It’s been quite some time since we’ve revealed a new trait, and just in time for Christmas! So it’s my great pleasure to introduce the Anti-Infantry trait! Operating in a similar fashion to Big Game Hunter, the rule reads as follows:
“When this card attacks a card with the Infantry keyword, all attacks deal an additional 30/45/60/75% damage.”
At the time of writing, over 350 cards in the game currently have the Infantry keyword, making it approximately half the existing card pool. That’s a lot of new targets to get extra value against!
Taking inspiration directly from the tabletop models that have this ability on their datasheet will also be able to bring this trait to the game. As many of you know, there are a number of Anti-X abilities, so it may not be long before we see some additional traits of the same flavour joining Anti-Infantry in-game.
For the damage buff, we are carrying over the existing percentages from the Big Game Hunter trait. This has proved to be balanced with BGH, but we are aware that Anti-Infantry opens this up to a much larger pool of cards, so we will be monitoring it and will adjust if necessary.
Why this trait?
The reason we chose Anti-Infantry as the next trait is for a number of reasons. Firstly, we want to commit to keeping authentic to the tabletop, and this is a recognisable ability that translates well into the game. Secondly it helps clear up some rough boundaries where existing cards have been trying to capture this feeling with other traits, such as Barrage, Poison, or Big Game Hunter, but not quite hitting the mark. Finally, as mentioned, it opens the doors to adding the other Anti-Keyword rules into the game, creating a diverse amount of options to choose from that can give more identity to cards, create meaningful deck building options, and influence the meta.
When the trait launches, there will be 42 existing cards receiving the trait. Unfortunately, there are currently no units in the T’au, Necron or Leagues of Votann armies that have access to the Anti-Infantry rule. However, there will be more to come for them further down the line.
I am sure you are all eager to know which cards will be getting the new trait, so here is the full list by factions!
Aeldari
Sylandri Veilwalker – Harlequin Shadowseer
Outflank -> Anti-Infantry
Lelith Hesperax – Queen of Knives
Outflank -> Anti-Infantry
Hythnamene Veilblood – Drukhari Wych Cult Succubus
Furious Charge -> Anti-Infantry
Urien Rakarth – Drukhari Sculptor of Torments
Regeneration -> Anti-Infantry
Xagor – Drukhari Wrack Acothyst
Regeneration -> Anti-Infantry
Avandir Kethalain – Craftworld Saim-Hann Warlock Skyrunner
Psychic Link -> Anti-Infantry
The Skyknife – Razorwing Jetfighter
Outflank -> Anti-Infantry
Alithir Quicksilver – Drukhari Hellion
Scout -> Anti-Infantry
Quaez Ignyss – Kabalite Heavy Gunner
Precision Shot -> Anti-Infantry
Servants of the Emperor
Eta-7 Sparta – Adeptus Mechanicus Sicarian Ruststalker
Deathblow -> Anti-Infantry
Inquisitor Coteaz – Inquisitor Lord of the Ordo Malleus
Big Game Hunter -> Anti-Infantry
Meh’Lindi – Callidus Assassin
Big Game Hunter -> Anti-Infantry
Sly Marbo – The One Man Army
Outflank -> Anti-Infantry
Lord Inquisitor Kyria Draxus – Lord Inquisitor of the Ordo Xenos
Big Game Hunter -> Anti-Infantry
Haldron-44 Stroika – Kataphron Breacher
Big Game Hunter -> Anti-Infantry
Canis Igni – Catachan Hellhound
Scout -> Anti-Infantry
Sylas Torq – Eversor Assassin
Deathblow -> Anti-Infantry
Skoni Walker-ψ9107 – Adeptus Mechanicus Sydonian Dragoon
Scout -> Anti-Infantry
Space Marines
Watch Captain Artemis – Deathwatch Watch Captain
Big Game Hunter -> Anti-Infantry
Brother Gjorn – Deathwatch Blackshield
Furious Charge -> Anti-Infantry
Castellan Crowe – Castellan Champion of the Grey Knights’ Purifiers
