Games Workshop has given us another preview leading up to the release of 8th. Come take a look at the latest rules for transports.
Warhammer Community just revealed how close combat weapons are going to work in 8th edition, let’s see what they had to say.
Transports have some pretty fundamental changes in the new Warhammer 40,000. Previously, they were a bit of a mixed bag, and while usually quite a good tool to keep your troops alive and get them across the battlefield, a lot of the time, their main purpose ended up being just to soak up the first volley of enemy heavy weapon shots meant for the squad inside.
In the new Warhammer 40,000, Transports are almost universally, better: they are more durable, faster, many are better at shooting, and all have fewer limitations on the units disembarking from them. For example, a unit disembarking from a Transport is no longer prevented from charging that turn.
Units now disembark at the start of the Movement phase, before the Transport moves, but can then move, shoot and fight normally in that turn. This opens up loads of tactical options for both shooting and combat themed armies, especially now that multiple units can share a single Transport up to its capacity.
For a combat army, this will mean you will need to get your Transports where you need them in the previous turn for maximum effect. One tactic we’ve seen used to good effect already is to then use the Transport to charge in alongside the unit into combat!
We’ve seen already that vehicles can charge and fight in melee like all other models, and while they might not be the kings of close combat, they are generally pretty durable and can soak up the firepower of enemy units in overwatch before their potentially more fragile passengers make it in. This is particularly handy with units like Wyches, Ork Boyz and Harlequins, to whom overwatch fire can prove especially deadly.
Here’s an example, of one such Transport: the Harlequin Starweaver.
You can see already that this it is likely to be considerably more durable than it is today, and the skill of the Harlequin pilots even makes it not too shabby in a fight. This being open-topped too, the passengers in it can shoot normally even after that huge 16″ move, and still shoot pistols into units that are in combat with their Transport in their own Shooting phase!
It doesn’t all go Transports’ way though. Being inside an exploding vehicle is still bad news. Models inside a wrecked Transport will now die on the roll of a 1. This isn’t so bad for units like Orks and Guardsmen, who were used to taking a few casualties when losing their Transport, but is going to hurt a bit more for elite units, so be sure to put valuable units in your most durable Transports, like Land Raiders and Battlewagons.
Units are now disembarking from a transport in the movement phase and can shoot, move, and fight like normal that turn. Load those guys up, it’s time to hit the ground running! Transports are playing a huge role in the new edition of Warhammer 40,000. They’re coming out stronger, faster, and a little more shooty in some cases. So get your troops across the field, park one of these guys in front of the enemy, and use it as a big metal shield to eat as many of your opponents attacks as you can on the charge.
What are your thoughts on the new transport rules? Let us know in the comments below.
Check back with us tomorrow when they reveal an update from Ultramar.
