Fantasy Flight Games

About Death Angel Expansion Packs

Published 7 November 2014 | Death Angel

About Death Angel Expansion Packs

Learn More About These Expansion Packs for Death Angel

Space Hulk: Death Angel - The Card Game and its expansions are © 2010-2011 Games Workshop Ltd. Space Hulk: Death Angel -The Card Game, its expansion titles, Space Hulk, Warhammer 40,000, the foregoing marks‚ respective logos and all associated marks, logos, characters, products and illustrations from Space Hulk: Death Angel -The Card Game game are either TM and/or © Games Workshop Ltd 2000-2013, variably registered in the UK and other countries around the world. Published under license to Fantasy Flight Publishing Inc. Fantasy Flight Supply is a trademark of Fantasy Flight Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved to their respective owners.

Purge the Great Devourer

Published 19 December 2011 | Death Angel

Purge the Great Devourer

The Death Angel Tyranid Enemy Pack, a POD expansion, is now available

++Incoming Transmission Level Red ++ Blood Angels Mission Briefing 7364-6, Brother Sergeant Lorenzo: Assemble your Terminator squad and assault space hulk ++Sin of Damnation++ via boarding torpedo. Tyranid of unknown number and strength on board. Your objective is to destroy the forward launch control rooms. Expect heavy resistance. Estimates: 30% chance of mission success with 90% squad casualties ++End Transmission++

The deadly, close-quarters combat of Space Hulk: Death Angel – The Card Game is about to become even more dangerous. The Death Angel Tyranid Enemy Pack, a Print on Demand expansion for Death Angel, is now available through our webstore! This exciting release joins Mission Pack 1 and Space Marine Pack 1 in the library of POD expansions with which to enhance your Death Angel experience.

The Death Angel Tyranid Enemy Pack includes two additions: a new deck of enemy cards to replace the standard Genestealer deck, and a new Location card type. The Tyranid deck contains a variety of enemies to challenge even the most seasoned Space Marines, while the Hive Lord Location cards introduce the Tyranid’s epic and deadly overlords!

What is Print on Demand?

Print on Demand is an exciting process that allows Fantasy Flight Games to produce professionally finished cards on a made-to-order basis, which opens up new opportunities for expanding existing games.

This process (not to be confused with Print and Play), results in smaller print runs of professionally manufactured products, allowing publishers to provide fans with content that would otherwise not be commercially viable. If you’re a retailer interested in carrying our Print on Demand products, visit our Professional Zone website to learn more.

A word from the developer

For more the Death Angel Tyranid Enemy Pack, here’s a word from the expansion’s designer, Brady Sadler:

The Death Angel card game does two things extremely well: it creates memorable moments of panicked strategy, and it racks up the Space Marine body count. When developing ideas for this expansion, I decided to build on both of these aspects, so players could challenge themselves in new ways.

Even Death Angel veterans will find themselves on unfamiliar ground with the Tyranid Pack. Not only is the new enemy deck chocked full of Tyranid baddies, but many of them are Elite Tyranids, equipped with deadly special abilities that trigger at different points within the turn sequence. The unpredictable nature of these enemies makes it even harder to coordinate your strategies, creating tenser moments as you make your way to the final location.

Speaking of final locations, the new Hive Lord cards in the Tyranid Pack offer an even greater challenge for the bravest combat teams. Rather than facing a deadly location, players will go up against a mighty Tyranid overlord, creating a thrilling boss fight for anyone able to survive long enough to experience it.

As mentioned earlier, these new Death Angel additions are the perfect way for seasoned Space Marines to test their mettle against a brand new threat. We’ll see you in the space hulk, and good luck—you’re gonna need it!

Thanks, Brady! Head to our webstore now to order your copy, then prepare to face an even greater challenge in the dark void of space.

Note: Due to variations in printing, cards from Print on Demand expansions will be subtly different in appearance and texture from base game cards.

