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★ Archangels

The Archangels are the Blood Angels 1st Company, and comprise its greatest warriors, armed with the most potent wargear. Rarely do they gather in numbers larger than a handful of battle-brothers, though this is often enough to make a difference. Even a single squad of 1st Company Veterans is worth many times their number of lesser warriors, and they are more than able to turn the tide of battle by themselves.

How This Supplement Works

This page describes new Detachments and Formations fielded by the Blood Angels. You can add them to an existing army, or use them to field a bespoke army of Archangels or the Blooded. Units chosen from the Archangels Detachment and Formations can also make use of the Relics and Warlord Traits listed below.

Books


BookKindEditionVersionLast update
► Shield of Baal: ExterminatusCampaign71.1January 2017

FAQ

Shield of Baal: Exterminatus

 Q: The rules for both the Conclave of the Burning One and the God Shackle name a ‘C’tan Shard’. What C’tan can be used?
 A
Use the rules for a Transcendent C’tan.
 Q: Can a model be given a relic from the Mephrit Dynasty and an Artefact of the Aeons?
 A
No. A model may only be equipped with a single relic (or equivalent) of any kind.

Archangels Special Rules

The following section describes new Detachments and Formations fielded by the Blood Angels. You can add them to an existing army, or use them to field a bespoke army of Archangels or the Blooded. Units chosen from the Archangels Detachment and Formations can also make use of the Relics and Warlord Traits listed below.

Special Rules


Giant Killer

Any To Wound rolls of a 6 have the Instant Death special rule against any model with the Monstrous Creature type.

Warlord Traits

When generating its Warlord Traits, a Warlord chosen from an Archangels Formation or Detachment may choose to roll on the table below instead of those found in Warhammer 40,000: The Rules or Codex: Blood Angels.

D6Warlord Traits
1Grim Determination
This Warlord has triumphed against the very worst foes that the galaxy has to offer.
Your Warlord has the Fearless special rule. 
2Aggressive Defence
This Warlord prefers to execute defensive operations on the front foot.
Your Warlord and any unit he is part of have the Counter-attack special rule. 
3Blood Champion
Fighting to uphold the honour of the Chapter is what inspires this Warlord to acts of valour and greatness.
Your Warlord re-rolls all failed To Hit rolls in a challenge
4Master of the Field
This Warlord is highly attuned to the ebb and flow of battle, able to identify locations of strategic importance swiftly and secure them from the enemy.
Your Warlord and any unit he is part of have the Objective Secured special rule. A unit with this special rule controls objectives even if an enemy scoring unit is within range of the objective marker, unless the enemy unit also has the Objective Secured special rule. 
5Lord of Baal
This Warlord is amongst the most senior commanders of the Blood Angels, and commands great loyalty and respect from the Sons of Sanguinius.
You can choose to re-roll failed Morale checks and Pinning tests for your Warlord and all friendly units with the Blood Angels Faction that are within 12" of him. 
6Angel of Death
This Warlord is a true master of the killing art, and no foe can stay his wrath.
Your Warlord has the Preferred Enemy special rule. 

Detachments


Archangels Strike Force


RESTRICTIONS
Only units with the Blood Angels Faction, chosen from the following list (plus any Dedicated Transports that they are allowed to take), may be selected as part of this Detachment:
Captain1 (or Captain Karlaen)
Chaplain1
Librarian1
Sternguard Veteran Squad2
Terminator Squad2
Terminator Assault Squad2
Vanguard Veteran Squad2
Furioso Dreadnought3
1 Must be equipped with Terminator armour.
2 You may not include more than 10 of these units, in any combination.
3 You may not include more than 6 of these units.

COMMAND BENEFITS
Lord of the Host: If this Detachment is chosen as your Primary Detachment, you can re-roll the result when rolling on the Archangels Warlord Traits table.

