My Blood Angels unit bucket

So with the release of every new codex, I look through the book and find the best stuff and the worst stuff.  I erase all the garbage units (Chaos Spawn) in my head and concentrate on two sets of units; my competitive units and my fun units.  The competitive units are normally the best units in the codex; whether its because they're cost effective or just really good.  The fun units are the units that are fluffy, fun to take and mess around with, but I wouldn't take them in a serious game.  I completely understand that by dismissing the "garbage" units I throw out half of the units that I can possibly play.. but this is a money game in every sense of the word.  Maybe it's the RTS gamer in me that makes my use of resources so overly-critical, but I think anything with limited expenditure should be taken seriously.  It's all about being cost effective ingame, and in real life because you should only purchase models you know you'll use.

Before we continue, understand that these are my opinions on what the best choices are.  You don't have to agree, in fact, I encourage you don't.  That way, we can all engage in a wider spectrum of gameplay and playtest diversity.

Here is my competitive units bucket:

• Librarian w/ Jump pack or without.
• Reclusiarch w/ Jump pack or without; but I'd rather see him without to save points.
• Mephiston and Corbulo as the only worthwhile SCs.
• Honor Guard w/ either 2-3 PW or Special Weapons.  In a Razorback is best, but JP isn't too bad.
• 10x ASM w/ PF/Infernus, 2x Meltaguns or Flamers
• 10x ASM w/ PF, 2x Meltaguns or Flamers in a Rhino
• 5x ASM w/ a Meltagun, PF or PW in a Razorback w/ purposeful shooting.
• Sanguinary Priests; naked if possible, JP if you must, or TDA with Assault Terminators in an LRC.
• 5x Assault Terminators geared towards Furious Charge; 4x LC/1x TH/SS.  This obviously means you must take a LRC.
• Furioso Dreadnought in a Drop Pod with either Blood Talons, Fists, Librarian or Frag Cannon.  It's all good as long as he's in a pod.
• Vanguard Vets w/ Jump Packs, naked or with 1 more PW.
• Baal Predators w/ HB Sponsons
• Attack Bikes w/ MM
• Vindicators w/ Dozer Blades
• Predators w/ LC Sponsons

My fun bucket basically includes everything else.  Death Company has changed from a staple in our army to something more on the lines of fun.  You can't really expect a non-scoring unit that can't be controlled to be played competitively.  With that in mind, this basically sets Astorath, LeMartes, DC Dreads and other crazies in the same direction.  I guess Astorath not so much because he can still act as a army buffer.. but he's an army buffer based on chance.  Sanguinor costs a lot more but at least his sergeant buff and the +1A 6" bubble is constant.  But if you're really looking some SC fun, you might as well go with Seth and go with a Flesh Tearers army with the full DC crazy package.

Blood Angels are a fast moving, assault-based army that takes advantage of getting the charge (Furious Charge) and preventing return melee damage (FNP).  That is their hallmark in the new book and that's how I'm going to play them.  Tactical Squads and Devastators do not fit this mandate.  They are too stationary to carry out the needs of my army and thus they do not belong.  Keep in mind that this doesn't mean they are bad units.  The Tacticals have always been the same and the Devastator weapons are cheaper now so you have more options.  They just don't fit in with my particular playstyle.

Let's face it, a lot to this game is based on fun, but not always.  Take whatever units that floats your boat, but realize that some units out there are better choices than others.  I have my go-to unit bucket whenever I'm making a list and you probably have yours.  It makes list constructing a hell of a lot easier because you know all these units by cost, function and capability.  You will understand that a fast list requires fast units and you'll know which units to pick.  You will be able to envision the battleplan in your head with the units that you've chosen, thus improving the clarity of the lists' true purpose.  Making a resource list for yourself not only improves your organization but gives you focus when constructing your army.