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A Harrowing Mission

Published 29 June 2011 | Death Angel

A Harrowing Mission

Space Hulk: Death Angel - The Card Game is back in stock

Lorenzo held the trigger down, scything the bolts back and forth as the deck plating gave away below him and he tumbled forward. He sank into the crawlspace up to his waist, clutched at by alien talons. Even as his sword hewed through the Genestealers in a blizzard of limbs and ichor, their claws lashed out, drawing deep gouges through his armour.

Space Hulk: Death Angel - The Card Game is back in stock at your local retailer and our webstore! This cooperative card game is set in the grim darkness of Warhammer 40,000, and pits 1-6 Space Marines against the vicious Genestealers.

Unfamiliar with Space Hulk: Death Angel - The Card Game?

++Incoming Transmission LEVEL RED++

The Space Hulk called Sin of Damnation has been infested by horrible creatures who crawl through vents, lurk in shadows, and silently stalk their prey. Your mission is to assemble your terminator squad and exterminate the alien menace.

Expect heavy resistance.

++End Transmission++

When the odds are overwhelming, and there is an 86% chance of squad casualties, the only course for survival is to cooperate with your fellow Space Marine to complete your objective.

To win at least one player must survive and complete the objective; protecting your battle brothers is essential. While prowling through the darkened halls of the Sin of Damnation with your Combat team you will experience tensely exciting gameplay. In each location you will encounter Genestealers, choose actions, resolve fights, withstand their response, find a new location...and then it’s back into battle! Can you thin out the swarm?

Hold your ground!

Interested in learning more? Visit our Space Hulk: Death Angel - The Card Game website. Then pick up a copy of this exciting cooperative card game from your local retailer today!

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From the Darkness Above...

Published 11 March 2011 | Death Angel

From the Darkness Above...

Announcing Print on Demand expansions for Death Angel

Fantasy Flight Games is proud to announce the release of two brand new Death Angel Print on Demand expansions!

Print on Demand (POD) from Fantasy Flight Games is a remarkable new offering that combines the latest digital printing and shipping technologies. FFG can now produce and ship micro-expansions on-demand that would not otherwise be commercially viable.

The foundation of this new product line is the manufacturing process. Although we have long considered POD, it hasn't been until now that we have found a professional print service that can produce high-quality cards on demand. Our first POD products are a pair of micro-expansions for Space Hulk: Death Angel - The Card Game, adding new Missions, Locations, Combat Teams, and Genestealer adversaries in two small decks of cards. Check back next week for more information about Print on Demand, and how we're planning to take advantage of this exciting new development.

Both Mission Pack 1 and Space Marine Pack 1 Print on Demand expansions can be ordered directly from our webstore. If you are a retailer or distributor interested in carrying our Print on Demand products, you’ll find all the information you need to begin stocking these items on our Professional Zone website.

These new Print on Demand expansions are unique, and come in two different types: Mission Packs and Space Marine Packs; each adds to the base game in a different way. Mission Packs provide new Location and Terrain cards, while introducing new challenges for the players. Space Marine Packs expand your pool of available space marines, letting you take on the deadly Genestealers in new ways.

New Recruits

The Space Marine Pack 1 expansion adds two all-new Combat Teams to the fold. Brother Kaphael adds mobility to the team, while Brother Adron’s Cyclone Missile Launcher will be sure to add a new level of devastation to your team. Brother Metraen’s alertness will ensure that both sides stay covered while Chaplain Raziel channels his pious faith into paralysing attacks.

Each new Combat Team comes with their appropriate Action cards (three for each Combat Team). In addition, the Space Marine Pack 1 also includes eight Combat Team cards to replace the original six Combat Team markers in Death Angel.

New Missions

While you may have survived the harrowing challenges of Death Angel, the mission is far from over. The Mission Pack 1 expansion brings twelve new Location cards to provide alternate missions for players. These cards are seamlessly incorporated into your Death Angel game - simply choose which deck of Location cards you wish to use (either the base game deck or the one found in Mission Pack 1) and build your mission as normal.

But beware! New terrors have emerged in the form of Adrenal Genestealers: deathly agile and relentless. These dangerous new foes will pop out from every dark corner, unleashing attack after attack.

