STARTING A BLOOD ANGELS ARMY IN 11TH EDITION: FIRST BOXES FOR THE SONS OF SANGUINIUS
The Blood Angels are the chapter of Sanguinius: golden filigree over red armour, and beneath it the Black Rage, the curse that drives some battle-brothers into berserk, death-seeking madness. This page sets out the buying order for a first Blood Angels army.
Three schemes inside one army
Half of every Blood Angels collection starts with the paint scheme. Rich red armour is satisfying to work on, modern base paints and washes make it fast, and gold trim rewards you the moment it goes on. The chapter also hands you two more schemes: the black of the Death Company and the burnished gold of the Sanguinary Guard, so you never get bored at the desk. That duality of angelic beauty and barely-leashed fury runs through the whole range, and it is why the chapter keeps winning painting competitions.
Buy in this order
- A starter box. A Combat Patrol or equivalent, built through a Blood Angels lens. An upgrade sprue of blood drops, wings and chalices turns ordinary Intercessors into sons of Sanguinius.
- Death Company. Black armour, red crosses, and models that hurl themselves across the table. This is the unit that makes the army feel like Blood Angels.
- A jump-pack unit. Assault infantry arriving from above is the chapter's signature move, so lean into it early.
Five golden centrepieces
The Sanguinary Guard are the answer. A squad of golden, winged warriors is five small centrepieces, and finishing them feels like a hobby milestone. If you want a single model instead, Commander Dante, the oldest living Space Marine, is as iconic as characters get.
Tanks can wait
Hold off on tanks and heavy support until the infantry core exists. The chapter's character lives in its assault elements, and a gunline of unpainted armour will not scratch the itch. Do not buy a second Death Company box before the first one is black.
Write each box down as it arrives
Angels keep illuminated manuscripts; you can settle for an accurate collection log. Enter each purchase as it arrives and record its state truthfully: sprue, built, primed or done. A log that says "primed" over a sealed box is no use to you next year, when this list is the army you field.
For the complete roster, see the Blood Angels faction page under Data.