Wow, where have these rules been all our lives? Space Marine players are getting enhanced chapter tactic rules that’ll help your army keep up!
Coming from Warhammer Community, Crimson Fists, Black Templars, Imperial Fists, Salamanders, Iron Hands, Ultramarines, White Scars, and Raven Guard are all getting a rules buff to their Chapter Tactics. Check out the latest.
Stalker Bolt Rifle Gets Buffed
Before we jump into the tactics, the Stalker Bold Rifle got a nifty bonus at 2 damage a pop now. Intercessors now have the option of toting around (basically) an autocannon.
Chapter Tactics Affect All Space Marine Units
However, a crucial change to all Chapter Tactics in the codex is that they now apply not merely to Infantry, Bikers and Dreadnoughts, but to ALL UNITS in a Space Marines Detachment!
We’ve been begging for it for over a year and GW has finally done it! Now, Chapter tactics apply to EVERY Space Marine keyworded unit in your army.
Crimson Fists
Keeping the fluff, Crimson Fists fight better against hordes. But they also got a nice unmodified hit roll of a 6+ counts as an additional hit bonus! It’s like Death to the false everything for Marines!
Imperial Fists
Looking at the Imperial Fists, they still ignore cover and bolt weapons proc an extra hit on a roll of a 6+. If you combine this with the Bolter Drill strat, 6’s explode for two potential hits a pop.
Black Templars
Black Templars just got A LOT more brutal. They still have their reroll failed charges portion of the tactic. However, they now have an army-wide 5+++ FNP vs. mortal wounds.
Ultramarines
Ultramarines are staying the same, still getting the bonus leadership and ability to fall back and shoot. Nothing super special here.
White Scars
White Scars lists should be geared with Bikes and all of the melee weapons to get the biggest benefit. They can fall back/advance and still charge. Plus, Biker models ignore Heavy and Assault penalties on their weapons. We might be seeing Biker Outrider detachments of White Scars accompanied by a few Thunder Hammer Assault squads in Vanguard detachments acting like a fast one-two punch combo.
Raven Guard
Now, the -1 to hit roll will be a bit gamier. Units 12″ away will just count as being in cover (which Imperial Fists don’t care about). If the unit isn’t a Vehicle and they’re standing in a terrain feature, THEN the -1 to hit rule procs.
Salamanders
These guys can now reroll a free hit and wound roll for each unit. But they’re also a bit tougher than the other Marines ignoring -1 AP weapons. (Treating them as AP- 0). That’s not too bad considering all of the Autocannons, Assault Cannons, Heavy Bolter spam lists out there.
Iron Hands
The Iron Hands still have their 6+++ FNP. But now overwatch on a 5+ and any units with a degrading damage table now count their stats as double the number of wounds remaining. That means your Leviathan Dreads should always be hitting on a 2+ right up until they’re about to bite the dust.
Keep in mind there is the new shock assault rule that all marines get (even the bad ones) that makes them better in combat too!
Loyalist marines, however, will now get Shock Assualt, And They Shall Know No Fear and Bolter Discipline as one blanket ability called Angels of Death.
Between all of these new Chapter Tactic buffs accompanied with the innate +1 attack on the charge, Space Marines as a whole just got A LOT better. With that said which Chapters seem the most competitive to you?
Solid effort on GW’s part and this is just day one of the previews.
Let us know in the comments of our Facebook Hobby Group, and sign up to get your free hobby updates newsletter each morning as well!
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.
