Death Guard Starter Set: Unleash the Plague – Starter Set Guide for Nurgle’s Champions
. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about assembling, painting, and playing with these disgustingly resilient warriors of Nurgle. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or just starting your journey into the realm of Warhammer 40,000, the Death Guard Starter Set is an excellent choice for anyone looking to embrace the blessings of the Plague God.
Why Choose the Death Guard?
The Death Guard are the ultimate champions of Nurgle, the Chaos God of decay, disease, and regeneration. These once-loyal Space Marines have been twisted and corrupted by the powers of the Warp, their bodies bloated with festering corruption and their armor cracked and rotting.
Despite their horrific disfigurements, the Death Guard are fearsome warriors, relentless in their pursuit of spreading Nurgle’s bounteous gifts across the galaxy.
Want to read more about Chaos? Read our full article on The Forces Of Chaos
Lore and Background
The Death Guard were once the XIV Legion of the original Space Marine Legions, led by their Primarch, Mortarion. During the Horus Heresy, Mortarion and his Legion sided with the traitorous Warmaster Horus, ultimately pledging themselves to Nurgle in exchange for salvation from a deadly plague. Since then, the Death Guard have become the embodiment of Nurgle’s will, their numbers forever swelling with the diseased and the damned.
Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or just starting your journey into the realm of Nurgle, these sets offer a fantastic entry point into the world of the Death Guard.
Learn more about the Death Guard
1. Death Guard Starter Set: – Death Guard: Plague Marines
The Plague Marines form the backbone of any Death Guard army. These multi-part plastic models are highly detailed, featuring the iconic symbols of decay and corruption that define the Death Guard. With a wide array of weapon options and heads, you can customize your Plague Marines to suit your preferred playstyle and aesthetic.
- Contains a multi-part plastic kit with components to build a squad of 7 Plague Marines
- Includes a wide range of weapon options, heads, and an Icon of Despair
Bloated with festering corruption, Plague Marines have disgusting, rotted bodies that stink of decay. Despite their horrific disfigurements, they are fearsome warriors, sworn to Nurgle’s service.
Prefer a more Chaos neutral starter set? Read our article for Chaos Starter Kit for Miniatures
2. Death Guard Starter Set: – Death Guard Blightlord Terminators
Blightlord Terminators are the ultimate embodiment of Nurgle’s blessings, their Cataphractii armor fused with their rotting flesh. Armed with combi-weapons, plague spewers, and blight launchers, these elite warriors are a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield.
- Contains a multi-part plastic kit with components to build 5 Blightlord Terminators
- Includes combi-bolters, baleswords, bubotic axes, a plague spewer, reaper autocannon, blight launcher, and a flail of corruption
Resplendent in their cracked, rotting armor, Blightlord Terminators are bursting with squirming tentacles and pustulent signs of Nurgle’s gifts.
Want to give your terminators the best coat of paint? Airbrushing is the best way, check our guide on the Best Airbrushes for Miniatures
3. Death Guard Starter Set – Combat Patrol: Death Guard
The Combat Patrol: Death Guard set is an excellent starting point for those new to the army or looking to bolster their forces. This set includes a variety of models, making it perfect for playing smaller-scale games or for expanding your collection.
Contains a 243-piece plastic kit that includes:
- 1 Typhus model
- 1 Biologus Putrifier model
- 7 Plague Marines
- 30 Pox Walkers
The Death Guard Combat Patrol represents a small, yet formidable force of Nurgle’s chosen warriors, ready to spread the Plague God’s blessings across the galaxy.
At the heart of this force is Typhus, the Herald of Nurgle and Host of the Destroyer Hive. Once known as Calas Typhon, First Captain of the Death Guard Legion, Typhus has become a favored champion of Nurgle, wielding the power to unleash devastating plagues upon his enemies.
4. Death Guard Starter Set – Death Guard Daemon Primarch Mortarion
Mortarion, the towering Daemon Primarch of the Death Guard, is a true centerpiece model for any collection. Standing head and shoulders above even the mighty Blightlord Terminators, Mortarion is a terrifying presence on the battlefield, wielding his massive scythe, Silence, and the ancient Lantern energy pistol.
