Be'lakor Preview

[WarriorFish]

Since we've not discussed him here yet, here's the latest on the upcoming new Be'lakor:

 

Size update (and definitely 100mm base):

 

40k rules preview

 

Points of interest put in bold

 

On the battlefield, the Dark Master is a terrifying figure cloaked in ethereal darkness. Like most Daemon Princes, he’s a powerful psyker, drawing powers from his own Noctic discipline.* But, as many unfortunate souls can no longer attest, the real thing to watch out for is his massive Blade of Shadows.

 

You can find the full rules for Be’lakor in an upcoming supplement for Warhammer 40,000, so stay tuned to Warhammer Community to find out when you can bring the First Prince’s schemes to your tabletops.

* To learn more about that, you’ll have to keep your eyes peeled for his full rules coming later this year.

As you can see, he is pretty big but not massive. The wings and scenic base do a lot there, but regardless he is a very impressive miniature. Clear references to and a great update to his old miniature. He has some potent rules along with a weapon to match, he will benefit nicely from a -1 to hit and wound against shooting (with no re-rolls to hit) - this should help him get into combat in an age of dakka relatively intact.

 

Plus those wings aren't for show right? So he should be able to get stuck in quickly and make short work of most things. With his piercing attack he is very much a big game hunter, though the sweep should give him use against elite infantry and the like.

 

There is much we need to know such as of course his stats (presumably upgraded over a normal Prince as his model is) and cost, not to mention his psychic skills. I have been thinking about getting the model as he is impressive and would be different to paint but I could only consider this if he doesn't break my Slaanesh theme as this is important to me

 

What does everyone think? He seems like he'll be a very good unit, likely with a cost to match, but as I never saw or heard much about him before I wonder if this will change with his new incarnation?

[Cheex]

Very intrigued, really looking forward to his release and will definitely be picking him up for my Khorne Daemons. I don't care if he continues to be an HQ (and therefore breaks Loci in his detachment) - I'll find a way to make it work!

 

But the most interesting tidbit for me is the mention of a future supplement. So far, the Book of Rust has mostly featured factions that were recently released (DG) or are about to be released (Drukhari, probably AdMech), which suggests Daemons aren't too far off.

[Irate Khornate]

So this one is a bit daft and pure theory. I say that he has all the marks of chaos and thus all of the associated loci to not break detachment rules but he has moved from being an HQ choice to a Lord of War.

 

I also have a guesstimation that one of the noctis powers will give him a minus one to being hit even though it won't count due to Non-stacking modifiers.

 

As for all my other opinions they're on the discussion in news; tldr is I really like his rules that have been shown so far as they look really good but are not looking broken/op.

[Trollbeard]

He looks insane model wise and rule wise this far! I will definitely be getting him lol.

[WarriorFish]

I was wondering that too, if he had all Marks then problem solved and it makes sense given his history. He sounds capable already so with his powers on top he should be one of the stand out Daemon units I expect.

[Marshal Loss]

Incredible model, and his rules look suitably powerful too. Never played mono-Daemons before but this might well push me over the edge.

[Irate Khornate]

Incredible model, and his rules look suitably powerful too. Never played mono-Daemons before but this might well push me over the edge.

It's a good pain

[WarriorFish]

Yes, join the cavalcade! Speaking of mono-god, I wonder how this will play out for when Daemons get a new codex? I'd love to know actual numbers but I see more mono-god than not so if this is the norm perhaps GW can adapt to support this better? Be'lakor could be in indicator when we see his full rules perhaps?

[Marshal Loss]

The rules previewed today for the Book of Rust (re: Armies of Renown) might potentially show how Be'lakor's own forces will be organised on the tabletop, if he shows up in a book like this prior to/outside of the codex

[WarriorFish]

Hmm... yes this could be very interesting. Makes me wonder if this might be a sign for mixing forces e.g. Slaanesh Marines and Daemons etc? Hopefully we can find out more soon :)

[Marshal Loss]

 

There's a mistake here, as the GW article showed the piercing strike as being at +4S and this sheet shows it as being +2S.

[WarriorFish]

His stats look good, but I'm not too concerned given I have already ordered him I thought that I wanted to paint him up as he's a rather fancy model, the main thing I'm interested in rules wise is that he doesn't break army themes but I don't imagine GW would ignore this. Plus I've not bought any new models in ages, so why not go big?

[Trollbeard]

I’ll be ordering him today as well! I’m hoping he will be able to fit into detachments without breaking the mono god bonuses, seeing as how he was blessed by each god.

 

Time will tell!

[The Neverborn]

He's Big, he's Bad, he's Black, he's Back he's Bel'akor

 

When I started my Daemons army he was one of the first models I bought. He really stands out from the rest of the army and I'm glad they've maintained that. I've not had a chance to play 9th ed due to Covid. In 8th the Greater Deamons were too easy to bring down. In 9th it does look to be harder, if for no other reason the Exalted Daemon rules. I think he's worth buying even if he ends up being over-costed. 

 

I feel that GW has over compensated it's previous tendency to make everything new OP and it seems be a bit of a coin flip on if the rules/costing are right.

