New Leagues of Votann leaks are here with 40k rules, fun units, and actual synergy; here’s what is changing and why it matters on the tabletop.
Let’s be honest: the Leagues of Votann have needed a second wave of models and rules to make them feel like a fleshed-out army. Sure, the current line is great, but who doesn’t want more minis?
With the new rules, the Votann feel like the galaxy-rattling collective they’re meant to be. This isn’t just about Yield Points and playing accountant during your Command Phase.
The real meat’s in the detachments, synergistic units, and how it all plays into a coherent, aggressive, and tech-savvy war machine.
Here’s what’s (allegedly) coming and why your current list might need a rethink.
Meet the New Votann MVPs
Memnyr Strategists are walking calculators with a body count. They don’t just predict which efficiency mode (Hostile Acquisition or Fortify Takeover) your army will have next; they generate YP just by standing near objectives.
Plus, he can give his unit free Overwatch or heroically intervene. That’s right, your support character might just change the tide of the game (especially when Steeljacks can overwatch on a 4+…).
Meanwhile, the Arkanyst Evaluator turns battlefield analytics into brutal firepower. Stick this guy near friendly infantry, and it gains Lone Operative, making it a nightmare to remove.
Even better, it hands out [SUSTAINED HITS 1] to its own guns, and if it kills something, you get bonus YP. It’s like if your spreadsheet ran the battlefield and then picked up a plasma cannon.
Buri Aegnirssen is still your melee missile with a mean streak. Get shot? He charges back. Die? He might just come back. He’s built for harassment, and with the Lone Operative and Stealth combo, he’s maddeningly hard to remove without a serious commitment.
On the mobility side, Kapricus Defenders and Carriers are fast, punchy, and finally make Votann vehicles feel impactful.
The Defenders offer ranged output with either massed shots or tank-busting firepower, while the Carrier is all about battlefield manipulation, dropping off Hernkyn units mid-turn and making priority targets easier to hit.
Ironkin & Earthshakers: Tools for Every Job
The Ironkin Steeljacks come in two distinct loadouts: shooty and smashy. Volkanite disintegrators give them solid ranged pressure with some crit-fishing spice, while the melee loadout brings plasma swords and concussion gauntlets to punch through elite units and pin key threats.
Both love Fortify Takeover and the army’s suite of stratagems.
And don’t sleep on the Cthonian Earthshakers. With indirect fire and Battleshock-triggering attacks, these artillery units finally give Votann the ability to pressure backlines without exposing themselves.
Twice per game, they can even gain +1 to Wound with their Breacher ordnance, no LOS required.
The Detachments Are Where the Magic Happens
Let’s break it down:
- Persecution Prospect is a tactical player’s dream. Mark enemies as assailed, pin them, then go to town with re-rolls and Wound bonuses. Surgical Saboteur lets you pin Vehicles and Monsters too, just for good measure. If you like bullying the midboard, this one’s for you.
- Needgaard Oathband rewards you for doing what Votann do best—killing stuff. Every enemy you vaporize gives you YP, and the detachment’s enhancements let you pump up AP, damage, and re-rolls like you’re stacking a combo deck.
- Hearthfyre Arsenal is built for gunners and techies. You gain YP by holding ground with support characters, then spend it on making your guns smarter. Think artillery buffs, re-rolls for your Brôkhyr, and ways to punish overextension.
- Dêlve Assault Shift is melee mayhem. Chthonian Berserks are now Battleline, get Deep Strike, and can come back from the dead. Stratagems let them charge after Advancing, reroll Wounds, and even retreat into reserves to pop up elsewhere. Absolute chaos—and we mean that in a good way.
- Brandfast Oathband is for the transport crowd. Load up, disembark mid-turn, tag enemies, and pour fire with [SUSTAINED HITS 1] auras. Units that just got out of transports can shoot like it’s their job—because now, it is.
So… Are the Leagues of Votann Actually Good Now?
Yes. They’re not just functional, they’re fun. Every detachment has a clear playstyle. The units synergize. The army feels flexible without losing its identity. Whether you want to control the board with suppression fire, slam into the enemy with Berserks, or micromanage mid-game positioning, there’s a build here that actually works.
You’re no longer just a slower Space Marine with cooler helmets. You’re a tech-savvy war collective with mechanical warriors, resurgent melee monsters, and a proper battlefield presence, about time.
How to Play Leagues of Votann Codex Guide
