It’s been a while since we’ve had a really large balance change tackling bodyguard stats, with much of recent focus being on adjusting warlord rules and traits. While this season has no trait changes, there is one significant Warlord rule change, as well as four minor changes. Following that we have 7 warlord stat changes and 56 bodyguard changes. We’ve also avoided any card nerfs for the last few seasons however with that being the case several cards are quite clearly at the front of the pack and so we’ve got a few nerfs this season too. 

So as mentioned we will start by looking at the warlord rule changes. One of which is a complete rework with a brand new rule!

Special Rule Changes:

Gloguthrox the Foul – Death Guard Lord of Contagion

Previous Rule: Disgustingly Resilient – “When the Warlord attacks, your currently deployed Chaos cards gain +12 Wounds.”

New Rule: Nurgle’s Rot – “When a friendly Chaos card is destroyed, the card that destroyed it is infected by Nurgle’s Rot and has all its attack stats reduced by 10%”

This is quite a significant rule change, but fits with the same attrition theme as before and links nicely to the Death Guards new rule Contagion, which is fitting for the Lord of Contagion! Worth noting is this rule does stack, and is limited to a maximum of 5 stacks.

Kaptin Badrukk – Da Freeboota King: Da Rippa

Previous Rule: “When one of your Ork cards destroys an enemy card, that Ork card attacks for 50% of its ranged attack”

New Rule: “When one of your Ork cards destroys an enemy card with a Ranged attack, that Ork card attacks for 60% of its ranged attack”

This should solve some of the frustration when fighting Badrukk where previously there was no escape from his special rule while also preserving current deck builds effectiveness being compromised. Overall this is not intended to be a nerf, but instead to make him a more interesting warlord to play and a less frustrating opponent. 

Urien Rakarth – Drukhari Sculptor of Torments: Power From Pain

Card Destroyed Buff: +8 -> +7 Wounds

Watch Captain Artemis – Deathwatch Watch Captain: Suffer Not The Alien To Live

Deployment Damage: -15% -> -20% Wounds

Brother-Lieutenant Tolmeron – Blood Angels Primaris Lieutenant: Tactical Precision

Deployment Buff: +15% -> +20% Ranged 

Warlord Stat Changes:

Fury of the Craftworld – Avatar of Khaine

Cost Change: 79 -> 73 (Down 6)
Stat Change: +30 Base Wounds

Urien Rakarth – Drukhari Sculptor of Torments

Stat Change: +12 Base Melee

Zephyrblade – Craftworld Saim-Hann Autarch

Stat Change: +20 Base Wounds, +5 Base Range, +5 Base Melee 

Skulltaker – Khorne’s Immortal Champion

Stat Change: +25 Base Wounds

Gloguthrox the Foul – Death Guard Lord of Contagion

Cost Change: 17 -> 23 (Up 6)

Kaptian Badrukk – Da Freeboota King

Stat Change: +20 Base Wounds, +5 Base Range, +10 Base Melee

Boss Snikrot – Da Green Ghost

Stat Change: +25 Base Wounds

If that wasn’t enough to go through we now have our large bulk of bodyguard changes to go through too! So without too much preamble here they are!

Bodyguard Stat Changes:

Aeldari:

Amallyn Shadowguide – Asuryani Ranger
Stat Change: +10 Base Range

Klaivaulch – Craftworld Saim-Hann Wraithblade
Stat Change: +5 Base Melee

The Spectre’s Smile – Harlequin Death Jester
Stat Change: +20 Base Wounds, +15 Base Range

Hythnamene Veilblood – Drukhari Wych Cult Succubus
Stat Change: +10 Base Wounds, +10 Base Melee

Ather Akhia – Fire Dragon Aspect Warrior
Stat Change: +5 Base Range

Kaethr Stryxx – Drukhari Scourge
Stat Change: +10 Base Wounds, +5 Base Range

Thielle – Dire Avenger Aspect Warrior
Stat Change: +10 Base Wounds, +5 Base Range

Kaevi Firehand – Craftworld Alaitoc Windrunner
Stat Change: +10 Base Wounds, +5 Base Range

Necrons:

Emberresh the Suneater – Transcendent C’Tan
Cost Change: 75 -> 77 (Up 2)

T’au:

Shas’la Ghovah – Vior’la Sept TX4 Piranha
Stat Change: +10 Base Wounds, +4 Base Range

Shas’vre Jesol – T’au Sept XV8 Crisis Battlesuit
Stat Change: +9 Base Range

Shas’nel Kos’ul – T’au Sept Cadre Fireblade
Cost Change: 13 -> 11 (Down 2)
Stat Change: +5 Base Range

Kor’vesa #6604931 – Vior’la Sept MV8 Missile Drone
Stat Change: +10 Base Wounds, +5 Base Range

Shas’la Meion – T’au Sept Firesight Marksman
Cost Change: 6 -> 5 (Down 1)

Shas’la Kaus – Vior’la Sept Fire Warrior
Cost Change: 6 -> 5 (Down 1)
Stat Change: +5 Base Wounds

Shas’ui D’Tano – Vior’a Sept Breacher
Stat Change: +6 Base Range

Servants of the Emperor:

