Almost 6 years to the day, my Death Guard army are finished ... well mostly

6 whole years. I received my first Death Guard models as a 2017 Christmas present, so that I could play Warhammer 40,000 8th edition. Little did I know that I would finally put my brush and 'Death Guard green paint' to one side in January 2024, playing 10th edition.

Well, when I say aside. My aim has always been to have three of each unit. The only reason I don't have three of a below unit is either...

- I don't like the current model

- there is only one current sculpt therefore, I don't want all three (especially characters) looking the same. I have done a few conversions as and where I could.

So here is the whole army. Sorry for the images, I took them inside and the quality of light is poor.

The army list

Characters

Mortarian = 325pts

3x Biologus Putrifers = 150pts

3x Chaos Lords = 195pts

2x Chaos lords in terminator armour = 170pts

1x Demon Prince = 160pts

2x Demon Princes with wings = 390pts

3x Icon bearers = 135pts

1x Sorcerer in Terminator armour = 70pts

2x Foul blightspawns = 100pts

2x Lords of contagion = 160pts

2x Lords of Virulence = 160pts

3x Maligant Plaguecasters = 195pts 

3x Noxious Blight bringers = 150pts

3x Plague Surgeons = 195pts

2x Talleymen = 90pts

1x Typhus = 80pts

Total Characters = 2,725pts

7x Plague marines (champion (plasma), plasma gun, blight launcher, Heavy plague weapon, bubonic weapon, 2 bolters) 125pts

7x Plague marines (champion (plasma), plasma gun, blight launcher, Heavy plague weapon, bubonic weapon, 2 bolters) 125pts

7x Plague marines (champion (plasma), plasma gun, blight launcher, Heavy plague weapon, bubonic weapon, 2 bolters) 125pts

7x Plague marines (champion (plasma), plasma gun, blight launcher, Heavy plague weapon, bubonic weapon, 2 bolters) 125pts

7x Plague marines (champion (bolter), plague belcher, blight launcher, plague spewer, Heavy plague weapon, 2 bolters) 125pts

7x Plague marines (champion (bolter), melta gun, blight launcher, 4 bolters) 125pts

Total 875

4x Rhinos 300pts

10x Blightlord terminators (3 combi weapons, 1 blight launcher, 1 reaper autocannon, 1 plague spewer, 1 flail of corruption, 3 combi bolters) 330pts

10x Blightlord terminators (3 combi weapons, 1 blight launcher, 1 reaper autocannon, 1 plague spewer, 1 flail of corruption, 3 combi bolters) 330pts

10x Blightlord terminators (3 combi weapons, 1 blight launcher, 1 reaper autocannon, 1 plague spewer, 1 flail of corruption, 3 combi bolters) 330pts

2x Chaos spawn 70pts

2x Chaos spawn 70pts

2x Chaos spawn 70pts

2x Chaos spawn 70pts

2x Chaos spawn 70pts

2x Chaos spawn 70pts

2x Chaos spawn 70pts

10x Chaos Cultists 50pts

10x Chaos Cultists 50pts

10x Chaos Cultists 50pts

1x Defiler 190pts

3x Hellbrutes 420pts

3x Land raiders 720pts

3x Predators (can be either annihilators or destructors) 390pts

6x Deathshroud terminators 240pts

6x Deathshroud terminators 240pts

6x Deathshroud terminators 240pts

3x Foetid bloat drones 270pts

3x Miasmic Malignifers 345pts

3x Myphitic Blight-Haulers 300pts

3x Myphitic Blight-Haulers 300pts

3x Myphitic Blight-Haulers 300pts

3x Plagueburst crawlers 540pts

20x poxwalkers 100pts

20x poxwalkers 100pts

20x poxwalkers 100pts

20x poxwalkers 100pts

20x poxwalkers 100pts

20x poxwalkers 100pts

20x poxwalkers 100pts

17x poxwalkers 100pts

Total other stuff 6925

Allies

3x Bases of nurglings 40pts

3x Bases of nurglings 40pts

3x Bases of nurglings 40pts

3x Bases of nurglings 40pts

10x Possessed 280pts

Total allies 440pts

GRAND TOTAL 11,265pts

So where to next? - well I have finished with 40k. I have some Dungeonbowl, Underworlds and Areonautica stuff to finish off. After that it's new games. Legions Imperialis and The Old World.

Will I be doing Death Guard for legions? Well, you'll just have to wait and see.

Toodle Pip!

Final few models

 I am so close to completing my Death Guard army!

