Games Workshop just revealed the new Psychic Phase rules for 8th edition. Come take a look at what’s changing, and what is coming from Age of Sigmar!
Warhammer Community just gave us our first look at the new Psychic Phase for 8th edition, and it was surprising to say the least! Let’s see what they had to say.
In the new system, the Psychic phase has been re-worked from the ground up.
Each time you pick a psyker, you can cast as many spells as their datasheet states (which would previously be the same as their Mastery Level) and there’s a simpler, two-dice mechanic for casting, you just need to beat the warp charge value. The more potent the power, the harder it will be to cast.
Enemy psykers will then have a chance to block these powers if they are within 24″, and again, the mastery of the psyker will dictate how often they can block a power each turn.
Perils of the Warp is still there of course. It wouldn’t be Warhammer 40,000 without the chance of accidentally having your mind eaten by a Daemon and your soul sucked into the psychic oblivion of the Warp while your body exploded in a multifaceted explosion of etheric ichor…
Every faction will have its own psychic lore with a range of thematic powers. In addition, every psyker knows the Smite power:
Mortal Wounds are a new mechanic too – these cannot be saved by any means and punch straight through thick armour and even invulnerable saves! Ouch.
So now you’ll be rolling 2D6 and just have to beat the warp charge value to get a spell off. Every time you pick a psyker you can cast as many spells as their datasheets allow. These are some big changes coming to 40k, but one thing that isn’t changing is Perils of the Warp. Every faction is getting it’s own psychic lore and powers.
Smite brings in a new feature to Warhammer 40k, D6 mortal wounds. These wounds instantly go off and cannot be blocked by armor, no save rolls on these guys.
Looks like this psychic phase works exactly like casting a spell in Age of Sigmar during the Hero phase, right down to the first sample power that functions the same as Arcane Bolt:
So should we expect to see a 40k version of Mystic Shield at some point as well? Plus Games Workshop inadvertently just revealed that Mortal Wounds are coming over from Age of Sigmar too!
How do you feel the new Psychic Phase? Were these changes long overdue? Are you happy to see the warp charge pool going away, and each model acting individually based on their mastery level? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Be sure to check back with us tomorrow when Games Workshop will announce the updated war zones.
Latest from Games Workshop
About the Author: Rob Baer
