Blood Angels HQ help

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**wolvenwitcher**

Hey guys,

I wanted to run something by the community. I just started up a blood angels army, but I don't know who to take for my warlord unit. Should I take a generic captain with some relics, or possibly Mephiston or something of the like? i just came from using a vanilla chapter master with the burning blade, and I wanted something with the similar effect. I'll be running him with sanguinary guard as well. Thanks for the help.

**Spetulhu**

HQ with Sanguinary Guard? Commander Dante, no questions asked.

**Red__Thirst**

Hey Wolvenwitcher, welcome to Blood Angels!

Firstly, how much are you willing to spend on your HQ choice?

That'll lend itself to what kind of HQ you run. If you want to spend the points, you can field Commander Dante as your Lord of War slot, but you still have to run an HQ choice.

You've, realistically, got four options, and each has their own benefits and drawbacks.

First, you've got a Jump Pack Chaplain. He comes with a +2 strength power weapon and a 4+ invulnerable save by default, makes your Sanguinary Guard squad fearless, and also gives the benefit of rerolling all failed to hit rolls in the first round of combat. This is a little superfluous since Sanguinary Guard weapons are all master crafted and reroll one failed to hit roll every round, but more hits is always a good thing. Consider equipping him with The Valor's Edge (power sword) relic in addition to his Crozius Arcanum so you can swap between ST:User, AP:2 attacks or +2 Strength, AP:4 attacks. Makes him more expensive but lets him at least try and hurt 2+ save models. Fighty support HQ choice, but only sporting 2 wounds and having at best a 3+/4++, focused fire/attacks will bring him down.

Second, you've got a Librarian with a jump pack. Arm him however you like (I suggest the Gallian's Staff relic, helps in the psychic phase) and run him with either Sanguinary, Biomancy, or Prescience discipline. A force sword or force axe helps here as well if you don't go with the Relic staff. Another interesting option on this is going with the Veritas Vitae Relic for an extra strategic warlord trait roll. I personally, considering you're rolling with Sanguinary Guard, would consider running Biomancy powers for a shot at the power that gives the librarian and his squad Relentless, and Feel No Pain on a 4+. 2+ armor with a 4+ feel no pain is pretty nice. Upgrade him to mastery level two, trust me. Great general support HQ choice but beware, he doesn't have an invulnerable save with a jump pack unless you roll a psychic power granting one and also cannot have 2+ armor. He's only rocking 2 wounds too so guard him well.

Third, you've got a Jump Pack equipped Captain, which again I would either arm with The Valor's Edge Relic, or go with a standard Relic Blade if your Sanguinary Guard have enough AP:2 axes on them. I'd also give your Captain artificer armor, and a bolt pistol or possibly an inferno or plasma pistol if you want to spend the points. He's the 'most fighty' of the HQ choices you can run. Comes with a 4+ invulnerable save also which is nice, and can have a 2+ armor save, so he's a little more resilient than your Sangunary Guard built with a 2+/4++ save. Overall, the second best option I think, personally. The Crown Angelic also goes well on this model in my opinion.

Fourth, and lastly, you have a Sanguinary High Priest. Put a jump pack on him, give him a Bolt Pistol (Or plasma/melta pistol if you prefer and don't mind spending the points) and Valor's Edge (and Veritas Vitae, if you want to spend the points once again) and you've got the best option for support to the Sanguinary Guard. Bear in mind, he only has a 3+ save, and two wounds once again, but he does grant Feel No Pain to the entire squad (including himself) which is very cool, and also confers a +1 to weapon skill for the Sanguinary Guard as well, which will help them hit more, especially with their master-crafted re-roll they each get. This is another candidate for The Crown Angelic in my opinion, if you want to spend the points and don't feel like Veritas Vitae, though I would personally field him with just a Jump Pack, Bolt Pistol (+1 attacks base for 2x hand to hand weapons), Veritas Vitae, and Valor's Edge. Lets him hurt 2+ save models in melee, gives him an extra attack, and buffs/boosts the Sanguinary Guard nicely as well while being able to keep up with them.

Of those options, I would say Sanguinary High Priest first, then Librarian, then Captain, and then Chaplain in that order.

Choose the one you feel would best suit your force and try it out.

I hope this is helpful and if you have any other questions, feel free to PM me and talk tactics.

