XBA: SM Heroes and Suppressors

[Xenith]

Over a month with no update!

 

Despite being generally down on 10th ed, I flip flopped and over the weekend managed to snag a battleforce/DC box from an online trade group. This is mainly for the codex, cards, dread and characters, I have enough assault intercessors from Indomitus, and I'll be using Mk6 assault as assault intercessors, so I might try to offload them. Really it's all about the new lemartes model. 

I guess I'd also like to try and get the Leviathan minis painted before next edition, however I want the terms to be heresy compatible, so have some work to do there with removing cruxes and chest eagles (the name eludes me, the Imperialis??). 

[Xenith]

Bit of an update! The 10th ed BA Battleforce sits unopened on top of my cupboard, while I have worked on some Heresy Era Armour. I present to you, a freshly decal'ed Spear of Telesto, Un-named Spartan, and the awaiting decals Typhon Siege Tank 'Metatron'. The Spartan's other quad laser is done, I just got it out of the box as a reference for the black armour panels as I was painting the yphon - I wanted to make them similar buy unique. The Typhon is still red enough to clesrly read Blood Angels. 

 

Next steps are to gloss varnish select panels on the typhon, apply decals, then satin coat all three to make them a bit less shiny. 

 

 

 

[Xenith]

I've finally finished off the Chaplain Venerable Dreadnought - behold, Melchior the Redeemer!

 

 

He still needs a couple of transfers in the reliquary slots on his shins, but I'm pretty happy with him overall - he'll hopefully be tearing up some 30k tables in the near future. I might try and get the burning eye sigil on him somewhere to induct him into the higher choirs. 

[Evil Eye]

Lovely tanks! Excellent work with that decal on the Spartan, I did a double take for a moment thinking it was freehand; getting decals to look truly "painted on" can be quite the headache so full marks there. Though that commander looks a touch suspicious...be wary of "friendly fire"! I really love the black flame pattern on the skirts of the Predator too. It's a really subtle touch but it adds so much character.

 

The Dreadnought is also great, gotta love Chaplain Dreadnoughts. Still sad they're rules-less in mainline 40K.

 

(Also, I saw the thread title and my first thought was Xavier: Blood Angel. "That's a complicated question, it depends on what you mean by God-Emperor!")

[Xenith]

Bit not progress on the recent units, I've got transfers on Melchior, and last night finished the Typhon.

 

I'm pretty pleased with how they came out, and not I have to weather this beast a little. 

 

Edited March 7, 2025 by Xenith

[Xenith]

Weathering update! The spartan and typon have been gently to mid gently weathered to more fit my heresy aesthetic. I need to go back and add some more dust and grime, then add more dirt to the tracks and they'll be done!

 

This is all just sponged on dryad bark, focussing on corners, then edges, then flat surfaces, with a bias towards the front-facing edges. 

[Xenith]

Cracking on through my pile of shame, and being on a roll painting red recently (and my Headhunters needing a ride) I got this rhino in for a long overdue painting. Ignore the terrible smoke launchers, it just needs a havy nuln wash on the metals then some transfers and weathering, then finally a name. 

 

[Xenith]

1 I'm not dead!

2) I've painted some blood angels!

 

I've made a start on my SM heroes series 4 after converting up the unit into some heresy era SoT recon marines - I was unsure for ages and thinking of painting them as fists, as an imperial fist sniper unit was insane in the last edition of heresy, but with the new edition, and not being a loser, I've stuck to the good old BA! these guys are a bit brighter than my 40k scheme, which is a meph red base - these are evil sunz base, representing the brighter future before the depravity and decay  of the 41st millennium. I've deliberately harkened back to 2nd ed style parade themes with the silver vents, trim and yellow chest decorations. I have yet to decide what chapter symbol they will get, the heresy one or the 40k version. In 40k, these will serve as 1st company sternguard - there's a heavy bolter and the rest of the unit to come. 

 

[Karhedron]

They have black should pad rims and thus earn my seal of approval. 

[Secret_Minis]

Bit late but that chaplin dread is mint. Where did the big crozius head come from?

[Xenith]

On 1/14/2026 at 10:19 PM, Karhedron said:

They have black should pad rims and thus earn my seal of approval. 

 

Agreed, most of my 4th co dont have them for time saving reasons, but 2nd ed was all about the trim. 

