blood angel vet squads

[8vTRH]

I use 5th ed blood angels, and am thinking about using some vet squads but, I don't know what is more effective over all, stern guard or vanguard? Honor guard seem cool too though...

[Lord Commander Scrymgeour]

vanguard are great, but they are expensive once you load them up, (I run mine with power axes and storm shields) sternguard are a much cheaper option and are very versatile (I run mine with combi flamers to kill hordes and monstrous creatures with their special ammo). Honour guard are also very expensive but the novitiate provides some great buffs.

Probably wasn't too helpful was it.

[Brother Dallo]

It depends what you mean by effective. The three squads have very different uses. Stern guard are often used in a drop pod with lots of combi weapons, to take out a specific threat on turns one, then they usually die. Squad size varies, generally from 5 to 8, though you can get 10 , which gives the option of combat squadding. Generally don't mix combi weapons, tailor them for a specific enemy. Melta for tanks etc.

 

While our honour guard have loads of options, the only "competitive" option seems to be four special weapons and sometimes jump packs. This gives you focused fire power, and the squad has a novite, so they and their mates get feel no pain and furious charge. You can kit them out differently, for melee etc, but that generally is too expensive.

 

The only use of vanguard vets I've seen makes use of the heroic intervention rule, so they need jump packs. They are used to deep strike directly into combat. There are two general thoughts on their usage, keep them cheap, or invest in them. Cheap would be 5 man with a few melta bombs. They can comfortably charge backfield units such as Devastators, havocs etc.. They are great for assaulting tanks, they can even multiassault if the tanks are close enough. The more expensive option is taking a full squad with a smattering of combat weapons to taste. I'd suggest at least a power fist to deal with walkers. You can also load up on store shields to make a tanky unit.

 

These are the general internet uses of he units you mentioned, but feel free to try out your own combos. As I said, what is most effective is a hard question to answer without more information, but in a vacuum I'd suggest stern guard with meltas in a pod to kill something valuable on turn one.

[8vTRH]

THanks guys, it's given me things to mull over!