Storm of Angels: You can re-roll failed Reserve Rolls for units in this Detachment with the Deep Strike special rule. In addition, units in this Detachment arriving from Deep Strike Reserve scatter D6" less (normally D6" rather than 2D6").

Formations


Archangels Demi-company

FORMATION
 • 1 Captain (or Captain Karlaen) or 1 Chaplain
 • 2 Furioso Dreadnoughts
 • 5 squads chosen in any combination from the following list:
  - Terminator Squad
  - Terminator Assault Squad
  - Sternguard Veteran Squad
  - Vanguard Veteran Squad
RESTRICTIONS
The Formation’s Captain or Chaplain must be equipped with Terminator armour.
SPECIAL RULES
 • Stubborn

Lord of the Host: If this Formation is chosen as your Primary Detachment, you can re-roll the result when rolling on the Archangels Warlord Traits table.

Storm of Angels: You can re-roll failed Reserve Rolls for units in this Formation with the Deep Strike special rule. In addition, units in this Formation arriving from Deep Strike Reserve scatter D6" less (normally D6" rather than 2D6").

Archangels Orbital Intervention Force

FORMATION
 • 3 Terminator Squads or Terminator Assault Squads (in any combination)
RESTRICTIONS
None.
SPECIAL RULES
Swift Deployment: All unit in this Formation must be held back in Deep Strike Reserve. When making Reserve Rolls, make a single roll for the entire Formation. On a successful Reserves Roll, all of the units in this Formation arrive from Deep Strike Reserve. Units in this Formation can Run and then shoot on the turn they arrive by Deep Strike.

Archangels Sanguine Wing

RESTRICTIONS
All units of Vanguard Veterans and Sternguard Veterans must include 10 models. Vanguard Veterans must be equipped with jump packs.
SPECIAL RULES
1st Company Armoury: Vanguard Veteran Squads from this Formation can take a single power weapon or lightning claw per model as a free upgrade. Sternguard Veteran Squads from this Formation can take a single storm bolter or combi-weapon per model as a free upgrade.

Surgical Strike Force: This Formation’s unit of Sternguard Veterans begins the game embarked upon the Formation’s Stormraven Gunship. The Formation’s Vanguard Veterans must be placed in Deep Strike Reserve. When making Reserve Rolls, make a single roll for the entire Formation, which you can choose to re-roll. On a successful Reserves Roll, all of the units in this Formation arrive from Reserve.

The Archangels

FORMATION
 • 1 Captain (or Captain Karlaen)
 • 1 Chaplain
 • 4 Furioso Dreadnoughts
 • 10 squads chosen in any combination from the following list:
  - Terminator Squad
  - Terminator Assault Squad
  - Sternguard Veteran Squad
  - Vanguard Veteran Squad
RESTRICTIONS
None.
SPECIAL RULES
 • Stubborn

Elite Strike Force: You make Reserve rolls for units from this Formation from your first turn.

Lord of the Host: If this Formation is chosen as your Primary Detachment, you can re-roll the result when rolling on the Archangels Warlord Traits table.

Storm of Angels: You can re-roll failed Reserve Rolls for units in this Formation with the Deep Strike special rule. In addition, units in this Formation arriving from Deep Strike Reserve scatter D6" less (normally D6" rather than 2D6").

Blooded Demi-company

FORMATION
 • 1 Captain or Chaplain
 • 1 Command Squad (only if Captain is taken)
 • 3 Tactical Squads
 • 1 Assault Squad
 • 1 Devastator Squad
 • 1 Dreadnought
 • 1 Furioso Dreadnought (only if Chaplain is taken)
RESTRICTIONS
None.
SPECIAL RULES
The Angel’s Virtue: If this Formation is chosen as your Primary Detachment, you can re-roll the result when rolling on the Warlord Traits table in Codex: Blood Angels.

The Red Thirst: In a turn in which a model from this Formation charges into combat, the model adds 1 to its Initiative characteristic until the end of the Assault phase. A model that has made a disordered charge that turn receives no benefit from the The Red Thirst.

