Doing some dangerous thinking, we have another way to make the Warhammer 40k meta more melee based. Check this idea out adding a new ability to weapons.
In 40k, the basic rule of melee is to check if your model is within 1″ of an enemy base. For models further back, they have to be within 1″ of 1″. (Basically, two ranks worth of models can fight.) But what would it look like if all factions got hit with new units that had weapons with reach?
Reach Weapons in AoS
In Age of Sigmar, melee weapons have a range to them. 1″-range weapons require you to be basically touching the enemy. But some weapons have 2-3″ which allows them to get some swings in while standing in safety behind ranks of other friendly units. Bringing this element of AoS to 40k would bring forward some pretty awesome new strategies.
Melee Weapons With Reach in 40k
If GW added a “reach” element to the game, the existing units that would gain a further inch of melee would probably Grey Knights with force halberds, Custodies with their spears and axes, some bigger Tyranids with just pincers/tentacles, Knights with stompy feet, etc.
But it would also be a goldmine of more units to come across all factions. Primaris power-Pike units that could have 3″-reach D3 damage weapons could find from behind the safety of a Primaris Intercessor rank.
Skitarii Tazer Goad vanguard could stab away from safety as well. Even Necrons could have a new unit hit the table with this. The weapons wouldn’t be too different from a normal power weapon. But the uniqueness of being able to fight from safety (being out of reach from the enemy) is what is particularly great.
Even something like the elite Victrix Guard could get power halberds. Combined with their Heroic Intervention rule and swinging from 2-3″ away would make these dudes a real threat. It’s an element that was used in medieval combat for ages. Since 40k games almost always devolve into nose-bloodying melee just like a medieval skirmish, why not use medieval tactics?
How would you like to see reach-style weapons come into 40k? If it meant new models for your faction would you be down for it? Let us know in the comments of our Facebook Hobby Group, and sign up to get your free hobby updates newsletter (with discount coupon codes) each morning as well!
About the Author: Wesley Floyd
Imperial fanboy, tabletop fanatic, King of sprues.