 

On 1/16/2026 at 9:06 AM, Secret_Minis said:

Bit late but that chaplin dread is mint. Where did the big crozius head come from?

 

Thanks! The crozius is 2x dark angels upgrade sprue icons glued back to back - I think they came with the old ravenwing set?

[Xenith]

Another one for the grinder! I love that they have the plasma gunner a bionic

arm  still WIP here, but the marines is 99% done, just have to do the base.

 

*and drill the barrels

[Xenith]

Suppressors - we all forgot they exist, right? I did, and they languished in a figure case for years. Well, no longer! 

 

I have got these guys out and painted them just in time to go to Legends in 11th edition, where they can probably be used as Inceptors. These are the first 2 of the unit of 3, which I expect to finish off this week - I'll have to dig out the bases. Ive also got out some inceptors and aggressors and undercoated them.

 

10th edition has not treated me well, and I seem to be really struggling to win games with nids and Eldar. As such, I'm pressing the win button and going to hit the Power Armour hard for 11th ed, and get the BA out of Stasis, as well as my 40k Iron Warriors - time to get medieval on the locals at my club. 

 

Edited March 28 by Xenith

[Father Mapple]

That vindicator is gorgeous. You assembled it well. Not an easy kit to get the metal and plastic all aligned.

[Xenith]

Been doing a bit more work on the old Primaris: the suppressors are all done bar the basing.

 

 

[Xenith]

On 3/18/2026 at 5:35 PM, Father Mapple said:

That vindicator is gorgeous. You assembled it well. Not an easy kit to get the metal and plastic all aligned.

Thanks! I don't think I did anything special with this, or even filled gaps - it went together pretty smoothly!

[Xenith]

But more work on the aggressors 

[Xenith]

The BA painting streak continues as I smash out another potentially legended unit, an Invader! These marines are from the same squad as my other outriders, bringing the unit up to 5 strong. The paint keeps flaking off the wheels, so Im looking at a base for it, I think 105x 90mm fits well!

 

[Lathe Biosas]

Awesome work. I'm jealous of your skill and ability to get stuff painted.

[Xenith]

That's very kind, thank you! I think I've actually peaked in terms of quality of finish, and now aim to get things that look decent done as soon as possible, I try and share my time saving tricks where I can, but there's not many with blood angels, you just have to deal with the edge highlights - small squads keep motivation up!

[Xenith]

With the changes to how characters have worked from 7 -11th,  and assembling models from the SM heroes set, my terminator squads are not all at full strength, so I've been making a couple of extra models up  - I've got one painted up, ad need one more then I should be able to field 3 5-man assault squads. You can see in the image below I have an assault cannon in the claw squad at the back left and an ancient in the hammer squad  at the front left. The squad at the back right is also a hotch potch of random models, so I really need another serge and bolter/fist guy in there. 

 

Edited July 12 by Xenith

[Xenith]

I played my second game of 11th last week in what should be a low stakes narrative Dominatus mission.

 

My opponents list was

 

Spoiler

Lucius+6 flawless blades in a land raider

2x EC lord+6 melee troops, 1 in rhino

Noise marine lord+ 6 noise marines in rhino 

Winged Daemon prince with-1 damage

Maulerfiend

Defiler with all lascannons

.

 

 

 

My last was (apologies for format)

Spoiler

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ FACTION KEYWORD: Imperium - Adeptus Astartes - Blood Angels
+ DETACHMENT: Legacy of Grace, Stormlance Task Force (Legacy of the Angel)
+ FORCE DISPOSITION: Disruption
+ TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 2000pts
+
+ WARLORD: Char2: Commander Dante
+ ENHANCEMENT: Portents of Wisdom (on Char4: Captain with Jump Pack)
+ NUMBER OF UNITS: 16
+ SECONDARY: - Bring It Down: (4x2) - Assassination: 5 Characters
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Char4: 1x Captain with Jump Pack (95 pts): Power fist, Plasma pistol
Enhancement: Portents of Wisdom (+15 pts)
Leading Sanguinary Guard[1]
Char5: 1x Chaplain on Bike (70 pts): Absolvor bolt pistol, Crozius arcanum, Twin bolt rifle

Char1: 1x Chief Librarian Mephiston (110 pts): Fury of the Ancients, Plasma pistol, Vitarus

Char2: 1x Commander Dante (125 pts): Warlord, Perdition, The Axe Mortalis
Leading Vanguard Veteran Squad with Jump Packs