Psychic Link -> Anti-Infantry
Helbrecht – High Marshal of the Black Templars
Furious Charge -> Anti-Infantry
Baastan Zweihann – Black Templars Primaris Castellan
Berserk -> Anti-Infantry
Azrael – Supreme Grandmaster of the Dark Angels
Outflank -> Anti-Infantry
Severus Agemman – Captain in Terminator Armour
Precision Shot -> Anti-Infantry
Lieutenant Optimar – Veteran Infiltrator Lieutenant
Outflank -> Anti-Infantry
Veteran Sergeant Paxor – Ultramarines Sternguard Veteran Sergeant
Big Game Hunter -> Anti-Infantry
Rodricus Grytt – Deathwatch Veteran
Barrage -> Anti-Infantry
Chaos
Sorrian Lokh – Thousand Sons Aspiring Sorcerer
Psychic Link -> Anti-Infantry
Dzarak the Wicked – Crimson Slaughter Terminator Sorcerer
Warp Surge -> Anti-Infantry
Bzzark the Fly-borne – Daemon Prince of Nurgle
Fear -> Anti-Infantry
The Droning Horror – Death Guard Foetid Bloat-drone
Poison -> Anti-Infantry
Kattorax Vorthire – Death Guard Lord of Virulence
Poison -> Anti-Infantry, Regeneration -> Poison
Fabius Bile – The Primogenitor
Poison -> Anti-Infantry
Orks
Thugruk – Evil Sunz Clan Meganob
Shield -> Anti-Infantry
Hakka Buzzkill – Goff Clan Nob
Taunt -> Anti-Infantry
Mad Dok Grotsnik – Deranged Painboy
Regeneration -> Anti-Infantry
Warboss Gordrang – Goff Clan Warboss in Mega Armour
Deathblow -> Anti-Infantry
Tyranids
Specimen: LV-852-NC-Θ – Hive Fleet Leviathan Venomthrope
Poison -> Anti-Infantry
Specimen: LV-009-SA-ζ – Hive Fleet Leviathan Mawloc
Deathblow -> Anti-Infantry
The Black Lance – Genestealer Cults Sanctus
Poison -> Anti-Infantry, Precision Shot -> Poison
Specimen: LV-ζ-40291 – Hive Fleet Leviathan Toxicrene
Deathblow -> Anti-Infantry
I don’t think any warlords should have either BGH or the new Anti Infantry. they are meant to be matched up against each other. A WL ability shouldn’t only affect a battle at 200% or 0% with nothing in between.
This is awesome – for some it’s a flat buff (Shadowseer) for others, it’s a thematic debuff (Helbrecht). It’s going to be crazy hitting the table, can’t wait to see it in play!
Well I have been considering quitting this game one more terrible decision like this should clench it
This feels very bad. It just make all the premium cards like the Lords of war even more powerfull. Because a lot of the cards that had BGH now have the worse version which cannot be used on the big cards. Totaly NOT cool.
Guys, this is a petfect example of why diversity hires to make up quotas are bad…
I just got my mawlock to lvl 3 dearhblow. ): i wanted the deathblow
This ”new trait” feels like a bitch move to nerf a lot of good cards
Not a good power because of no so help.
Not a big fan of this new trait. Its not a bad trait, it just feels like it got assigned to random cards that don’t benefit it or much thought put into. I think some smaller infantry cards might benefit from it perhaps. But also the cards that lost outflank for anti-infantry seems like a nerf as the outflank helps all cards not just the one.
I heavily disagree with Inquisitor Coteaz switch from big game hunter as there aren’t any psychic cards able to hit big cards and BGH really was a reward to get at high level of the Inquisitor card and not it is gone. I also feel like the Black Lance lost his identity by losing poison to get antiinfanty.
Another reason I don’t like the anti-infantry trait is although it might be good for table top games it is horrible here because most infantry cards don’t have that much wounds to begin with so having a trait that kills weak cards faster seems pointless. Whereas BGH is useful and it lets smaller cards have a bigger than expected hit to big cards that usually one-hit KO other cards. My recommendation is to get rid of infantry or be very selective in the cards that get it.