Take it easy.

-Red__Thirst-

**ionusx**

Red__Thirst wrote:
Hey Wolvenwitcher, welcome to Blood Angels!

Firstly, how much are you willing to spend on your HQ choice?

That'll lend itself to what kind of HQ you run. If you want to spend the points, you can field Commander Dante as your Lord of War slot, but you still have to run an HQ choice.

You've, realistically, got four options, and each has their own benefits and drawbacks.

First, you've got a Jump Pack Chaplain. He comes with a +2 strength power weapon and a 4+ invulnerable save by default, makes your Sanguinary Guard squad fearless, and also gives the benefit of rerolling all failed to hit rolls in the first round of combat. This is a little superfluous since Sanguinary Guard weapons are all master crafted and reroll one failed to hit roll every round, but more hits is always a good thing. Consider equipping him with The Valor's Edge (power sword) relic in addition to his Crozius Arcanum so you can swap between ST:User, AP:2 attacks or +2 Strength, AP:4 attacks. Makes him more expensive but lets him at least try and hurt 2+ save models. Fighty support HQ choice, but only sporting 2 wounds and having at best a 3+/4++, focused fire/attacks will bring him down.

Second, you've got a Librarian with a jump pack. Arm him however you like (I suggest the Gallian's Staff relic, helps in the psychic phase) and run him with either Sanguinary, Biomancy, or Prescience discipline. A force sword or force axe helps here as well if you don't go with the Relic staff. Another interesting option on this is going with the Veritas Vitae Relic for an extra strategic warlord trait roll. I personally, considering you're rolling with Sanguinary Guard, would consider running Biomancy powers for a shot at the power that gives the librarian and his squad Relentless, and Feel No Pain on a 4+. 2+ armor with a 4+ feel no pain is pretty nice. Upgrade him to mastery level two, trust me. Great general support HQ choice but beware, he doesn't have an invulnerable save with a jump pack unless you roll a psychic power granting one and also cannot have 2+ armor. He's only rocking 2 wounds too so guard him well.

Third, you've got a Jump Pack equipped Captain, which again I would either arm with The Valor's Edge Relic, or go with a standard Relic Blade if your Sanguinary Guard have enough AP:2 axes on them. I'd also give your Captain artificer armor, and a bolt pistol or possibly an inferno or plasma pistol if you want to spend the points. He's the 'most fighty' of the HQ choices you can run. Comes with a 4+ invulnerable save also which is nice, and can have a 2+ armor save, so he's a little more resilient than your Sangunary Guard built with a 2+/4++ save. Overall, the second best option I think, personally. The Crown Angelic also goes well on this model in my opinion.

Fourth, and lastly, you have a Sanguinary High Priest. Put a jump pack on him, give him a Bolt Pistol (Or plasma/melta pistol if you prefer and don't mind spending the points) and Valor's Edge (and Veritas Vitae, if you want to spend the points once again) and you've got the best option for support to the Sanguinary Guard. Bear in mind, he only has a 3+ save, and two wounds once again, but he does grant Feel No Pain to the entire squad (including himself) which is very cool, and also confers a +1 to weapon skill for the Sanguinary Guard as well, which will help them hit more, especially with their master-crafted re-roll they each get. This is another candidate for The Crown Angelic in my opinion, if you want to spend the points and don't feel like Veritas Vitae, though I would personally field him with just a Jump Pack, Bolt Pistol (+1 attacks base for 2x hand to hand weapons), Veritas Vitae, and Valor's Edge. Lets him hurt 2+ save models in melee, gives him an extra attack, and buffs/boosts the Sanguinary Guard nicely as well while being able to keep up with them.

Of those options, I would say Sanguinary High Priest first, then Librarian, then Captain, and then Chaplain in that order.

Choose the one you feel would best suit your force and try it out.

I hope this is helpful and if you have any other questions, feel free to PM me and talk tactics.

Take it easy.

-Red__Thirst-

question, why not ever consider the land raider excelsior? why wouldnt he work well with their death company at all? i mean they get crusader the turn they disembark, and you can hand out shooting buffs left n right

**Red__Thirst**

Well, for starters he asked for an HQ that could attach to his Sanguinary Guard.

The Land Raider Excelsior is a good general HQ choice for Marines and can help the Blood Angels also, but doesn't help for an attached character to a squad at all.