[WarriorFish]

That's a good point, Greater Daemons felt a bit like glorified tanks with how easily they could be killed. Exalted helps but paying for the privilege isn't the ideal solution. Be'lakor has some rules to help him survive which is good, perhaps when the Daemons codex is updated we can see some solutions for the others.

 

I've seen the instructions and there is a lot going on, he'll be the fanciest model I'll own as there are things happening everywhere and he is big. It'll also be good to paint up a different scheme for a Daemon. As I've got some things to finish first (and he won't be arriving until late next month anyway) there's no rush which is just as well as he'll deserve much attention.

 

The instructions are here if anyone is interested, it doesn't look like you have to put the body on the base? This would be good, whether you want him in both games or like me don't like being told what corpse you have on a base There's some face and arm choices too which is nice, from the looks of it there may be decent places to add some magnets. The wings look like they have a good area for it, though due to the size you'd want space for more magnet ideally. Feet might also have some possibility for magnets I think?

 

I'll see when I start work, I'm sure I'm not the only person wondering about the logistics of transporting such a model We'll find out eventually as always but I'm looking forward to seeing the first Be'lakors appearing here

[The Neverborn]

 

I'll see when I start work, I'm sure I'm not the only person wondering about the logistics of transporting such a model We'll find out eventually as always but I'm looking forward to seeing the first Be'lakors appearing here

 

https://www.reallyusefulproducts.co.uk/uk/html/onlineshop/rub/b21_0litreXL.php

https://www.first4magnets.com/circular-disc-rod-c34/25mm-x-3mm-thick-y10-ferrite-magnet-0-69kg-pull-p2580#ps_0_2603|ps_1_16646

https://www.first4magnets.com/large-metre-sheet-c82/ferroflex-ultra-300mm-wide-flexible-ferrous-sheet-3m-self-adhesive-plain-p11741#ps_0_12392|ps_1_13053

 

#nuffsaid

[Closet Skeleton]

The wings look really easy to magnetize for transport.

 

Haven't quite finished him yet, but seems most of Belakor's size is in the wings and base. He's pretty close in size to the multi-build plastic daemon prince, just better proportioned so its more like the difference between old marines and the new chaos marines or Deathwatch Kill team than the difference between the metal and plastic greater daemons.

[happyslugger]

You managed to get one, that's fab.

 

My local independent was promised 25 at first, then was told to expect 1. It didn't arrive.

 

I also went to my local GW (for paints) and even the official shop didn't get their stock lol

[Closet Skeleton]

Didn't realise I was bragging, Element Games just dispatched my pre-order.

 

Camera won't connect to my computer right now but he's bigger than I was estimating. His arms and torso are smaller than the Finecast Nurgle Prince (who I think has the same proportions as the metal Diaz Prince since he's sculpted using some of the same parts). His arms are also smaller than the gorilla arms on the regular plastic prince but his legs just add a lot more height.

 

Size and proportion wise he's basically Mortarion without the bulky power armour. Maybe 80% of the height of the Keeper of Secrets which is 10% actual height and 10% posture.

 

If you can transport Mortarion you can transport Belakor as he isn't quite as spread out.

[happyslugger]

Sorry, I didn't think you were bragging lol. Just was saying that it was lucky you had one, as I know he hasn't been sent to some places.

 

He looks like an awesome model and one I will add at some point :-)

[Dr_Ruminahui]

Don't worry about it Closet Skeleton - you weren't bragging and even if you were, your good fortune would warrant it!  Thanks for giving us an idea as to its size and I look forward to seeing whatever pictures you share.

[Closet Skeleton]

Apparently my camera can't focus on an object of exactly this size.

Sculpt wise reminds me a lot of the ForgeWorld Carmine Dragon which is a good thing. Very easy to drybrush except for some of the more rounded sections of muscle which I'll have to go over with a detail brush.

Edited April 28, 2021 by Closet Skeleton

[happyslugger]

Love this model.

[WarriorFish]

Can't wait to get mine he looks great. I have been thinking about how much we should be matching him to our own army schemes. Base is easy of course but he is very much his own thing, so I'm not sure how much you could adjust his colours to fit in. Outside of the standard "you can do whatever you want" of course; he's a unique character and I want to paint him up as such but a few things to help link him to my army would be nice.

 

Perhaps something like armour colour to go with the loincloth should suffice? What does everyone think?

[happyslugger]

That is an interesting idea @warriorfish.

 

I am new to daemons and I am not sure he would look right on a floating bed of slime like my DG / Nurgle daemons?

 

As I haven't started my Khorne deamons, I have no idea what base / style to use for them as of yet (probably a grey one).  Maybe match him to my Abaddon model (which was painted as per the GW youtube video)?

 

I guess we also need to know how he will work with our armies (chaos and daemons).  Any ideas?

 

Luckily, by the time I get around to 1) buying him and 2) painting him, people with far better artistic flair will have some pictures out I can copy / steal ideas from LOL

 

He is an awesome model though.

Edited April 28, 2021 by happyslugger