Grimdark Future: 'Fluffy' Prime Brothers Lists, Part 2

A continuation of the last post, with Primaris Space Marine-themed lists for Grimdark Future.

Blood Angels: Reivers Assault

Not even Primaris retcon could truly
undo their struggle and greatness.

Detachment: Blood Brothers

The introduction of the Primaris Space Marines raise an interesting question about the nature and the future of the Blood Angels. The Ninth Legion was defined by a particularly odd yet potent gene seed which could transform even the dregs of humanity into beings of angelic beauty and deadly ferocity. The Blood Angels have always been defined by their lineage and curse, first as corpse-eating ghouls with a blood thirst during the Great Crusade and later as cursed with the genetic memories of Sanguinius. To be a Blood Angel (and all their descendants) is to be both blessed and cursed; blessed with great vitality, beauty, a long lifespan (even by Space Marine standards) and potentially even great psychic potential of some rumors are believed. The downside is the risk of losing oneself and becoming a maddened, blood-craving monster. Primaris Space Marines, when introduced, were said to lack gene seed defects.

While this is no longer completely true it now raises a different questions. If one goes by the idea they are flawless then it weaken the struggle of the Blood Angels. If they retain the same flaws, then it mean Cawl's work failed. Or, perhaps, is the Blood Angel nature just fundamentally dualistic? Is the Imperium (and the audience) looking at Sanguinius' sons the wrong way? Are our strengths and flaws intertwined and something we must manage and accept as a fundamental part of who we are without letting them consume us? Almost got philosophical there, lets go back to space pew pew and little plastic dudes.

Captain Chaplain [1] (135pts)

Energy Hammer & Flamethrower Pistol

War Chant

+Furious

Psychic [1] (155pts)

Energy Sword & Flamethrower Pistol

Psychic (2)

+Furious

Assault Squad [5] x2 (470pts)

1x Plasma Pistol & CCW

4x Pistols & CCW

Veteran Infantry

+Furious

Raider Squad [10] x2 (1060pts)

8x Heavy Pistol & CCW

2x Heavy Pistol and Energy Hammer

Orbital Deployment (Ambush)

Jetpack Squad [3] x2 (370pts)

+Furious

Heavy Anti-Grav Destroyer Tank [1] (790pts)

+Very Fast

Tactics: The Primaris list isn't very melee-oriented by Space Marines standards. They are also quite lacking in 'normal' jump pack troops, which changes the Blood Angels playstyle quite a bit. Instead, the role of Ambush cqc troops is taken by the Raiders Reivers, who can chew through soft infantry quite easily while the jump pack role is taken by the more range-oriented Jetpack squads. One of the two veteran Assault squads can be mounted inside the Grav-tank. They are identical so it depend if either the Chaplain or the Librarian is more needed at the frontline.

Dark Angels: Deathwing Reborn

Not gonna lie these looks pretty
decent.

Detachment: Dark Brothers

Introduced in 9th edition, the Bladeguard Veterans are the first 'true' veteran units of the Primaris army list, not counting veteran version of the Intercessor. Where the previous Primaris wore simplistic, even modern-looking power armor, the Bladeguards have reversed this trend by returning to the gothic knight theme and flowing tabards. Their baroque armor and shields are relics, although how exactly that works when most Primaris gear is relatively new is unclear. Perhaps these were pre-existing chapter relics reforged and reshaped to fit the new size of the bearers? There is some interesting lore there but Games Workshop hasn't really done much about it.

For the Dark Angels, the Bladeguard Veterans are those lucky few Primaris who have made it into the 'Inner Circle' and told the truth of the Dark Angels. Inducted into the Deathwing, they break the tradition of this brotherhood by going into battle without Terminator armor. Its clear this ancient tradition is in a bit of an awkward spot until Cawl decide to find the 'enlarge' button on the Terminator STC templates. For now, Bladeguards and Gravis armor will have to suffice.

Captain Bladeguard Ancient [1] (150pts)

Plasma Pistol & Energy Sword

Combat Shield

Ancient Banner

+Grim

Captain Chaplain [1] (150pts)

Shred Pistol & Energy Sword

Combat Shield

War Chant

+Grim

Judge [1] (125pts)

+Grim

Guard Squad [6] x3 (930pts)

+Grim

Aggro Squad [6] x2 (1580pts)

Grenade Launchers

+Grim

Tactics: These aren't Terminator but they will have to do. Assign a hero to each Guard Squad, each with their own specific use. The Ancient has Fear, the Chaplain boost the melee and the Judge has a Deadly melee weapon to kill enemy heroes. This is a short range army, primarily using pistols and the longest range on a weapon is a mere 18"  on the gauntlets and grenade launchers. That mean get stuck into melee and fight to the bitter end. Shield Wall makes units harder to hit and the Aggro Squad has Tough on top of the 'Prime' rule the entire list has.

Space Wolves: The Hunt Reborn

"The Space Wolves are incredibly
uninspired." -Rogal Dorn

Armies: Prime Brothers+Wolf Brothers

If the changes to Blood Angels induced by Primaris was at risk of changing their fundamental nature and entire narrative potential, then the Space Wolves by comparison are suffering from a loss of identity when it come to their chapter organization. Space Wolves in the modern era were defined by a very unique and slightly silly concept of being organized in wolf packs which were never changed, dwindling in numbers as Space Wolves undergo casualty and changing battlefield roles as the members grew older. They began as impetuous Blood Claws (loosely speaking Assault Squads+Scouts analogs), matured into Grey Hunters (Tactical Squads) and finally became Long Fangs (Devastator Squads), with Wolf Guards as a cross between Veterans and Honor Guard. The more varied, weirder, Primaris squads completely broke this setup and Games Workshop doesn't seem like they want to bother with the older, more unique lore.

This list tries to merge the old lore's thematic with the newer Primaris units. It isn't perfect, but it may somewhat fit the Space Wolves nonetheless: veteran Intercessors would be the closest to the old Long Fangs, either in nature or simply through Long Fangs which cross the Rubicon Primaris to ascend to skubmarine Primaris status.

Captain [1] (165pts)

Precision Rifle & Energy Hammer

Precision Shots

+Counter

Raider Squad Blood Claw Reivers [10] x3 (1500pts)

8x Heavy Pistols & CCW

2x Heavy Chainsaw Sword

Grapnels (Strider)

+Counter

Prime Brothers Primaris Long Fangs [5] x2 (620pts)

1x Precision Rifle & Energy Sword

1x Heavy Machinegun

3x Precision Rifle

Veteran Infantry

+Counter

Wolves [5] x4 (680pts)

Tactics: Space Wolves are smarter than what most people think of them and this Primaris list plays up to their skills as hunters and their enhanced senses. The core of the list are Reivers with Strider, allowing the to ignore the negative effects of difficult terrain, which should be used to the Space Wolves advantaged when combined with their solid counter-charge mechanic. To dare to charge the sons of Russ should invite death and make the enemy dearly pay. The rest of the army exist to pin the enemy in place or further deny them movement. Do note that this army decides to avoid the low activation problem of Prime Brothers by fielding small wolf packs which can harass the enemy. They aren't very durable but can harass just fine.