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https://www.warhammer-community.com/2020/06/22/faction-focus-craftworldsgw-homepage-post-4fw-homepage-post-4/

Is it just me or are they faction focuses basically worthless?

It’s not just you.

The CWE faction focus basically tells that some units that were good in 8th will still be good in 9th. And points are going up.

Yeah, it's underwhelming even by the normal standards of these releases.

The point about nightspinners also just seems to be wrong mathematically. Nightspinners get effectively no bonus at all vs 6-10 (it's about 1/20th of an extra shot on average). It's only at 11+ that the blast rule gives them a significant bonus, and everything in 9th so far has been about making nobody ever want to take a unit of 11+, with them also on record as saying the morale changes ALSO penalize units of 11+. So a bonus against a target that isn't going to exist and that you probably wouldn't want to shoot anyway isn't a real bonus.

Eldars can do the Recon ? No wai...

The faction focus are just a bit of info drip for unaware people about the upcoming changes.

For those like us who are quite up to date all we get it's a lil insight into some new rule/stratagem that's sligthy mentioned.

On this case it's just the secondary objetive everyone csn choose.

Certainly not overwhelming at all.

Well, the article about faction focus in the 9th ed concentrated on Shining Spears, Night Spinners, and Dire Avengers.
A bit thin if you ask although running more MSU Dire Avengers is an interesting prospect.
They suggest one unit of Shining Spears. But it can be a suicide unit if you don't let it approach along a flank.
Night Spinners are too one-dimensional if you ask me. Not a unit I would field.

It may have been a misstatement or maybe I'm misinterpreting the article but it sounds like Assurman can effect as many units of Dire Avengers as you have on the board rather than being limited to a 6" bubble of effect.

I wouldn't be terribly surprised if GW released some sort of FAQ/errata to make some adjustments to each codex for 9th.

I wouldn't get your hopes up on that one, I'm pretty sure he means using asurman to buff them as they do now, looks like vague writing rather than a hint of a rules adjustment.

Agreed. I doubt we will see massive errata for codecies. Things will likely not work quite right (Crystal Target Matrix) until a new codex is published. We shall see.

MSU is likely to return, such as using Dire Avengers. Cheap troop choices that can be used to score points and not lose much firepower. Getting a 4++ from Asurmen improves durability as some missions will require a unit to sit on an objective and withstand an enemy shooting phase. But, the 5+ to hit on overwatch is nice, especially if enemy units try to assault multiple Dire Avenger units.

My question would be, why take a Craftworld battalion over a Harlequin Battalion? I can get cheap troop choices with better movement, a built in 4++, and the ability to mitigate shooting and damage rolls. While Asurmen is ok, Harlequin characters are arguably better. I can take a Spearhead to get the Nightspinners and Shining Spears, albeit with a CP cost.

There are certainly other factors and this article was very much lacking substantive details, but I'm not sure having 12 CP as opposed to the 9-10 many are accustomed to is significant enough to warrant using a single battalion. Add in the 1 CP given every turn, Craftworld lists will end up with more CP.

I've gotten used to ITC style terrain and Nightspinners and Reaper Exarchs with Tempest Launchers have been extremely useful. I still do not like the 2d6 mechanic, but Expert Crafters and Masterful Shots has helped offset it.

I'm not sure there's been a good reason to take a CWE batallion for a while, unless EC Rangers float your boat. DE and Harlies both offer much better troops.

Lack of models is the primary reason for myself. I've got quite a collection of painted Craftworld, but very few Harlequin and no Drukhari.

As things stand three squads of avengers in falcons works out well for an expert crafters battalion, who knows what 9th will bring but I doubt non mechanised infantry will be it.

 Sarigar wrote:
Lack of models is the primary reason for myself. I've got quite a collection of painted Craftworld, but very few Harlequin and no Drukhari.

Well, I won't allow Harlies or Druhkari to enter my Eldar army.
Eldar is strong enough to work as a stand alone army.

One thing that's very funny about that article is that it's the only one where the person writing has been all "Okay guys try not to freak out about points increases TOO much, 9th will be rough to start off with...."

Doesn't exactly fill you with much confidence, especially when the Marine article hyped up TFC's.

 wuestenfux wrote:

 Sarigar wrote:
Lack of models is the primary reason for myself. I've got quite a collection of painted Craftworld, but very few Harlequin and no Drukhari.

Well, I won't allow Harlies or Druhkari to enter my Eldar army.
Eldar is strong enough to work as a stand alone army.

