The new 40k Tau Codex has been spotted and the rules are flying like crazy- here’s what are supposedly the new Markerlight rules!
Someone got their hands on the codex book a little early it looks like, and has answered/transcribed a ton of rules across a thread and throughout multiple messages. More importantly, they posted a picture of their cat with the Codex book, so in theory, these are not new tau rules rumors but rules leaks instead…
New Tau 9th Edition Codex
It’s about to get even better with Codex: T’au Empire on the way early next year. How early? We’ll get to that, but it’s close enough that we’ve been able to get some markerlights trained on the cover so you can see the beautiful art right now. Codex: T’au Empire will arrive in early 2022, and with the Genestealer Cults and Adeptus Custodes codexes also landing in the same period.
We’ll see how they do the release, but we expect those other two codex books (Custodes & GSC) will come out a little earlier, and then the Tau stuff with Darkstrider, etc. Still, with how strange the releases have been, we’ll have to see.
So we’re on deck to see the new Tau codex soon as we are “in the same period” as the other two mentioned above!
New Tau Codex Markerlight 40k Rules Spotted!
Spotted on a wild thread over on Reddit, we have what may be a ton of new Tau 40k rules “rumors”.
Hi there. Picture should prove my credentials. I promised not to give out more pictures, so I won’t. On the same front, I promise not to lie or embellish anything and to keep my personal commentary to an absolute minimum on any information I pass along.
Fire Markerlights (Action): One or more Markerlight units from your army can start to perform this action at the start of your movement phase. Aircraft Markerlight units can perform this action. The action is completed at the start of your next shooting phase. If this action is successfully completed, for each model in that unit that is equipped with one or more markerlights, for each markerlight that model is equipped with, select one enemy unit within 36″ of that model that would be an eligible target for that model if its unit had been selected to shoot, and roll one D6: on a 3+, that enemy unit gains one Markerlight token.
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While a VEHICLE or DRONE unit is performing the Fire Markerlights action, that unit can move without that action failing. If it does, until the end of the turn, models in that unit without the VEHICLE or DRONE keyword that are equipped with any markerlights are treated as not being equipped with any markerlights for the purpose of the Fire Markerlights action.
Each time a Tau Empire unit (not Aux) is selected to shoot:
- Each time a model in that unit makes a ranged attack against a unit with one or more Markerlight Tokens, add 1 to that attack’s hit roll.
- After that unit has finished making attacks, for each enemy unit targeted by those attacks, remove one Markerlight token from that enemy unit.
- Remove all Markerlight tokens at the end of your shooting phase.
Pathfinders can move then apply Markerlights
So far the new updates to infantry and battlesuits seem to be just what the doctor ordered for the Tau rules-wise in 9th edition!
Here’s all the latest on the upcoming Tau rules updates and points changes for Warhammer 40k.
- All The Tau 40k Rules So Far
- Tau Stratagems Rules
- New Markerlight Rules for Tau
- Tau HQ & Unit Rules Rumors
- Farsight & Tau Sept Rules
- New Tau Codex Wargear & Weapon Rules
All the Newest GW Model & Rules Previews
Are you excited about these new Tau codex Markerlight 40k rules? What rules changes would you like to see?
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About the Author: Rob Baer
Rob Baer
Job Title: Managing Editor
Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
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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 the Las Vegas Open, each of which attracts thousands of 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 2011 Adepticon 40k Team Tournament. He was even featured for his painting in issue #304 of Games Workshop’s White Dwarf Magazine.
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.
