Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

So GW previewed a heap more of the upcoming rules in Twitch, Ill summarise what I saw, just typed out because I hate tryna add screenshots on this site.

Jain Zar pretty much the same besides what changes we've seen already

Banshee Exarch can buy a Triskele to replace sword, 12" Assault 3 S4 -2 D1, and just a -2 AP power weapon in CC

All Aspect Warriors have a table of new exarch powers to choose from, plus a 1 CP strat which allows them to keep their base power in addition to the new one (once per battle, i.e. only 1 squad Exarch can get 2 powers). They previewed one from each Aspect (2 for spiders):

Exarch needs to be alive for the following, no points costs shown (if any, none hinted at)

Banshees: 5+++ in the fight phase
Fire Dragons: Fusion guns can turn to Pistol 1
Dire Avengers: Add +1 to hit and wound rolls for ANY/ALL attacks, once squad has taken any casualties (wow)
Reapers: Reroll No. of shots for Exarchs Tempest Launcher
Swooping Hawks: Reduce charge distance for enemy unit by 2 when Exarch fires Overwatch at it
Striking Scorpions: Can fall back 6 inches at end of fight phase as if it were your movement phase
Spiders 1: Can remove squad from battlefield and come in via deepstrike immediately
Spiders 2: Exarch power blades gain +1 damage and Strength
Crimson Hunter Ex: +1 Damage vs FLY Targets (also pretty good)
Shining Spears: 3++ for Exarch vs Ranged

Additionally they previewed 8 more of the 22 pick n match DIY Craftworld attributes, you can pick up to 2 when making your CW:

>Melee Weapons get +1 damage on natural 6 to wound
>Units add 1 to any hit rolls once half the unit is destroyed
>During psychic tests, any 1s rolled count as 2s
>FLY units add an extra 2 inches when advancing
>6++ save for all units
>Can reroll 1 hit and wound per unit (like the old Salamander trait)
>Reroll morale checks
> -1 AP for all shuriken weapons when target is within 12 inches (but still just -3 on a 6 to wound)

Regarding Bashees, I believe the 5+++ only applies to wounds lost in the fight phase.

 vipoid wrote:
Regarding Bashees, I believe the 5+++ only applies to wounds lost in the fight phase.

Correct, good spotting. Edited the post.

A few more Craftworld Traits

Students of Vaul: Vehicles regain 1 wound beginning of their turns

Warding Rune: Ignore MW on 5+

+4 inch range for Shuriken weapons (didn't get name)

Martial Citizens: Guardian keyword reroll to hit rolls of 1

So, without giving us the Space Marine style benefits to going mono faction, I feel that these new custom craftworlds really, really incentivize a hardcore level of min maxing.

For example, a battalion of just a farseer and warlock with 3x20 gaurdian blobs. Give reroll 1s for guardians and additional webway strike.* Drop in turn 2 with all 3, absolutely demolish a front line. Back it up with a full alaitoc gunline battalion behind it.

Kind of a shame, that sort of silly min maxing is not fun to see but since we dont get the additional mono faction benefits we will have to do it just to keep pace.

Edited out +4" shuri.

Tel11 wrote:


For example, a battalion of just a farseer and warlock with 3x20 gaurdian blobs. Give them +4" range shuriken and reroll 1s for guardians. Drop in turn 2 with all 3, absolutely demolish a front line. Back it up with a full alaitoc gunline battalion behind it.

Isn't that already possible with an Autarch? Not to mention 20 of those guardians shooting at BS2 with the Ulthwe strat. Not sure how useful +4" range when you can already deep strike into shuriken range.

 slave.entity wrote:

Tel11 wrote:


For example, a battalion of just a farseer and warlock with 3x20 gaurdian blobs. Give them +4" range shuriken and reroll 1s for guardians. Drop in turn 2 with all 3, absolutely demolish a front line. Back it up with a full alaitoc gunline battalion behind it.

Isn't that already possible with an Autarch? Not to mention 20 of those guardians shooting at BS2 with the Ulthwe strat. Not sure how useful +4" range when you can already deep strike into shuriken range.

You actually caught me right before I edited! Yea the increased range there is probably not the best, I think reroll 1s or the -1 ap within 12 is better.

The trick to it is the additional webway strike.

I'm wondering if cat bikes buffed with the range trait, the ap trait with the vigilus formation could be competitive.
618 points gets a maxed outrider detachment with over 100 shots with ap values of between -1 to -4 I think, plus a farseer for the psychic goodness they bring. I don't think there's a screen alive that will survive that kind of firepower. Advancing, they have a 36" threat range too which should be good enough for an alpha strike.

