Now that some time has gone by since the most recent Warhammer 40k FAQ, we’ve noticed a trend. Take a look at what the meta might be evolving into.
The Fall FAQ basically put a halt to any turn one deepstrike. There’s nothing that can arrive from reserves turn one and those fancy “redeploy 9 inches away” stratagems got rewritten to basically be a free move before the game beings. Let’s take a look at how players are responding.
40k Meta Shifts Again: Beta is the New Alpha Strike
After playing a part in a few tournaments since the FAQ, I’ve noticed a pattern in the playgroup. Players are actually opting to go second and use the 2CP stratagem to put their entire army in cover.
It looks like even more close-range “in your face” armies are wanting to go second. A Death Guard list with Mortarion and Bloat Drone spam even opted to go second. Before the FAQ, any Death Guard player would’ve barreled straight into the enemy with his drones without hesitation. Both Mortarion and Bloat Drones are only good in close range.
Why are people choosing to go second?
It looks like people are wanting to go second to be able to react and deal with the opponent’s deepstrikers first. Obviously, the player that has the first turn will be able to bring their units in from reserves first. The players that go second are willing to soak up some fire and see where the enemy moves as knowledge on where to move next turn.
Gunline lists like Tau and Guard should be totally okay with going second because that means they get to put their units in cover, (Fire Warriors getting a 3+ save is gross) and the enemy will just move into range of even more firepower. You’re basically letting your opponent set themselves up for your advantage.
Assault Armies Shafted?
Assault armies look like they took sort of a hit on this FAQ. If you play an assault-heavy list, your opponent probably won’t be spending 2CP to get into cover when you go first. However, the fact that you can’t bring ANYTHING out of reserves turn one is brutal. In a perfect world, you’d move up the board, drop down some fast assault unit like Death Company/Genestealers from Cult Ambush, etc. but GW thought that was too powerful. Now, we have to run up the board and hope to have enough cover to weather the hailstorm of bullets that’ll be coming our way.
That’s the pivotal moment of victory or defeat. If that gunline can knock down half of your board-state on their first turn before anything from your reserves can touch them, you’ve probably lost. With that being said, are assault armies going to start packing long-range firepower?
We may even begin to see the more melee-heavy lists bring the dakka and keep a few good melee beasts around to protect their big guns. If they built a list around some sort of gunline with a disgusting melee counter-attack, they may want to go second and let the enemy close in on them a bit.
That way, they’ll be able to blast whatever moved within range and the melee-aspect of the army can run interference for the artillery.
Regardless of how you play, there’s a definite meta shift happening. Have you opted to go second and dropped into cover? Are you taking more guns in your close combat lists? Do you like the “no turn one deepstrike” rule? Let us know in the comments of our Facebook Hobby Group.
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.
