Buckle up for these wild, yet probably necessary rules dataslate rules updates that GW just released for Warhammer 40k to restore balance!
What a time to be alive. Games Workshop has swooped down from the top rope to deliver the player’s elbow to competitive 40k with NERFS and points changes galore.
New Warhammer 40k Balance Updates & Rules Changes
The stagnant meta of Warhammer 40k is getting new life breathed into it, as it looks like any potentially overpowered-ness may be short-lived.
Each quarter, you can look forward to a short list of rules tweaks aimed at boosting factions that need a killer edge, and taking a bit of the sting out of those riding high at the top of the competitive pile. These will complement the regular Chapter Approved Grand Tournament Mission Packs, in which missions, objectives, and points values will all be updated.
They go on to say that this only applies to official GW events, so you can use or not use the new updates as you like. However, we imagine that most competitive events will adopt them as well.
Let’s take a look at the Balance Dataslate GW put out covering army factions that needed an update:
New Balance Dataslate: April 2022
We have adjusted how a couple of generic mechanics work – the Indirect Fire rule and variations of the Bodyguard mechanic. The main goal behind these changes is for units with these rules to still feel cool and immersive, but also give the opposing player more ways to interact with them. In addition to these changes, we have also introduced a new generic rule: Armour of Contempt.
Applying to certain faction keywords, this rule is intended to reduce the lethality of the game for a whole swathe of factions that have traditionally relied on their armour to help them survive the punishing battlefields of Warhammer 40,000, and which are currently finding the ubiquity of high AP weaponry a little bit much!
First up, they are buffing Space Marines, CSM, and Sisters of Battle by giving them all a little bit of a buff against AP weapons. This is honestly pretty strong as most weapons are gaining more AP.
Next, Indirect fire is getting a pretty big NERF, but the Astra Militarum keeps all the strength of their weapons. Next, they are getting rid of a lot of the strength of bodyguards.
Now, let’s check out the specific changes.
Adeptus Custodes NERFS
Adeptus Custodes receive changes so that the Objective Secured rule only applies to Troops, the part of a Shieldhost best suited to capturing Objectives. This means that powerhouse picks like Trajann Valoris or Allarus Terminators will be freed up to dish out the hurt wherever they’re needed.
Also, a handful of their most powerful Stratagems become one use only, with some changing to only affect CORE – so you’ll need to think carefully about how to use these game-changing abilities.
These are some big changes, now taking objectives has just gotten much harder as only Troops have ObSec. Then, two strong Stratagems go to once per game, so you’ll really have to plan on how you actually use them.
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Lastly, you can only affect Infantry with Arcane Genetic Alchemy and Emperor’s Auspice. We’ll have to see how they play out, but feel pretty big.
Harlequins NERFS
The top-performing armies all receive tweaks. Harlequins have Mirror Architect and Favour of Cegorach adjusted, needing more care to use due to their powerful nature. Meanwhile, Starweavers and Voidweavers see an increase in points – but retain their lethality and utility.
Right off the bat, they hit them with a points increase. Then, they changed two of the strongest special rules. Again, Harlequins have been performing really well, so we’ll have to see if this is enough to bring them down a little.
Tau NERFS
Finally, Mont’ka has been tweaked to remove bonus AP for the T’au Empire, Broadside Battlesuits have had CORE removed, and specific charge-blunting rules have stopped stacking – so T’au remain a premier shooting faction, but you’ll need to work a little bit harder to protect your gunlines from vicious melee assailants.
Getting rid of some innate AP and then the bonus to Space Marines and other armor really might take a huge toll on the Tau. Then, removing Core from Broadsides is a pretty big blow for buffs. Lastly, getting rid of the cumulative bonuses against charges will hopefully make them easier to actually get into combat with.
Imperial Guard Buffs
As well as the above headline items, other factions see a host of impactful changes. The Astra Militarum gain a new detachment ability called Hammer of the Emperor. Under which armies drawn from one <REGIMENT> automatically wound targets on unmodified hit rolls of 6. While their infantry go up in price, upgrades are now all free – massed platoons are back.
The change to points is interesting. Because the points go up for a generic squad, but all wargear is free. So start kiting them out with everything! Then, getting auto wounds on 6’s is pretty sweet considering you can get a ton of shots. This is the third buff in a row for them, so this might mean their codex is still a little ways off.
Sisters of Battle Buffs
The Sisters of Battle now also get buffs to Miracle Dice, ensuring that their faith in the Emperor is not found wanting in comparison to the Asuryani’s Strands of Fate.
Lastly, to keep up with the Eldar, they are getting Miracle dice buffs. Then, when this is combined with the armor, a pretty decent buff overall.
Download the New 40k Dataslate Here!
Balance Dataslate Update 1: November 2021
So first off we see a new Univeral Matched Play Rules (above top) that changes the way players field Aircraft. Now most players playing 2,000 point games will be able to field two.
Not every faction in the game can even field Flyers, but aircraft-heavy armies have been on the rise – and have even begun to dominate recent tournaments. Warhammer 40,000 is certainly not intended to be a game controlled by duelling planes, so the rules team has made a change to ensure that aircraft have more of a support role rather than acting as a spearhead.
Warhammer 40k Necrons Rules Changes
A tone of Necron units just gained the Core keyword, which will allow access not only re-rolls from HQ units, but also dope auras and shenanigans from Stratagems too.
