An Ultramarines Hellblaster unleashing the nuclear fire of his Mark III Belisarius Pattern Plasma Incinerator.
A Hellblaster, who is usually part of a Hellblaster Squad, is a Primaris Space Marine who is intended to serve alongside his brethren in the role of heavy fire support. Hellblaster Squads are armed with Mark III Belisarius Pattern Plasma Incinerators.
They serve a similar combat function as the Legion Tactical Support Squads of the ancient Space Marine Legions and to present-day Devastator Squads found among Firstborn Astartes.
A Hellblaster Squad of Primaris Space Marines of the Ultramarines Chapter armed with Mark III Belisarius Pattern Plasma Incinerators
The Space Marines in a Chapter's fire support squads have a vital role, for they provide covering fire to their battleline and close support brethren.
This could be in the form of assassination of prime targets, counter-battery volleys, or the destruction of enemy armour. By their target selection, marksmanship, and the timely application of firepower are countless battles won.
Imperial observers have likened the fire of a Hellblaster Squad to the incinerating power of a stellar flare. Bolt after bolt of plasma sears across the battlefield; those caught in the Hellblasters' sights are swiftly annihilated, their armour blasted to ash and their flesh and bone to glowing motes.
Even armoured fighting vehicles are swiftly reduced to glowing heaps of metallic slag. Deployed at the correct point and time, a single Hellblaster Squad can blunt the thundering assault of an armoured spearhead, or lay low even the most titanic alien fiend.
Harking back to the single-armament specialisations of the ancient Space Marine Legions, these squads are nonetheless strategically versatile. The various types of Plasma Incinerators carried by Hellblasters are light enough to be fired on the move, while still retaining the damage capacity to drop a rampaging Hive Tyrant or Ork Battlewagon with sustained fire.
The only limiting factor on the usefulness of these squads is the comparative scarcity -- and potential instability -- of their Plasma Weapons. As such, Hellblaster Squads comprise the finest marksmen each company can provide, and will only resort to supercharging their Plasma Incinerators in truly dire circumstances.
They are not afraid to do so, however, and more than one squad has martyred itself in battle, turning the tide at the cost of their own immolation. Yet for every warrior to suffer such a fiery death, there is another that obliterates its foes amidst searing tempests of star-born nuclear fury.
Role[]
A Hellblaster in service to the Deathwatch Chapter prepares to unleash his Plasma Incinerator.
The galaxy seethes with dread terrors, monstrous beasts and heretical war engines that vent their fury upon the Emperor's servants. It is the job of the Hellblasters to eradicate such abominations. With searing plasma they scour them from existence, until nothing but glassy craters and glowing clouds of ash remain. Amongst the Space Marine Chapters, Hellblaster Squads act as single-armament fire support teams. The entire squad carries potent Plasma Incinerators, directing these weapons against priority targets that threaten the advance of the Adeptus Astartes.
Often a squad of Hellblasters will be all that stands between a rampaging monster or xenos walker and the rest of the Space Marine strike force. Thus, each Hellblaster must be ready to concentrate their fire upon such targets to the exclusion of all else, sending pinpoint shots into their target's weak spots no matter the risk to themselves.
This ethos is epitomised by the Hellblasters' ability to overcharge their weapons and deliver a truly ferocious volley of plasma, at the risk of enraging their guns' volatile Machine Spirits to a lethal degree. Hellblasters do not risk self-sacrifice lightly, for they recognise their value to the Imperium of Man, but they will chance death without a second thought when the stakes are sufficiently high.
Unit Composition[]
- 4-9 Hellblasters
- 1 Hellblaster Sergeant
Wargear[]
Plasma fire rises to a howling crescendo as an Ultramarines Hellblaster Squad lets fly.
- Mark III Belisarius Pattern Plasma Incinerator
- Assault Plasma Incinerator (Optional)
- Heavy Plasma Incinerator (Optional)
- Plasma Pistol (Replacement for Bolt Pistol for Hellblaster Sergeant only)
See Also[]
Sources[]
- Codex Adeptus Astartes - Deathwatch (8th Edition), pg. 38
- Codex Adeptus Astartes - Space Marines (8th Edition), pp. 76, 173
- Codex: Space Marines (8th Edition) (Revised Codex), pp. 74, 151
- Dark Imperium (Novel) by Guy Haley
- Warhammer Community - Primaris Space Marines: Gaming
- Warhammer Community - A New Breed of Hero
- Warhammer Community - Primaris Space Marines: FAQ.
- Codex: Space Marines Primaris Edition
Gallery[]
