Does that sound like laughing to you? That’s because it is and it’s coming from the Harlequins as GW previews their new codex rules.
With Space Marines, we have chapters. With Necrons, we have dynasties. Well with Harlequins, we have masques. Each masque has a different style of waging war so let’s take a check out what’s to choose from.
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Midnight Sorrow
Consolidating up to 6″ means that, when you blitz through an enemy unit, you’ll likely be able to chain into another one, proving very disruptive for any force that relies on shooting. Falling back an additional D6″ also has a variety of benefits; remember, with your Flip Belt and Rising Crescendo abilities, you’ll be able to move over models as if they aren’t there, before charging. Defensively, you’ll be able to put a LOT of distance between anyone that tries to pin you down, while offensively, you can wreak havoc behind enemy lines, using your Fall Back moves to get to the heart of your enemy army.
The Veiled Path
With a 4+ invulnerable save and a range of ways to mess with your opponent’s hit rolls, Harlequins can be surprisingly durable, with Riddle-smiths making you even harder to attack in close combat. If you’re looking to make your Harlequins last longer on the battlefield, this is the Masque Form for you.
Frozen Stars
Remember – Harlequins can Fall Back and charge, meaning you’ll be able to benefit from this several times during the game. By gearing up with powerful melee weapons like the Harlequin’s kiss (it’s a lot less nice than it sounds), you’ll be able to blitz through enemy units before they even have a chance to strike with a hefty 5(!) Attacks per Player on the charge for your Troupe units.
Soaring Spite
Troupes mounted in Starweavers will be very powerful with this Masque Form – as well as allowing you to fire your Pistols on the move, your shuriken cannons won’t suffer any reduction in accuracy for firing on the move.
Dreaming Shadow
We’d recommend taking larger squads of Harlequins, kitting them out with as many deadly pistols as you can and getting them into range as soon as possible – any foe looking to take them out could be in for a nasty surprise.
Silent Shroud
In an army composed entirely of Harlequins, this will work superbly with your Death Jesters, whose shrieker cannon can reduce the Leadership of target units, but where it really comes into its own is in a mixed Aeldari army. By combining a Detachment of Hemlock Wraithfighters with some choice Drukhari units from the Dark Creed Haemonculus Coven, you’ll be able to drop enemy Leadership by as much as 9 – enough to transform every single casualty into a devastating rout.
Harlequins were already good on the tabletop. Being able to advance, shoot, charge, fall back, rinse, and repeat is already insanely powerful. Now that we’ve gotten a glimpse of their individual masque rules, we can see that these guys are no joke.
Shooting armies will have a hell of a time trying to get away from the Midnight Sorrow masque long enough to return fire. Harlequin players now having the ability to pull up on a land raider and pop a cap in his engine with the Soaring Spite masque is something to definitely be wary of.
What do you think is the best masque for you? Do you think we will be seeing all-Harlequin lists or will they be mostly allied with other Aeldari via detachments? Let us know in the comments on Facebook.
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About the Author: Wesley Floyd