Tabletop Tactics review is out. I'm afraid Phoenix is looking pretty tame, but lots of fun to play with. Absolutely nothing in common with the SM codex or supplements in terms of power level.

Here's the video review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1302&v=bFIr22hvOp8

Spoiler: there's a lot of extra things on unmodified 6s and re-rolls of 1's.

But some things are pretty good or a straight upgrade. Also there's a lot of new ways of doing mortal wounds.

Yeah.. marines tteatement this was not. Very tame..

Im interested in the DA exarch power coupled with additional range for shuriken weapons. That could be fun.

The 6++ is realy only useful against ap -4 weaponary for allour stuff with 3+ save.

The salamander re-rolls also sounds goid but then you remember bright lances are 20pts... However, d-canon vauls wrath batteries anyone?

The 1 w regen for vehicles sounds interesting. Maybe I can finaly run some bonesingers and make a silly build lol. I havent got my codex handy, does the WL have vehicle keyword?

The 3++ SS power seems strong. A 2++ on a cheeky protect to tank hits on the exarch could be very frustrating.

Nothing really screams synergy though. Looking forward to getting hold of all the rules and find some funky builds.

Anyone find anything jump out at them for wraiths? Particularly WL?

Okayyyyy... I was keen to figure out what my exodites will be rolling with for my local league, so I noted down all the new traits. Here are the custom CW attributes in all their *ahem* glory, hope it's of some use:

+1D on 6 to wound in cc for aspect warrior.

Lost half or more models from the unit? +1 to hit.

1s become 2s on psychic tests

+2" advance for flyers (lol)

6++ save

reroll a hit and wound shooting, overwatch, or CC.

reroll morale dice

within 12" Shurikens get -1AP

+1" to charge rolls

+1A when within 3" of objective

Guardian models reroll 1s to hit

ignore cover bonus to saving throws

outside of 12" you count as in cover

if you disembark reroll 1s to hit

cc attacks when charge/d reroll 1s to hit

you can charge when you've fallen back... And when not within 3" of an enemy, you don't have to end up closer to an enemy when you consolidate. Uses up two slots. An actually interesting, inventive, but niche trait...

at the start of your turn all your vehicles regain 1 wound

add 4" to shurikens

CC attacks against Chaos when charge/d you reroll hits

5+++ vs mortal wounds

you can use the webway strat one additional time per battle per detachment you field.

Wraith units reroll 1s to wound

Thanks for the post. Those are... disapointing. Feth me those are so situational and gak compared to the sm stuff...
Really not impressed with GW...

Ill be sticking to my alitoic lol.

+1 charge, +1 charge for Exarch, and -1 rending on their catapults for Spears - hah, Biel Tan now can rest, because why pay 2CP for Stratagem which may not even work?

And +2" from the new rune of fortune power, ghostwalk, making it a 5"+ charge! Spears are still pretty poor at their current price, but DS is definitely the way to go now eh?

Say, re-rolling hits of 1 for all GUARDIAN units + -1 AP on Shuriken makes Biel Tan and Ulthwe a bit jelly. It's not just Shuriken re-rolls, but melee re-rolls, platform re-rolls and Shadoweaver re-rolls. You can't have Autarch both at 12" near enemy and near Shadoweavers, eh? And they can deny you Jinx. Well, they can't deny dat -1 ap.

Ignoring cover + You are always in cover from 12" - for units of DR with Tempest Launchers. Take some Rangers - this ability makes you 3+ anywhere on the table after all, and their guns get to ignore cover similar to AM ability.

For DAs, cover and +4" to Shuriken etc. For Scorpions, Cover from 12" + -1 to hit against shooting while you're in Cover (Exarch ability) + charge boni.

Also while 6++ may not seem like much, Protect turns it into 5++ and that's something.

One thing is certain: if you want to make use of custom Craftworlds, you'd have to carefully manage detachments, transport keywords and all your tools. Wouldn't say half of traits are not meh, but whatever left will spice up your life.

With chapter masters making alaitoc less useful I wonder if the healing vehicles with cover might be useful for non flyer stuff like prisms etc. If you can't avoid getting hit it might be better to be more survivable instead.

Well... the world is about to face my wall of -3 22" avenger catapult fearless blobs.

Im talking 60 DA with asurmen and avatar...