I have managed to paint three of every unit, tank and hero in the Death Guard list. The below shows 5 models which I was missing (which of course now, I am not)...

1) One Possessed - Okay so Possessed are no longer in the Death Guard list. Yes I know you can ally them from the Chaos codex however, it's not quite the same. "... so why paint this single model Matt?..." Well...

a) I had already bought it

b) I already had a unit of 9 done.

2) Another Chaos Lord in Power Armour - A few months ago, I purchased the complete Death Guard Hero box from Games Workshop. I was going to leave them all sealed but then, I noticed a unique Chaos Lord in Power Armour. I needed a final one therefore, I painted him up...

3) 3x Icon Bearers - This was the last Death Guard hero model I was missing completely. I purchased two of the blister Icon Bearers and then, I discovered another one in the Death Guard Hero set of models I had purchased.

With these 5 models done, I only have a single Death Guard model left to finish...

no sadly it's not a single Poxwalker.

I have left the Primarch until last.

My next Death Guard update therefore, might be some time.

Toodle Pip!

chim chimney, chim chimney, chim chim cher-ee

 

As I draw closer to the end of my Death Guard army, the models I paint become more unique and, more useless...

Well actually no, not this time. Sure in 8th and 9th, the Miasmic Malignifer was a bit of a joke. In 10th however, I can actually see me taking one or, dare I say it, even two.

The Malignifer's weapons aren't anything to write home about (2D6 6" range auto Str 3 hits, 1D and 0 AP); it's in it's abilities where it's power lies. -1 to hit any Nurgle until within 6" of this AND cover to any model not fully visible gives your predators and Plague Burst Crawlers something to protect them. At 135 points it's a little steep however, I think worth it.

Painting wise, I wasn't so lucky. Believe it or not, but both the tower and the spare bit were painted with the same colours. The only difference is that the Seraphim Sepia used on the small boiler was towards the end of the bottle therefore, the pigment must have been stronger. As you can imagine; it's very annoying due to the amount of time taken (photos don't really do the models justice).

Will I repaint the boiler? Not sure. I'll put them on the field of battle a few times first and decide after. It's a lot of time for something, though I think it's better in 10th than 9th or 8th ... I won't be fielding too often.

Oh a bit of trivial for you ... these models came with modelled bases. These are therefore the first bases I have painted for my Death Guard army. I still bought clear bases so I can chop and change as I feel like it.

Next up I have some AT weapons to do and then it's the final push for my Death Guard army; 3 Standard bearer characters, a lord in marine armour, 1 possessed (I know we can't take them anymore but, I had already painted 9) and of course ... Mortarion.

 

Demon Prince number 3

 In January 2023, Games Workshop released a new Demon Prince model and, of course, I just had to have one...

It took me about a month to paint this fella up which, considering how much detail is on him isn't that bad. It is a wonderful model though, putting him together is a bit of a mission. 

I have given mine wings, with an axe and the shooty weapon thing. This is because I already have a prince with the sword and one with the malefic talons.

I was most worried about the wings however, I think they have come out really well. I am less impressed with the head.

So this is pretty much my final character for now. Next up are three smoky chimneys before painting 21 possessed.

The army is almost complete!

Toodle Pip!

Land Raider

The Land Raider

Such an iconic vehicle. I believe the Land Raider has been in 40k since 2nd edition ... and has been absolutely useless since 3rd. Arguably the second worst tank in the Death Guard book after the Predator (see post below for my three painted Predators) due to its tiny bit of resilience, it really is a shame that these aren't better because they look so cool!

I decided to stick with my theme of 30k tanks to make my army look as though it had been in the warp for a millennium. The Rhinos, Predators and Land Raiders are all 30k. I love these models with the tracks exposed. I decided to purchase two armoured Proteus Land Raiders and one unarmoured. I have just finished the unarmoured one and it's supposed to represent my command tank; hosting my force's commander as he plans his next move (maybe it's to ditch the Land Raider and get a decent vehicle). The two armoured ones roll up the battlefield stuffed full of terminators or possessed.

The Land Raider is 245pts. For a T8, 16W 2+ save bullet magnet. It doesn't even hit on 2+ ... and its weapons only do D6 damage making them very swingy indeed. It also doesn't have a invulnerable save and, with a lot of anti-tank weapons being -lots of AP, it dies very quickly. It also doesn't reduce damage by 1! The Forgeworld Proteus is a little better. 10pts cheaper with a 5+ invulnerable save. This is still all clutching at straws as, rules wise, I'd pretty much take anything else.