‘Dominator’ – Astra Militarum Valkyrie
Cost Change: 78 -> 72 (Down 6)

Dejedris Garamach – Vindicare Assassin
Stat Change: +20 Base Wounds, +15 Base Range

Commissar Chellik – Officio Prefectus Commissar
Cost Change: 9 -> 7 (Down 2)

Teppa-Nyxos-511 – Mechanicus Pteraxii Sterylizor
Stat Change: +10 Base Range

Dos Drax – Mechanicus Serberys Sulphurhound
Stat Change: +15 Base Wounds, +5 Base Range

Space Marines:

Brother Nero – Ultramarines Primaris Outrider
Stat Change: +10 Base Melee

Iron Chaplain Furnous – Iron Hands Chaplain
Stat Change: +10 Base Melee

Captain Karludo – Iron Ravens Captain
Stat Change: +10 Base Wounds, + 5 Base Range, +5 Base Melee

Agrax Agatone – Salamanders Captain
Stat Change: +5 Base Range, +10 Base Melee

Primaris Lieutenant Octavian – Ultramarines Primaris Lieutenant
Stat Change: +5 Base Range, +5 Base Melee

Brother Zephrael – Ravenwing Biker
Stat Change: +20 Base Wounds, +5 Base Range
Trait Change: Precision Shot -> Scout

Brother Sirras – Ultramarines Reiver
Stat Change: +10 Base Wounds, +5 Base Range, +5 Base Melee

Brother Erastes – Ultramarine Infiltrator
Stat Change: +10 Base Wounds, +8 Base Range

Brother Mhorkar – Legion of the Damned Legionnaire
Stat Change: +7 Base Range

Sergeant Kajurah Swiftwind – White Scars Intercessor
Stat Change: +10 Base Wounds, +5 Melee

Brother Gabriel ‘Broken Knife’ – Dark Angels Deathwing Terminator
Stat Change: +10 Base Wounds, +5 Melee

Brother Ebellius – Blood Angels Terminator
Stat Change: +10 Base Wounds, +12 Base Range

Brother Ramus – Ultramarines Tactical Marine
Stat Change: +10 Base Wounds, +5 Base Range

Brother Gjorn – Deathwatch Blackshield
Stat Change: +11 Base Melee

Edryc Setorax – Deathwatch Vanguard Veteran
Trait Change: Furious Charge -> Target Acquired

Brother Jansen – Howling Griffons Techmarine
Stat Change: +10 Base Wounds, +3 Base Range, +3 Base Melee

Chaos:

Khan’zhar the Red – Wrath of Khorne Bloodthirster
Cost Change: 88 -> 77 (Down 11)
Stat Change: -30 Base Health

Slogoth Poxbelly – Great Unclean One of Nurgle
Stat Change: -10 Base Wounds

Tzax’lan-Tar – Lord of Change of Tzeentch
Stat Change: -30 Base Wounds, -6 Base Psychic, -10 Base Melee

Bzzark the Fly-Borne – Daemon Prince of Nurgle
Stat Change: +6 Base Psychic

Vulgar Thrice-Cursed – The Twisted Lord
Trait Change: Precision Shot -> Regeneration

Hakkon Karnikus – Crimson Slaughter Terminator Lord
Cost Change: 35 -> 30 (Down 5)

Ordrogg – Chaos Ogryn
Cost Change: 18 -> 16 (Down 2)

Horlax the Heartless – Crimson Slaughter Terminator
Stat Change: +8 Base Melee

Orks:

Rukfang’s Squigbuggy – Snakebite Clan Rukkatrukk Squigbuggy
Stat Change: -10 Base Wounds

Ed Zappa – Goff Clan Weirdboy
Stat Change: +5 Base Wounds, +7 Base Melee

Gogbolg’s Bubblechukka – Evil Sunz Clan Mek Gun
Cost Change: 19 -> 17 (Down 2)

Nikkit, Fuggit and Makari – Grot Tank Mini-Waaagh!
Stat Change: +15 Base Wounds

Dur-Thug – Goff Clan Nob
Stat Change: +5 Base Melee

Baddkrasha’s Smasha Gun – Bad Moons Clan Mek Gun
Stat Change: +5 Base Ranged

Gutrog – Evil Sunz Clan Deffkopta
Stat Change: +8 Base Range

Ruknar – Goff Clan Tankbusta
Stat Change: +5 Base Range

Tyranids:

Galam – Genestealer Cults Acolyte Hybrid
Cost Change: 8 -> 7 (Down 1)

Specimen: BH-013-AD-Ψ – Hive Fleet Behemoth Mucolid Spore
Stat Change: +20 Base Wounds

The First Curse – Purestrain Genestealer
Stat Change: +10 Base Melee

Phew! There we are. As you can see quite a significant amount of changes. Overall Necrons and Tyranids are in a very strong position currently and so have had minor attention. Space Marines, Aeldari and T’au can all struggle with decent mid-low cost choices and so there’s been a lot of work put into these areas and the rest have minor changes where needed. It also seemed reasonable that with the arrival of the Keeper of Secrets as the final Greater Daemon that the Bloodthirster be brought to the same spot of 77 cost.

I’m off for a cup of tea after all that.