40k Balance Dataslate: All The Big Winners & Sad Losers JAN 2024

By Travis Pasch | February 2nd, 2024 | Categories: 10th Edition 40k, 40k News & Articles, Adepta Sororitas, Adeptus Custodes, Aeldari, Chaos Space Marines, Dark Eldar Drukhari, Games Workshop, Space Marines, Tabletop Gaming News & Rumors, Warhammer Community

GW changed the game again with significant updates to Warhammer 40k inside the second Balance Dataslate that arrived on January 30th, 2024.

Well, GW is not taking things lightly this time, as nearly all the factions in Warhammer 40k are getting some significant changes! While this new 40k balance dataslate was slightly delayed, it might make sense as GW is changing points, faction rules, core rules, and more. The armies at the top of the meta are getting some severe NERFS, while the underperforming armies are getting some love. If you’ve been underwhelmed with your army lately, these changes might be what you were waiting for.

40k Balance Dataslate Update: Summary

The second Balance Dataslate for Warhammer 40k was released on January 30th, 2024, bringing significant updates to the game.
This update included changes to points, faction rules, core rules commentary, and more, affecting nearly all the factions in the game.
Armies at the top of the meta received significant NERFs, while underperforming armies were buffed.
Core rule changes impacted every Warhammer 40k army, including changes to Devastating Wounds, Battle Tactic Stratagems, Insane Bravery, and Overwatch.
The update also introduced a new Drukhari detachment and updated the Rules Commentary to clarify fringe case interactions.

Here’s a link to each section of the Warhammer 40k updates so you can jump to what interests you the most!

New Munitorium Points Changes
New 40k Balance Dataslate Updates
Rules Commentary For 10th Edition 40k

The January 10th Edition 40k 2024 Balance Dataslate is Here With Big Winners & Sad Losers!

The new Balance Dataslate update was released on January 30th, 2024, as Games Workshop coyishly said it would release in January. It has revamped the game of Warhammer 40k once again as points adjustments look to shake up the current meta, and rules updates will bring offenders to heel. Here is a quick rundown of the major changes, but we’ll have everything for you more in-depth below:

Buffed Armies:

Daemons get huge point decreases. Daemon allies are harder to bring
Imperial Knights get some help with big points buffs
Custodes get a ton of help, very close to release rules
Drukhari gets point decreases, Archons can lead Incubi, and a brand-new detachment

NERFED Armies:

Aeldari get another NERF to Wraithguards
Chaos Space Marines get NERFS to good units, and some points increase
World Eaters get hit
For some reason, Guard is getting NERFS; we really don’t know why
Tau Crisis suits get hit
Leagues of Votann get hit on their best units with point increases
Minor Death Guard and Adetpa Sororitas NERFS

Warhammer 40k Core Rules Changes

Let’s start with the core rule changes, as they will impact every Warhammer 40k army out there.

Devastating Wounds eliminate all saving throws, but no changes to how they are applied like mortals. The Callidus gets a NERF here, but if you can use a Stratagem twice, you can now only do it if it’s a Battle Tactic Stratagem. Then, Insane Bravery, must be done before you take a Battle-shock test, and you can only use it once in an entire battle. So use it wisely.

Now, you can only use Battle Tactics Stratagems for different CPs, both cheaper and more expensive. When it comes to Overwatch, you have to be able to see the unit. Lastly, Aircraft always draw a line of sight into and out of ruins.

Warhammer 40k Balance Dataslate Updates By Faction:

Custodes are a huge winner here, with many rules reverting to before the last changes, and they finally get a 4+ on Devastating Wounds. Wraithguard gets hit hard again; now they can only target the unit that shot at them. Then, Night Spinners go to -2″, Yncarne goes to once in each of your turns, and lastly, some stratagems get changed as well. Overall, it’s nothing too wild, but it should help bring them down a little. Astra Militarum also got a small orders buff.

CSM gets four big changes now. First, Profane Zeal now only lets you reroll the wound rolls, not the hits. You can only embark on transports with the same mark, so there is no mixing and matching with your transports and units. Accursed cultists get two small changes: first, they only have OC 1, and you only bring models back in your command phase. Lastly, Dark Obscuration is changed to 18″ for Nurgle.

Death Guard lost a little bit of the grenade spam. Drukhari gets two nice buffs, with Archons finally being allowed in Incubi, and now your melee weapons gain an additional AP when they have a pain token. However, Games Workshop also gave Drukhari a brand-new detachment, but we’ll have that later.

