There are some big changes coming to the matched play rules in the 3.0 new AoS General’s Handbook- check out the biggest changes!
If you’ve been itching to play some games with all the new rules, then this is the post to check out. With so many people getting early copies, the internet has done its thing and come through with spreadsheets and videos to break down all the changes.
We’ll break down some of the big changes, but we’ll have a video at the end from Facehammer TV that does a great job of explaining it all. The rules seem to be almost merging with 40k, so if you like that style, this is great. If you don’t well, the game is still keeping its own identity, just with a few more similarities to 40k.
New AoS General’s Handbook Matched Play Rules
The book is hitting shelves soon, if you want to see more about the AoS releases, you can check them out here. Things are going to change up a decent amount in this edition, so we’ll have to see how the games play, but overall people seem pretty happy with the changes.
Building Your Army
There will be no Warscroll Battalions in this season, so right off the bat, this is a decent-sized change, instead, now you’ll get benefits from your battalions. You also have to have all units from the same faction (other than coalition units).
Coalition units do not count towards your battleline units. This means soup-type armies are going to be harder to pull off. There’s a lot changing with how units can be reinforced, but we’ve covered that pretty in-depth here.
New Objective Rules
First, you can now get an additional VP for killing monsters. Since they have received some buffs to what they can do, this makes taking them not an auto-include. Next, whoever goes 2nd on turn three can remove an objective from play. Yep, just totally remove it! Lastly, two more things for monsters.
All Wizards know Metamorphasis in addition to any of their other spells. It can give a hero the monstrous keyword, which is pretty cool to take advantage of all the new rules. Still, if it dies, it will give your opponent the extra VP. Then you can count a monster as full wounds with Realm Command Ability.
Core Battalions
The core Battalions are a huge change to how your armies are built. It is a much more 40k style way to make your army and gives your units certain benefits. If you want to see everything about the changes, you can check out our article on it here.
Grand Strategies & Battle Tactics
These are your big overarching ways to score VPs at the end of the game. When you are using this book, you have to pick from these. They have some decent ones for every type of army and everyone gives you 3 VPs at the end of the battle if you score them. You have to put these on your roster, so they aren’t hidden and can’t be changed midway through a tournament or anything like that.
You pick one of these at the beginning of every turn, but you can only pick each one once per game. These are really cool and can actually win you the game even if your opponent scores more objectives, but you get these and your Grand Strategy.
With one being picked every round, be sure to take ones you can actually complete that turn. If you don’t achieve it by the end of the turn, you just lose it. This really changes the game and makes for much more tactical play.
If you want a great and detailed breakdown of the changes, check out the very in-depth video from the guys over at Facehammer TV!
What do you think of the changes? Are you excited about the new edition?
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About the Author: Travis Pasch
Travis Pasch
Job Title: Head Writer & Editor
Socials: @paschbass
About Travis Pasch: Travis has been a Warhammer 40k hobbyist since the 1990s, playing the game since Third Edition. Through extensive traveling, he’s seen a lot of the miniatures hobby from across the world, giving him a unique perspective on the latest gaming topics and trends.
Travis’s brother even owns a commission painting studio, where he’s picked up a lot of good advice and techniques for painting Warhammer and tabletop miniatures over the years, as well. Travis joined the Spikey Bits team in 2019 and has been the lead writer since 2020.
Currently, he’s working on converting all his 40k Adeptus Mechanicus models and becoming a true tech enjoyer, complete with both sad and happy robot noises!
