Veritas Vitae: Warlord Traits

[Jolemai]

Welcome to the Veritas Vitae Series!

Following the release of the 9^th edition Supplement, there is no better time to discuss all the tools that we have access to. This ongoing series of articles focuses on what a Blood Angels Force Commander has at their disposal, with advice, information, and tactics plucked from the readily available to the more obscure parts of GWs rulesets.

Like all Veritas Vitae articles, these remain active and are in flux, so we can add and update them as the information contained within changes. So please chip in with any and all suggestions to help your fellow Frater to vicory against the daemon, the heretic, the xenos, and the traitor.

Warlord Traits

A Blood Angels force has a number of psychic powers available to it and these can be found in the various support books available to us. This guide explores what they are, what they do, an how best to maximise their use for our army.

Article Setup
The following are notes on the setup of article below:

• Header in Blood Red, power is found in Supplement: Blood Angels
• Header in Enchanted Blue, power is found in Codex: Space Marines
• Header in Administratum Grey, power is found in the Warhammer 40,000 rulebook (BRB)
• Keywords will appear in Bold format
• Important points will appear in underlined format

Locations
The following points are where the Warlord Traits listed can be found in each sourcebook:

• BRB Warlord Traits traits begin on page 238
• Space Marine Warlord Traits powers begin on page 106
• Vanguard Warlord Traits powers begin on page 107
• Blood Angels Warlord Traits powers begin on page 50
• Flesh Tearers Warlord Traits powers begin on page 50

Common rules
The following are common rules which apply to Warlord Traits:

• Any selected Warlord requires the Character keyword in order to receive a Warlord Trait

Links
The Warlord Traits a Blood Angels force can use are split into six different categories, the links to which - along with any relevant support - can be found below:

• Warlord Trait Support
• BRB
• Chapter Command Warlord Traits
• Space Marines Warlord Traits
• Vanguard Warlord Traits
• Blood Angels Warlord Traits
• Flesh Tearers Warlord TRaits

Edited May 23, 2022 by Jolemai

[Jolemai]

Warlord Trait Support

The following page is a list of things that affect our Warlord Trait options:

Chapter Command

When purchasing the following unit upgrades, access to an additional Warlord Trait is granted for that model only:

Chapter Champion

• Gains access to Martial Exemplar (Warlord Trait, Aura)

Chapter Master

• Upgrade unavailable to those with the Blood Angels keyword if Commander Dante is present
• Gains access to Master of the Codex (Warlord Trait)

Chief Apothecary

• Upgrade unavailable to those with the Blood Angels keyword if Brother Corbulo is present
• Gains access to Selfless Healer (Warlord Trait)

Chief Librarian

• Upgrade unavailable to those with the Blood Angels keyword if Chief Librarian Mephiston is present
• Gains access to Psychic Mastery (Warlord Trait)

Master of the Forge

• Gains access to Warden of the Ancients (Warlord Trait, Aura)

Master of Sanctity

• Upgrade unavailable to those with the Blood Angels keyword if Astorath is present
• Gains access to Wise Orator (Warlord Trait)

Stratagems

The following stratagems increase the amount of Warlord Traits that an army can use:

Angel Exemplar

• Cost: 1 CP
• Duration: Use before the battle, when making your army
• Description: After nominating a Blood Angels Character model that isn't a named character to be your Warlord, you can generate an additional Warlord Trait for them. It has to be from the BA table unless it has the Flesh Tearers keyword, in which case it must be from their table
• Combos: Sanguinary Priests, Chapter Masters
• Take your first trait from the the BRB/C:SM/S:BA, then add your choice of topping from S:BA. Popular choices are Soulwarden for mortal wound defences, or Artisan of War for special issue wargear

Hero Of The Chapter

• Cost: 1 CP
• Duration: Use before battle, when making your army
• Description: If you Warlord has the Adeptus Astartes keyword, you can select a different Adeptus Astartes Character to have a Warlord Trait from BRB, C:SM, S:BA. Must be unique, can only be done once unless it's a Strike Force battle (1001-2000, twice), or an Onslaught battle (2001-3000, thrice)
• Combos: Secondary/Tertiary HQ choices, Chapter Champion, Sanguinary Ancient
• All about placing a secondary trait where needed to a character that's not your Warlord. Examples include The Imperium sword on a beatstick, Rites of War on a Sanguinary Ancient/Priest, etc

Edited May 18, 2022 by Jolemai

[Jolemai]

Rulebook

Any Warlord can have this trait:

Inspiring Leader (Aura)

• Description: Add 1 to the Leadership characteristic of friendly units while they are within 6" of this Warlord
• Combos: Vox Espiritum
• Useful when supporting larger units (as they are more prone to morale then MSU)

Edited March 4, 2022 by Jolemai

[Jolemai]

