Take Your Dark Vengeance with the Warhammer 40K Box Set!
August 29, 2012 by dracs
It's finally here, the box set to bring people into 6th edition, to create a whole new generation of Dark Angels and Chaos generals and to bolster the armies of those who have gone before; Warhammer 40k Dark Vengeance!
In my opinion this box has one of the most impressive arrays of miniatures that Games Workshop have released in a set for quite a while and is sure to give more than a few people a serious case of shiny syndrome.
So exactly what are you getting in the Dark Vengeance box set?
The set brings together two opposing starter forces: the Chaos and the Dark Angels. Let start off by seeing just what the Imperial players can expect to see.
First up, leading the Dark Angel forces are two special characters. The Company Master armed with combi-weapon, bolt pistol and power sword.
Accompanied closely by the Librarian Turmiel, carrying a bolt pistol and force sword.
These are two nicely detailed character sculpts sure to form a good centre piece for your army. Of the two I think I like the Librarian best. The pose is dramatic and the sculpt sets him apart from previous Librarian minis, while I can't help feeling that the Company Master is rather static in comparison even though this does give him a more commanding appearance.
Following these two heroes into the fray are two units of the most iconic troops of the Dark Angels chapter; a Deathwing Terminator Squad and a Raven Wing Bike Squad.
All backed up by the stalwart force of the standard line troops, the Dark Angels Tactical Squad.
While the standard minis are by no means bad it is the squad sergeants which really stand out. Each of these is a named character in the box set and they have been given characterful sculpts to match. The Sergeant of the Deathwings is possibly the most impressive of these.
Set apart by his modified helmet, decorative wing mounts and flowing robe, this guy looks as if he's ready to chop someone's head off in a single swipe.
On top of these, those who manage to get a hold of the Limited Edition of Dark Vengeance will be receiving a special extra Dark Angels character; Interrogator-Chaplain Seraphicus.
I have to say I'm not sure whether I really like this mini or not. The sculpt is undeniably cool, with the cape flowing out behind and the smoke emerging from the pointless yet stylish incense burners on his back pack.
However, there is something about him which seems to me to be all together too bulky. This doesn't stop him being any less of an impressive character mini which, if I were a Dark Angels player, I would definitely use to lead my troops.
All in all definitely not a bad look out for the Imperial forces. But it is with the Chaos forces of the Crimson Slaughter that Games Workshop have really impressed me. just check out this monstrous war engine they're getting!
This mash up flesh and machinery is the Helbrute and he has been the source of much discussion here in the office. Could this be the Chaos equivalent of a Dreadknight?
The miniature itself is quite impressive, really giving the sense of a twisted creation of Chaos. With eyes, toothed jaws, horns and tentacles bursting out all over the place, this mechanical marvel is what Chaos is all about.
Of course the Helbrute isn't the only impressive thing the Chaos are getting. Check out the Chaos Lord Kranon the Relentless, along with the unit of Chosen Draznicht's Ravagers.
With decorative armour, dramatic poses and some truly menacing design work I think that these are some of Games Workshop's best Space Marine style miniatures.
Then of course there are the guys everyone has been waiting for. They are here. And they are ready to cause some mayhem. It's the Cultists!
Now personally I hoped these guys would look more like a bunch of corrupted Imperial Guardsmen. However, these guys definitely have their own unique aesthetic which sets them apart. The bit I like best has got to be the weaponry. They look battered, a mish-mash collection of fire arms, with the pride of the lot being that long barrelled chain fed machine gun type weapon. These guys are pretty damn awesome, with their leader being the best of the bunch. Is he wearing a commissar's coat?
The Cultist units are made up from two different sects; Sect Anarkus and Sect Tetchvar. One deals in ranged weaponry while the other carries close combat equipment, allowing your army a greater level of versatility.
On top of this the box also contains the usual selection of reference sheets, templates, mini rulebook and even assembly guides to help you get playing Warhammer 40,000 as soon as possible.
Personally, I think this is one of the best boxed set Games Workshop have produced in quite a while. Sure not all of the miniatures are perfect, but they are for the most part incredibly well sculpted pieces that anyone would be proud to have in their army. So whether your coming to 40k for the first time or are an old time veteran of the game this set looks as if it could definitely set you up for 6th edition.
Will any of you be picking up this box set? Are you tempted to start collecting either of these armies because of these? What is your opinion of the miniatures in the box?
Supported by (Turn Off)
Supported by (Turn Off)
Supported by (Turn Off)
![Warcradle Studios Reveal TINY New 10mm Festive Marker! [Updated]](https://images.beastsofwar.com/2025/11/christmas-kyle-main-600-338.jpg)
I’ll be getting the non limited edition at some point next month, not fussed about the chaplain guy and its significantly cheaper from wayland than the LE one.
