The BLOOD ANGELS Legion in the HORUS HERESY | Legion IX: Origins & Lore

[@Yacovo]

The Immortal Ninth is my favorite pre-Primarch legion. They are a space-faring Zombie Apocalypse. Expect the zombies are also astartes with reincarnating leaders.

[@ArbitorIan]

There's almost an argument that they start out as the Strigoi/I am legend sorts of vampires, and end up as the Anne Rice sort!

[@dimwitsixtytwelve]

@@ArbitorIan one could argue they end up as twilight vampires where they are all gold and glittery 😆

[@pmc1727]

One could argue they are going to end up as bug (tyrannid) food.

[@TheCorrodedMan]

@@pmc1727 And now?

[@genestealerjon3033]

Blood angel fans are some of the most sincere and passionate space marine fans. I love to hang out with them (and make them black rage when I drop 3 untargetable obliterators behind some iron warrior cultist. You can do this to them once a month and they will not remember).

[@nigelbotterill1936]

Hey, I'm a blood angels player, and I dont forget anything. I always remember black rage go arrrrggghh.

[@Michael_Raymond]

Can I just say, as someone who doesn’t know the lore, your ability to make my entire body clench every time a legion finds its Primarch is astounding. Every video, it’s this beautiful, tense moment of “is this going to get better, or MUCH WORSE”

[@derekmcmanus8615]

The original lore was better

[@memeshort7189]

​@derekmcmanus8615 There was less to hate but now there is more to love

[@rubengerritsen6868]

@@memeshort7189love this sentiment 🫶🏼

[@BlastedRodent]

I can’t get over how goofy and amazing the rogue trader era art is. Thank you for including it alongside the polished modern stuff

[@user-zp4ge3yp2o]

I love those old drawings, partly nostalgia and partly cos they're quite strange and unusual.

[@derekmcmanus8615]

Rogue Trader was a great game

[@archangelcharlie]

“deployed to some of most horrific of Terra’s environments, the rad soaked wastelands that were the result of years of warfare, where they were assigned to purge the shambling hordes of twisted mutants that populated them…” now Ian that’s not a nice thing to say about Liverpool

[@krulla]

I like how your shirt always matches the legion color scheme. You have a lot of shirts.

[@johnnybigbones4955]

Wow, pre-Sanguinius blood angels have a way cooler backstory than I thought! I remember the old background about rad-mutants being turned into perfect marines and I thought at the time that's where the flaw was coming from. It's a nice twist that that was designed in from the start, and was basically a plan to mop up all the mutants and turn them into disposable shock troops. The Emperor is a wanker, but he's an efficient wanker in this case. Blood Angels were my first army, starting in 2nd. Doing a unit or two of Immortal 9th would be cool.

[@ArbitorIan]

WELL, I'm not sure the lore was there from the start. Most of the Legion pre-Crusade backstories were filled out for the game, so between 2012-2017ish, but I do think they did a good job backwards-engineering the existing fluff!

[@johnnybigbones4955]

@@ArbitorIan I remember stuff about the mutants in the old Wargear book in 2e, but yeah, I don't think it was quite that developed. But of the "re-imaginings" for Heresy, this is a pretty cool one that I'm kinda excited about, because that stuff about Baal was really interesting to me as a kid who'd been reading a lot of Judge Dredd stuff about muties in the Cursed Earth. Thanks for the videos, you're doing a great job!

[@sbs3000]

The Blood Angels were my second 40K army (after Eldar) and I started playing both in 2nd edition.

[@CrimsonTemplar2]

I like how the IXth Legion were tailor made to utilize the mutated dregs of humanity & create Astartes who looked like they were marble statues brought to life. IIRC they came out of the attacks on the void colonies around the ice giants with more marines than they went in with.

[@Xune2000]

"We made some friends..."

[@fuzzyhair321]

​@@Xune2000 literally the friends we made on the way

[@Revenant_Art]

Sometimes Warhammer lore sounds little bit like bad fan fiction, but this. This was epic! Great job as always Ian. Love your videos.

