Enslavers in 8th edition don’t exist yet. But what if they did? We are going to talk about what their rules might look like if they returned to 40k!
First of all, these things are absolutely disgusting and I would buy all of them if they existed.
What is an Enslaver?
Enslavers are an enigma in the 40k universe. They come from another dimension and are all psychic. Enslavers will prey on young psykers and will use them as a portal to let other Enslavers into the materium. They are fleshy sacs of skin and membranes with a single eye. They also have a set of tentacles that they use to connect to the psyker’s mind and dominate his thoughts and actions. Think of Enslavers as a giant floating evil brain. Some Enslavers can even control up to 10 different people through telepathy. They don’t even need to be in the materium to do so.
So with that, let’s get into how they would play on the tabletop.
What If Enslavers & Rules Returned to 40k?
Starting off with their statline, they’d probably be something along the lines of this:
M WS BS S T W A LD Save
8 3+ 6+ 5 5 5 4 10 6+ (with something like a 4++ or 5++)
- Keyword: Fly, Monster, Psyker, Warp Spawn
- Points cost: Something like 80 points per Enslaver…maybe 150 for an HQ version.
Maybe they could give them a rule of at the end of movement, on a 4+, If a unit is within 6″ of them, they can immediately take control of a model and they may attack or shoot at another unit. To keep up with the fluff, they should be able to target psykers even though they are characters.
Where these guys would shine would be their psychic phase. It would make sense to give them their own psychic powers. Something to the effect of the Genestealer Cult Magus. Allowing them to take over a unit completely and fire at another unit. Maybe another spell to select an enemy unit and make them -1 to hit the Esnalver (because he totally just took over their mind).
Combat would probably be tricky…Maybe giving them a bunch of S4 attacks at no AP because they’re just whipping you with tentacle arms. They could maybe get a single attack at -2AP and D3 damage because of that nasty mouth they have.
Just an idea for a warlord trait: When your Warlord is in combat, on a 5+, one of the enemy’s models you’re within 1″ of will perform a look out sir! move and take the hit.
Enslaver’s Slaves
As a troop choice, they could get some little T3 Guardsmen equivalent models that are slower but can be given commands by the Enslavers. It’s like zombie Imperial Guard. They would probably be horrible at shooting (hitting on a 5+), but could be fearless! Let’s face it. If a Warp brain is talking to you and controlling your every action, you’re probably going to be fearless.
I would personally lose my mind (no pun intended) if Enslavers came to the tabletop. The lore behind them is actually chill-inducing. Who wouldn’t want an army of Warp brains?
What would do you think the faction would get if they were a playable race in 40k? Would you play them? Let us know in the comments of our Facebook Hobby Group.
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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.
