Fan favorite Blood Angels are back, and are jockeying for position atop the 40k dog-pile.
The newest codex is here for 40k and while some things have changed, both good and bad depending who you ask, overall it appears the book has fallen in line with the current 7th Edition rules styling.
It isn’t very surprising that the book clocks in at around 110 pages, once again with full bleed galleries of each model in the unit entry, with a smaller 10 page appendix in the back containing all the special rules for the army.
This format is pretty much the 7th Edition standard that started I think with the Orks codex earlier in the year.
The new Blood Angels Codex features a detachment called the Baal Strike Force, as well as an alternate Formation called simply the Blood Angels Battle Company that confers Objective Secured to all troops in the list.
There are also two new units now in the Lords of War slot; Dante and Gabriel Seth, who both figure to have pivotal parts in the conclusion of the Shield of Baal Campaign I’m sure.
Leadership wise the HQ slot seems to be pretty crowded this time around, as it may have been almost necessary for Dante and Seth to make the move to the LoW slot.
Curiously it seems that the Command Squad has become a bit of a hybrid entry that fills the old role of Honor Guard and retinue BUT takes up an Elite slot. Seems like this may figure into a lot of future builds for the Blood Angels I’m sure.
Assault Squads that were once the backbone of many versions of the Blood Angels for the last few editions, are no longer troop units in this edition. However they still retain their ability to discount transport options, and of course score as normal (they are just not naturally objective secured).
Overall the relics, warlord traits, and psychic powers seem to be pretty well rounded with a few tweeks to returning powers, as well as some new abilities and items that help to keep the old flavor of the army intact.
Checkout the new codex first hand, in my latest video review below.
So what can you make with the new army list? -MBG
About the Author: Rob Baer
Rob Baer
Job Title: Managing Editor
Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
Socials: Rob Baer on Facebook and @catdaddymbg on X
About Rob Baer: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor of Spikey Bits, the leading tabletop gaming news website focused on the hobby side of wargaming and miniatures. Rob has won many Warhammer 40k Tournaments over the years, including the Adepticon Team Tournament and American Team Tournaments, and is on a first-name basis with almost every major company in the space.
He’s all gaming all the time. With over 30 years of experience in retail and distribution, Rob knows all the products and exactly which ones are the best. He advocates for gaming stores and manufacturers in these difficult times, always looking for the next big thing to feature for the miniatures hobby, helping everyone to provide the value consumers want.
While he’s played every edition of Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy (since 5th Edition) and has been hobbying on miniatures since the 1908s, Titans of all sizes will always be his favorite! It’s even rumored that his hobby vault rivals the Solemnance Galleries, containing rulebooks filled with lore from editions long past, ancient packs of black-bordered Magic Cards, and models made of both pewter and resin.