That's exactly how I've felt since I started collecting and playing eldar a few years ago. But I've gotta be honest: Wyches have got me hooked. They are such a fun unit to combine with a CWE backbone that I have trouble going back. Previously my troops would cower in a building, occasionally picking off an intercessor. Now my boats of doom put a count down threat on my opponent, and if they can't deal with that threat their army ends up covered in howling wych death. They're glassy, but not so once in CC, where their 4++/6+++ makes them pretty sticky. And the shardnet just got SO much better in the new edition, which heralds the end of tripointing as a reliable strategy. Finally they unlock Drazhar, one of the best point-for-point beatsticks in the game. This batallion finds its way into a lot of my lists, with the Yncarne in my CWE detachments, to layer in a second deadly CC threat that can be anywhere on the board. It's priced to move too, and it leaves enough points on the table to build a CWE majority force that can being all your favourite toys, who tend to get more time shooting, and better options, due to the pressure/ blocking game the wyches bring:


++ Battalion Detachment +5CP (Aeldari - Drukhari) [37 PL, 654pts] ++

Detachment Type: Cult of the Cursed Blade, Mixed Detachment

Drazhar [6 PL, 100pts]: Warlord

Succubus [4 PL, 50pts]: Archite Glaive, Splinter pistol, Traitor's Embrace

Wyches [4 PL, 96pts]
. Hekatrix [8pts]: Hekatarii blade, Splinter pistol
. 6x Wych [48pts]
. Wych with Shardnet and impaler [8pts]
. Wych with Hydra gauntlets [4pts]
. Wych with Hydra gauntlets [4pts]

Wyches [4 PL, 96pts]
. Hekatrix [8pts]: Hekatarii blade, Splinter pistol
. 6x Wych [48pts]
. Wych with Shardnet and impaler [8pts]
. Wych with Hydra gauntlets [4pts]
. Wych with Hydra gauntlets [4pts]

Wyches [4 PL, 72pts]
. Hekatrix [8pts]: Hekatarii blade, Splinter pistol
. 6x Wych [48pts]
. Wych with Shardnet and impaler [8pts]

Raider [5 PL, 80pts]: Disintegrator cannon [15pts]
Raider [5 PL, 80pts]: Disintegrator cannon [15pts]
Raider [5 PL, 80pts]: Disintegrator cannon [15pts]

 kingheff wrote:
As things stand three squads of avengers in falcons works out well for an expert crafters battalion, who knows what 9th will bring but I doubt non mechanised infantry will be it.

There is a small tourney this weekend and that is exactly what I used to fill out a Battalion.

I played a pure Craftworld army for most of this edition and started slowly started a Harlequin collection, first by utilizing a Vanguard detachment. I'm building towards a Battalion to expand my options. My initial thoughts is to run a Harlequin Battalion and Craftworld Spearhead in 9th, but I don't feel I have enough understanding of 9th edition to make any concrete decisions. However, I really like the Harlequin model range.


I like the Drukhari range, but trying to add to my collection of unpainted models at the moment.

There is a small tourney this weekend and that is exactly what I used to fill out a Battalion.

Good luck!
What are you planning to field? Just curious.

BATTALION
1 x 1 Farseer
1 x 1 Warlock
3 x 5 Dire Avengers (Each unit has Exarch with 2 Avenger Catapult and Shredding Fire)
1 x 2 Hornets, Spirit Stones, Hornet Pulse Lasers
3 x 1 Falcon, Starcannon, Twin Catapult, Pulse Laser

SPEARHEAD
1 x 1 Autarch
3 x 1 Nightspinner
1 x 5 Dark Reapers (1 is Exarch with Tempest Launcher and reroll 2d6 shots)

AIRWING
3 x 1 Crimson Hunter Exarch, Starcannon, Hawkeye

1996 points
10 CP
Expert Crafters and Masterful Shots

Looks quite good.
Farseer and Warlock are lumbering.
I'd give them jetbikes.

 wuestenfux wrote:
Looks quite good.
Farseer and Warlock are lumbering.
I'd give them jetbikes.

Too easy to be sniped by Eliminators if I don't get first turn. It's not uncommon for me to see 6-9 Eliminators in an army.

 Bosskelot wrote:
One thing that's very funny about that article is that it's the only one where the person writing has been all "Okay guys try not to freak out about points increases TOO much, 9th will be rough to start off with...."

Doesn't exactly fill you with much confidence, especially when the Marine article hyped up TFC's.

It is because all of the writers are tournament players. They struggle when they are forced to think outside of the box with army builds. Less options means the combos of old don’t work anymore. I think that’s healthy, but I’m also the type who likes to play games with crazy point values (like 1789 one game and then 1833 the next instead of 2k) as I enjoy the fun in list building.

 Sarigar wrote:

 wuestenfux wrote:
Looks quite good.
Farseer and Warlock are lumbering.
I'd give them jetbikes.

Too easy to be sniped by Eliminators if I don't get first turn. It's not uncommon for me to see 6-9 Eliminators in an army.

