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Inspired by the tactics topic, we have these wonderful models and little use for them. What do you think are some effective changes? From a previous topic in the proposed rules I really like the rule that shooting attacks against Mandrakes (and The Decapitator) should use night fighter rules. Also have the nightfiend gain access to a rending/power weapon to make the upgrade more worthwhile. Decapitator really needs to get some more T or EW or gain IC so a simple multilaser cant ID him. I was also thinking of this rule to make them more mobile since they dont have a DT

Shadow Step: Mandrakes are feared by their abilities to seemingly traverse through shadows almost instantly, traveling huge distances in a heartbeat. Once per game, Mandrakes (and Decapitator) may move as if they are jump infantry

Thoughts?

10 points per model. Problem solved.

Also, make kheradruakh an upgrade character and not a single man unit (letting the whole unit infiltrate like him).

Mandrakes are far to cool to be bad.

Maybe if they always moved like Jump Infantry then that would definitely improve them. Or you could add something such as this:

"The Mandrakes merge into the surrounding shadows, only to reappear a moment later across the battlefield."
Once per game, you may remove the Mandrake unit at the beginning of the Movement Phase (any player's turn), and place them anywhere on the board in terrain, so that all models are more than 1" from an enemy. In addition, any enemy units within 3" of the Mandrake's final position must take a Morale Check.

The only thing they needed to change from the last edition is the one thing they left out in this edition.

Let the squad upgrade character have some sort of weapon upgrades that make the unit a bit more effective in assault. An agonizer in the unit would dramatically improve their effectiveness.

Rather than have Kheradruakh being an upgrade character which has the potential to be a bit too good, make him an IC that can only be joined by a unit of Mandrakes.

I think other options would be to either make their attacks all rending as opposed to giving the Nightfiend an Agoniser etc (bit unfluffy if you ask me)
Or allow them to assault on the turn they arrive in a similar fashion to the Ymgarl Genestealers for Tyranids

I don't think merely reducing their points costs will help. With their current rules you still aren't going to take them at 10 points a pop or so when the Elites section of our codex has far more efficient and effective options available.

Boar

I'm new to 40k and I chose DE as my army, with the Mandrake models being one of the reasons. So are they pretty much not used at the moment? If this is the case, is it only because they can't be brought in a transport?

Allidor wrote:I'm new to 40k and I chose DE as my army, with the Mandrake models being one of the reasons. So are they pretty much not used at the moment? If this is the case, is it only because they can't be brought in a transport?

There are many more problems than that

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/377086.page

I see. Thanks for the reply.

What about making their shooting attack not require a pain token? They're pretty much sitting ducks when they come in as it is.

Gavo wrote:What about making their shooting attack not require a pain token? They're pretty much sitting ducks when they come in as it is.

+1

Or the Fact that it the main BRB the made unit only able to pin another unit once and the fact that dont matter caus emostly ever sm army has fearless or some other way to not care.
their stat are lol fail.

I have a Bolt Pistol and chainsword i never new i could break shadows so easy with that

I have a feeling after reading the 6th edition rumors from BoK that Mandrakes were destined for 6th edition. For three reasons:

They have infiltrate or outflank.

Stealth units may be allowed to vanish when fired upon.

The turn sequence will see the assault phase occur before the shooting phase, allowing the mandrakes to assault out of cover, kill a unit to gain the pain point and then shoot with the baleblast, pin the unit with the new pinning rules which are supposed to affect movement regardless of whether they passed leadership.

I have my fingers crossed. Those rumors alone are enough to make me add 2 box of finecast mandrakes to my next order.

Currently, to fix the mandrake problem, I would give them rending, and a 4 ++ and keep them the same price.

Or, make them cost 35 points each, have them with rending, and give them a shadow field each...