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
Will the change to Artemis, in the instance that it kills a card, allow redeployment? Or will it freeze that slot like a furious charge kill would?
Please please please add more space wolves. Logan Grimnar warlord – when you deploy a card, your currently deployed space Marines gain 15/20% melee. Also, redo Ahrimans special rule. It is dumb and shouldn’t heal enemies or wound friendly.
Interesting changes, should be fun to see how they change up gameplay. Ahriman will hit like a truck now 🙂
I’m glad debuff scout was addressed – that had to be one of the most situational traits. I think poison needs a look at because it does the same thing on low or high cost cards (it feels like a waste on high cost cards).
I think Canoness has almost no weaknesses if you build her deck right. Seems a bit too strong in ranked.
Thanks for all your work! Looking forward to the anniversary event.
Nice balance pass and good to see other game mechanics are under constant review. The more frequent the better!
Mephet gets a huge nerf and no point cost reduction
Melinda loses her identity as an assasin
Tolmeron nerfed but canoness is allowed to stay as the by far strongest WL?
I like how these changes give more breadth to the game, but some I am not happy with. I can’t wait to face another 1000 of those canoness decks with double/triple shields on every card.
Canoness Veridyan is my FAVORITE Warlord and SoE is my favorite faction. Please don’t nerf her 🙏🏼 – she makes playing interesting.