Get the answers to just how embarking characters and units inside transports will work, plus how disembarking can combo with “reserves” in 8th Edition.
Scanner is at it again with the new Quick Reference card for 8th edition. First we saw the turn structure worked, then the movement phase, and attacking. Now we’re seeing how your troops can fit inside of vehicles.
Yet again we look to have a mechanic that was ported over from Age of Sigmar in the form of Transport Capacity. A lot of hobbyists theorized that the new Kharadon Overlords sky vessels rule (see below) could be used as template for the new 8th edition 40k:
Now while there is a ton of rules here that may not directly appear to correlate to 40k right now without seeing the datasheets, you can still see more than a few similarities as well:
So some things to keep in mind here, it appears that you will not be able to “move” things that arrive “from reserves” additionally once on the table as so far all these abilities look to happen in the shooting phase. Advancing (old running) may be a whole different set of permissions all together.
Some even have additional restrictions on how they can even be deployed:
The rest is just as GW explained recently:
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.
So units that 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.
Hungry for more? Checkout the rest of the pages from the 8th Edition quick reference that were spotted and judge for yourself if they will bring balance to 40k.
What are your thoughts on the new rules for 8th Edition? Let us know in the comments below.
Latest 8th Edition News & Rumors from Games Workshop
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.
