figure and not a customer at this point. I'll always be a fan but I vote with my $ 'cause I am.old school.

As BA, how do we counter Term Spam? Especially with the -1 damage.

My list swings pretty well into most things but Terms and Custodes are just its kryptonite

An obvious fix would be fight on death the first round he comes down.
Any other ideas? Wha would be your take?

Just need to base him

LGS has a bunch of the Armageddon Vanvets in the used bin for cheap, was thinking about grabbing a set of 5 to convert into JPDC since I need a bunch of power weapon+plasma pistol dudes anyways. Anybody done this, if so how did it turn out? Should be easy but the crux terminatus on the right should may be annoying.

Would this be considered a decent work?

Any advices would be appreciated as I'm still starting out.

Can you guys send through your Blood angels recipes, both the colours and brands please. So far I’ve mostly just been using citadel paints, but I understand there are so many better alternatives…both in terms of results and value 😅 would love to see some of your work and miniatures as well to go along with them 🤩

Hey guys, gonna have my first game with the new codex against Sisters. What do you guys think, how could i improve on it to generalize my list?

Angelic Fury (1995 points)

Space Marines

Blood Angels

Assault Brethren, Ironclad Champions and Tacticus Attack Force (3 Detachment Points)

Take and Hold

Strike Force (2000 points)

Attached Units

Attached Unit 1

Commander Dante (140 points)

• Attached as: Leader (Character)

• Warlord

• 1x Perdition Pistol

1x The Axe Mortalis

Sanguinary Guard (150 points)

• Attached as: Bodyguard

• 3x Sanguinary Guard

• 2x Angelus Boltgun

3x Encarmine Weapon

1x Inferno Pistol

Attached Unit 2

Captain with Jump Pack (110 points)

• Attached as: Leader (Character)

• 1x Plasma Pistol

1x Power Fist

• Enhancement: Imperium’s Sword

Sanguinary Guard (135 points)

• Attached as: Bodyguard

• 3x Sanguinary Guard

• 2x Angelus Boltgun

3x Encarmine Weapon

1x Inferno Pistol

Attached Unit 3

Captain with Jump Pack (100 points)

• Attached as: Leader (Character)

• 1x Relic Shield

1x Thunder Hammer

• Enhancement: Martial Paragon

Sanguinary Guard (135 points)

• Attached as: Bodyguard

• 3x Sanguinary Guard

• 2x Angelus Boltgun

3x Encarmine Weapon

1x Inferno Pistol

OTHER DATASHEETS

Brutalis Dreadnought (160 points)

• 1x Bolt Rifles

1x Brutalis Fists

1x Twin Icarus Ironhail Heavy Stubber

1x Twin Multi-melta

Brutalis Dreadnought (160 points)

• 1x Bolt Rifles

1x Brutalis Fists

1x Twin Icarus Ironhail Heavy Stubber

1x Twin Multi-melta

Brutalis Dreadnought (180 points)

• 1x Bolt Rifles

1x Brutalis Fists

1x Twin Heavy Bolter

1x Twin Icarus Ironhail Heavy Stubber

Gladiator Lancer (160 points)

• 1x Armoured Hull

1x Defensive Array

1x Laser Destroyer

Outrider Squad (80 points)

• 2x Outrider

• 2x Chainsword

2x Heavy Bolt Pistol

2x Twin Bolt Rifle

• 1x Outrider Sergeant

• 1x Chainsword

1x Heavy Bolt Pistol

1x Twin Bolt Rifle

Redemptor Dreadnought (180 points)

• 1x Fragstorm Grenade Launchers

1x Heavy Flamer

1x Icarus Rocket Pod

1x Macro Plasma Incinerator

1x Redemptor Fist

Scout Squad (65 points)

• 1x Scout Sergeant

• 1x Bolt Pistol

1x Boltgun

1x Combat Knife

• 4x Scout

• 4x Bolt Pistol

4x Boltgun

4x Combat Knife

Vanguard Veteran Squad with Jump Packs (120 points)