- Contains a multi-part plastic kit to build Mortarion, Daemon Primarch of Nurgle
- Offers two different pose options for Mortarion’s weapons, Silence (a massive scythe) and The Lantern (an ancient energy pistol)
- Features highly detailed armor, wings, and Nurgle symbolism
This multi-part plastic kit allows for two different poses, offering a dynamic and imposing addition to your army. Mortarion’s baroque Barbaran Plate armor is covered in rust, rot, and Nurgle symbolism, while his wings are modeled with pockmarks, holes, and tears, representing the decay that follows in his wake.
Nurgle not your style? Check out Khorne instead! Khorne Starter set for Warhammer
5. Death Guard Starter Set –Death Guard Myphitic Blight-Hauler
The Myphitic Blight-hauler is a bizarre Daemon Engine that combines the resilience of an armored vehicle with the putrid blessings of Nurgle. Equipped with a multi-melta and missile launcher, this light transport provides the Death Guard with mobile heavy firepower.
- Contains a 13-component plastic kit to build a Myphitic Blight-hauler
- Includes a multi-melta and missile launcher
Resembling a grotesque, bloated creature fused with a machine, the Myphitic Blight-hauler features a carapace adorned with the symbol of Nurgle, rusted armor plates, and exposed, flabby flesh that can absorb impressive punishment. The kit comes as 13 components and includes a Citadel 80mm Round base, as well as rules for use on the tabletop.
Buying model kits not your thing? Want to skip the making process to paint? Have a look at the Best 3d Printers for Miniatures
Painting and Modeling Tips
Read our full guide on Death Guard Beginner Paint Set – Here you will find all the paints you need to Nurglefy your army!
Painting and modeling your Death Guard army is a fantastic opportunity to let your creativity shine. The Death Guard’s signature green and brass color scheme is iconic, but don’t be afraid to experiment with different hues and techniques to make your army stand out. Here are a few tips to help you get started:
- Start with a base coat of a rich, dark green like Caliban Green Citadel Base. This will serve as the foundation for your Death Guard’s armor.
- Use washes like Agrax Earthshade or Athonian Camoshade to add depth and shading to your models, especially in the recesses and around details.
- Highlight raised edges and important details with lighter shades of green, such as Nurgling Green Citadel Layer. Apply these highlights sparingly to create a sense of contrast and depth.
- Experiment with technical paints, such as Nihilakh Oxide, to create the appearance of aging and corrosion on brass and bronze details.
- Don’t neglect your bases! Adding elements like patches of Nurgle’s Rot or pools of slime and decay can really tie your army together and create a cohesive, thematic look.
Playing with Your Death Guard Army
On the tabletop, the Death Guard are a formidable force, combining the resilience of Nurgle’s blessings with the inexorable advance of the Plague God’s chosen warriors. Here are a few tips for putting your Death Guard army to good use:
We recommend heading to Goonhammer for combat tips!
- Make use of your Poxwalkers and other cheap, expendable units to screen your more valuable units and control the board.
- Leverage the resilience of your Plague Marines and Terminators to hold key objectives and weather enemy fire.
- Use psykers like Typhus to debuff enemy units and enhance your own forces with pestilent powers.
- Don’t underestimate the power of your ranged units like Blight-haulers and Plague Marines equipped with blight launchers and plasma weapons. These can soften up enemy units before your main force closes in for the kill.
Conclusion
These Death Guard products showcase the incredible detail, variety, and character of Nurgle’s chosen warriors. Whether you’re drawn to the resilient Plague Marines, the imposing Blightlord Terminators, or the towering figure of Mortarion himself, each of these kits offers a fantastic opportunity to explore the putrid world of the Death Guard.
Remember to check out the Warhammer Universe YouTube channel for more in-depth tutorials, painting guides, and lore videos to help you get the most out of your Death Guard army. Happy hobbying, and may the blessings of Grandfather Nurgle be upon you!