Not sure what I’ll do with some of the models, but the cultists will make a great necromunda gang, aside from being usable in 40k.
The basic look of the Chosen/hellbrute ect is exactly what I had hoped for. It reminds me of the old rogue trader chaos marines which were less “spikey marines” and more like some warped power armour designed by HR Giger – and these new ones seem to update that old look, the Hellbrute even reminds me of an update to the old RT dread so I’m really happy about these guys.
Wouldn’t mind seeing a review of the scenarios. That “might” entice me to get this box. If you can play a fun, satisfying game of 40k using only the minis provided it might be worth getting as a stand alone product.
I must be getting old, i dont like it. Well the hellbrute is ok but the DA dont impress me and arn’t much of an improvement on stuff already released, same for the Choas chosen and the cultists look like they were sculpted 15 years ago. As someone has said they wouldnt look out of place in a necromunda game. Was thinking this might have rekindled my interest in 40k, but alas nothing stirred.
I could be tempted by the cultists and the dread brute- the dread brute looks cool, the cultists look great for Necromunda or Combat Zone!
Why do GW find it so hard to sculpt models with twin lightning claws?
The clawed chosens body pose reminds me of the “prancing” metal grey knight model, and the “give me a hug” arms remind me of an older model with claws too.
I love what they have done, two sets ordered and cannot wait to pick them up on Saturday.
Where else can you get so much for £65.00 ?
Happy Days 😉
Quote from Gothx “love what they have done, two sets ordered and cannot wait to pick them up on Saturday.
Where else can you get so much for £65.00 ?”
Mate you can get 80 plastic models in one bag for £20 – £22 from Prince August who sell the Warzone models google “Prince August”. So I think GW have done it again rip off the nation and call it limited edition and the Warzone models would look better as Chaos cultists and traitor imperial guard all you would then have to do is get some sprues for different weapons.
Its not hard to beat GW prices while they continue to ex spell people from the hobby because of the price. I will be doing a website devoted to the cheaper alternative of wargaming.
I wish I had one !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I like the the chaos stuff much better than the Dark Angel models. The DA captain, librarian and terminator sergeant are good. The rest pale in the face of the chaos Chosen and Hellbrute. The cultists are fine, but there seems to quite a few dublicates. It would’ve been nice if all the models would have been individually posed. Even the same sculpt just reposed differently.
I’ll wait a while for these to hit the bitz stores and then get the stuff I want. Mostly interested in the chaos stuff and the terminators as different enemies and conversion material for Space Hulk. It’s pretty much the only 40K universe miniatures game that I play at the moment.
Now the terminators (and the stealers for that matter) in that are really well done. Which leads to wonder why thay can do something like that for Space Hulk and not for their “flagship” game.
I wondered the same thing. If they can make individual push-fit terminators for Space Hulk three years ago, it does seem a bit lazy not give the same treatment for the starter box. The Deathwing sergeant and chainfist guy seem to be on par with the Space Hulk Blood Angel terminators with detail and pose. The other two, as the regular terminators are dublicates, are only slightly better than AoBR terminators. But they should be easy to convert with the parts from the existing Space Marines terminators’ range.
I’m currently in the middle of converting one of my Space Hulk sets into Deathwing so I might get the Terminators from this to add a bit more flavour.
I do like the look of the Chaos but you would think that for their flagship boxed game they wouldn’t have duplicates of half the miniatures in it.
Have to say though. It’s just a shame that GW have priced themselves out of my being arsed with any of their stuff these days. ( I can afford it but it just isn’t worth the money. )
Oo. That post comes over a bit more negative than I had intended it to. 🙁
Im glad someone is seeing sense mate, I feel the same way I cant afford to spend £10 on 1 figure from GW either. I turning to making my own rules and to a smaller scale of wargaming. Im going to be doing a website for the cheaper alternative to wargaming soon where you dont have to spend a packet on playing and collecting wargaming. And the fact that in 2003 a predator tank cost £20 and it is now selling for £35 for one tank is bit of a rip off. and the 40k box set with rules set use to £40 and now the box set with rules are £60+ mate does not make any sense really.
Beautiful set and sculpts, I too would have liked the cultists to look more guard-ish, or more like corrupted planetary defence forces to give them a more unique look… they just look too rag-tag to be threatening… so the melee guys are going to charge into the dark angels? …or my wolves… wherever Russ may be he is giggling and saying “….cuuuuute..” through his fangs
Again, overall I love it and have already ordered mine to be picked up on saturday. what really dissapoints me is the duplicates…. fine for the cultists…. even fine for the tac marines… but they couldn’t make just 1!!!! more chosen + 1!!! more deathwing? it just comes off lazy
but again… overall, superbeautiful box set
I think the box set looks great. I’ll simply be adding the figure to my existing CSM and Space Marine armies.