Chapter Command Warlord Traits

The following Warlord Traits are only available to those models which have purchased a Chapter Command upgrade

• These are only available if your army is Battle-forged and includes any Adeptus Astartes Detachment (excluding Auxiliary Support, Super-heavy Auxiliary, or Fortification Network Detachment)
• During the Mustering Armies step, you can upgrade the following unit choices which grant you access to the following Warlord Traits for that model

Master of the Codex (Warlord Trait)

• Chapter Master only
• Description: At the start of your Command Phase, if this Warlord is on the battlefield, roll a D6: on a 4+ you gain a Command Point
• Combo: Successor Chapter tactics
• Decent support for any force using a Chapter Master and not Dante, especially given how CP hungry we can be...

Wise Orator (Warlord Trait)

• Master of Sanctity only
• Description: +1 to the roll when reciting a Litany, Commanding Oratory stratagem costs 1CP instead
• Combo: Commanding Oratory, arriving from reserve
• All about getting Canticle of Hate off (and Litany of Hate/another) for a 7" charge when arriving from reserves. Alternatively, Catechism of Fire if using Successor Traits.

Warden of the Ancients (Warlord Trait, Aura)

• Master of the Forge only
• Description: <Chapter> Dreadnoughts within 6" of this Warlord gain +1 STR and ATK
• Combo: Jump pack (Legends)
• Buffing Dreadnoughts

Psychic Mastery (Warlord Trait)

• Chief Librarian only
• Description: Add 1 to Psychic Tests taken for this Warlord
• Combo: Spiritual Might stratagem
• Every power we have access to bar two has a warp charge of 6. So whilst this can ensure a spell goes off, it's particularly useful when facing opposing forces with negative modifiers (such as a Culexus) or those with lots of Deny the Witch options (like Grey Knights)

Selfless Healer

• Chief Apothecary only
• Description: Combat Restoratives gains a flat three wounds instead of D3; Combat Revival stratagem costs 0 CP
• Combo: Combat Revival Stratagem
• Perfect for healing your beatsticks back to full health (bearing in mind this ability can be used twice with a Chief Apothecary on different units) and saving CP on reviving a destroyed model from a unit (usually a Bike/Terminator/Sanguinary Guard)

Martial Exemplar

• Company Champion only
• Description: <Chapter> Core and <Chapter> Character can re-roll charge rolls if within 6"
• Combo: Jump pack (Legends), Bike (Legends)
• Alternative way of getting charge re-rolls into our lists. As a foot Champion, it's useful if he's being a support character rather than a centre denial contingency plan/deterrant

Edited May 12, 2022 by Jolemai

[Jolemai]

Space Marines Warlord Traits

The following Warlord Traits are available to an Adeptus Astartes Character that is your Warlord

1. Fear Made Manifest (Aura)

• Description: While an enemy unit is within 6", it has -1 Leadership and -1 from the Combat Attrition test
• Combo: Phobos Librarian, Reiver Lieutenant
• Attempting a "leadership bomb" is a tricky prospect for us, but this trait combined with either Hallucination (Obscuration spell) or Terror Troops (Reiver abilities) is a means to that end.

2. The Imperium's Sword

• Description: Re-roll charge rolls for this Warlord; if it has made a charge move or performed a Heroic Intervention, then add +1 Strength and +1 Attack
• Combo: Company Champion, Librarian Dreadnought, Death Company Captain
• Perfect for a beat stick

3. Iron Resolve

• Description: Warlord has +1 wound and a 6+++
• Combo: Techmarines, Lieutenants
• Any support character without an invulnerable (++) save

4. Champion of Humanity

• Description: Each time this Warlord fights, if it's in Engagement Range of any Character units, add 1 to it's Attack characteristic and should it allocate any attacks against a Character unit, it gains +1 to the attack hit roll and wound roll
• Combo: Chapter/Company Champion, Blade of Sanguinius secondary mission
• Pretty much any character killing unit can benefit from this, especially if running Successor Traits (to retain the +1 to wound)

5. Storm of Fire (Aura)

• Description: When a friendly <Chapter> Core is within 6" of this Warlord, each time is makes a ranged attack, on an unmodified wound roll of 6, improve the AP of the attack by 1
• Combo: Techmarines, Captains (foot), Lieutenants (foot)
• Fishing for sixes, so anything with a high rate of fire. Potentially useful for support characters on the backline (heavy weapons such as grav Devastators or volkite Contemptors) or those pushing forward with Bikes/Terminators. Sadly, this isn't cumulative with the increased AP from Doctrines

6. Rites of War (Aura)

• Description: When a friendly <Chapter> Core or <Chapter> Character is within 6" of this Warlord that unit has the Objective Secured ability
• Combo: Visage of Death, Characters (jump pack)
• Allows you to one up units for objectives and when combined with Visage of Death, turns an enemy Objective Secured ability "off". This "objective flip" tactic is fairly popular with Characters following Sanguinary Guard around