Also included in Mission Pack 1 is an all-new Terrain card, that will threaten to thrust unfortunate space marines out into the cold embrace of space.

For more information on these exciting new Print on Demand expansions, visit the Death Angel expansion website and order yours today!

Call in the reinforcements and prepare for the next mission. The alien threat will not purge itself.

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Mission Details

Published 19 October 2010 | Death Angel

Mission Details

The FAQ for Space Hulk: Death Angel - The Card Game is online

The FAQ for Space Hulk: Death Angel - The Card Game (pdf, 464 KB) is now available on our support page!

Set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, Death Angel is a cooperative card game for 1-6 players. Taking on the roles of Blood Angel Space Marines, you and your allies must enter an infested Space Hulk and terminate the Genestealer infestation.

Created by Corey Konieczka, Space Hulk: Death Angel - The Card Game combines strategy, teamwork, and grim combat into a suspenseful and fast-paced card game.

Players choose from six different combat teams, each consisting of two Space Marines with different abilities. Each player receives three Action cards for each of his combat teams. As wave after wave of Genestealers attack from every direction, it will take all the teamwork (and luck) you can muster to survive in the claustrophobic hell of this massive Space Hulk.

Download the FAQ and gather your battle-brothers. It's man versus alien in the grim darkness of space. The mission seems impossible. Survival seems unlikely. Failure is not an option.

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Purge the Alien Infestation

Published 17 September 2010 | Death Angel

Purge the Alien Infestation

Space Hulk: Death Angel - The Card Game is on sale

Gather your brother Space Marines and meet the alien threat!

Space Hulk: Death Angel - The Card Game is now on sale at your local game store and on our webstore! Set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, Death Angel is a cooperative card game for 1-6 players. Taking on the roles of Blood Angel Space Marines, you and your allies must enter an infested Space Hulk and terminate the Genestealer infestation.

Created by Corey Konieczka, Space Hulk: Death Angel - The Card Game combines strategy, teamwork, and grim combat into a suspenseful and fast-paced card game.

Players choose from six different combat teams, each consisting of two Space Marines with different abilities. Each player receives three Action cards for each of his combat teams. After all of the Space Marines have fallen into formation, prepare for the first wave of Genestealers!

Gameplay is quick and easy-to-learn. Each game is played over a series of rounds, broken up into phases. During the Choose Actions Phase, each player must secretly determine which of the following Action cards they wish to play on their Space Marines: Support, Attack, or Move + Activate. You can't pick the same Action card next round, so choose wisely!

Action resolution keeps all players involved while the overwhelming odds inspire them to work together to survive. The Action Resolution Phase consists of each player revealing and carrying out their chosen Action. The lowest number card goes first, which means Attacks are resolved after Supports. Support tokens enable Space Marines to reroll, so make sure to cover your fellow Blood Angels!

The Genestealer Attack Phase happens after all the Actions have been resolved, so hopefully you thinned out the swarms since you have to roll higher than the number of Genestealers in the swarm to successfully defend. Finally, an Event card is drawn to spawn more alien adversaries. Once all the Genestealers have emerged from the darkness, its time to move forward, drawing a new location card. And then it's back into the fight!

Check out our series of previews for more information, then get into the action. You have your orders, Space Marine. Head your local retailer and purge this infestation. The mission seems impossible. Survival is unlikely. Failure is not an option.

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Mission Briefing

Published 28 July 2010 | Death Angel

Mission Briefing

The rules for Space Hulk: Death Angel - The Card Game are now online!

Gather your brother Space Marines and meet the alien threat!

The rules for Space Hulk: Death Angel - The Card Game (pdf, 1.9 MB) are now available on our support page! Set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, Death Angel is a cooperative card game for 1-6 players. Taking on the roles of Blood Angel Space Marines, you and your allies must enter an infested Space Hulk and terminate the Genestealer infestation.

Created by Corey Konieczka, Space Hulk: Death Angel - The Card Game combines strategy, teamwork, and grim combat into a suspenseful and fast-paced card game.

Download the rules to learn more, and gather your battle-brothers. It's man versus alien in the grim darkness of space. The mission seems impossible. Survival seems unlikely. Failure is not an option.

