Blood Angels Detachment Embraces Red Thirst, Black Rage Combat Style
On December 7 the Blood Angels received a new detachment called Rage cursed Onslaught that rewards aggressive close combat play focused on the chapter's Red Thirst and Black Rage themes. The detachment introduces reroll mechanics attack bonuses on charge and a suite of Enhancements and Stratagems that push Death Company heavy builds toward high risk, high reward tactics.
The Rage cursed Onslaught detachment landed with a clear identity, shifting Blood Angels lists toward brutal melee and a controlled embrace of battlefield volatility. Core mechanics let units reroll 1s to wound and grant additional attacks on charge. That attack bonus increases further if a unit is battle shocked, creating a powerful incentive to push into contact even when morale costs are present.
Enhancements provide the tools to execute that plan. One Enhancement lets you scout a unit six inches to set up charges or seize advanced positions. Another creates a battle shock aura that rerolls failed tests for nearby friendly units, softening the downside of taking voluntary or forced battle shock. A Strength aura specifically buffs Death Company units, amplifying their natural melee threat and making Death Company centric lists much more dangerous in close quarters.
Stratagems expand the risk reward spectrum. Several options trade stronger temporary buffs for the cost of inflicting battle shock on your own units. These mechanics are designed to let you gamble for game changing swings, but they demand careful timing and mitigation. The detachment also includes defensive and objective oriented options, giving commanders the ability to protect scoring units or anchor a board presence while other elements close to fight.
For tournament and local play the practical implications are clear. Use the scout Enhancement to guarantee charges, then chain in the attack bonuses with Death Company units supported by the Strength aura. Rely on the battle shock aura to stabilize units when you trigger aggressive Stratagems. Reserve the riskier Stratagems for moments when you can accept temporary loss of cohesion in exchange for a decisive melee surge.
You can download the detachment pack to test these new play patterns and tune lists around Death Company centric synergies. Expect local meta shifts toward more committed melee approaches and fresh archetypes that balance disciplined objective play with explosive close combat bursts.