[@lv100Alice]

sometimes it's so bad that it turns around and goes full circle and comes good again

[@Thetallestgirrafe]

The Blood Angels were/are my first Warhammer love, the Sanguinary Guard the first models I ever bought. However, I agree with the claim that the 40k and 30k legions are just too similar, they don't have that same sort of 'heroes of myth' vibe that the some of the other legions get which so desperately hurts. What I did love was their pre-sanguinius lore however, it would've made for a vastly more interesting legion if Sanguinius was still having to deal with the monsters who he inherited when the Heresy came along.

[@ArbitorIan]

Agreed!

[@Bluecho4]

EDIT: I have been properly informed of the Flesh Tearers, thank you. -What the 40K era could have really used was a Blood Angels equivalent to the Black Templars. A successor chapter that would be the black sheep of the Blood Angels, more vicious and wild. Barely controlled, devoted to mass infantry combat above all else.- -Of course, then they'd be a bit too much like Khorne's forces. Then again, a Loyalist beserker chapter has its place, I suppose.-

[@johnnybigbones4955]

Yeah, I agree. The Immortal 9th sound like a VERY challenging group to turn into champions of honour. I'd love to see a novel exploring that!

[@DanCottle]

@@Bluecho4 so… the Flesh Tearers?

[@Whattwa]

@@Bluecho4 let me introduce Gabriel Seth and the Flesh Tearers. Originally a first founding chapter you can see their Rouge Trader era chapter symbol early in this vid. They are now a successor chapter of the Blood Angels, and much like the Templars they’re everything naughty about the IX legion turned up to 11

[@philvalz]

2:46 : "...Massive casualty rate!" Pictured: Some chilled Marine opening a cold beer. :D

[@dabba_dabba]

I wish he was actually opening a cold one lol. Would be the best piece of Warhammer art ever lol

[@Ignasi666]

My first and only army since 1993 :) They're arguably one of the most hopeful and humane factions in the entire universe. They know they, like Mankind, are deeply flawed, but still devote themselves not to perfection, but to a life of constant self-improving, of devotion to the idea that even the most horrible human condition can be overcome through effort. A weirdly optimistic take for 40K lore, which the Legion's origins really play into. Thanks!

[@Duros360]

It’s taken me this long to realise that his shirts (and the room’s hue) are colour coordinated with the legion colours :P

[@TheOrderoftheSigillite]

I'd love for you to do this style of video for each of the Primarch's.

[@yungtoolshed251]

My favorite legion and chapter. I love the Blood Angels because of how they never give up or despair even thought they know that the flaw will claim them. They are also super fun to play on the tabletop!

[@ScreamingTc]

The Ninth embody that most human of ideals: Striving to a better version of yourself than your base nature would have you be: "It is not the descent toward the shadow nor the rise toward the light that makes us superior. It is in the endless struggle between the two that greatness of character lies. We are tested, and we do not break."

[@nekrataali]

This video made the Black Rage make so much more sense. If the Blood Angels were already consuming dead enemies to absorb their tactics and also pass down memories to other Blood Angels, they probably got all messed up having the thoughts of mutants (or worse!) bouncing around in their heads. Then as the practice continued, Blood Angels who fought during the Siege passed down their memories of Horus' betrayal and the murder of Sanguinius to younger Astartes. 10,000+ years later, they're still feeling these memories and a lot more. It's even worse if they consumed the flesh of traitor marines. No wonder they're so fucked up lmao

[@U2QuoZepplin]

I love all the old bits of black and white artwork from the old Rogue Trader book you're using here. It takes me back to the good ol' days when Rogue Trader was all there was .....Okay maybe in to second edition too when I was still falling back on the big old 1st Edition rule book for rules and stuff..... Actually I was borrowing my brother's old copy - truth be told.

[@DaBozinator]

I just love an army of 8 ft tall, genetically engineered, peak late 80s Danzigs but with slightly less anger management trouble. And the red armor looks fabulous. Love me some Blood Angels.

[@unabrett69]

tall danzig pick one lol

[@DaBozinator]

@@unabrett69 That's what I'm saying, blood angels are like tall Danzigs with better anger management 😂😂

[@crimsonknight7011]

If I remember correctly Khorne really wanted them as his warriors because they went into bloody rages, but they also were tactical and honorable. He sadly had to go with a lesser version in the World Eaters which are just beserkers. At least this is what I remember

[@GustavSvard]

The IXth came close to going too far astray, and had they done so all that would be known of them was that there had once been a IXth legion. The concept of the two unknown legions, legions erased from memory, is one of the masterstrokes of worldbuilding made early on in the 40k lore creation.

