New Traits and Balance Changes

For the balance pass this Season we have a lot of content to go through! New Traits, Warlord rule changes, and a few card balance changes, as well as some other surprises releasing very soon. As well as Inspiring Presence hitting the wider card pool we have two further new traits being added which are detailed below. 

For the balance changes after the number of bodyguards being adjusted last time we have focused mainly on Warlords for this pass, but a few cards have also been changed. 

New Traits:

So we already know about one new trait coming in next Monday (03/08/20), Inspiring Presence. The two new traits are: Psychic Link and Outflank. So what do they do?

Psychic Link reads as follows: 

When this card is deployed it gains Psychic Link. While this card has Psychic Link it gains 7.5/15/22.5% extra psychic damage for each other friendly Psyker on the battlefield.

It’s exciting to add another passive trait at the same time as Inspiring Presence, making traits feel more diverse and adding new depth to the game. Needless to say this only applies to cards with a Psychic attack and highlights cards that work best as a team, either in the lore or on tabletop. The full list of Psychic Link cards is below:

Aeldari

??? – ???

Trialeorn the Silent – Craftworld Saim-Hann Farseer

Illanor the Augur – Craftworld Ulthwe Farseer Skyrunner

Avandir Kethalain – Craftworld Saim-Hann Warlock Skyrunner

Servants of the Emperor

Holsul – Wyrdvane Psyker

Space Marines

Grandmaster Voldus – Grey Knights Grand Master

Hammer of Titan – Nemesis Dreadknight

Brother Varon – Grey Knight Battle Brother

??? – ???

Chaos

Ahriman – Arch-Sorcerer of the Thousand Sons

Sorrian Lokh – Thousand Sons Aspiring Sorcerer

Aku Syn – Chaos Rogue Pysker

Tyranids

Orthan Trysst – Genestealer Cults Magus

Specimen: BH-047-PA-Φ – Hive Fleet Behemoth Zoanthrope

Next we have Outflank, our first mechanic that ‘steals’ from the opponent.

The trait rules read as follows: 

When this card is deployed, it reduces the enemy’s attack boosts by 10/20/30% and adds that amount to yours.

It should pose a really useful and interesting mechanic that debuffs all of your opponents attacks at the same time while also buffing yours. It’s also a nice counter to factions that store a particular attack type, and helps more flexible builds that like to swap between attack types.

Additionally worth noting, and part of the reason for the large list of cards with this new trait, we have made it replace any cards with debuff Scout. We felt this makes the most sense as Outflank is much more universally useful, if not as hard hitting, as a debuff Scout, and also solves the issue of one trait, Scout, doing different things depending on which card it is applied to. So on to the list:

Aeldari

Sathbuin Surefire – Crimson Hunter Exarch

The Skyknife – Razorwing Jetfighter

Kelos and Nael – Harlequin Skyweaver Jetbike

Kaethr Stryxx – Drukhari Scourge

Ybriss Khael – Drukhari Reaver

Necrons

Mephet’ran – C’Tan Shard of the Deceiver

T’au

Shas’o Maisos – Commander in XV86 Coldstar Battlesuit

Kor’ui Y’eldi – T’au Sept Razorshark Strike Fighter

Dahyak Grekh – Kroot Tracker

Shas’ui Vass – T’au Sept Stealth Battlesuit

Kor’vesa #0014931 – Vior’la Sept MVB3 Recon Drone

Kor’vesa #2207986 – Vior’la Sept MV33 Grav-inhibitor Drone

Name Unkown – Kroot Hound

Servants of the Emperor

‘Dominator’ – Asta Militarum Valkyrie

Meh’Lindi – Callidus Assassin

Teppa-Nyxos-511 – Mechanicus Pteraxii Sterylizor

Rein and Raus – Ratling Twins

Dos Draz – Mechanicus Serberys Sulphurhound

Space Marines

Brother Andronicus – Ultramarines Stormtalon Gunship

Brother Garros – Ultramarines Invictor Tactical Warsuit

Brother Gloccus – Ultramarines Suppressor

Chaos

Karanak – Khornate Hound of Vengeance

Spitesting – Screamer of Tzeentch

Orks

Urgob’s Dragsta – Bad Moons Clan Shokkjump Dragsta

Gutrog – Evil Sunz Clan Deffkopta

Bogrot – Evil Sunz Clan Biker

Bazza da Blade – Blood Axe Clan Kommando

Tyranids

Specimen: LV-003-TD-Ψ – Hive Fleet Leviathan Tyrannocyte

Yorl – Genestealer Cults Acolyte Hybrid

Balance Changes 

As mentioned above, the majority of changes are to Warlord rules, so let’s start there:

Traits and Special Rules Changes

Special Rule Changes:

Watch Captain Artemis: Ability now deals 15% of Starting wounds and so is able to kill cards with his ability.

Magos Dominus Ivasnophon: Special rule now heals +20 wounds instead of +15. Additionally his trait has changed from Regeneration to Medicae.

Commissar Yarrick: Special rule changed back to readying twice, rather than once, as this was reverted in the last change unintentionally.

Brother-Lieutenant Tolmeron: Special rule now adds +15% rather than +20%. 

Seeing as Inspiring presence is being released, and having played with some sample builds, this should more than make up for the reduction in ability; it’s needed as Tolmeron still dominates as the top picked Warlord.

Also worth noting is that Canoness Veridyan is under review currently but will not be changed in this pass.

Trait Changes:

Given the number of new traits we do not want to alter things too much with trait adjustments as well, however both Poison and Fear are under review.

Card Cost Changes:

  • Ahriman – Arch-Sorcerer of the Thousand Sons

Cost: 21 -> 25 (up 4)

  • Prisoner #01159004151 – Penitent Engine

Cost: 44 -> 49 (up 5)

  • Longstrike – Master Gunship Pilot

Cost: 61 -> 63 (up 2)

  • Boss Zagstrukk – Leader of da Vulcha Skwad

Cost: 30 -> 28 (down 2)

  • Dahyak Grekh – Kroot Tracker

Cost: 18 -> 16 (down 2)

Card Stat Changes:

  • Bograb’s Snazzwagon – Deathskull Clan Boomdakka Snazzwagon

Stat Decrease: -4 Base Ranged

  • Khagguk Glekh – Krootox Rider

Level Up Changes: Increase from +5 -> +7 on level up.

  • Rein and Raus – Ratling Twins

Stat Increase: +15 Base Wounds

  • Teppa-Nyxos-511- Mechanicus Pteraxii Sterylizor

Stat Increase: +10 Base Wounds, +4 Base Ranged

  • Brother Baran – Dark Angels Deathwing Knight

Stat Increase: +10 Base Wounds

  • Mephet’ran – C’Tan Shard of the Deceiver

Stat Increase: +15 Base Wounds