Edited May 28, 2022 by Jolemai

[Jolemai]

Vanguard Warlord Traits

The following Warlord Traits are available to an Adeptus Astartes Character and Phobos Character that is your Warlord

1. Shoot And Fade

• Description: Once per turn in your shooting phase, after shooting with a friendly <Chapter> Phobos unit within 6" of this Warlord, it can make a Normal Move or an Advance: however, it cannot declare a charge this turn
• Combo: Phobos Captain, Phobos Librarian
• Our version of Battle Focus whereby the obvious tactic is to move out of cover into range of the Warlord, then move back into cover or out of line of sight. With Armour of Contempt, this works really well with Infiltrators and Incursors. Alternatively, this can be used to "slingshot" a unit forward if need be

2. Lord Of Deceit

• Description: After both players have deployed but before the first battle round, three <Chapter> Phobos units can be redeployed (or even put into Strategic Reserves for 0 CP). If both players have abilities to redeploy units, roll off and the winner decides who redeploys first.
• Combo: Any Phobos unit
• Think of a bait and switch. You put three Phobos units forward then remove them once your opponent has reacted, leaving them out of position. Alternatively, you can use them to reinforce part of your line should you be outmanoeuvred. Strategic Reserves allows you to bring them on to contest things later in the game if needed. Generally, there's concrete plan for this as it changes with each game - experience will help here.

3. Master Of The Vanguard (Aura)

• Description: When a friendly <Chapter> Phobos unit is within 6" of this Warlord, add +1 to charge rolls, and +1 to any Normal Move/Advance/Fall Back move it makes that phase
• Combo: Any combat-orientated character
• For BA that's a +2 to charge with something with potential (Reivers) or maybe even a DC Phobos Character, or simply extra movement to claim objectives/sow discord earlier. Not necessarily game breaking but a decent little tool when built for it.

4. Stealth Adept

• Description: Unless this Warlord is the closest eligible target, enemy models cannot target it with ranged attacks
• Combo: Phobos Librarian
• Potential here psychic actions on objectives and other such things to leave a unit undisturbed.

5. Target Priority

• Description: In your Command phase, select a friendly <Chapter> Phobos unit within 6" of this Warlord and until your next Command phase, each time it makes a ranged attack, add 1 to the attack hit roll
• Combo: Phobos Captain, Phobos Lieutenant
• Works well with nearby Eliminators allowing them to move and fire without penalty

6. Master Marksman

• Description: Add 1 to the Damage characteristic of ranged weapons this Warlord is equipped with (excludes Grenades and Relics)
• Combo: Phobos Captain, Phobos Lieutenant, Reiver Lieutenant
• D3 Lieutenants, or a D4 Captain (with this one acting like a sniper too). Potentially very useful

Edited May 17, 2022 by Jolemai

[Jolemai]

Blood Angels Warlord Traits

Unless otherwise stated, the following Warlord Traits are available to any Blood Angels Character that is your Warlord

1. Speed Of The Primarch

• Both versions of Chief Librarian Mephiston can only select this Warlord Trait
• Description: At the start of the Fight phase, if this Warlord is within Engagement Range it can fight first this phase
• Combo: Any glass hammer character...
• Combines well with Heroic Intervention and is basically a free "interrupt". Currently all "Fight First" units go before everything else, alternate starting with the player who's turn it is. So use either next (and target something that hasn't fought yet) or go after the unit with uses the "interrupt" stratagem.

2. Artisan Of War

• Description: The Warlord can be given on of the following Special-issue Wargear Relics: Adamantine Mantle; Artificer Armour; Master-crafted Weapon; Digital Weapons. This can be in addition to any other Relics that have and they have to be unique.
• Combo: Anything without decent durability or a Relic weapon
• Adamantine Mantle (5+++), Artificer Armour (2+/5++) are popular on Characters without invulnerable saves or other "feel no pain" type. Master-crafter weapons do well on ranged characters or those with thunder hammers/relic blades

3. Soulwarden (Aura)

• Astorath and Lermartes can only select this Warlord Trait
• Description: Whilst a friendly Blood Angels unit is within 6" of this Warlord, it has a 5+++ against mortal wounds
• Combo: Sanguinary Priests, other support characters
• Perhaps meta-dependant, but understandably good against GK/Tyranids/Eldar/Daemons/1kS. Currently, this tends to be added in with Angel Exemplar as a secondary trait.

