Don’t miss this full rules breakdown of all the new Space Marines stratagems, relics and wargear for the Salamanders codex!
We knew Vukan’s sons were getting support. Between a new named character and a codex supplement, we’ve been waiting to see the new rules.
Coming from Glacial Geek on Youtube, we’ve got a full in-depth look at the Salamanders Codex Supplement. Don’t miss what they’re getting and let us know of any crazy combos you see.
Salamanders Relics
Looking onto the Salamanders-Specific relics we’ve got:
- Tome of Velcona: Librarian model only- They get to know 1 more psychic power from the Promethean discipline. They also get +1 to casts for powers in Prometheum Discipline.
- Helm of Draklos: Primaris model only- Bearer gets +1 wound and puts off a -1Ld aura within 6″.
- The Salamander’s Mantle: The Bearer is -1 for enemy wound rolls.
- Nocturne’s Vengeance: Model with a combi-flamer only- This has two profiles at S4 AP-1 D-2 just at different ranges.
- Wrath of Prometheus: Replaces a boltgun or master-crafted boltgun. 30″ S5 -AP D3 damage bolter.
- Drake-Smiter: Thunder Hammer replacement- S X2 AP-4 3 flat damage. (Bearer is -1 to hit but wounds of 6+ do 6 damage flat).
- Vulkan’s Sigil: Add 1 to the attacks for the bearer. Gives +1 attack to everyone within 6″ if they hold the banner high in the fight phase. (once per game aura buff).
Special-Issue Wargear
As far as special-issue wargear goes, some of the things were ported over from supplement to supplement. However, taking a look into the specifics to Salamanders and their successors, they’ve got:
- Obsidian Aquila: Gives a 6+++ FNP aura within 6″.
- Promethean Plate: The bearer can’t be wounded on anything better than a 4+.
- Dragonrage Bolts: You get one attack but if it hits, it turns into D6 wounds at -1 AP and 1 damage.
- Drakeblade: replaces power sword, master-crafted power sword, or combat knife- This is a S user AP-4 2-damage blade that can proc a mortal wound on a wound of 6+.
Salamander Stratagems
This is a bit blurry, however, everything is transcribed for you here:
- Flamecraft (2CP): An entire unit’s flamers get the max auto hits. You don’t have to rolls. (D6 becomes 6 hits).
- Crucible of Battle (1CP): Add 1 to the wounds for a unit when selected to shoot or fight.
- Strength of the Primarch (1CP): An entire unit adds +1 to their Strength and wound rolls of a 6+ are double damage.
- The Fires of Battle (1CP): Use only in your shooting phase or Opponent’s charge phase. Wounds of a 4+ for flamer weapons do 1 mortal wound in addition to normal damage.
- Rites of Vulkan (2CP): Use only when the Tactical Doctrine is active. Rapid Fire and Assault weapons are treated as an additional -1 AP for wounds of a 6+. Once per battle only.
- Despite the Odds (1CP): If you didn’t score any tactical objective points, you can generate a new one.
- Immolation Protocols (1CP): Flame weapons become Pistol weapons until the end of the phase. This just lets you shoot your flamers while you’re tied up in combat. (Assault D6 becomes pistol D6).
- Self Sacrifice (2CP): You can select one infantry unit to jump in front of all other shots of friendly units within 6″. The opponent can not shoot at any other infantry unit within 6″ of the selected unit. (They basically have to wipe that one selected unit off the table before they kill anything else nearby).
- From the Ashes (2CP): Character can revive on a 4+ with 1 wound remaining.
- Vengeance for Isstvan V (1CP): Reroll hits against Chaos Legions that betrayed the Chapter in the Horus Hersey (WB, IW, NL, AL).
- Stand Your Ground (1CP): Select an Infantry unit that is not a Servitor. Damage 1 weapons that target the unit procs +1 to the saving throw.
- Born Protectors (2CP): One unit can For the Greater Good overwatch for a friendly unit within 12″. The selected unit of this stratagem can also heroically intervene like a Character up to 2D6″.
- Relentless Determination (1CP): One unit counts as have not been moved as long as they didn’t advance. (This is useful for things like Devastator Squads that need to cover ground). Units with a damage table count as having double their wounds.
- Exemplar of the Promethean Creed (1CP): Get a 2nd Warlord Trait.
- Master Artisans (1CP): A Sergeant can take a special-issue wargear with some restrictions.
- Trust of Prometheus (1CP): A Salamanders Successor Chapter can select a relic from the Salamander Relic table.
And there you have it! Just by going off of what we’ve seen, Aggressors with Flamers might be the backbone unit across all Salamanders forces. What combinations will you be trying when you get your hands on this book?
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About the Author: Rob Baer
Rob Baer
Job Title: Managing Editor
Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
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About Rob Baer: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor of Spikey Bits, the leading tabletop gaming news website focused on the hobby side of wargaming and miniatures.
Rob also co-founded and currently hosts the Long War Podcast, which has over 350 episodes and focuses on tabletop miniatures gaming, specializing in Warhammer 40k. and spent six years writing for Bell of Lost Souls.
Every year, along with his co-hosts, he helps host the Long War 40k Doubles Tournament at Adepticon and the Long War 40k Doubles at Las Vegas Open, which attracts over 350 players from around the world.
Rob has won many Warhammer 40k Tournaments over the years, including multiple first-place finishes in Warhammer 40k Grand Tournaments over the years and even winning 1st place at the Adepticon 40k Team Tournament.
With over 30 years of experience in retail and distribution, Rob knows all the products and exactly which ones are the best. As a member of GAMA (Game Manufacturers Association), he advocates for gaming stores and manufacturers in these difficult times, always looking for the next big thing to feature for the miniatures hobby, helping everyone to provide the value consumers want.
While he’s played every edition of Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy (since 5th Edition) and has been hobbying on miniatures since the 1980s, Titans of all sizes will always be his favorite! It’s even rumored that his hobby vault rivals the Solemnance Galleries, containing rulebooks filled with lore from editions long past, ancient packs of black-bordered Magic Cards, and models made of both pewter and resin.