[@TheMrFishnDucks]

This is fantastic. Really well made. The pre-history lore is fantastic. Nice video. Keep up the good work.

[@themasqueradingcow91]

Please do this for the other factions! I really enjoy this series

[@redfatherfigure]

Very concise. Tells a lot without spoiling the details for newcomers to the faction. Nice video!

[@friedrichschadow]

Still undecided what to play. Emperors Children, Blood Angels or Imperial Fists. Great video as always!

[@EdwardWB97]

The obvious answer is Alpha Legion

[@Bobwhite6663]

Dude you are super good at making these videos. Please keep them coming. I consider myself an expert because I am such a 40k nerd. I bet I have seen 70% of all 40k lore videos on KZbin.

[@ZaUvek1]

Dude, I have never got into 40k or fantasy, but do like the occasional video game here and there. Just wanted to shout out by saying how much I appreciate this channel, you make it so easy and enjoyable to follow the lore of what can be a convoluted mess. Keep up the good work mate, awesome stuff 😊

[@docterfantazmo]

*Emperor:* This is your legion, they're a bit fucked up but- *Gud boi Sang:* "I can fix them."

[@jaegerbomb269]

Love the Blood Angels. Looking forward to seeing your Raven Guard video.

[@MrFredstt]

The Blood Angels were one of the few legions that were better in every way after being united with their Primarch

[@ivaneeh4211]

After watching all your legion intros: I love your shirt collection :)

[@garthantash]

The new, new Minotaurs must know their Immortal Ninth history and thought it was a great idea.

[@davidtrujillo1689]

Every legion is so cool, how am I supposed to choose between the imperial fists, blood angels and white scars? I had in mind a loyalist siege of terra army if I god my hands on the age of darkness box set but with this many cool characters, lore and feelings I’m torn apart xD

[@oscargarciahinde4247]

Every legion is cool indeed... but the ninth is the coolest! Hehe I'm a tad biased.

[@nekrataali]

Just play Alpha Legion then you get to be every legion all at once!

[@dominicvucic8654]

Do dark angels under corswain

[@CaptainMasolino]

Throw in the salamanders and maybe dare i say ultramarine or even iron hands

[@miguelperez9906]

Aren’t they sworn brothers meaning you can run them together?

[@miguelperez9906]

Favorite single moment in Warhammer involves Sanguineous the blood angels argue white scars and the Kahn when Sanguineous tells his nether “ I’m not really an angel”

[@miket2789]

Loving these Arbitor, great work on all of this, your diction is spot on and reaLly makes the lore come alive. Keep it up!

[@markmoloney622]

Nice! I have been checking your channel everyday for the next horus heresy legion video! Keep up the great work

[@philipkelly7369]

The more I learn about it, the more I think that the world-building done in the Horus Heresy is just so awesome. Well, the stuff done my Forge World, at least. The novels can be... a little hit-or-miss.

[@timothyyoung2962]

While I know a decent amount about 40K I never really got into the Heresy or Pre-Heresy all that much, so I'm enjoying this series and it's look at each legion both before, during, and after the Heresy. Always looking forward to the next video.

[@Inquisdrknss]

I think the Blood Angels and all Astartes were likely planned to be wiped out post Great Crusade much like the Thunder Warriors.

[@Inquisdrknss]

@Oppen1945 No other force currently, doesn't mean one wasn't being prepared. As far as people asking questions, the Imperium would lie? That's not anything I see Big E or the High Lords of Terra caring about. Your last point rests on the idea there wasn't a replacement coming. With the imperium established, he could focus on the next wave of soldiers, ones better psychic shields who focused more on combating directly against immaterium incursions instead of human populations.

[@matthewgraham4811]

Really enjoying this series, its an easy way to learn more about all the Legions.

[@astrozombiac3535]

2:44 that picture always makes me think that space marine is casually opening a can of soda or something.