Strike Force Mortalis

RESTRICTIONS
None.
SPECIAL RULES
 • Crusader

Fury of the Forlorn: At the start of any Fight sub-phase, Death Company models from this Formation that do not have the Rampage special rule gain +1 Attacks if the combat they are in contains more enemy models than friendly models. This bonus lasts until the end of the phase. For the purposes of determining whether or not this special rule is activated, count all models locked in the combat, not just those that are engaged. A model that has made a disordered charge that turn receives no benefit from this rule.

Dante’s Avenging Host

RESTRICTIONS
The Blooded Demi-company must include the Chaplain, but must otherwise adhere to all of the restrictions detailed in its corresponding Formation datasheet. All units not equipped with jump packs or beginning the game embarked upon the Formation’s Stormraven Gunships must begin the game embarked in Drop Pods, purchased at the normal points cost.
The Blooded Demi-company retains all of the special rules specified in its corresponding Formation datasheet. In addition, the following special rules apply to all units in this Formation:

SPECIAL RULES
Objective Secured: All non-vehicle units in this Formation have the Objective Secured special rule. A unit with this special rule controls objectives even if an enemy scoring unit is within range of the objective marker, unless the enemy unit also has this special rule.

Storm of Angels: You can re-roll failed Reserve Rolls for units in this Formation with the Deep Strike special rule. In addition, units in this Formation arriving from Deep Strike Reserve scatter D6" less (normally D6" rather than 2D6").

Relics of the Archangels

Units chosen from the Archangels Detachment and Formations can also make use of the Relics listed below.

Archangel’s Edge 5 pts
The Executioner’s Hood 5 pts
Banner of the Archangel Host 30 pts

Archangel’s Edge

As a paragon of the 1st Company, Brother-sergeant Ottavos was given the power sword Archangel’s Edge by Dante to wield in the battles to come on Asphodex. An honoured Sergeant has always carried Archangel’s Edge as a reward for deeds above and beyond the heroism expected of all Blood Angels. During the Blood Angels’ assault upon the Fabricae District Ottavos would use the blade to great effect, its overcharged power field allowing him to slay even the largest Tyranid monsters with a single well placed blow.
One Terminator Sergeant may take Archangel’s Edge, which replaces his power sword.

Range S AP Type
- User 3 Melee, Giant Killer

Giant Killer: Any To Wound rolls of a 6 have the Instant Death special rule against any model with the Monstrous Creature type.

Banner of the Archangel Host

The Blood Angels 1st Company has a long and glorious history, covering thousands of years and countless battlefields across the Imperium, and commemorated on their banners and standards. The Banner of the Archangel Host records the earliest deeds of the Company, when they were chosen as the veterans of the Blood Angels during the Second Founding and bestowed with their honorific, ‘the Archangels’. All within the company that look upon the banner know it is a profound honour to fight in its shadow, while foes that face it can have no doubt that it is the very best of the Chapter they face.
One Terminator Assault Squad may carry this banner instead of a company standard. Friendly units with the Blood Angels Faction within 12” of the bearer of the Banner of the Archangel Host re-roll failed Morale checks and Pinning tests. In addition, all friendly models with the Blood Angels Faction in the same unit as this banner have the Preferred Enemy special rule.

The Executioner’s Hood

After Mephiston was laid low by the Mind-Death, the Librarians of the Conclave of Blood crafted a defence should they face the beasts again. Using the psychically charged fluids from the Maleceptor slain by Commander Dante, the Blood Angels Librarians created a psychic hood keyed to the resonance of the creatures that channelled the will of the Hive Mind. Though it proved no more effective than a normal psychic hood at thwarting the psychic powers of the Hive Mind, it did almost completely block out the Shadow in the Warp.
Librarian only. The bearer of the Executioner’s Hood is unaffected by the Shadow in the Warp special rule.