I'm getting into 40k again after really enjoying kill team. We played the starter box Tau vs Space Wolves and easily found a faction he loved the look of I. The Deathwatch and got the Start Collecting box. I'm more likely to player larger than 500-1000 or battles eventually because I have friends into kill team, but I'm going to start an army and play with him at the 500pt scale with the basic rules until 9th comes out.

So where's my problem, I'm struggling to pick an army. I like to play aggressively lately with heavy armored hard hitting melee units in my wargames. I've thought about Grey Knights but they seem a bit too dependent on those melee units not getting murdered early by gunlines and sometimes I'm dumb, just want something a little more forgiving. Kind of lead me to Space Marines. Ultramarines seem easiest to work with especially since they'll probably get a good starter set with the necrons and rulebook. I just usually don't like playing the popular thing. Salamanders appeal to me lore and look wise, but I'm not sure they're the most melee friendly? This is where I can use some help. Love the look of Blood Angels but the lore and characters aren't appealing. Space Wolves seem like a strong option here as well, but they don't seem to be strong with the Primaris versions that are the new norm?

I don't know, someone help me out here lol.