[@josephantoniello349]

I would love to see you to dive into the post-Heresy lore of the chapters, the Blood Angels in particular.

[@colthedrummer]

Woooop! Blood for the Blood... Angels! Skulls for the... empty looking bits on the armour! Obligatory comment for the almighty algorithm!

[@niccolodebernardi8532]

The battle of signus prime is one of the most epic momento of the entire heresy series

[@rednoggy]

Blood angels have always been a bit of a blind spot for me, don't know why. Thus this was very informative.

[@richardhill194]

2:45 every time you use that illustration of the beaky marine eating beans is hilarious, but why is that the picture to go with talking about apothacaries?

[@seandollard4441]

Finally the sons of Sanguinus are here. Great work Ian!!

[@stujm84]

There's always something in a hobby that catches you and that anchors you to it. And for me, that is the Boood Angels. The first (and so far only) SM chapter I've painted, indeed, the first 40k army I collected. They were on the cover of the 2nd Ed boxset that the 13yo me received, and it was their colours I painted badly onto the models, much like, I'm sure many other kids did. And that was that, I was bitten by the bug. They will ways have a special place in my heart and it annoys me ssssoooo much I went and binned all those models in the bin a few years back before I got back into the hobby. Oh, how reckless we can be.

[@philpenny9705]

Any Battlesector fans here? That game made me an absolute Blood Angel fan boy!! Never forget to tell Angron that Sanguinius was Khorne's first chosen!!

[@ryanadams0922]

"Never forget to tell Angron that Sanguinius was Khorne's first chosen!!" NO FREAKING WHY, REALLY?!

[@Rawmel]

The bloodblades of skyfall are here to serve!

[@Rawmel]

@@ryanadams0922 Yep. One of the horus heresy novels had lorgar state that sanguinius was much more favored than angron, if I remember correctly.

[@nekrataali]

@@ryanadams0922 It was part of what Sanguinius saw as part of his visions, although he didn't understand them. When the Ruinous Powers set out to corrupt the Astartes, Khorne had his eyes set on Sanguinius and the Blood Angels. When Sanguinius avoided this fate though his reforms of the Blood Angels, Angron became the focus of Khorne's efforts.

[@teamalpha8134]

Thank you Arbitator Ian 👌🏽 .. I found your channel via Lutien9 & the infamous ‘Major kill’ - fantastic work sir I am really enjoying your Heresy Legion series and THIS is the chapter I have been waiting for 🔥… thank you again 🙏🏽

[@ArbitorIan]

Thanks! Glad you're enjoying it!

[@kitchensinkmuses4947]

The Blood Angels are my first 40k love, I met them on the cover of the 2nd ed box and later the epic box. You did such a good service to them with this video. Thanks. Question do you know the paitning "Belle Dam Sans Merci" By Dicksee. It is EXACTLY how I figure the black rage looks to the blood angel falling to it

[@M4TTISM]

Great video, the Blood Angels are my favourite legion There's a theory that Sanguinius actually killed Horus, that does have some evidence to back it up, but I'm not sure if I'd want it to be true As on the one hand it would be a badass moment, but on the other it takes away from his sacrifice

[@AnonEyeMouse]

Does it, though? In the official version Sanguinius loses his life. A great sacrifice. In the alternative theory he loses his mind and soul, then his life, striking down his Father... a total sacrifice. Honestly, I care less about which is true, I just want to see him come back.

[@chrisg3726]

Thanks Ian, been really looking forward to this breakdown and learned tonnes about their early beginnings. Think it was a good move to focus on that, and then give broader summaries towards the end of the heresy. Many of us know all the good bits there, and for those that don’t know much about the next coming novel will get to enjoy what we expect to happen in it. 👍 Really enjoy the perspective about how potentially doomed the BA were from the start, without Sanguinius’ influence on how they evolved, it could have easily seen them turn to chaos when the time came.

[@nickweston6472]

Thanks for some inspiration for some traitor blood angels :) bat wings and crypt ghoul serfs for all.

[@eichler721]

The Blood Angels are amazing as a start story and with the love and respect of their father Sanguinius they become a beacon of hope and noble Astartes warriors. It makes the Heresy stand at Terra and the way they still work hard in 40K great.