I like the cultists even though they have doubles. It’s because of my traitor guard force I’ve worked on over the years. Must add them to it.
All the models are good, some of them are great, particularly the level of detail on many of the chaos minis. The thing that immediately springs to mind is, if they make snap fit plastic models this good, how good are the models to come going to be?!
I can’t help thinking the Dark Angel selection is a bit odd. Three HQ choices if you count the Special Edition Chaplain and only one troop choice.
Shame it’s not a legit force but apart from that small gripe I think it’s a pretty impressive box set.
Well doesn’t one of the HQ’s make Terminators a troop choice? Not sure which one does, but that is one of the DA leader’s abilities.
Belial- who actually works out cheaper than a vanilla captain armed with the same gear- made deathwing troops in the old codex, the rumour is though deathwing are just flat out troops in the new one, no need for a special character etc.
Interesting rumour. If there is any change to Deathwing I’d prefer bigger squads though.
Very true, though if that happens I’ll probably be fielding suspiciously blue Deathwing allies with practically everything to make better use of the 30 ish shooty terminators I’ve had sitting in a box since the storm shield got buffed.
Yes and another one makes Ravenwing troops but neither Belial or Sammael are in the box
Well the pieces are well made, but I don’t play Chaos or Dark Angels, so there is nothing here for me. There isn’t even some cool terrain, like in some of the earlier editions.
I’ll save my coins on this one.
Well the LE version is already sold out. My copy has already shipped. I hoe it arrives by Friday so I can enjoy the long weekend with my new crazy chaos killers.
F#@king awesome…….
I think it is definitely one of the best starter box sets released, despite some odd (but still detailed) sculpts. I like the choice of Chaos minis although I would have preferred to see Blood Angels or Imperial Fists (Hell even Ultramarine’s!) instead of DA’s. 🙂
I am really hoping that I can turn those DA models into BA models. it would not be weird to me becouse back in day I had squad of Deathwing Terminators painted as BA onces.
Is it just me or do the cultists look like Necromunda gangs?
They look a lot more refined and detailed than the old necromunda models, but it makes sense that they’d look similar in theme. I really like that they use the same style of guns as gangers too- like that’s just the easiest model of autogun to get hold of illegally.
ill be using my 1s as a cultest gang for sure
Been enjoying the hobby for a good few years now but ive never been tempted to pick one of these 40k starter sets up. I may just change my attitude with this new one tho. Some fantastic content.
Paint the chaos marines in alpha legion colours- or even dark angels colours- they you can claim the whole box set as a pretty meaty starter chaos army- Either as Fallen dark angels or alpha legion on a false flag raid in an attempt to sew doubt in the imperium as to weather the Interrogator chaplains are actually doing their job…
I had a similar idea about painting the chaos marines as the Fallen. That’s why I ordered another set of them from a bits store, £15 for the Chosen from http://www.bitsandkits.co.uk 😉
And I got the Ravenwing for a tenner – a full 3 bike squadron for ten quid!! As it was my birthday recently I had enough cash to get the game and the extras from the bits store, so I also got another tactical squad from them for a tenner too.
When it comes to buying expensive minis and boxed sets, patience and birthday/Christmas cash will get you the goodies and keep you in pocket. Bits stores help too of course. 😉
Maybe Cypher will make a come back. I love that model
I GM a lot of dark heresy/black crusade (and demoing only war). So these cultists are just what I needed. Plus the Hellbrute looks awesome as an “end of level” boss.
I love the set as a DA player but I’m a bit worried about badly painted 16 year olds players DA armys coming out of the wood work as it looks like most of the models will take alot of conv work to make them other marines as it looks like even the tactic sq has DA s pads . Looks like blue and red are out . And can’t see space pups with wings on their pads what would Russ say.
If they had wings on their pads, Russ would call them Tampax then shoot ’em himself.
all true space wolf players will use them for target practice
WOW the models are awesome even the Dark Angels are good, best chaos space marines out there. I only wish I hadn’t started an Ork army a few weeks ago!!!!!!!
pre-ordered it just for the legendary mini rule book! I can see this will be very popular with necromunda players. btw, we need a few necromunda articles, you listening BOW?!
If GW and FW dropped resin and fine cast and released them with the same quality as these plastic miniatures it would be a better world
Yes, I’ve just opened the box and the figures are even better quality than shown in Photos, excellent, very happy 🙂
I got my copy, I opted for the Limited Edition set.
The minis inside, in my opinion, I like them, but they are going to be hard for me to paint, being new to painting stuff. But I think I would be interested in building up an army, but at present, it would be infantry, with a few walker style Dread0’s. I also have AoBR, so both sets are going to keep me busy for some time.