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A Question of Survival

Published 19 July 2010 | Death Angel

A Question of Survival

A preview for Death Angel

With the release of Space Hulk: Death Angel - The Card Game quickly approaching, it’s time for another look at the cooperation, chaos, and claustrophobia that await when you and your friends take up arms against the Genestealers!

In our last previews we looked at Action cards, Genestealers, combat, and events. Today we will look at the battle-ready Space Marines and how to utilize their special abilities. Note that every Action card is unique, providing certain Space Marines special abilities when that card is played on them. Discussing the turn as a group before choosing Action cards and how best to use these powerful abilities are both very important parts of the strategy in Death Angel, and, more often than not, it will be your only chance of survival! As an example, let’s jump into a game-in-progress and see what kind of decisions await you in Death Angel.

In this scenario, an Event card was drawn and Brady (who played the lowest numbered Action card that round) was forced to resolve the Instinct portion of the card. After careful consideration (with no deliberation with his team mates), Brady chose to spawn the Genestealers behind Brother Zael (controlled by Anton), who was adjacent to his Brother Claudio and within range of two other Space Marines facing that direction.

(A game in progress...)

On the next game round, Brady and Anton refer to their available actions for the turn. Since the same Action cannot be played in two consecutive rounds, they are left with two Action cards each for their combat teams. While discussing their plans, Anton points out that he has the Strategize Support card for his purple combat team. Since Brother Zael has a swarm of 2 Genestealers breathing down his back, this would be a prime time to utilise the special ability on that card. However, he also has a Forward Scouting Move + Activate card that would allow him to turn Zael around and check out the next Event card to plan for the next turn.

While Anton ponders his next move, Brady knows something has to be done about the Genestealers behind Zael and the newly spawned Genestealer in front of Brother Claudio. He has a Reorganize Move + Activate card that would get Brother Zael out of the way of danger (as well as get Goriel into the action), but it still wouldn’t get rid of those pesky Genestealers this turn.

On the other hand, Brady’s remaining Heroic Charge Attack Action card looks very tempting. With the guaranteed proposition of slaying three Genestealers, the possible threat of losing Brother Claudio seems very much worth it. The odds are stacking up against the Space Marines, and Brady finds the prospect of Brother Claudio valiantly giving his life to ensure the success of the mission more and more appealing.

After weighing these options, Anton decides to pick Strategize, placing the Action card face down in front of him. To make the best use of his Action, he urges Brady to Attack this round. Brady gladly chooses his Heroic Charge card and places it face down in front of him. When they resolve their actions, Anton does so first since Strategize has the lower number on it. Anton orders his purple combat team to support Brother Noctis, who is also in a dire situation at the front of the formation. Now, following the special ability of “Strategize” Anton may now move the swarm of Genestealers that are behind him onto Brother Claudio’s position, lining them up for a terrible demise.

Brady resolves his Heroic Charge Attack action card next, first giving Brother Goriel (his other yellow Space Marine) the chance to shoot down one of the three Genestealers engaged with Brother Claudio. Unfortunately, Brother Goriel’s aim is off and he fails to slay any Genestealers. Finally, it’s time for Brother Claudio’s special ability...

In a last ditch effort to keep his fellow Space Marines from falling under the claws of the swarm, Brother Claudio leaps directly into the Genestealers he’s engaged with. Armed with deadly lightning claws, he is able to quickly slay all three Genestealers, but now he must roll anything but a zero to survive the hand-to-hand onslaught.

Both players hold their breath as Brady rolls the combat die...

Don’t drop your guard! The mission is about to begin, so prepare for your briefing. Next time, the rules of Death Angel will be revealed!

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Brother Noctis - Mission Log

Published 12 July 2010 | Death Angel

Brother Noctis - Mission Log

A look at locations and events in Death Angel

So far we have seen how Action Cards, combat, and Genestealers work in Death Angel. Now it’s time to explore the Space Hulk itself and learn about Locations and Event Cards. In the interest of learning about these firsthand, let us look at a report that was recently recovered from a previous mission...

