There’s a new sheriff in Craftworld town and it’s not jetbikes or the Wraithknight. Come see the unit that may just break the game.
Worrying about Eldar Jetbikes or Wraithknights, may seem a little silly when we break down what may just prove to be the most offensively unstoppable unit in the game.
If 40k was Clue it would go like this, Wraithguard in the Observatory, with Wraithcannons.
‘The Who’
We all know how resilient these guys are, T6 with a 3+ save that can easily be modified down to 2+ with some trickery, but what a lot of people don’t know is just how deadly they just became in the new Eldar Craftworld Codex. Lot’s of tricks in the Eldar line up can get them re-rolls to hit and wound as well.
‘The Where’
These guys can almost be pin-point delivered a number of ways but my favorite is deepstriking via an Archon’s webway portal. You can however tuck them in a Wave Serpent too and leave their Archon inside so they are free to battle focus upon deepstrike arriving as well.
‘The Murder Weapon’
Wraithcannons now have the Destroyer special rule, and the first ‘man portable’ Destroyer units have been born. One D weapon may not be that bad, because they’re is usually a drawback to fielding it, mobility, use, quantity etc.
But not in this case, Wraithguard can get TEN ‘D’ Weapons for about the same cost as a Wraithknight.
So bad is it? Well what if it told you a squad of these guys seems to be able to kill mostly anything in one volley.
By the Numbers; 10 Wraithguard with Wraithcannons
10 D Weapon Shots, Average results
- ~7 Hits at BS 4, Causes 10 Cover/Invulnerable Saves (5 x d3), and 9 Unsavable Wounds (6 +D6). 19 Total ‘D’ Results
- ~9 Hits at BS 4 Guided / Spirit Mark, Causes 14 Cover/Invulnerable Saves (5 x d3), and 9 Unsavable Wounds (6 +D6). 23 Total ‘D’ results
- ~9 Hits at BS 4 Guided / Spirit Mark and Doom Causes 12 Cover/Invulnerable Saves (5 x d3), and 18 Unsavable Wounds (6 +D6). 30 Total ‘D’ results
So unless their target has a cover save or an Invul, this squad will shred its target. Sure it’s game-able a bit with cover and all but I think we can all agree that smaller units and vehicles can not repel firepower of this magnitude!
The only hope I think we may have to dealing with all of this is coming up with a way to score sportsmanship reliably or perhaps a better comp system for 40k organized play. But I feel like on paper it’ll be hard to restrict core units like Elites and Jetbikes as troops.
Where is your Emperor Now?
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.
