Big NERFS may be on the way for Tau and Custodes, along with indirect changes to Aeldari in this leaked Warhammer 40k balance dataslate!
There have been a few armies really overperforming as of late (Tau, Custodes, and Harlequins), and a few really underperforming and GW is trying to keep the game more balanced than before.
Post Update:
This original post featured what eventually proved to be fake with the intro below (see original post here).
Allegedly this new 40k balance dataslate was posted on Warhammer Community and then removed, however, some people claimed to have grabbed some screenshots of most of it.
The most interesting (and potentially NOT good idea to us) part of it is they are just banning people from taking units. Instead of NERFING the datasheets, they are just taking units out of the game. Some completely for match play, and in other terms just restricting the number you can take, thus overwriting the rule of three.
Spotted on Reddit, it looks like these leaked these 4 days early from the looks of it, but they are leaks, so we don’t know everything yet, so take them with some salt as there is a possibility that this is fake.
There were a lot of comments on this post, which did run with a warning that it could be fake from the get-go, which most commenters seemed to have conveniently missed (even though it was in bold).
This post has since become a lightning rod of “the click-baiting that Spikey Bits does” on Reddit, and other platforms. However, the truth is far less exciting, as internet finger pointers never link with URLs when they make accusations that are sometimes borderline libelous.
The irony is that commenters on Reddit have literally become the thing they accused us of in the first place to farm “Karma.”
Here is the actual balance Dataslate Warhammer Community released:
Quarterly Balance Dataslate Released For Warhammer 40k
So first off we see a new Univeral Matched Play Rules (above top) that changes the way players field Aircraft. Now most players playing 2,000-point games will be able to field two.
Not every faction in the game can even field Flyers, but aircraft-heavy armies have been on the rise – and have even begun to dominate recent tournaments. Warhammer 40,000 is certainly not intended to be a game controlled by dueling planes, so the rules team has made a change to ensure that aircraft have more of a support role rather than acting as a spearhead.
We won’t lie, these changes are pretty cool. First up the venerable Leman Russ has a 2+ save now, which is probably better for deflecting heavier weapons into a 3+ save. However, we’re sure Guard players will take it.
The new orders mechanic is cool for both Infantry and Vehicles. Obviously no yelling orders to a Baneblade which is fair, but we’ll have to check some interactions with some of the Forge World tanks to see if there are any spicy ones!
A tone of Necron units just gained the Core keyword, which will allow access not only re-rolls from HQ units, but also dope auras and shenanigans from Stratagems too.
The Silent King has tons of Core auras and Stratagems like Dimensional Corridor also have new opportunities for use.
Removing Core from Talos and Cronos is pretty big as it means their buffs from characters will be greatly affected. Then, the changes to Artists of Flesh further hurt Coven, as both Talos and Cronos were performing quite well.
The New Balance Dataslate Basically Fixes Warhammer 40k
We have adjusted how a couple of generic mechanics work – the Indirect Fire rule and variations of the Bodyguard mechanic. The main goal behind these changes is for units with these rules to still feel cool and immersive, but also give the opposing player more ways to interact with them. In addition to these changes, we have also introduced a new generic rule: Armour of Contempt.
Applying to certain faction keywords, this rule is intended to reduce the lethality of the game for a whole swathe of factions that have traditionally relied on their armour to help them survive the punishing battlefields of Warhammer 40,000, and which are currently finding the ubiquity of high AP weaponry a little bit much!
First up, they are buffing Space Marines, CSM, and Sisters of Battle by giving them all a little bit of a buff against AP weapons. This is honestly pretty strong as most weapons are gaining more AP.
Next, Indirect fire is getting a pretty big NERF, but the Astra Militarum keeps all the strength of their weapons. Next, they are getting rid of a lot of the strength of bodyguards.
Now, let’s check out the specific changes.
Adeptus Custodes NERFS
Adeptus Custodes receive changes so that the Objective Secured rule only applies to Troops, the part of a Shieldhost best suited to capturing Objectives. This means that powerhouse picks like Trajann Valoris or Allarus Terminators will be freed up to dish out the hurt wherever they’re needed.
Also, a handful of their most powerful Stratagems become one use only, with some changing to only affect CORE – so you’ll need to think carefully about how to use these game-changing abilities.
These are some big changes, now taking objectives has just gotten much harder as only Troops have ObSec. Then, two strong Stratagems go to once per game, so you’ll really have to plan on how you actually use them.
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Lastly, you can only affect Infantry with Arcane Genetic Alchemy and Emperor’s Auspice. We’ll have to see how they play out, but feel pretty big.
Harlequins NERFS
The top-performing armies all receive tweaks. Harlequins have Mirror Architect and Favour of Cegorach adjusted, needing more care to use due to their powerful nature. Meanwhile, Starweavers and Voidweavers see an increase in points – but retain their lethality and utility.
Right off the bat, they hit them with a points increase. Then, they changed two of the strongest special rules. Again, Harlequins have been performing really well, so we’ll have to see if this is enough to bring them down a little.
Tau NERFS
Finally, Mont’ka has been tweaked to remove bonus AP for the T’au Empire, Broadside Battlesuits have had CORE removed, and specific charge-blunting rules have stopped stacking – so T’au remain a premier shooting faction, but you’ll need to work a little bit harder to protect your gunlines from vicious melee assailants.
Getting rid of some innate AP and then the bonus to Space Marines and other armor really might take a huge toll on the Tau. Then, removing Core from Broadsides is a pretty big blow for buffs. Lastly, getting rid of the cumulative bonuses against charges will hopefully make them easier to actually get into combat with.
Imperial Guard Buffs
As well as the above headline items, other factions see a host of impactful changes. The Astra Militarum gain a new detachment ability called Hammer of the Emperor. Under which armies drawn from one <REGIMENT> automatically wound targets on unmodified hit rolls of 6. While their infantry go up in price, upgrades are now all free – massed platoons are back.
The change to points is interesting. Because the points go up for a generic squad, but all wargear is free. So start kiting them out with everything! Then, getting auto wounds on 6’s is pretty sweet considering you can get a ton of shots. This is the third buff in a row for them, so this might mean their codex is still a little ways off.
Sisters of Battle Buffs
The Sisters of Battle now also get buffs to Miracle Dice, ensuring that their faith in the Emperor is not found wanting in comparison to the Asuryani’s Strands of Fate.
Lastly, to keep up with the Eldar, they are getting Miracle dice buffs. Then, when this is combined with the armor, a pretty decent buff overall.
Download the New 40k Dataslate Here!
What do you think of the new quarterly rules balance dataslate update and changes for Warhammer 40k?
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About the Author: Travis Pasch
Travis Pasch
Job Title: Head Writer & Editor
Socials: @paschbass
About Travis Pasch: Travis has been a Warhammer 40k hobbyist since the 1990s, playing the game since Third Edition. Through extensive traveling, he’s seen a lot of the miniatures hobby from across the world, giving him a unique perspective on the latest gaming topics and trends.
Travis’s brother even owns a commission painting studio, where he’s picked up a lot of good advice and techniques for painting Warhammer and tabletop miniatures over the years, as well. Travis joined the Spikey Bits team in 2019 and has been the lead writer since 2020.
Currently, he’s working on converting all his 40k Adeptus Mechanicus models and becoming a true tech enjoyer, complete with both sad and happy robot noises!