Brother Noctis forced the heavy steel door closed, shutting out the hissing and clattering that echoed in the hallway beyond. His remaining battle brother secured the perimeter, which was shrouded in suspicious silence. He took this momentary respite to activate his voice log while he scanned his surroundings.

“The alien are too many. They have overpowered us. We are all that remains of Sergeant Lorenzo’s command.” After an adequate surveillance of his location, he continued. “I have arrived at the toxin pumping station, and there is no way out. We shall make make our stand here and eliminate as many of the alien as I can.”

“This may be my final report. See that the Imperium hears these words. I shall start at the beginning.”

During setup, find the appropriate Setup Location card with the correct number of players for the game (3 or 6 players in this case). Build the Location deck according to this card, dividing all Location cards into like piles and drawing one card from each pile as instructed by the Setup Location card: a random “4” location on the bottom, followed by a random “3”, “2”, and “1A”.

“We entered the Sin of Damnation through the void lock, assuming a long-line formation on account of the tight corridors. Sergeant Lorenzo led as Brother Deino assumed rearguard. Immediately we discovered the alien presence. In front of me and behind me, Lexicanium Callistarius and Brother Scipio each faced a swarm of the lurking aliens coming from the ventilation ducts and darkened corners.”

After setting up the Location deck during setup, draw an Event Card (ignoring all information on the card except for the spawning information) and spawn the indicated Genestealers. In the example here, “Quick Instincts” is drawn for this purpose. Players ignore everything but the two spawning rectangles highlighted at the bottom of the card. The two yellow arrows indicate a major spawn on both the red terrain card and the orange terrain card. Players would refer to the red number within the yellow arrow on Setup Location card and spawn that many Genestealer cards on those locations.

“We held against their advances while pushing forward toward the door. Brother Leon fought bravely to cover Brother Scipio, but the alien were too many. Scipio died valiantly, protecting his battle brothers. It was then that Brother Zael discovered a hidden passage.”

After players have resolved their Action Cards and after Genestealers have attacked, the player that played the Action Card with the lowest initiative draws and resolves an Event Card. If the card has Instinct on it (such as the “Quick Instincts” Event Card), the player does not read it aloud. Instead he secretly reads the card and carries out the event without discussing it with the other players. Otherwise, the player simply reads the Event Card aloud, resolves its ability, and then moves on to resolve Genstealer activation.

In the case of “Secret Route”, players would look to see if a “Door” Terrain card is in the formation. Since in Brother Noctis’ dire situation there is a “Door” in play, two Support Tokens are placed on that card. This will slay two Genestealers when the Space Marines move to a new location (as stated by the “Door” terrain activation ability).

During the Genestealer Activation Phase, players reference the bottom of the “Secret Route” Event Card. There are two major spawns (yellow arrows). 5 Genestealer cards would be spawned on both sides of the formation since the “Dark Corridor” (orange terrain) is on the left and the “Corridor” (green terrain) is on the right side of the formation. Afterward, if any swarms have a Genestealer card in it with the claw mark icon, they will move along the formation according to the arrows on the Space Marine cards. For more information on Genestealer spawning and moving, check out our earlier preview.

“After a merciless battle, the sounds of the alien advances died out. Many of my battle brothers still fought off the remaining swarms, but we were commanded to move forward. We reached the rear doors to the void lock and quickly moved through. Sergeant Gideon was the last Space Marine through and we quickly shut the doors behind us, locking out the pursuing alien. We came into a large corridor, which we quickly learned was no safe haven...”

Whenever there are no cards left in either the right or left Blip Pile at the end of any phase, players must travel to a new location. Traveling is done by the formation as a whole (while moving is done within the formation), taking Space Marines and engaged Genestealers to a new location.

When a Blip Pile runs out, players discard all old Terrain Cards then place the next Location Card (from the Location Deck that was created during setup) on top of the Setup Location Card, but do not cover the major and minor spawn numbers, as they will still be used. Next, place the new Terrain Cards according to the new Location Card.

