GW just gave us an early look at some of the points changes we can expect to see inside Chapter Approved 2019. Check out these changes!
From Xenos to Loyalists, there is probably going to be a nice spread of points fluctuation at the end of 2019. While Space Marines are reigning supreme with a heaping dose of new rules and multiple points drops, it’ll be interesting to see where all the factions go to counter all of this.
But before we jump into the details that were just previewed by GW, here are some hot rumors that could be shaking up the meta WAY MORE than just a couple points bumps.
Chapter Approved 2019 Announced
Whatever Warhammer 40,000 army you play, you’ll want to get a copy of this year’s Chapter Approved – the essential annual update for all gamers in the 41st Millennium.
Just like clockwork, we’ve got our yearly Chapter Approved coming around. This year they will also be splitting the book into a bundle of two instead of one larger book.
So just like with the Generals Handbook, it looks like all your points values, changed and unchanged will be coming a separate reference manual to the main Chapter Approved book.
We also can expect to see all the important changes for any army that was FAQ’d this year in here so its an essential pick up for basically everyone who plays 40k regularly. The second book contains all the point values for reference when making lists.
RUMORS: Chapter Approved 40k Rules Not What We Thought
Starting with the one from the Competitive 40k Facebook group. it’s important to note that apparently, Chapter Approved had already been printed and done before any of the Marine supplements (Which may be why we saw such heavy-handed FAQs right after their release).
Grab your SPF rumor protection and check out the latest.
Going into the first list of changes, the first thing that should leave a bad taste in your mouth might be that even more Marine points drops are coming. Things like Eliminators, Intercessors, and other popular units have incredible value for the points. Hopefully, these points drops might be to the stuff we never see used.
Guardsmen and other T3 spammable infantry may be going up to 5pts a piece to match the Cultists and Tank Commanders are going up another 20. It’s a fairly big hit tacking on another point for each Guardsman. However, with another increase on Tank Commanders, it might only be worth it from now on to take a single Tank with the relic Battle Cannon from Vigilus.
Shield Drones may be getting reigned back a bit with Aeldari units coming in with a max -2 to hit instead of -3. If a Shield Drone loses its FNP to mortal wounds, then is it even worth taking? Would you rather have a Gun Drone instead? That one is sort of a head-scratcher.
More Rumors of Cult Marines Going to Two Wounds
“Cult” Marines, meaning Noise Marines, Berzerkers, Plague Marines, and Rubric Marines may be going up in points but also getting a 2nd wound. This isn’t the first time we’ve heard about this rumor as we also had this bit mentioned in some earlier CA 2019 rumors.
Although Chaos Marines may be getting a slight buff with an extra wound, there was also mention that regular Chaos Marines and Obliterators would be staying right where they are in terms of points.
And finally, the Imperium might just be sticking with the Loyal 32 instead of having the option to take the Rusty 17. Supposedly, Canticles of the Omnissiah only proc if you have an entire Admech force. (Similar to how Doctrines work for Marines).
RUMORS: 40k Chapter Approved 2019 Point Changes & NERF Incoming!
The latest set of Chapter Approved Rumors are once again French:
Which translates through Google to:
Hello,
Some leaks are starting to fall for the future chapter approved.
- Drop in point for mortarion and magnus
- Back to 4 pts cultists
- The grot goes to 4 pts
- The marine smc elites of each god pass to 2pv (*)
- The discordant lord increases in point
- The plaguebearers go to 8 pts.
- Some ik imperial coast will see their costs in points change
- A lot of tau weapons will drop in points. (*)
- A lot of entry Fw will see their costs in points completely reviewed.
- Rumors about the increase of the talos of 18pts. (*)
- The drone shield goes to 12pts. (*)
- So far. All is not confirmed yet … some are still just rumors. (*)
That seems to be in line with what some folks were expecting from the new updates and the earlier rumor. Tau have been dominating the tabletops, winning numerous majors with some “fiendish combinations” of drone blockers. This was known by the studio going into the latest edition of CA which is rumored to have been printed mid-September.
Plaguebearers have been an issue before that, and perhaps if there are points drops to the Daemon Primarchs, GW may be worried that the meta may fall back into PB/ Smite spam of early 2019.
All and all these changes, along with the recent Space Marine FAQs may bring balance back to the meta headed into the new year.
Now, coming from Warhammer Community, here are a few of the units with their new confirmed points unveiled:
GW’s Look At Chapter Approved 2019 Points Changes
For Dark Angels, specifically Ravenwing, their Bikers are dropping from 38 to 34 pts per model.
GW gave us two ideas on where Grey Knights were going. For a regular Strike Squad “after he’s been kitted out”, the average cost is going to be 17 pts. Meanwhile, a single Grey Knight Terminator is going to be averaging around 35 pts. It’s a bit of grey area on how they equipped a full squad with wargear in terms of finding the average. But 17/35 pts for a single model still sounds a little steep. They’re definitely going to need a lot more than that to see tabletop play again.
Necrons have one VERY good tournament list right now. Bringing in triple Doomscythes, triple Doomsday Arks, Immortals, and Destroyers, GW mentioned that some points changes would be making the less-taken units more appealing.
ou can look forward to some less-seen units finding new niches. Triarch Praetorians, for instance, have seen a chunky reduction of 26 to 20 points when armed with rods of covenant, or 22 points when armed with voidblades and particle casters.
Aeldari Flyers Get The First Previewed NERF
Aeldari Flyer spam has been annoying, although effective list to play against from time to time in 8th edition’s meta. With the ability of some choice units to pivot, move, and pivot, they can have two models switching spots consistently on the table while denying a huge footprint of the map that never changes.
The Crimson Hunter Exarch shot up 15 pts. Now costing 150 base, and the Razorwing Jetfighter for the Dark Eldar went up 10 pts, now costing 115 base. These changes might be on the smaller end of the spectrum. However, that could be all they needed to throw the rest of the Aeldari lists off-kilter. We’ll have to see how it really fleshes out on the tabletop.
With all of these changes ahead, what are you hoping to see changed for the other factions? 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
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.