[@GaryKeenan]

Each of your videos makes me want to change my plans and switch legion!

[@enriqueerazo7903]

Great storytelling. Thanks for this series.

[@Mugdorna]

It had never occurred to me until I heard the phrase “the immortal ninth”..........I wonder about the influence the original writers gained from the UK legends/theories about the Roman 9th legion?

[@nightfire734]

This has become my favorite series.

[@livanbard]

I think the most interesting part of their lore is Sanguinious Level headed approach into reforming his legion, something Kurze and Corax could had takeb notes.

[@Crushanator1]

I have never really had a huge interest in doing a Blood Angels army, I think they look cool but just not my speed since the 2E Angels of Death codex... But this is really tempting me to do up a kill team of like True Scale conversions for Mk2 & 3 of the Immortal Ninth. Really interesting lore that I don't think I had ever actually heard before. The lore is cool and the art thats sown is really cool. It looks like maybe steel armor almost sand blasted clean red paint, but I could see a half red and half white design out of it as well. Lots to think about re your alternative heresy forces, a whole army of Immortal Ninth made of red white and steel with fairly modern looking skeletal chaplains would be really striking on the table

[@Rog2theD]

I love these videos. Keep up the amazing work.

[@-Thunder-Warrior-]

"Built to be used and discarded, eh? Surely The Emperor wouldn't do such a thing to His own creations..? Heh."

[@soundremedy92]

i was looking forward for this

[@marcwittkowski5146]

I love this video series.

[@YOOT_JJ]

I still believe that if Sanguinius was a little more fallible, they could’ve fallen to Nurgle to ease their suffering from the Black Rage.

[@youdontneedtoseehisidentif4939]

Isn't " _the Blood Angels become the favoured of Nurgle_ " a plot point in the Dornian Heresy..?

[@balkin33]

Very well done thank you!

[@Regulus985]

When you think about it, the Emperor was a bit of a dick.

[@EdBurke37]

Glorious golden hawk boy!

[@reculture]

"It is not the descent towards the shadow nor the rise towards the light that makes us superior. It is in the endless struggle between the two where greatness of character resides. We are tested, and we do not break."

[@ArbitorIan]

Is that Sanguinius paraphrasing Terry Pratchett? 😂

[@peterkim1609]

I never realized until I kept hearing you say heresy that I realized that its awfully similar to here say.

[@Btk4813]

Seriously look forward to this.

[@jordcarter2359]

I always thought the original lore of the blood angels was cool. I think 2nd edition mentioned it, that when Sanguinis died his legion panicked to extract as much DNA as possible to use in the making of an Astartes. Using dead/ corpse flesh basically mutated their gene seed and brought on the black rage.

[@brendanmuller7301]

I read a theory that was hilarious, the emperor knew of the heresy and wanted sanguinius to be the arch traitor but the guy was just way too loyal. Oh and that the khan was originally chosen by slaanesh as a grooming target by the eldar laughing god swapped his and fulgrims capsules so fulgrim became what he is now instead of the khan

[@Mad_Oph]

I always wondered what the chances were that the gene-seed flaws were intentional, something to raise combat effectiveness while acting as a built-in population control and justification for a culling when their service was no longer required.

[@mariusevander2214]

12:00 they fought forces of slaanesh and khorne in Signus

[@thecommuterzombie]

I'm doubting my memory now, was there an older version of the fluff where Sanguinius was killed by a Bloodthirster or Khorne Daemon prince whilst defending the gates of Terra?

[@ArbitorIan]

I think he's been killed by Horus right from the start, but there IS a bit where he fights the same bloodthirster from signus and kills HIM during the siege

[@thecommuterzombie]

@@ArbitorIan ahhh, that will be it.

