STARTING A BLOOD ANGELS ARMY IN 11TH EDITION: FIRST BOXES FOR THE SONS OF SANGUINIUS
Blood Angels are the artists of the Adeptus Astartes — noble, tragic, and in 11th edition as gloriously over-decorated as ever. Beneath the golden filigree lies the Black Rage, the curse that drives some battle-brothers into a berserk death-seeking madness. That duality — angelic beauty and barely-leashed fury — runs through the whole model range, and it's why the chapter keeps winning painting competitions.
The red that launched a thousand armies
Let's be honest: half of every Blood Angels collection starts with the paint scheme. Rich red armour is genuinely satisfying to work on, modern base paints and washes make it fast, and the gold trim rewards you the moment you add it. As a bonus, the chapter gives you two more schemes inside one army — the black of the Death Company and the burnished gold of the Sanguinary Guard — so you'll never get bored at the desk.
A sensible buying order
- First, a Combat Patrol or equivalent starter box, built through a Blood Angels lens — an upgrade sprue of blood drops, wings and chalices transforms ordinary Intercessors into sons of Sanguinius.
- Second, Death Company. Black armour, red crosses, and models that positively hurl themselves across the table. This is the unit that makes the army feel like Blood Angels.
- Third, a jump-pack unit — assault-oriented infantry arriving from above is the chapter's signature move, so lean into it early.
Your centrepiece
The Sanguinary Guard are the answer. A squad of golden, winged warriors is effectively five small centrepieces, and finishing them feels like a hobby milestone. If you want a single model instead, Commander Dante — the oldest living Space Marine — is as iconic as characters get.
What to leave on the shelf
Hold off on tanks and heavy support until the infantry core exists. The chapter's character lives in its assault elements; a gunline of unpainted armour won't scratch the itch. And don't buy a second Death Company box before the first one is black.
Chronicle the collection
Angels keep illuminated manuscripts; you can settle for an accurate collection log. Enter each purchase as it arrives and be truthful about its state — sprue, built, primed, or done. The tally you keep today is the finished army you'll actually field next year.
For the complete roster, see the Blood Angels faction page under Data.