If players draw the “Main Corridor” for their next Location Card, then they would refer to the two terrain icons on either side of the card art. On the left side of the formation, a “Ventilation Duct” is placed 2 positions from the top of the formation while the “Door” Terrain Card is placed 5 positions from the top. The other side shows a “Corridor” 7 positions from the bottom and a “Dark Corridor” three positions from the bottom.

After setting up terrain, players form the new Blip Piles (where Genestealers spawn from). These piles are made up of a number of Genestealer cards as indicated by the blip icons on the bottom left and right of the Location Card. In the example above, a Blip Pile of 7 Genestealer cards is placed on the left side of the Location Card while a Blip Pile of 8 Genestealer cards is placed on the right.

Finally, follow any “Upon Entering” ability on the Location Card. In this case, 2 Genestealers would be immediately spawned on the “Corridor” Terrain Card. Since the “Corridor” is on the right side of the formation, 2 cards are drawn from the right Blip Pile and placed in the same position of the “Corridor” Terrain Card.

“Brother Leon and Brother Zael fell in those dark passageways as the onslaught continued. It took us too long to reach the end of the corridor. When we did, we were surrounded and cornered. Brave Sergeant Lorenzo led us onward, pushing determinedly through the hordes. Brother Goriel met his end when a ventilation duct expelled nearly a dozen of the alien.”

“Our squad was reduced to nearly half its size as we reached the dark catacombs. But we pressed on. Those of us who remained continued into a ruined chapel. But we found no refuge there. The alien continued to come.”

A crash came from above, echoing throughout the pumping station. The sounds of claws on metal began to surround Brother Noctis.

“They are coming. There is no way out of here. This is the end of my report. Brother Noctis, out--”

When players reach the final Location in the Location Deck, they have reached their objective. However, they must first fulfill the winning conditions listed on the Location Card. Alternatively, players can also win by eliminating all Genestealers in the formation and the Blip Piles to win.

Check back next time for another look at Death Angel!

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Angels of Death

Published 28 June 2010 | Death Angel

Angels of Death

A look at combat in Death Angel

Things are heating up in the Sin of Damnation as Sergeant Lorenzo’s squad pushes further into the dark and cramped ruins of the Space Hulk. The encroaching shadows have quickly taken shape, becoming swarms of vile Genestealers. Bloodshed is inevitable.

Continuing in a series of previews for Space Hulk: Death Angel - The Card Game, today’s preview will take us into the thick of battle. Previously we looked at Action cards and how they are used to command your Space Marines, and following that we witnessed the terror of Genestealers and their erratic movement patterns. Now it’s time to stand your ground and do what the Blood Angels do best.

Combat in Death Angel is resolved by rolling a custom combat die. This die’s six sides are numbered 0 through 5, and three of those sides has a skull icon on it. When rolling to attack, players will score a hit for a every skull symbol rolled. When defending against Genestealer attacks, players must roll higher than the number of Genestealer cards in the attacking swarm, otherwise the Space Marine is slain.

As simple as that sounds, there are several factors that modify combat depending on the situation. Facing, range, Support tokens, special abilities, and Broodlords are the main factors to consider when resolving combat.

As discussed in our Genestealer and Movement preview, facing determines whether or not your Space Marine can target a particular Genestealer swarm. Each Space Marine card is double-sided: one side has a large arrow pointing left, the other pointing right. These arrows indicate the direction in which the Space Marine can attack.

Range is measured by “positions”. A position is a single space in the formation (i.e. a Space Marine card). A Space Marine with a range of 1 can attack Genestealer swarms that are engaged with him or ones that are one position away (engaged with an adjacent Space Marine). Space Marines with a range of 0 may only attack Genestealer swarms that they are engaged with.

Support tokens are provided by the Support action card. As we discussed in the Action card preview, these tokens can be used to reroll the combat die when attacking or defending. Whenever a player uses the Support action card they gain one Support token to place on any Space Marine (even ones not under his control or already assigned a Support token).

Certain special abilities provided by Action cards allow players to either reroll the combat die or attack multiple times. The Action cards indicate when these special abilities can be used on the turn they are played.