But I won't always as, when they are on the battlefield, they look epic ... and that's what counts.

Having a break with the green paint for a little while and going back to painting some large robots for a bit.

Toodle Pip!

Predators

 The Predator...

The T7, W11 3+ save, BS3+, M12" Predator is two-of-five heavy support choices for the Death Guard. I say two as there is the Predator Annihilator - with its twin lascannon turret - and the Predator Destructor - with its Predator Autocannon turret. Interestingly, both types of Predators can be armed with either lascannon or heavy bolter sponsons and the Annihilator is cheaper than the Destructor!

It's a tank which is hardly seen and at around 140pts ... it's easy to see why it's not taken. With no disgustingly resilient, these heavy weapon boats can easily be taken down. Sure, you get the Contagions of Nurgle ability but, whenever are you going to want to get one of these boys within contagion range of the enemy? So why on earth have I painted three!

Because look at them! I went for the £70-00 30K Foreworld Predator (The plastic Horus Heresy ones hadn't been released when I purchased these) which comes with enough weapons to build either type of Predator. Being a clever dude, I've not glued the weapons on. Instead, I can 'chop and change' so I can field either three Annihilators or three Destructors ... or a combination of the two!

Not being so clever, I have only magnetised the turret weapons. This means that the sponson weapons are a little ... loose. If not careful they can fall out. I am not planning on using the Predators that often therefore, I am not sure if a magnet is worth it or not ... I'll have to have a think.

Anyway, with three Pedators and two Landraiders now painted, my quest to have every awful Death Guard vehicle painted is almost complete. I just have to finish the 3rd Landraider.

Toodle Pip!

Deathshroud Terminators

 So finally,

I painted my first three Deathshroud terminators in August of 2019 and now ... I finally have 3 units of 6 completed!

Yes Indeedy, 18 of these boys have been painted by my hand adding a whooping 990pts to my Death Guard army. As ever with 40K 9th edition, the devil is in the detail, and these boys are no exception...

Negatives

These boys are slow ...very slow. And with the reduced board sizes in 9th, it's extremely difficult to deep strike them where you need them. AND EVEN IF YOU DID, you still need to roll a 9+ on 2D6 to charge. As these are very much a combat formation, it doesn't give them flexibility which 9th craves which is why, a lot of Death Guard players leave them on the shelf and go for Blightlords. I'll tell you why you shouldn't...

Positives

Durability:- At 3 wounds, toughness 5, 2+ save and a 4+ invulnerable, these guys are hard to hit. With a -1 to an enemy weapons AP, and a -1 to damage, a formation of 6 of these is as solid as a rock.

Obsec :- these boys have objective secured.

"But so do the Blightlords" I hear you cry. So below is where things change:

Plaguespurt Gaunlet might not look much but, with 7D6 shots from a unit of 6 (2 for the champ) hitting on 3+ at Str 3 you are going to clear those pesky blocking units, put in your way so your Deathshrouds can't charge more juicy targets (remember contagions. With the chimes adding 3", and your terminators contagion range and arriving turn 2 or 3, your enemy is likely to be -1 toughness meaning that you are either wounding on 4+ or 3+ re-rolling 1's for plague weapon. Caught a few opponents out I must say).

The scythe attach in combat: Okay so let's take a unit of 4 of these boys. With the scythe attack the unit is making 34 attacks! Hitting on 2+ with a str 5 -1 AP and 1 damage. This will carve through light infantry blocks like a scythe through wheat. Remember that you re-roll 1's to wound for Plague Weapons.

Cleave: The cleave gives the bearer 4 Str 7 attacks hitting on 3+ (there is a -1 on this weapon to hit ... no idea why), -3 AP and 2 damage re-rolling 1's to wound for plague weapons.

So if you take the cleave option and have a lord nearby (as these units are core). You are likely to do the below damage from a unit of 5 onto a knight:

21 Attacks hitting on 3+ re-rolling 1's = 16 hits

Str 7. Adding the -1 toughness for the contagion and possibly 'Eternal Hatred for 2CP' (+1 to wound) you are looking at 3+ to wound = 13 wounds with a re-roll for Plague Weapons.

It's -3 AP so most knights will be on a 5+ save of some kind meaning that 9 wounds would go through, which equals 18 damage!

These are knight killers. After one round a knight is either dead or on it's final bracket. I believe that this makes the Deathshroud terminator the Death Guards best combat unit.

Though the Landraider is not the best tank in the world, I would take it as a delivery system for these terminators as it prevents the dreaded roll of an 8 when you land from deep strike.