The Silent King has tons of Core auras and Stratagems like Dimensional Corridor also have new opportunities for use.
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Necrons see a host of their units gain the Core keyword, so they can benefit from numerous synergies and aura abilities that were previously unavailable to them. It also makes a huge impact on the variety of effective units that you can field. Flayed Ones, Canoptek units, and Destroyers in particular get a big boost from this.
40k Chaos Space Marines Rules Changes
While not as electrifying as gaining an additional wound, gaining attacks against any enemy is a close second we suppose. Look for these Veterans of the Long War to make an impact if their new rules drop this spring as rumored.
Imperial & Chaos Knights 40k Rules Changes
Unexpected changes for all Knights are here, both for Imperial and titans of the Renegade Chaos nature. Now models will count as a minimum of 5 models for holding objectives, with larger titanic vehicles will count as 10. Even better, the smaller knight Armigers and War Dog models will be Objective secured as well!
With changes like this, it may just be time to bring one, or an army of these walkers to a 40k gunfight now!
Astra Militarum Imperial Guard 40k Rules Changes
We won’t lie, these changes are pretty cool. First up the venerable Leman Russ has a 2+ save now, which is probably better for deflecting heavier weapons into a 3+ save. However, we’re sure Guard players will take it.
The new orders mechanic is cool for both Infantry and Vehicles. Obviously no yelling orders to a Baneblade which is fair, but we’ll have to check some interactions with some of the Forge World tanks to see if there are any spicy ones!
Quarterly Balance Dataslate Released For Warhammer 40k
As we said, the majority of this is just reprinted from the last one. The main change is for Drukhari, which is below.
Removing Core from Talos and Cronos is pretty big as it means their buffs from characters will be greatly affected. Then, the changes to Artists of Flesh further hurt Coven, as both Talos and Cronos were performing quite well.
At some point, they will eventually have to stop with the NERFS, but today is not that day!
Quarterly Balance Dataslate Released For Warhammer 40k
So first off we see a new Univeral Matched Play Rules (above top) that changes the way players field Aircraft. Now most players playing 2,000-point games will be able to field two.
Not every faction in the game can even field Flyers, but aircraft-heavy armies have been on the rise – and have even begun to dominate recent tournaments. Warhammer 40,000 is certainly not intended to be a game controlled by dueling planes, so the rules team has made a change to ensure that aircraft have more of a support role rather than acting as a spearhead.
We won’t lie, these changes are pretty cool. First up the venerable Leman Russ has a 2+ save now, which is probably better for deflecting heavier weapons into a 3+ save. However, we’re sure Guard players will take it.
The new orders mechanic is cool for both Infantry and Vehicles. Obviously no yelling orders to a Baneblade which is fair, but we’ll have to check some interactions with some of the Forge World tanks to see if there are any spicy ones!
A tone of Necron units just gained the Core keyword, which will allow access not only re-rolls from HQ units, but also dope auras and shenanigans from Stratagems too.
The Silent King has tons of Core auras and Stratagems like Dimensional Corridor also have new opportunities for use.
Removing Core from Talos and Cronos is pretty big as it means their buffs from characters will be greatly affected. Then, the changes to Artists of Flesh further hurt Coven, as both Talos and Cronos were performing quite well.
Here’s the most up-to-date review of the new Chapter Approved 2022 Rules. Click on the gallery above to see the new Battleforged and Seconadries rules plus Missions!
- Points Changes In Chapter Approved 2022
- Chapter Approved GT 2022 Missions
- New 40k Grand Tournament 2022 Secondary Objectives
- All the Chapter Approved GT 2022 40k Rules Changes
- Warhammer 40k Balance Updates & Rules Changes
All the Newest GW Model & Rules Previews For 2022
Are you excited about the Balance Dataslate Changes to Warhammer 40k and the latest Chapter Approved GT 2022 book?
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About the Author: Rob Baer
Rob Baer
Job Title: Managing Editor
Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
Socials: Rob Baer on Facebook and @catdaddymbg on X
About Rob Baer: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor of Spikey Bits, the leading tabletop gaming news website focused on the hobby side of wargaming and miniatures.
Rob also co-founded and currently hosts the Long War Podcast, which has over 350 episodes and focuses on tabletop miniatures gaming, specializing in Warhammer 40k. and spent six years writing for Bell of Lost Souls.
Every year, along with his co-hosts, he helps host the Long War 40k Doubles Tournament at Adepticon and the Long War 40k Doubles at Las Vegas Open, which attracts over 350 players from around the world.
Rob has won many Warhammer 40k Tournaments over the years, including multiple first-place finishes in Warhammer 40k Grand Tournaments over the years and even winning 1st place at the Adepticon 40k Team Tournament.
With over 30 years of experience in retail and distribution, Rob knows all the products and exactly which ones are the best. As a member of GAMA (Game Manufacturers Association), he advocates for gaming stores and manufacturers in these difficult times, always looking for the next big thing to feature for the miniatures hobby, helping everyone to provide the value consumers want.
While he’s played every edition of Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy (since 5th Edition) and has been hobbying on miniatures since the 1980s, Titans of all sizes will always be his favorite! It’s even rumored that his hobby vault rivals the Solemnance Galleries, containing rulebooks filled with lore from editions long past, ancient packs of black-bordered Magic Cards, and models made of both pewter and resin.