Broodlords are exceptionally powerful Genestealers. These deadly foes are only spawned when specifically instructed. Their cards feature two movement icons meaning that swarms with Broodlords will move twice as often as normal swarms. Also, every time a player rolls the combat die to defend against a Broodlord swarm, subtracts 1 from the die roll. If that weren’t deadly enough, Broodlords must be the last Genestealer killed in a particular swarm. Meaning players will have to slay all other Genestealers before being able to attack the Broodlord.

With these factors in mind, combat is initiated in one of two ways: when an Attack action card is resolved, or during the Genestealer Attack phase. In both instances the combat die is rolled, modifiers are added in, and results are applied.

In the example above, the players controlling Brother Noctis (green) and Brother Scipio (grey) both played attack Action Cards. Brother Noctis has a range of 2, allowing him to attack the Genestealers numbered 1 and 3. He decides to attack the one he is engaged with (1), rolling a skull and slaying the Genestealer. Brother Scipio is facing to the right and has a range of 2, allowing him to attack the Genestealer numbered 2. He does not roll a skull and thus fails in protecting Noctis from an upcoming rear attack!

Combat is fast and brutal in Death Angel, so try not to blink too often.

Check back next time when we explore the Sin of Damnation, learning about Locations and Events!

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Amongst the Swarms

Published 15 June 2010 | Death Angel

Amongst the Swarms

A Look at Genestealers and Movement in Death Angel

The Sin of Damnation has been infiltrated by an alien menace, swarming through its ruined interior. These horrid creatures crawl through vents, lurk in shadows, and silently stalk their prey. Any visitors would do well to watch their backs, and the backs of their companions...

In our last preview of Death Angel, we looked at Action cards and how they interact with Space Marines. Today we’ll take a look further into the darkened recesses of the Space Hulk and explore the viciousness of the Genestealers and how they prowl the darkness surrounding your battle brothers.

Sergeant Lorenzo led his squad forward through the tight corridor, shadows dancing in their wake. His sensors picked up movement from several directions, but they were faint signals. “Stay alert,” he commanded, his Blood Angels following in a long line behind him. “They can come from anywhere.”

Suddenly, multiple scanners went off. Lorenzo couldn’t see anything in the shadows, but his equipment told him his prey were now closing in, becoming the hunters. “They are in the vents.” The sounds of his squad preparing for the coming attack filled the cramped hall. He held his sword tightly as he felt the entire Space Hulk swell with the anticipation of bloodshed. “Hold your ground!”

Given the cooperative nature of Death Angel, Genestealers are not controlled by opposing players. Instead, they act unpredictably in accordance to a central event deck. Every turn, the event deck will spawn Genestealers from certain terrain cards. In addition to spawning Genestealers, Event cards designate which swarms (groups of Genestealers) will move and in what manner they move. While you can be sure that the enemy will attack each turn, you cannot be sure who will be on the receiving end, creating a cramped and chaotic battlefield for your Space Marines.

To get a better idea of how Genestealers spawn and move, here is a step-by-step example of how Genestealer activation is resolved during the Event phase.

In this example, the current player drew an Event card with a yellow terrain card symbol featuring a major spawn icon, a red terrain card symbol featuring a minor spawn icon, and a “tail” icon for Genestealer movement. After resolving the special abilities of the Event card, the current player resolves each of these icons from left to right.

First, the current player resolves the major spawn that is triggered. To do so, a number of Genestealer cards indicated by the Setup Location card are taken from the blip pile and placed on the position containing the yellow Terrain card (in this case, the “Control Panel”).
The next spawn (a minor spawn on red Terrain cards) is not triggered since there are no red Terrain cards on this side of the formation. No additional Genestealers are spawned.
Now movement is resolved. Each swarm containing a Genestealer card with the “tail” icon moves to the adjacent space (following the arrows on the Space Marine card). In this example, the player first moves the swarm on Brother Claudio up to Brother Noctis’s position.
Finally, the newly spawned Genestealer cards move to Brother Claudio’s position (moving all Genestealer cards in this swarm). Any swarms not containing a Genestealer with this Event card’s movement icon are not moved.