I like the rules, which breaks down the game into a play-by-play run through.
I am currently putting the minis together and reading through the rules included, but as of yet, have not had time to play a game, but as soon as I get chance, I will definately enjoy running through a game.
If you want to add anything, please feel free.
Cheers
Has anyone down loaded the painting guide ?
I wonder if they’ve mixed chaos and DA on one of the sprues to make it harder to sell each army on E-Bay 🙂
Still don’t understand how they can afford to make a plastic mould for a limited edition figure but it’s too expensive to cut a plastic mould to replace things like Finecast Aspect warriors etc etc
Chaos minis don’t fit with my Thousand Sons models very well and too much work to “convert” the DA to Imperial Fists for my marine army sadly so I’m not likely to go all spendy on this – might use the cash to splash out on the full sized rule book though – any comments on how well it’s standing up to hard use?
It appears some people are buying this for the figures only, and others as a game that can be played straight from the box with some of the best mini’s out there
I have often wondered how many gamers would prefer the cheaper snap together minatures as an option to make armies with?
And have the more expencive ‘multipose’ boxes for the ‘collectors’…
The only problem is a reasonable price on a starter set, makes GWplc normal price point even more of a shock. (lol.)
hac
well and what GW staff member sold my friend a new rule book for her 12 year old son before telling them about the box set which is coming out with another army they could field and get in to. All she would of done is spent another £20 and got her son two armys and possibly exrtra marines for her sons blood angels army and have an army to play against i.e chaos who could match her sons Blood angels army in a wargame or with my help convert the Dark angels in to chaos marines.
with extra possed chaos sprues from bitzbox or even GW themselves
Ok,I was wondering two things about this,
1: Is it a “proper” Game in a Box ( and if so is it any fun ) or is it strictly a starte/introduction set ?
2: If you combined the force in the box ( Chaos Marines plus Fallen or whatever ) is it a good starter army ?
Any feedback appreciated. A full review BOW please.
Got home and cracked the box open. The models are really nice and the details are on par with Space Hulk. Strangely the special edition chaplain is the only model that actually needs glue in order to put it together, all others are push-fit. Tough it doesn’t hurt to glue them together anyways. But to answer @anto‘s questions:
1. I would rate the box to be more of an introductory box to the game than a full contained game. It’s designed to be very first timer friendly. Both sides are roughly around 600 points if the special edition chaplain is not included in the Dark Angel’s army. I don’t own the current Dark Angel or Chaos codexies, so I can’t be entirely sure about the points. It’s a rough estimate. If the chaplain is in play, the loyalists do gain a significant boost. It’s worth noting that all of the army wide and unit specific special rules covered in the corresponding armybooks are not covered in the introduction game’s rosters.
The how to play leaflet has six missions from which two have been designed to be played as solo. These are basicly pit this unit against these units and learn how they function on the battle field. The forces build up from there and the last two missions feature all the box content. Again excluding the chaplain, but it’s stated in his profile sheet that he can be used in missions 5 & 6.
So is it possible to get a fun, reletavely balanced, game straight out the box? Yes, it is. But not to a degree of Space Hulk (or anything similar), because the lack of a good sized campaign. Sure you can play the missions from the main rulebook with the forces given in the box, but lack of information what of the units are actually troops, elites, etc. are not covered in the rosters. So getting the codex is pretty much essential.
2. Since I don’t own the Chaos Codex, I can’t really answer this. For the Lost & Damned armylist, which I’m not sure is legal anymore, you could build a legal army.
Thanks, thats the information I wanted cheers.
Well, in the end I decided to buy the box as the stuff I wanted would have ended costing as much if I had ordered them through bitz stores. I can easily sell the models I don’t need.
@anto – I’ll give some feedback on your questions once I get home and crack open the box.
So, what was the first thing I noticed when I cracked my box open? The measuring sticks have warped and now look like bananas!
Good thing I have plenty of tape measures!
I always thought those whippie sticks very almost pointless to be included in the box. And yes, they’re always warped like bananas! 😀
I downloaded the painting guide ($10…sheesh) it’s very comprehensive and has the same format as the other new painting guides. Detailed photos that can be enlarged to full iPad screen size of each step.
They cover just about every different paint app you need to do all the miniatures in the box.
I still think it should have been included in the box, or in the accompanying WD issue as they have done in the past.
There certainly should be a warning on the box that the painting guide has to be purchased separately…
I do not buy White Dwarf every month, and it’s the same price as the painting guide, I think I will wait to see if they cover any of the painting tutorials in the next issue and if not I will buy the painting guide.
Has anyone else down loaded the guide ?
Just ordered my box today, can’t wait to get back into this.