Right that's it today! 5 more Blightlord terminators and I'll have 31 of those to show you.

until later

Toodle Pip!

I can't believe it's been almost a year! - Death Guard update

 Just over 10 months! 10 months to paint around 26 models ... and last year I painted 157 Poxwalkers in 3 months!

Okay so let's go back a bit. February 2021 I had just finished tranche four of my Adeptus Titanicus army. Next was my fourth Death Guard army. This themed army was based around the 1st company and consisted of Terminators, Hellbrutes and Land Raiders. It's not a lie to say that I was really looking forward to this themed list. I had purchased two Forgeword Land Raiders to keep up my '30k armoured vehicle feel' and I had three Hellbrutes; two new units which I had never fielded before.

As four months dragged onto six months, which then dragged onto eight months sadly, I couldn't wait to get the army finished. I wasn't painting any less; it's just - though beautiful - Death Guard terminator models - especially Deathshrouds - have so much detail on them. The two Lords of Virulence took a particular long time due to the fact that I had assembled them in full before painting; when I should have kept their 'skirt' separate. The Land Raiders, on the other hand, surprised me in how quickly I could get them done.

Anyway the army is now done and, I suppose, that I should try and forget the last 10 months or so. i wish I could. Sat upstairs, behind my painting table, are 9 more Deathshroud Terminators (to make 18) and 10 Blightlords. I also want one more Land Raider. Still; no more Hellbrutes hey!

Wolverine with a cold; what's not too like about a Death Guard Chaos Lord with a pair of lighting claws. Okay not the most competitive choice however ... super cool! My only wish is that I had made the lighting claws a little longer.

A lot of players don't rate the Lord of Virulence however, I think he's already and certainly a choice to be considered. The fact that his flamer is 12" (and he can deep strike 9") is pretty good ... especially with Viscous Death pathogen. Not sure if i will ever take two but, you never know!

Both of these are not strictly new. I painted the once with more 'black' to accompany my existing Blightspawn. A superb unit to hang around with Deathshrouds in a Land Raider ... which is handy! I've painted the two slightly different so it's easy to see who has the Revolting Stench-vats relic.

Again, not all Blightlords are strictly new; I already have three painted prior. Even with 15 I am still not finished. I would like...

1x with a Blight Launcher

2x with a Reaper Autocannon

3x with a Plague Spewer

1x with a combi-flamer and a sword (other two have axes)

1x with a combi-plasma and a sword (other two have axes)

5x with combi-bolters and a mixture of axes and swords

The below should give me three units of ten with a good mix of weapons to choose from.

These are quickly becoming my favourite Death Guard unit of 9th ... and it's pretty easy to see why. With so many attacks, a unit of four (for only 200pts) will chew through almost anything. Add a Blightspawn and the enemy is really in trouble.

This is why I have another 9 so that I can have three units of six ... nasty!

I've magnetised and painted all weapon options for all three Hellbrutes so that I can have any combination I want. It was a mission I can tell you; me and magnets do not get on (see my Adeptus Titanicus posts for proof) but it was worth it. I do feel that I will be using these as a shooting platform mostly with a Missile Launcher and a Heavy Plasma Cannon. The reason; nothing, i feel, says 'Chaos' like a Heavy Plasma Cannon.

I know that they are terrible however, you cannot do a 1st Company without Land Raiders. I went for the Forgeworld ones to keep up the '30K look of the tanks' with my Rhinos. These models are lovely and really have a dominating presence on the battlefield (and my bank balance).

So that's it! Apologise about the lighting for the photos. I have a 2 year old therefore, I do not have the luxury of picking the best weather to take photos therefore; I took them from inside and did a mixture of flash/ no flash.

My current 2000pt 1st Company list is

2x Hellbrutes at the back with Missile Launchers and Heavy Plasma Cannons to provide support

2x Land Raiders each with 4 Deathshroud Terminators and a Blightspawn. One unit has a Malignant Plague Caster and one Blightspawn has the Revolting Stench-vats as my Relic.

2x units of 5 Blightlord Terminators with a flail, combi-melta, combi-flamer, Blight Launcher and a combi-bolter. These deep strike onto the table.

1x Lord of Virulence (who is my Warlord) with Hulking Physique and Viscous Death pathogen. He is also deep striking onto the field.

9 Command Points due to two Vanguard Detachments.

Right that's it I think! 

Hopefully it won't be as long next time!

Until next time; Toodle Pip!