If the Genestealers are at the last Space Marine in the formation when they are instructed to move again, they will instead flank. This represents the danger involved in leading or brining up the rear of your formation.

Sometimes, Event cards will directly result in Genestealer swarms flanking the Space Marine, even if they aren’t at the end of the formation. Unless that unfortunate Space Marine can reposition himself soon by playing a Move + Activate Action card, he will be vulnerable to an attack. In our previous article we discussed the versatility of Space Marine movement. With a Move + Activate Action card, Space Marines can trade places with the Space Marine above or below him, as well as change their facing. It’s important to have both sides of the formation covered, because flanking can happen at any time.

If Space Marines happen to be in range of (and facing) a swarm of Genestealers, they might be able to thin out the swarms with an Attack Action card, giving up their chance to reposition themselves that turn. However, don’t forget to prepare for oncoming waves, as they are sure to come.

Positioning is important for attacking and defending. Genestealers will attack every turn after all Space Marines have been activated and before an Event card is drawn. Normally, players may discard a Support token from their Space Marine to reroll against an attack that would have slain them. However, if attacked from behind, the Space Marine cannot benefit from Support tokens. So watch your back!

Check back next time when we look at combat in Death Angel!

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The Mighty Few

Published 25 May 2010 | Death Angel

The Mighty Few

A Look at Action Cards in Death Angel

This summer, Death Angel players will be able to enter the infested Space Hulk Sin of Damnation in an effort to exterminate the awaiting swarms of Genestealers. It will take cooperation and effective planning to survive such a deadly mission, and today we will preview the tools necessary to get the job done.

As a quick refresher, take a look at the description page to learn how setup works in Death Angel.

Action cards are the heart of Death Angel, since they are the only way to issue commands to your combat teams. These cards come in three different types: Attack, Support, and Move + Activate. There are a total of six combat teams, each with their own distinct color. Each combat team has its own set of Action cards which can only be used to activate Space Marines in that specific combat team (matching the color of their Action cards).

During gameplay, Action cards must be chosen secretly - players cannot show their Action cards to other players. This encourages players to discuss, plan, and coordinate their choices while ensuring that each player ultimately makes his own decision. Once everyone has chosen their card, all Action cards are revealed and resolved in numerical order from lowest to highest.

Support cards allow the current player to place a support token on any Space Marine. These support tokens can be later discarded to reroll the die when attacking or defending. Attack cards allow the activated Space Marines to attack a Genestealer swarm within their range. Finally, Move + Activate orders allow you to reposition your activated Space Marines, replacing their card with that of an adjacent Space Marine and/or change the activated Space Marine’s facing. Facing is important in Death Angel, as we’ll explore later.

Additionally, a Space Marine activated with a Move + Activate may also trigger a Terrain ability. These beneficial abilities can really save your skin. The Move + Activate Action card is vital to assembling your combat teams into an optimal formation. Genestealers swarm in unpredictable ways, so it's important to watch your brother’s back!

Check back next time when we look at just how unpredictable Genestealers can be!

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Failure is Not an Option

Published 14 May 2010 | Death Angel

Failure is Not an Option

Announcing Death Angel, a Space Hulk card game coming this summer

Gather your brother Space Marines and meet the alien threat!

Fantasy Flight Games is pleased to announce Space Hulk: Death Angel - The Card Game! Set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, Death Angel is a cooperative card game for 1-6 players. Taking on the roles of Blood Angel Space Marines, you and your allies must enter an infested Space Hulk and terminate the Genestealer infestation.

Created by Corey Konieczka, Space Hulk: Death Angel - The Card Game combines strategy, teamwork, and grim combat into a suspenseful and fast-paced card game.

Players choose from six different combat teams, each consisting of two Space Marines with different abilities. Each player receives three Action cards for each of his combat teams. After all of the Space Marines have fallen into formation, prepare for the first wave of Genestealers!

Head over to our description page to learn more, and keep watching for previews over the coming weeks. This summer, it's man versus alien in the grim darkness of space. The mission seems impossible. Survival seems unlikely. Failure is not an option.

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