Horus Heresy 2e Review: Blackshields Oath: Panoply of Old

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

3/5 stars. The rules are sound. 

Background.

These blackshields have carried across some specialist equipment from their old legion. Perhaps it gives them meaning. Perhaps they're just tools. 

Rules Evaluation. 

Choose your legion and gain access to their unique wargear options. I like this option, but it really depends on which legion you choose. Get those chain axes from the World Eaters perhaps? Or the power daggers from the Alpha Legion might be a good character option for you for that extra close combat attack. 

Combinatoric Analysis. 

The Eternal Vendetta: ⭐️⭐️⭐️. 3/5 stars. Works well thematically for me. But the Vendetta rule is weak on its own and you might go for something else. But perhaps you're using the weapons of your old legion against them. Very fluffy if you ask me. 

Panoply of Old: ⭐️⭐️⭐️. 3/5 stars. Take more than one legion to borrow from for your blackshields! I'm not sure how characterful this can be, but it is a reasonable option. 

Only in Death Does Duty End: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. 4/5 stars. This goes really well thematically to my mind.

The Spoils of Victory: ⭐️⭐️⭐️. 3/5 stars. This works to some extent and in combination is a good option. 

 

An Eternity of War: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. 4/5 stars. This goes really well!

The Flesh is Weak: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. 4/5 stars. Full stars if you have chosen Iron Hands for both. 2/5 stars for almost any other legion combination to be honest. 

The Legacy of Nikaea: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. 4/5 stars. Full stars if you choose something fluffy like Dark Angels, White Scars, Blood Angels, or Thousand Sons. Less so for other legions. 

The Broken Helix: ⭐️⭐️⭐️. 4/5 stars. I do like this, but for me it only works well if you're thinking Raven Guard, or similar. 

In Disgrace All Are Equal: ⭐️⭐️⭐️. 3/5 stars. A reasonable choice. 

Pride is our Armour: ⭐️⭐️⭐️. 3/5 stars. Middle of the road combination for me once again.

The Taint of the Xenos: ⭐️⭐️. 2/5 stars. Tough to decide how I feel about this combination. You've already got a legion, and you're topping it up with weapons from xenos. I don't like this. 

The Weapons of Desperation: ⭐️⭐️. 2/5 stars. Doesn't work for me - you've got weapons, but you're also desperate.