You don’t want to miss any of these spicy Fight Phase 40k rules changes that GW revealed over the weekend, as the new edition continues to morph.
Warhammer Community has been steadily dropping faction focuses. However, each post is 99% rules that we already know about. Hidden within everything, there are some nuggets of new 9th Edition rules that are going to heavily impact the way games are played.
Here’s the latest that they just softballed in over the weekend…
SPICY New 40k Fight Phase Rules Changes Revealed
Desperate Breakout is a new core Stratagem that anybody can use in 9th. This Strat is essentially your unit realizing they’re about to get mobbed and do absolutely everything they can to break out- even if they have to trample over their own buddies in the process (hence the rolling 1’s).
Note the wording “when doing so its models can be moved across enemy models as if they were not there”. This is an outstanding Stratagem because this single-handedly puts an end to effective tri-tipping for squads. It’s not the end of tri-tipping altogether because you at least make your opponent spend 2CP if you do decide to tri-tip. However, Guard armies won’t be helpless anymore when three Grots get around a Leman Russ and keep it there all game… Of course, it could die on a roll of a 1, but at that point, it’s kinda useless anyways right?
You obviously wouldn’t use this Stratagem on every unit, but it’s a great trick to keep in your back pocket.
GW Hides Fighting Priority of Turns in Death Guard Preview
We know the current priority of 8th. ALL charges go first, then whoever’s turn it is, they get to select a unit to fight that’s in melee and did not charge.
Well, it looks like that is changing slightly in 9th. This is what was hidden in the Death Guard preview:
Since the player who isn’t taking their turn gets to choose the first non-charging unit to fight with, the Foul Blightspawn’s Revolting Stench ensures that the Blightlords will fight first against any enemy units that dare charge them.
In 9th Edition, priority will change to charging units first, THEN whoever’s turn it isn’t will pick a unit that did not charge. That’s a small change that has a big impact as units stuck in melee aren’t as safe as they once were.
These Changes Don’t Look To Favor Shooting/Melee Lists Specifically
Overall, it looks like every faction, both shooting and melee lists can get some good use out of the Desperate Breakout Strat. We’ve all had units charged and locked up that we’d like to get free.
Plus, with every army at a 2k point game getting 12CP, 2CP going to that Strat once a game is reasonable to dedicate. As for the change in sequencing for melee, that’s a pretty big alteration. It helps keep the advantage swinging super hard in the favor of whoever gets multiple charges off, which makes sense.
While it’s not necessarily a buff to melee or shooting lists specifically, it’s just another way to keep the game honest, making sure no one player has a crazy upper hand (like getting to fight with 4+ units before the other person can do anything about it).
With these changes now out, what do you think about 9th Edition? Do you still have a great outlook on everything that’s coming? Was tri-tipping your bread and butter?
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About the Author: Wesley Floyd
Wesley Floyd
Job Title: Staff Writer
Joined: 2018
Socials: @RealmbrushPainting
About Wesley Floyd: Wes has been in the Warhammer hobby since 2015 and joined the Spikey Bits writing team in 2018. He is known for his satirist takes on trending topics and imaginative yet amazingly affordable hobby solutions to painting Warhammer miniatures.
Imperial fanboy, tabletop fanatic, and the self-proclaimed King of Sprues. 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. If you like what he writes and want to contact him or have your tabletop minatures painted (to a mostly okayish standard), message him on Instagram.