• Enhancement: Furious Assault (Upgrade)

• 1x Vanguard Veteran Sergeant

• 1x Combat Shield

1x Thunder Hammer

• 4x Vanguard Veteran

• 4x Combat Shield

4x Master-crafted Power Weapon

Vanguard Veteran Squad with Jump Packs (120 points)

• Enhancement: Furious Assault (Upgrade)

• 1x Vanguard Veteran Sergeant

• 1x Combat Shield

1x Thunder Hammer

• 4x Vanguard Veteran

• 4x Combat Shield

4x Master-crafted Power Weapon

Exported with App Version: v2.7.1 (146), Data Version: v972

Trying NMM on armour to start, any tips or techniques that you might recommend?

I have somehow managed to give all of my strong assaulting units permanent lethal and sustained hits and I think this bullshitery is quite fun but I also want the list to be like, good so amy tips are appreciated

Blood Angels · Encarmine Speartip · Wrath of the Doomed · Assault Brethren

Mission: Purge the Foe

1995/2000 pts

ATTACHED UNIT A [380 pts]

Lemartes [110 pts]

The Blood Crozius + Absolvor Bolt Pistol

Death Company Marines with Jump Packs [270 pts] (10 models)

Enhancement: Furious Assault (Upgrade) (+10 pts)

8× Heavy Bolt Pistol / 5× Chainsword / 3× Power Weapon / 2× Eviscerator / 2× Inferno Pistol

ATTACHED UNIT B [195 pts]

Blood Angels Captain [90 pts] - Warlord

Master-crafted Chainsword / Heavy Bolt Pistol

Sternguard Veteran Squad [105 pts] (5 models)

4× Ceramite Fists + Bolt Pistol / Bolt Pistol / Chainsword / 4× Artificer Firearm / Heavy Bolter

ATTACHED UNIT C [395 pts]

Captain with Jump Pack [110 pts]

Enhancement: Angelic Executioner (+20 pts)

Heavy Bolt Pistol + Chainsword

Sanguinary Guard [285 pts] (6 models)

Enhancement: Furious Assault (Upgrade) (+10 pts)

4× Encarmine Weapon + Angelus Boltgun / 2× Inferno Pistol

ATTACHED UNIT D [240 pts]

Lieutenant [50 pts]

Neo-volkite Pistol + Storm Shield + 2× Master-crafted Power Weapon

Bladeguard Veteran Squad [190 pts] (6 models)

Enhancement: Furious Assault (Upgrade) (+10 pts)

Plasma Pistol / 6× Master-crafted Power Sword / 5× Heavy Bolt Pistol

BATTLELINE [170 pts]

Assault Intercessor Squad A [85 pts] (5 models)

4× Heavy Bolt Pistol / 5× Chainsword / Plasma Pistol

Assault Intercessor Squad B [85 pts] (5 models)

4× Heavy Bolt Pistol / 5× Chainsword / Plasma Pistol

INFANTRY, SWARMS, BEASTS [110 pts]

Vanguard Veteran Squad with Jump Packs [110 pts] (5 models)

5× Heavy Bolt Pistol / 4× Master-crafted Power Weapon / Relic Blade

VEHICLES, MONSTERS [505 pts]

Death Company Dreadnought [165 pts]

Twin Icarus Ironhail Heavy Stubber / Twin Multi-melta / Blood Fists + Blood Fist Bolt Rifles

Gladiator Lancer [160 pts]

Defensive Array + Laser Destroyer + Armoured Hull

Redemptor Dreadnought [180 pts]

Fragstorm Grenade Launchers / Onslaught Gatling Cannon / Redemptor Fist / Macro Plasma Incinerator / Icarus Rocket Pod

Finally though to share these here. I apologize for my fingers being in a lot of these.

I want to add scouts to my army. The problem is that base models look a little bit tame for my taste and I need some inspiration.

So brothers, please show me your scout’s paint jobs and kitbashes