4. Heroic Bearing

• Commander Dante and The Sanguinor can only select this Warlord Trait
• Description: Add 3" to this Warlord's Chapter Master/Rites of Battle/Spiritual Leaders/Tactical Precision to a maximum of 9". Gain Heroic Bearing (Aura): Blood Angels Core within 9" add 1 to their Leadership
• Combo: Chapter Master, Captain, Lieutenant
• 9" to buff things (or twice in the case of a Chapter Master) is really nice. Decent choice for Dante given his other rule(s) too

5. Gift Of Foresight

• Brother Corbulo can only select this Warlord Trait
• Description: In each turn you can re-roll one hit/wound/saving throw for this Warlord
• Combo: DC Captain
• This is player turn not game turn, so that's twice per round. Potentially useful as a secondary trait for a specific beatstick without re-rolls

6. Selfless Valour

• Capain Tycho and Tycho the Lost can only select this Warlord Trait
• Description: Warlord is eligible to perform a Heroic Intervention if within 6" horizontally of an enemy unit, and can move up to 6" when doing so.
• Combo: Character with a shield
• Works really well for any character built for using the Angel's Sacrifice stratagem

Edited May 17, 2022 by Jolemai

[Jolemai]

Flesh Tearers Warlord Traits

Unless otherwise stated, the following Warlord Traits are available to any Flesh Tearers Character that is your Warlord

1. Merciless Butcher

• Gabriel Seth can only select this Warlord Trait
• Description: Each time this Warlord is selected to fight, make 1 additional attack with one of it's melee weapons for every five enemy models within 3" (for a maximum of +3 Attacks)
• Combo: Captain, Chaplain, Champion
• Any character used for clearing chaff would make use of this

2. Of Wrath And Rage

• Description: Each time a Warlord makes a melee attack, an unmodified hit roll of 6 scores 1 additional hit
• Combo: Captain, Chaplain, Champion
• Fishing for 6s to get exploding dice, any character with as many Attacks and/or re-rolls as possible is best here.

3. Cretacian Born

• Description: Each time this Warlord declares a charge, enemy units that were targeted cannot fire Overwatch or Set to Defend. This charge roll can be re-rolled too
• Combo: Captain, Chaplain, Champion
• Decent for any solo-character or those still used as a "guided missile" or distraction type. Alternatively, a support character charging first and negating Overwatch against certain Factions is huge

Edited May 27, 2022 by Jolemai

[Jolemai]

Any combos or tricks I've missed out here?

[Paladin777]

Seems kinda obvious, but Cretacian born is great against tau, as well as other units with potent overwatch (flamer rubric marines come to mind). Charge with the character with the warlord trait first and then follow up with an additional heavy hitting squad.

 

Of Wrath and Rage is most effective on a character with a TH or PF (or other weapon with a built-in hit penalty). With a 3+ to hit you get a 25% output increase from exploding sixes instead of the 20% increase that you get when hitting on two's. Also, -1 to hit shenanigans don't effect the character because you're already at -1 yo hit!

Edited May 25, 2022 by Paladin777

[Jolemai]

So with Nephilim missions/games having less CP available to make lists and seeing as there be no freebie Warlord Traits, what makes the cut going forward?

Edited June 27, 2022 by Jolemai

[Karhedron]

That is tough. I think "Selfless Healer" is going to remain s standard for Sanguinary Priests/Novitiates as it will pay for itself the first time you use Combat Restoratives. Also recovering 3 rather than D3 Wounds can be vital, especially when healing Characters.

We often play Elites-heavy armies so I can see a role for Rites of War. Putting ObjSec on our Jump Pack units is a real boon for snagging Objectives.

Gift of Foresight could definitely have a place on a Biker Smash Chaplain as giving hitty Characters rerolls is still good and again, this will usually pay for itself in terms of CPs saved on rerolls.

I am not sure if any others make the cut but I think they will definitely be for specific use cases rather than just general buffing.

[Majkhel]

Adding Soulwarden to the list. I agree that it's for more specific cases though. It used to be a solid 2nd pick for me

[Jolemai]

Selfless Healer depends on the list imo. I've tried running it with Sanguinary Guard and it was overkill.

... yes I know all that is stating the obvious!

[Karhedron]

On 6/29/2022 at 12:10 PM, Jolemai said:

Selfless Healer depends on the list imo. I've tried running it with Sanguinary Guard and it was overkill.

Against Harlequins it was not-quite-enough-kill for me last time. 

[Jolemai]

By overkill, I meant that a +3 flat heal isn't necessary on two wound models (just any characters nearby once the SG are gone). In Nephilim you need to weigh up having one less CP to begin with (spent on the Trait) and depending on your list, you may not have any targets left for the free Combat Revival when your turn comes around 

But then, I guess that's just me as I don't play Flying Circus lists.

[Karhedron]

4 hours ago, Jolemai said:

But then, I guess that's just me as I don't play Flying Circus lists.

Haha, I now want to call my Smash Captain "The Red Baron"!