The new Hedonites of Slaanesh battletome will be available for pre-order on Saturday. Today, we’re taking a look at the new Armies of Renown in the book, starting with one based around Sigvald, Prince of Slaanesh.
The Decadent Host
This Army of Renown is based around Sigvald and his mortal followers, who have one job – make the magnificent one appear even more magnificent. The battle traits are about empowering Sigvald himself, often at the cost of the Sybarites in his wake. See how they happily throw themselves in the way of anything that may harm their master.
Passive
ALL FOR THE PRINCE
Sigvald is the centre of his libertine followers’ world – they would rather be rent limb from limb than allow a single blade to mar his immaculate flesh.
Effect: While the friendly Sigvald is within the combat range of another friendly DECADENT HOST SYBARITE unit:
He has WARD (2+).
Each time you make a successful ward roll for him, allocate 1 damage point to another friendly DECADENT HOST unit within his combat range after the damage sequence for him has been resolved (ward rolls cannot be made for those damage points).
While the force is mainly built around mortals, Sigvald can also be accompanied by some select Daemon units, and you’ll definitely want to include the Contorted Epitome. Should Sigvald somehow find himself brought down by his own hubris, you can bring him back thanks to The Prince in the Mirror.
Your Movement Phase
THE PRINCE IN THE MIRROR
It is said that all mirrors are enthralled by Sigvald’s beauty. Should he fall, they readily allow his soul back to the field.
Declare: If the friendly Sigvald has been destroyed, pick him to be the target. He can be replaced any number of times.
Effect: Set up a replacement unit identical to the target wholly within 6" of a friendly CONTORTED EPITOME and not in combat.
Sigvald is always on the lookout for the next party, or just anything shiny. It doesn’t take a lot for him to rush off like a toddler who’s had a little too much sugar. He can even elbow less important people out of his way.
Once Per Turn (Army), End of Any Turn
IMPORTANT PEOPLE HAVE IMPORTANT PLACES TO BE
Sigvald is easily bored and easily distracted – but when something does catch his eye, he moves with incredible haste.
Effect: If the friendly Sigvald is not contesting an objective, he can move 2D6" but must end that move contesting an objective. He can move through the combat ranges of enemy units but cannot end that move in combat.
Of course, there’s one thing guaranteed to keep Sigvald’s attention – himself! He’ll happily bestow Mirror-plate on one of his followers so he can keep looking at his reflection, even in the heat of battle. After all, you don’t get hair that good if you’re not checking it all the time.
Passive
MIRROR-PLATE
One who wears this polished armour is a member of the vaunted Mirror Guard. Their duty is not to fight but to ensure the Prince can always admire his favourite sight: himself.
Effect: Weapons used by this unit have a maximum Attacks characteristic of 1.
While this unit is within 3" of and visible to the friendly Sigvald, add 20 to the friendly Sigvald’s control score.
Court of the Godlings
The second new Army of Renown focuses on the twins Dexcessa and Synessa and the Daemons in their thrall. Dexcessa, the Talon of Slaanesh, in particular, has had a serious glow-up in the new battletome becoming a self-healing, death-dealing Demon of destruction.
DEXCESSA, THE TALON OF SLAANESH
MELEE WEAPONS | Atk | Hit | Wnd | Rnd | Dmg |
Impaling Talons | 8 | 3+ | 3+ | 2 | 2 |
End of Any Turn
JOYOUS BATTLE FURY
Once Dexcessa begins to fight, they become invigorated by the glorious thrill of combat.
Effect: If any enemy models were slain by this unit’s combat attacks this turn, Heal (D3) this unit and add 1 to the Attacks characteristic of this unit’s Impaling Talons for the rest of the battle. This unit can be affected by this ability multiple times and the effects are cumulative.
The battle traits in this Army of Renown revolve around the twins interacting. Sometimes they are keen to show their superiority over one another, such as when using The Grander Visage.
Once Per Turn (Army), Any Hero Phase
THE GRANDER VISAGE
Should one of the Twins show a sign of weakening, the other will seize the chance to better display their own immaculacy.
Declare: If either friendly TWIN is damaged, pick the one with fewer or no damage points to use this ability.
Effect: For the rest of the turn, the unit using this ability has WARD (4+).
And then sometimes, they will help each other out with an Essence Transfusion.
Your Hero Phase
ESSENCE TRANSFUSION (6)
Though bitter rivals, the Twins are ultimately born of the same godly stuff and can share strength between them if necessary.
Declare: Pick a friendly COURT OF THE GODLINGS WIZARD to cast this spell, pick a visible friendly TWIN to be the donor, pick another visible friendly TWIN to be the target, then make a casting roll of 2D6.
Effect: Allocate any number of damage points to the donor (ward rolls cannot be made for those damage points). Then, Heal (X) the target, where X is double the number of damage points allocated to the donor by this use of this ability.
KEYWORDS: SPELL, UNLIMITED
Whether you prefer the perfection of the prince or the sibling rivalry of the twins, these Armies of Renown will open up fresh ways to play the Hedonites of Slaanesh.
Regiments of Renown
Disciples of Tzeentch, Helsmiths of Hashut, Maggotkin of Nurgle, Skaven, and Slaves to Darkness fans tempted to try a little bit of excess can choose from two Regiments of Renown in the battletome. The Mist-Clad Revellers are a unit of Blissbarb Archers led by a Shardspeaker of Slaanesh. Lurking in a mysterious mist, they are transported across the battlefield to appear where your enemy least expects them.
Alternatively, the Accursed Reflection consists of a Contorted Epitome, Wheels of Excruciation, Mesmerising Mirror, and Dreadful Visage. Said to be one of the legendary Many Mirrors of Vennatan, the Accursed Reflection readily spits forth manifestations of excess.
The new Hedonites of Slaanesh battletome is available to pre-order from Saturday. You can also get your hands on The Decadent Host boxed set – which includes Sigvald, three Slaangor Fiendbloods, five Slickblade Seekers, five Myrmidesh Painbringers, and 10 Blissbarb Archers – and an Accursed Reflection boxed set to unleash that Regiment of Renown upon the Mortal Realms.