Char3: 1x Lemartes (100 pts): Absolver Bolt Pistol, The Blood Crozius
Leading Death Company Marines with Jump Packs

5x Intercessor Squad (80 pts)
• 1x Intercessor Sergeant:, Thunder Hammer

1x Baal Predator (125 pts): 

5x Death Company Marines with Jump Packs (115 pts)
  2 with Astartes Chainsword, Heavy Bolt Pistol
  1 with Power fist, Inferno Pistol
  1 with Power fist, Heavy Bolt Pistol
  1 with Eviscerator, Heavy Bolt Pistol
  Attached to Lemartes

5x Infiltrator Squad (110 pts)
• 4x Infiltrator
    3 with Bolt pistol, Close combat weapon, Marksman Bolt Carbine
    1 with Helix Gauntlet, Bolt pistol, Close combat weapon, Marksman Bolt Carbine
• 1x Infiltrator Sergeant: Bolt pistol, Close combat weapon, Marksman Bolt Carbine

1x Land Speeder (105 pts): Close combat weapon, Multi-melta, Stormfury Missile Launcher, Onslaught gatling cannon

1x Land Speeder (105 pts): Close combat weapon, Multi-melta, Stormfury Missile Launcher, Onslaught gatling cannon

3x Outrider Squad (75 pts)
• 2x Outrider: 2 with Astartes Chainsword, Heavy Bolt Pistol, Twin bolt rifle
• 1x Outrider Sergeant: Astartes Chainsword, Heavy Bolt Pistol, Twin bolt rifle

6x Sanguinary Guard (260 pts)
  1 with Sanguinary Banner, Encarmine Spear, Inferno Pistol
  5 with Encarmine Spear, Angelus Boltgun
  Attached to Captain with Jump Pack

3x Sanguinary Guard (120 pts)
  1 with Sanguinary Banner, Encarmine Spear, Inferno Pistol
  2 with Encarmine Spear, Angelus Boltgun

10x Vanguard Veteran Squad with Jump Packs (220 pts)
• 9x Vanguard Veterans with Jump Packs
    7 with Master-crafted Power Weapon, Heavy Bolt Pistol
    2 with Master-crafted Power Weapon, Plasma pistol
• 1x Vanguard Veteran Sergeant with Jump Pack: Master-crafted Power Weapon, Plasma pistol
  Attached to Commander Dante

1x Vindicator (185 pts): Armoured Tracks, Demolisher Cannon

Created with newrecruit.eu v35.70

 

The dominatus campaign mission was pretty easy..in theory. I got bonus points for keeping my opponent out of my table half. Easier said than done. Their whole army had advance and charge (as did mine, but they have better movement). .

 

In short, it was a slaughter, I lost 100-23, including fully painted points, with 2 models left end of my T3. 

 

I had a bit of a mixed bag with luck, the Baal overwatched 4 noise marines, neutering the unit. His blades charged my bikes, wiping them. My vanguard and Dante charged the blades in return, killing all but Lucius who then killed a few in return. The defiler then scuttled up and wiped the vanguard and Dante.

 

He got his raider out of cover T1 but the speeders and vindi bounced off it. The melta is just so unreliable against any form of armour now. The vindi did better but he spiked save rolls and passed 4 of 5 saves.

 

The Daemon prince charged meph and bounced off, holding him to a draw over several turns. 2+/4++/5+++ on meph is so strong it's great, however Dd3 damage on vitarus is a joke when Lucius has flat D3 and moves faster.

 

Things I've learned:

Speeders are crap for damage, just use their mobility for missions. 

Meph is actually pretty tanky, definitely the MVP in this game, I'll take him again.

Sanguard with 2+/4++ and 3w are actually pretty strong, and killed whatever was in front of them.

The T4 3+ marine profile has been power crept into oblivion since their all new profile in 8th ed as armies needed solutions to killing marines. The same will happen in 11th ed, marines will be powerful to start then drop in power as other armies get tools to deal with then. 

 

Army building thoughts-

Vanguard need shields or are pointless

Sanguard are great

Terms with shields and 4w are a real problem profile, especially if they go to T6.

Vindicator has massive upside, take 2 for as long as you can.

 

What are your thoughts on the fun lists? I threw some random fun units together, my opponent said his list was off meta and weak, but he still annihilated me by turn 2.