Newbie, need advice choosing between 2 Astartes armies

[Furnace Lord]

Hello, I'm new to the game and painting but not the lore, and lurked around the forum a while. I'm a big fan of both the Deathguard and Grey Knights and would like to start one as my first army. I'm just curious what their general playstyles are like (balanced, good at this or that, just a brief glimpse), and how difficult they are to play as a new player. Also curious how hard each is to paint for a new painter since I'm just starting out.

I'm like the look and concept of both armies about evenly and will probably pick up both over time, just trying to wrap my mind around what I'm getting into. And yes, I'm playing Chaos Gate and enjoying it :P

Edited September 11, 2022 by Furnace Lord

[Valkia the Bloody]

I have not yet played against either of these armies, and also have not played recently, so I cannot really say anything about the playstyle.

However, from a painting standpoint...

As a painter who does not have a lot of time myself, and needing quick and easy paint methods, you could go with some simply drybrushing techniques on the metal armour of the Grey Knights. Dry-Brushing metal paints is more forgiving and looks quite good, even if it is the "quick and easy way out". I painted a whole 2000 point Necron army quite quickly by mainly just using drybrushing. And they do not look too bad.

As for Deathwatch.... back in the day when I did my loyalist Astartes army, I just hated doing all the tedious edge highlighting. Yes, you could also try and do drybrushing on them, but it just does not look as good on black miniatures in my experience. No idea how well it would work with these miracle Contrast paints? Never used them so far.

Just my 2 cents.

[Doghouse]

As a new player I personally think Death Guard would be easier as Grey Knights are more of an elite army with fewer models and Death Guard has far more of a supported range to choose from. They are quite easy to paint with contrasts having their own paints and spray as well and a nice starter army to play with.

I'd do Death Guard, play the game a bit then look at Grey Knights later.

[Guest]

As Doghouse says DG first, but have your cake and eat it... Grey Knights Kill Team.

[Orange Knight]

I recommend the Death Guard 

They have a more expansive and varied range, and are also a very good beginner army as their units are durable and forgiving on the tabletop. 

Also the models are newer and nicer too.

[Grotsmasha]

To play DG, to paint GK, very helpful I know 

[Special Officer Doofy]

Death Guard has newer and better looking models (or at least more detail, beauty is in the eye of the beholder). Rules change every edition, don't base it solely on that or playstyle. Grey Knights will be easier to paint, but painting Death Guard can be very forgiving with the small details. Grey Knights get more spells on more units and Death Guard is slower but more durable.

Join us on the dark side...

[Furnace Lord]

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate the opinions and tips, it helped a lot. I think I'll go with Death Guard for now and leave GK for a later time.