Blood Angels Unit of the Week series Unit of the Week: Hellblaster Squad

[Jolemai]

 

Welcome to part three of the Blood Angels Unit of the Week series!

 
Following the release of the 10^th edition Codex Supplement, there is no better time to discuss all the units we have access to. Each week a different unit will appear, with the idea being that we discuss how best to use that model on the battlefield. Where part one will discuss the units from the units found within Codex Supplement: Blood Angels, parts two to four will discuss Codex: Space Marines, part five will be Imperial Armour, and part six will be Legends.
 
Note, this isn't to lament any nerfs, etc, from previous editions; the rules are as they are so try to unlock its potential for those who wish to use them all the same. Similarly, this thread is only for using the option being discussed; it matters not if you feel something is a better choice as such comments aren't constructive to the topic and shall be removed.
 
Without further ado, here's this week's entry:

 

 Hellblaster Squad

What are you thoughts here folks? How best would you use a Hellblaster Squad?

• To compliment a list, or to build a list around? 
• MSU or full squads? Are you taking multiple units?
• Which Detachment are you using?
• What delivery options are you using? 
• What deployment options are you using?
• What weapon options are you using?
• Are you attaching a Leader?
• Stratagem synergy of note?

 

Over to you.

 

 

Edited April 2 by Jolemai

[Jolemai]

Should you want your model on display here (or on another thread), then submit a photo here please.

 

(Once I work out how best to float it!)

 

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As an aside, the thread setup may change over the coming weeks until I'm happy with them. This includes the photos.

[Karhedron]

Hellblasters are not quite the powerhouse unit they were in previous editions but they are still a very effective fire-support unit. The combination of a 10-man squad overcharging and then using an Apothecary to revive any casualties is well known but we have a way of turning it up to 11!

 

The trick is to use them in the Angelic Inheritors detachment. The simple presence of the Apothecary (which would want anyway) now means that you can take:

• Carmine Wrath: Reroll 1s to Hit and 1s to Wound, fantastic for boosting damage output.

• Sanguinary Grace: Allows you to Fall Back and shoot/charge, great to avoid becoming bogged down in combat.

As if that were not good enough, we also get a couple of very nice stratagems we can use on them:

• Strike Now for Glory: Sustained Hits 1, Now we can pretend to be Dark Angels!
• In the Shadow of Great Wings: Gives them Lone Operative-Lite. Stopping them being targeted outside 18" is great and helps mean the only casualties they are likely to take will be from their own guns, rather than the enemy's.

[jaxom]

Yeah, with a current cost of 230 for ten and another 50 for the Apothecary, I think they're just borderline worth it in Angelic Inheritors. I think the only other detachment I would take them in is Anvil Siege Force where they'd get +1 to Wound rolls when stationary. Maybe a more bait-and-counter style force with a solid shooting core and then Death Company with Jump Packs and Sanguinary Guard?