[@jirojhasuo2ndgrandcompany745]

WITNESS ME, SANGUINUS OF BAAL

[@andreapellegrino4469]

The blood angels lore is so cool they should've joined chaos

[@dex-san]

Ah yes, i remember buying Blood angels in 1998. Nice to know the back story

[@Kem1st]

I've always been really uninterested in the 'Blood Angels are space vampires' thing. On the surface, I get it and it's a good way to introduce them to newbies. But, I really think they're their own unique monster. They're very tied to ideas about death (inheriting identities/memories to appear immortal, defined by the death of Sang, knowing they'll fall to the Black Rage at some point is a constant reminder of mortality). There's also a cool commentary about the effect of faith and diety worship in them. Sang did save them, but their worship of him made a lot of them strive to repress their true nature and his death put them into a perpetual state of mourning (not to mention the BR). Also, wouldn't Sang have been a pain in the arse for the emperor's secular imperium idea? Going around saying there is only science and no gods, while one of his sons flies around in the background looking exactly like an angel in every way. Maybe Sang and the BA were a constant reminder to Big E that people want to worship something. The Blood Angels and their worship of Sang were a constant reminder that some part of humanity wants or needs a deity figure. I'm not saying the vampires comparison is wrong. Just that I don't find it all that interesting. Great vid. 5/5 wet leopards.

[@jonathanthompson4734]

I highly doubt any legion would have been done away with if the Imperium controlled the whole galaxy. There would always be a fight somewhere which required a certain legion.

[@archangelmiii9053]

Just getting into 40k played a few games. What's a good reading list to learn the basic lore while also focusing on learning about the blood angels lore?

[@thomasc6684]

Great video! Can anyone tell me which of the black Forge World big books has the Blood Angel lore in it? Thinking of trying to track them down second hand. Thanks!

[@jamesgordley5000]

If they were designed to around a bloody and thankless purpose, why was Sanguinius himself (and the geneseed passed on to his marines) designed with so much capacity for nobility and optimism?

[@ryanadams0922]

YEAAHHH LETS GO BLOOD ANGELS !!! WHOWWWW

[@nocturnenoble2468]

Sanguinius may not have survived but he saved his sons from damnation.

[@FunkyNige]

Where does the pre-crusade lore come from?

[@ArbitorIan]

The Horus Heresy Black Books - the Blood Angels are in book 8 - malevolence

[@FunkyNige]

@@ArbitorIan Thanks.

[@someoneelse1]

I prefer the theory that Sanguinius flew into the black rage, killed Horus, and then the Emperor had to kill him.

[@BrandonL337]

I do like that theory, is an extra layer of tragedy to an already tragic story. Also makes more sense than big E hesitating to kill horus, even after horus killed sanguinious.

[@nekrataali]

Also ties into Sanguinius falling to Khorne. What if he became a demon primarch after slaying Horus, who was champion of all 4 gods? Khorne claims his soul, since Khorne cares not from where the blood flows, so long as it does.

[@jamesv.7041]

FIRST! BY THE BLOOD OF SANGUINIUS!

[@pepisasa5232]

9th!!! You know were I stand...

[@TheLynxNyx]

I have a question, (interested by the lore but never actually play any of the games or read the books). What happened to them after the Heresy? They choose a new primach?

[@alamo134]

They are all under Guilliman control and split to be smaller divisions known as chapter.

[@amsfountain8792]

Where did you get the lore from the legions? Is there any book, apart from novels, to look into?

[@andyp2004]

im honestly torn between painting the new boxset as ultramarines (i love romans, and i love the color blue) and blood angels (sanguinius is a fucking chad)

[@viatka1966]

Can anyone please tell me from which horus heresy books were the pages with different colour schemes for the legion marines? I recognize the 8th book, with the black pauldrons. I'm still thinking on how I want to paint my blood angels, and those images from heresy books are such a boon for my imagination.

[@Hunter12365]

Great video. I was meaning to ask you if the excerpts that appear on your video are from the liber astartes, released by games workshop

[@ArbitorIan]

They're from the Horus Heresy Black Books, the sourcebooks for the original version of the game, released from 2012-2017ish

[@Hunter12365]

@@ArbitorIan thanks a lot man 😋😋😋

[@bloodhaze101]

My favorite legion

[@nicholasleon7819]

favorite legion

[@klasclaywood2667]

More please!

[@pkpong]

The sometimes angry boys

[@oker2049]

More like this!

[@vinnythewebsurfer]

Pour out a glass for Sangs. The bestest and goodest boy. He deserved better even if he’d insist otherwise.