World Eaters get hit the hardest here, with Favoured of Khorne going to once per battle and the Berzerker Glaive changes to add 1 to attacks and damage. Imperial Knights also got some key changes to the way thier bondsman and Oath ability work.

Download all the changes here! Before we get into the point changes, one army did grab a brand new detachment.

New Drukhari Detachment

The new detachment gives you fewer pain tokens but does improve your melee and transports! The detachment comes with all new stratagems and enhancements as well.

Download the full thing here!

Warhammer 40k Rules Commentary

The Rules Commentary was updated to answer questions about fringe case interactions that don’t come up very often. They clarify Arriving from Strategic Reserves in the First Battle Round and ability stacking as things like Nurgles Rot can affect units per instance now and which modifiers are ignored by particular unit abilities. It’s worth a read if you haven’t looked at it already.

10th Edition Warhammer 40k Points Munitorium Field Manual 1.6 Changes Update From GW!

The latest 10th Edition Munitorium Field Manual points changes from the 40k balance dataslate are here!

Adetpa Sororitas Points Changes

They get a mix of changes, with Arco-Flagellants going up in points along with Morvenn and Exorcists. However, Repentia, Dominions, Paragons, and Zephyrim all go down in points, with a big decrease of 30 points for 10 Repentia.

Old Points

Adeptus Custodes Points Updates

Well, they are getting a serious buff with tons of decreases!

Old Points

Adeptus Mechancius Points

None of their points changed this time.

Aeldari Points Update

They only get two NERFS this time, but combined with the other NERFS, this basically takes Wraithguard to a bad spot.

Old Points

Agents of The Imperium

Astra Militarum Points

They haven’t been doing very well overall, so we really don’t understand the 30-point increase to the Manticore.

Old Points

Black Templars Points Updates

Both Grimaldus and Helbrecht get some increases along with the Crusader Squad.

Old Points

Blood Angels Points

Chaos Daemons Points

Other than Nurglings and Blue Scribes, they basically get point decreases on everything!

Old Points

Chaos Knights Points

Like the Imperial Knights, they are getting a ton of decreases across the board.

Old Points

Chaos Space Marines Points

These guys are getting hit pretty hard, as Lords, Chosen, Dark Commune, Obliterators, and Warp Talons are increasing. However, they have been pretty high in the meta, but we’ll have to see how this impacts them.

Old Points

Dark Angels Points

Just like the Ad Mech and Necron codexes, these will supersede the codex on release; however, additional updates will drop with The Dark Angels release as well.

10th Edition 40k Dataslate Death Guard Points

10th edition Points 6 They are getting a mix of increases and decreases, with the weaker units getting buffed and the common choices going up in points.

Old Points

Deathwatch Points

Drukhari Points

They get a ton of points buffs, and combined with the army buffs, they might start climbing up the rankings. Also, the new detachment might be even better with the transports going down in points.

Old Points

Genestealer Cults Points

They have been doing really well, so it’s not a surprise to see only a single change that coincides with the regular Tyranids.

Old Points

Grey Knights Points

They only receive a single change this time, with the Librarian increasing in points.

Old Points

Imperial Knights Points

They get huge decreases across the board, and you might be able to fit in a whole new Knight in your existing lists!

Old Points

Leagues of Votann Points

It makes sense these three units got point increases, as they were performing extremely well and ran like wild in every single list.

Old Points

Necrons Points

10th Edition 40k Balance Dataslate Orks Points

Orks have been doing pretty well, but there were a lot of units not getting used. So GW gave them a decrease and NERFED the other units from the looks of it.

Old Points

Like the Orks, they get pretty balanced changes, with high-performing units getting NERFS and underperforming units getting decreases.

Old Points

Space Wolves Points

Tau Points

This one stings a little; while Crisis Teams are powerful, they were the one thing keeping Tau at a 48% rate; we’ll have to see how this pans out with the other buffs.

Old Points

Thousand Sons Points

Tyranids Points

They actually got a lot of points decreases, but Gargoyles (the main unit people have been bringing over any infantry), Neurolictors, Deathleapers, and Pyrovores all get NERFS.

Old Points

World Eaters Points

They are getting hurt pretty hard this Dataslate, as not only got NERFS but then the point increases as well. Eightbound (both versions) almost go back up to their initial release points, while the Master of Executions and Kharn go up by a whopping 20 points!