Im talking 4++ fearless troops that are pumping out a lot of dakka. Clog up the middle of the board delivering 2 cc monsters to where they need to go.

+4" range shurikens & salamander trait to help with tank killing from prisms/msu reapers/msu spears/ wl/ etc.. fir example.

Could even take a hit on the range and come up with other traits to compliment the rest of the army. I forsee DA being back in a big way.

I think that -3 rend only works on the Exarch shuri weapons, not the whole squad, just so you know.

Which is still nice in MSU.

The VENGEFUL FUREH one though would be good if you could kill your own Avengers somehow. Because it's 2+ to hit, +1W means 5+ rending with Doom it's 50% wounds are -3.

Also with Asurmen you might want make 1 squad -1 to Wound in melee. Gotta tank the hits somehow.

Also you can like, super focus. Take +4" range AND -1 AP within 12". So you can both defend and then rush in and attack Jinxed target for -2. Take Salamanders in separate detachment with always in Cover from 12" or something.

Taking three detachments to allow three guardian bombs with-1 ap for three cp could be pretty nice for screen clearance and board control.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Cover save and 5+++ Vs mortals is a solid defensive combo.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
One nice thing about asurman is that he gives all aspects a 5++, combined with protect gives a big survivability boost to things like banshees, spears in melee and crazily crimson hunters!

Meanwhile CHE's get even more silly.

Damn, so even the psychic powers seem lack luster, I was hoping for some fun things in there.

 grouchoben wrote:
I think that -3 rend only works on the Exarch shuri weapons, not the whole squad, just so you know.

Can anyone confirm this either way? The TT guys seemed pretty clear that it was the whole squad in their review vid, and they generally read things pretty carefully.

That's a damn exciting buff it it's for the whole unit.

If you listen to Spider reading the power out, you can actually hear he's interpreting it wrong. Listened on Guerrilla Gaming review too, they both say 'for the Exarch's weapons'. Not 100% because I haven't seen the text.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Well having spent the morning reading through everything in Phoenix, I'd say there's a few takeaways:

1) Bizarrely, CHEs were perhaps the only unit to receive a good buff. Reapers did alright too. Why GW? Why?

2) Ghost Step power adds +2" to a charge, unlocking realistic DS attacks now. That's universal, adds utility to our Warlocks in particular, and welcome.

3) Lower tier CW traits are now worse than custom CW, but Alaitoc and Ulthwe are untouched.

4) Ynnari characters got a points cut (114 over all 3 I believe), making it more feasible to run the three detachments necessary to unlock their best strat (+1A on 3 units of your choice, one from each detachment), but they also put the cost of that strat up by 1CP. Because reasons.

5) Scorpions are worth considering now, perhaps. 5+ on mandiblasters, with 7" charge, is decent for a backfield contesting DS unit.

6) Warp Spiders can now DS T1 if you care.

7) There's a chance that Warlock skyrunner conclave just became top tier - it will need an FAQ probably. The new power, witchblade, is WC4 and adds +2D to the 'psyker's weapons'. It will come down to whether the unit is considered a psyker in toto, or whether A Warlcok casts it on their own weapon. Can see it going either way. If it stands, the Conclave can delete things in a major way.

8) Overall the supplement feels very nickle and dime. A million miles away from SM supplements. Won't really change how CWE are played I should think. Fun for narrative, weak for competitive.

The new Yncarne points values are juicy. A fun, sometimes-competitive unit just got 50 points more fun.

 grouchoben wrote:
If you listen to Spider reading the power out, you can actually hear he's interpreting it wrong. Listened on Guerrilla Gaming review too, they both say 'for the Exarch's weapons'. Not 100% because I haven't seen the

Oh.... well... that sucks. So misfires all around.
Looks like xx years of SM envy on the horizon... fantastic..

thinking Witchblade will get 'fixed' to melee weapons, still quite brutal for a 4+ power

and some 'no re-rolls' and/or no further buffs to the 3++ Spears power because you xenos cant have nice things that's why

the point drop on yncarne might edge it in

Id be happy with melee only to be honest. A buffed bike conclave with witchblades up could delete a knight in one turn, and retreat beforw the attack-back if it fails...

It's already good if you have los blocks, but with +2 damage if it works, with Windrider Detachment just dirty, quite similar to ynnari bikes before nerf. And hey, +1 charge/+2 charge etc.

I am also thinking of dusting off my all-bike. To run something like 6 small squads of Windriders with Shuriken cannons, +4" range, Cover from 12", Windrider detach for -1 AP when time is right.