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So ive been somewhat away from the game for a while and im trying to wrap my head around Detachments and Formations i'm trying to use army builder to build up a battle forged army and when I try to use a formation i get an error stating that it MUST be part of a detachment.

Which is confusing me, as i thought formations are separate detachments in their own right. No?

So my question is, how exactly do we use formations? Do they need to be added to a Primary Detachment?

I'm trying to build a Blood Angels list. 3,000 pts consisting of the Baal Strike Force + Archangels Orbital intervention Force. Just not sure why i get the 'must be in a detachment' error that only goes away if i added it to the Baal Strike Force, which begs the question, does the Archangels Orbital Intervention Force gain any additional benefits to their rules by being included in the Baal Strike Force?

3000 Pts - Codex: Blood Angels Roster - Baal Strike Force - Captain - 3000

Detachment: Baal Strike Force (93#, 2995 pts)
. . 1 Terminator Captain, 145 pts (Storm Bolter; Power Fist; The Veritas Vitae; Warlord)

. . 1 Captain, 130 pts (Chainsword; Artificer Armour; Valour's Edge)

. . 1 Death Company Squad, 245 pts (Jump Packs)
. . . . 9 Death Company Marines (Jump Pack)
. . . . 1 Death Company Marine (Jump Pack; Power Sword x1)

. . 1 Dreadnought, 120 pts (Smoke Launchers; Twin-Linked Autocannon; Twin-Linked Autocannon)
. . 1 Dreadnought, 120 pts (Smoke Launchers; Twin-Linked Autocannon; Twin-Linked Autocannon)
. . 1 Dreadnought, 120 pts (Smoke Launchers; Twin-Linked Autocannon; Twin-Linked Autocannon)

. . 4 Scout Squad, 60 pts (Sniper Rifle x4)
. . . . 1 Sergeant (Boltgun; Sniper Rifle)

. . 9 Tactical Squad, 205 pts (Flamer; Multi-melta)
. . . . 1 Sergeant (Bolt Pistol; Chainsword x1)
. . . . 1 Rhino (Dozer Blade)
. . 9 Tactical Squad, 205 pts (Flamer; Multi-melta)
. . . . 1 Sergeant (Bolt Pistol; Chainsword x1)
. . . . 1 Rhino (Dozer Blade)

. . 4 Assault Squad, 105 pts (Meltagun x2)
. . . . 1 Sergeant (Bolt Pistol; Chainsword)
. . 4 Assault Squad, 105 pts (Meltagun x2)
. . . . 1 Sergeant (Bolt Pistol; Chainsword)
. . 4 Assault Squad, 105 pts (Meltagun x2)
. . . . 1 Sergeant (Bolt Pistol; Chainsword)

. . 4 Devastator Squad, 150 pts (Lascannon x4)
. . . . 1 Sergeant (Bolt Pistol; Boltgun)
. . 4 Devastator Squad, 130 pts (Missile Launcher x4)
. . . . 1 Sergeant (Bolt Pistol; Boltgun)
. . 4 Devastator Squad, 130 pts (Missile Launcher x4)
. . . . 1 Sergeant (Bolt Pistol; Boltgun)

. . 1 Archangels Orbital intervention Force, 925 pts
. . . . 4 Terminator Squad (Chainfist x1; Cyclone Missile Launcher x1)
. . . . . . 1 Terminator Sergeant

. . . . 9 Terminator Squad (Chainfist x2; Cyclone Missile Launcher x2)
. . . . . . 1 Terminator Sergeant (Archangels Edge)

. . . . 4 Terminator Squad (Chainfist x1; Cyclone Missile Launcher x1)
. . . . . . 1 Terminator Sergeant

Composition Report:
HQ: 2 (- - -)
Elite: 7 (- - -)
Troops: 3 (- - -)
Fast: 3 (- - -)
Heavy: 3 (- - -)
Low: 0 (0 - 1)
Fort: 0 (0 - 1)

Total Roster Cost: 3000

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Formations exist by themselves. They are a type of detachment. Your primary detachment is simply any detachment where your warlord was chocpsen.

That's about it really.

Then it's an army builder error i see. Thanks