It is something to consider though.

Just offering my reasoning for why I suggested what I did. Take it easy.

-Red__Thirst-

**casvalremdeikun**

Spetulhu wrote:
HQ with Sanguinary Guard? Commander Dante, no questions asked.

Dante isn't an HQ, he is a Lord of War.

For the most part, a Sanguinary Priest with Angel's Wing is pretty good.

**wolvenwitcher**

I think I'll most likely go with the Sanguinary priest with a jump pack. Giving the whole squad feel no pain is pretty awesome.

**Slaphead**

Sanguinary priest with jump pack (and angels wing relic) gets my vote too. The priest is pretty cheap points wise so gives you more spare points to spend on other units.

Plus the Sanguinary priest is fluffy to Blood Angels and makes your force just that bit more unique compared to a lot of other marine forces.

**Martel732**

I think sanguinary guard with no characters at all is the way to go if you are going to use them. Which I wouldn't. Because they are bad.

**wolvenwitcher**

Martel732 wrote:
I think sanguinary guard with no characters at all is the way to go if you are going to use them. Which I wouldn't. Because they are bad.

What would you use instead?

**Martel732**

wolvenwitcher wrote:
Martel732 wrote:
I think sanguinary guard with no characters at all is the way to go if you are going to use them. Which I wouldn't. Because they are bad.

What would you use instead?

DC or vanguards with priests. And I've been doing okay with Archangel sanguine vanguards with free power weapons. By the time you give the SG a babysitter priest, they become incredibly inefficient. There's too much AP 2 in the game for them to be good. You're better off taking the cheaper 3+ units and giving them FNP. You are more durable vs AP 2 and you have more board coverage. Also, don't underestimate the vanguards ability to multi assault effectively. I didn't appreciate it until I started using them. My two units have assaulted and routed five units at once before. Because angry BA with power axes and power mauls are actually quite killy.

**Slaphead**

I see what you're saying about Sanguinary Guard, which is why I don't use them anymore. I guess at least a priest would give them a fnp save to make them a tiny bit more durable.

I can't see any logical reason either for taking them over Death Company apart from having pretty golden armour on the table.

**Martel732**

SG + priest is inefficient compared to just more DC, though. Typically when you bring a priest, you want to affect as many models as possible, like in the case of the two priests in an Archangel Sanguine Wing for the two vanguard squads. Give the vanguards 2-3 storm shields and suddenly they are much more durable than the SG for less points. SG even get rerolls on their to-hit, so they need the WS less as well. They are best run completely alone and you take your chances with AP 2 weapons.

**Talys**

Martel732 wrote:
SG + priest is inefficient compared to just more DC, though. Typically when you bring a priest, you want to affect as many models as possible, like in the case of the two priests in an Archangel Sanguine Wing for the two vanguard squads. Give the vanguards 2-3 storm shields and suddenly they are much more durable than the SG for less points. SG even get rerolls on their to-hit, so they need the WS less as well. They are best run completely alone and you take your chances with AP 2 weapons.

This.

Sadly, it's the reason I almost never field Sanguinary Guard except that I want to see the models on the table. :( There just aren't that many times when I find they earn their higher point cost over DC.

I guess it's a good thing that the whole chapter only has 30 SG

**wolvenwitcher**

I bought a squad of death company, looks like ill be needing some more though. For the time being ill field the sanguinary guard and see how they play out.

**Slayer-Fan123**

You might as well just use a Librarian or Chaplain, and even then the Chaplain is iffy.

For one, Blood Angels Captains are TERRIBLE. Any other SM codex gives you better equivalents when the Blood Angels one does nothing special.
Priests are good, but if you're planning to run a pure force you'll have nothing worth attaching to. Sanguine Guard are too expensive and Death Company already have FNP. There's of course Vanguard, which aren't worth using outside the formation giving them free Power Weapons (which means more commitment of points seeing that the formation has a lot of stuff).
Chaplains are okay, but Death Company are already Fearless and put out enough attacks that Hatred is surprisingly not needed.

That mostly leaves Librarians. However, you have to commit them so that you get enough Warp Charges and rolls on whatever table you want to get the powers you want.

**HoundsofDemos**

The Librarian is the best generalist HQ. Blood Angels can't make anything close to chapter master smash and for that they come up short for it.