Agreed, I prefer transports to bikes too. Doom is 24", Jinx is 18", so you have some room for quarterbacking with your psychic duo. 7+1d6" move is often enough, especially on top of the 4" disembark.

 mokoshkana wrote:

 Bosskelot wrote:
One thing that's very funny about that article is that it's the only one where the person writing has been all "Okay guys try not to freak out about points increases TOO much, 9th will be rough to start off with...."

Doesn't exactly fill you with much confidence, especially when the Marine article hyped up TFC's.

It is because all of the writers are tournament players. They struggle when they are forced to think outside of the box with army builds. Less options means the combos of old don’t work anymore. I think that’s healthy, but I’m also the type who likes to play games with crazy point values (like 1789 one game and then 1833 the next instead of 2k) as I enjoy the fun in list building.

Those who have won large tournaments generally developed the armies that were then emulated and copied afterwards. Several of the playtesters known so far are those types of people. Not sure how you concluded they struggle thinking outside the box with army builds.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 grouchoben wrote:

 Sarigar wrote:

 wuestenfux wrote:
Looks quite good.
Farseer and Warlock are lumbering.
I'd give them jetbikes.

Too easy to be sniped by Eliminators if I don't get first turn. It's not uncommon for me to see 6-9 Eliminators in an army.

Agreed, I prefer transports to bikes too. Doom is 24", Jinx is 18", so you have some room for quarterbacking with your psychic duo. 7+1d6" move is often enough, especially on top of the 4" disembark.

Agreed. I can also choose Faolchu Wing to assist depending on match up.

 Sarigar wrote:
BATTALION
1 x 1 Farseer
1 x 1 Warlock
3 x 5 Dire Avengers (Each unit has Exarch with 2 Avenger Catapult and Shredding Fire)
1 x 2 Hornets, Spirit Stones, Hornet Pulse Lasers
3 x 1 Falcon, Starcannon, Twin Catapult, Pulse Laser

SPEARHEAD
1 x 1 Autarch
3 x 1 Nightspinner
1 x 5 Dark Reapers (1 is Exarch with Tempest Launcher and reroll 2d6 shots)

AIRWING
3 x 1 Crimson Hunter Exarch, Starcannon, Hawkeye

1996 points
10 CP
Expert Crafters and Masterful Shots

According to some write ups you'd be better off dropping rain of death for crack shot Sar. I'm not a maths head though so have never been able to check his numbers - I'm looking at the Reapers entry below. The maths doesnt account for EC though, however Rapid Shot is apparently still better (+1 shots)

https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Warhammer_40,000/Tactics/Eldar(8E)

Link does not work for me.

But, I also have an Autarch which gives a reroll 1 ability and Expert Crafters. I don't know how to do the math either, but I did look at some overlap in abilities.

Strange there doesn't seem to be a way for me to paste it, no biggie. With the Autarch bubble its gona feel like your DRs/ Night Spinners never miss.

Harleys vs CWE for troops... Good question.

I think it will come down to points and the cost of separate detachment.

In a single CWE battalion you could potentially fit fliers, tanks wave serpents and some chaff troops or wraiths etc as well as the very potent guide+doom.

In a Harleys detachments you can only really take troops(yes very good troops) flimsy transports and bikers.

So then fitting the secondary battalion will depend on what gaps you can fill to justify the costs.

A Harlie detachment in a CWE army?
My battle plan is usually to keep the enemy at arm's length
and go for the enemy's throat in the mid/end game.
Harlie troops don't fit into this concept, maybe Skyweavers.

As it stands, I'm not looking at two battalions. I'm looking at a Harlequin Battalion and a Craftworld Spearhead. Points values, CP cost are big factors, but the mission is going to be very significant.

If a significant amount of VP is earned by keeping models on an objective until the beginnjjng of your next command phase. There are a few factors I see immediately. Durability of the unit trying to score the VP; what that you gives up to score (shooting and assault); how difficult will it be for your opponent to remove said unit; the amount of pressure I can present with other units; Troops still having an advantage over non Troops.

I've played these types of missions in previous editions (folks who run the Atlanta GT used similar missions before converting to ITC). What this created was folks spending turn 1 getting units onto objectives and presenting other threats so significant that the opponent would have little options open to go after the units trying to score. GW has now added an additional layer that the units trying to score lose their shooting and assault option. With that, I want to utilize the least costly, yet most resilient Troop choice in order to score points.

Harlequin Troupes have easy access to -1 to hit, -1 to wound, and a 4++. They also have an edge in movement. Again, points can toss this idea, but a Battalion can be quite cheap to build.

Craftworlds Troop choices appear to offer less based on what I think will be important in 9th edition missions. However, if I relax the need for units to be a Troop choice (adding a bit more risk to my plans), Windriders can also be a good option. Based on current points, keep them cheap at 54 points.

Without these kinds of units, I risk sacrificing units I need as a threat in order to score.

This does not even factor in the smaller table size that I am confident I will end up playing most of my games on. My current playstyle and army design will need to adapt to 9th editions missions.