Check out the latest new rules for monster and tank units that were just revealed for 9th Edition Warhammer 40k that are set to level the playing field.
Coming from Warhammer Community and the Warhammer TV on Twitch, we’ve compiled the latest batch of reveals into one place. 9th Edition is coming in hot and so are tanks and monsters. Here’s how they will play in-game now
New 9th Edition 40k Tank & Monster Rules REVEALED!
Vehicles and Monsters of every description are about to become a whole lot more menacing in the new edition, as they’ll be able to deal with the pesky attention of enemies within Engagement Range (that’s 1″ to you and me) by shooting them to pieces point-blank!
So, tanks and monsters will be able to shoot their guns. Yes, the days of slinging a Grot into the hull of a Leman Russ, disabling it are over. However, there is a cost of shooting. While you still get all of your shots, you have to shoot at the unit you’re engaged with as well as suffering a -1 to hit modifier.
If you like to live life on the edge, you can declare some weapons to shoot at a unit that it’s not engaged with. However, you can’t have any models within 1″ of you when the time comes to actually shoot them. That means that if you’ve got one Grot on you, sure…throw a Heavy Bolter at it and keep going. But if it’s a blob of Hormagaunts, you’re better off dedicating all of your firepower.
We also wonder if that means there were be a revised sequence to shooting as well too for 9th edition…
This is a nice, evening of the playing field for melee and shooting armies. Tanks don’t get shut down completely, but they are limited at what they can shoot and don’t do it as well.
This Is Going T0 Make Less Popular Weapon Options Great
For tanks that can bring heavy flamers, they’re going to be great. While flamers might not be a popular option (excluding the Warsuit), auto-hitting units you’re engaged with is going to be MAXIMUM SPICE. Picture what a Deff Dread can do if it’s all kitted with Flamers. Or even a Baal Predator. Yuck.
Notes From Warhammer TV Twitch Stream
There were a few gold nuggets of info that were talked about on-Stream that didn’t make it to the WHC page. Eddie and Stu were talking and mentioned a Repulsor being able to flank onto the board later in the game. If this is true, that’s going to be powerful for anyone going second. Repulsors are usually bullet magnets and bringing just one is asking for it to get melted turn one. Especially if your opponent is going first. However, if some vehicles can outflank later in the game, it’ll give players who paid the points the ability to at least get a turn of shooting out of it.
The crew also mentioned that the only thing that suffers from moving and firing heavy weapons is Infantry. That means tanks ignore all HEAVY weapons! If you listen closely, you can hear the cheering of Guard players all around the world.
It seems that WHC updated their post with this official new rule:
Another note to make is that they said Infantry can’t hide from monsters in buildings as easy. Stu said “You can’t run from Tyranids any more” and there was a short conversation of how monsters will be able to punch at units on the second floor.
Plus with nearly 12″ shaved off each side of the battlefield now, they ain’t lying!
With all of this now on the table, we could be seeing more mechanized/monster-heavy lists emerge. With things like Carnifexes and Hive Tyrants being able to shoot the dudes around them and fight later on in the turn, players will get much more use out of the units they pay a premium for in points currently.
What do you think about these changes? Did melee get nerfed or did GW just even the playing field as best as possible? Will flamers be the next big thing in the meta?
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About the Author: Wesley Floyd
Wesley Floyd
Job Title: Staff Writer
Joined: 2018
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Bio: Imperial fanboy, tabletop fanatic, and the self-proclaimed King of Sprues. Wes has been in the Warhammer hobby since 2015 and joined the Spikey Bits writing team in 2018. He knows for a fact that Mephiston red is the best-tasting paint and is the commission painting equivalent of a Wendy’s 4 for $4.
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