40k - Faction Pack - Space Marines - Detachment 8 - Blade of Ultramar

3 days ago (Edited)

Hello everyone and welcome to Warhammer 40k and here I review another Detachment Review for the Space Marines Army, this time: the Blade of Ultramar.

As explained in the post The Future of Warhammer 40k Datasheet Reviews on Hive - Faction Pack orientated we are now going to be doing reviews based on the new Faction Packs.

This post is based on Faction Pack Space Marines that have more Detachments than Codex Space Marines and it replaces everything that happened prior. There are small changes and these changes are based on what can be found online at www.warhammer-community.com.

Since I started, the Space Marines have received even MORE Detachments, putting me back from getting to any other factions. So I need to get my ass in gear and get more of these done at a faster pace.

While the Gladius Task Force Detachment is te Codex compliant Ultramarines-style method of warfare that is available to EVERY chapter, even the Space Wolves, the Blade Ultramar is literally the Ultramarines. It is very similar in it's basic structure to the Gladius, but there are buff for Ultramarines only and is one different stratagem in this Detachment.

On with the Review!

Note that this Detachment makes use of the Space Marine Army Rule, Oath of Moment.

Blade of Ultramar

Detachment Rule - Mastered Doctrines

At the start of the Command Phase of up to three of your turns, you make select a Combat Doctrine to be active for your army until the start of your next Command phase. You cannot use a selected Combat Doctrine more than once, unless a friendly Marneus Calgar model is on the battlefield.

Devastator Doctrine

Units are eligible to shoot in a turn in which they Advance.

Tactical Doctrine

Units are eligible to shoot and declare a charge in a turn in which they Fell Back.

Assault Doctrine

Units are eligible to declare a charge in a turn in which it Advanced.

Restriction

Your army can include Ultramarine units, but cannot include any Adeptus Astartes units from other Chapters.

Review The Combat Doctrines are exactly the same as in Gladius, but if you field Calgar, you can repeat Doctrines for the whole army.

Enhancements

Most Detachments have 4 Enhancements. These can only be given to Characters that qualify and never to Epic Heroes. You may only select up to three Enhancements to field at the same time. The Points indicated nect to these Enhancements are stated as they are at the time of writing this article. They may change in the latest Minutorum Field Manual.

Armour of Antoninus - 10pts

Adeptus Astartes model only. The bearer has a Save characteristic of 2+ and the Feel No Pain 5+ ability.

Review This is exactly Artificer Armor

Oath of Macragge - 15pts

Adeptus Astartes model only. Add 1 to the Attacks and Strength characteristics of the bearer's melee weapons. While the bearer is under the effects of the Assault Doctrine, add 2 to the Attacks and Strength characteristics of the bearer's melee weapons instead.

Review This is exactly The Honour Vehment

Student of the Codex - 20pts

Adeptus Astartes model only. At the start of your Command phase, if the bearer is on the battlefield, instead of selecting a Combat Doctrine, select the Tactical Doctrine to be active for the bearer's unit only. This can be done even if you have already used the Tactical Doctrine for your army this battle.

Review This is exactly Adept of the Codex, save for the fact that Adept could only be used by Captains.

Veteran of Behemoth - 25pts

Adeptus Astartes model only. While the bearer is leading a unit, ranged weapons equipped by models in this unit have the Sustained Hits 1 ability. In addition, while the bearer's unit is under the effects of the Devastator Doctrine, you can re-roll Advance rolls made for that unit.

Review This is exactly Fire Discipline

Stratagems

Review This is where things get different.

Armour of Contempt - 1 CP

When: Your opponent's Shoot or Fight phase, after an enemy has selected its targets.
Target: One Adeptus Astartes unit from your army that was selected by one or more of those attacks.
Effect: Until the attacking unit has finished making its attacks, each attack they make is at -1 Armour Penetration Characteristic.

Exemplary Vigilance - 1 CP

When: You Shooting Phase
Target: One Adeptus Astartes unit from your army that has not yet shot this phase.
Effect: Until end of phase, ranged weapons in his unit gain the Ignores Cover ability. Additionally, if the unit is under the effects of the Devastator Doctrine, they get +1 AP as well.

Review This was Storm of Fire in Gladius

Practical Tactics - 1 CP

When: Your opponent's movement phase, just after an enemy unit has made a Move, Advance or Fall Back.
Target: One Adeptus Astartes Infantry or Adeptus Astartes Mounted unit within 9" of that enemy unit.
Effect: Your unit can make a D6" move or a 6" move if the unit is under the effects of the Tactical Doctrine.
Restriction: You cannot select a unit in Engagement range of enemies.

Review This was Squad Tactics in Gladius

Ultramarian Adaptivity - 1 CP

When: Your Command Phase.
Target: One Adeptus Astartes unit from your army.
Effect: Select a Doctrine, that Doctrine is active for this unit instead of any other Doctrine that may be selected. You may use a Doctrine your army has already used this Battle.

Review This was Adaptive Strategy in Gladius

Courage and Honour! - 1 CP

When: The Fight Phase
Target: One Adeptus Astartes unit.
Effect: Until the end of the phase, melee weapons equipped by this unit has the Lance ability. If your target unit is under the effects of the Assault Doctrine, increase the Armour Penetration of those weapons by 1.

Review This was Honour the Chapter in Gladius

Tactical Foresight - 1CP

When: Your opponent's Shooting or Fight phase after they have selected one of your units as a target.
Target: One unit selected by that attack.
Effect: Until the end of the phase, each time an attack targets this unit, if the strength of the attack is greater OR equal to the toughness of the unit, subtract 1 from the Wound roll.

Review In this slot, the Gladius has a 2CP Fights on Death strat. This is different. This is a 1CP strat that is way better at warding off damage!

Review

So basically, it is a slightly enhanced Gladius with the same Detachment ability, though enhanced if you have Calgar in your army, the Enhancements are exactly the same and the Starts are 5/6 the same... and the Enhancements are the same... so... cool?

Thank you for reading this review!

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