Heroic warriors from the White Scars and Iron Hands are hitting the shelves this weekend, and with new miniatures and boxed sets come fresh rules for using them on the battlefield. Two new Detachments and rules for both Suboden Khan and Caanok Var have been added to the Space Marines Faction Pack, while each Chapter also gets a separate Combat Patrol download to go alongside their new forces.
First up, the White Scars deploy their vaunted veterans alongside Suboden Khan as a Spearpoint Task Force,* taking the fight right into the heart of the enemy with the ability to Charge after Falling Back or Advancing, allowing them to fight on their best footing again and again. Coupled with this ability is a special one for the Khan himself – Wrath of the First Khan – which gives him a burst of speed whenever he’s done cutting down a unit in the Fight phase, so he can tear across the field even faster than before.
DETACHMENT RULE
SPEARPOINT TASK FORCE:
WRATH OF THE FIRST KHAN
As swift and violent as a raging tempest, Suboden Khan drives into and through the heart of the enemy like a
thrust lance.
At the end of the Fight phase, if a Suboden Khan unit from your army destroyed one or more enemy units this
phase and is not within Engagement Range of one or more enemy units, that unit can make a Normal move of up to 6".
The Detachment’s Enhancements and Stratagems are likewise focused on making your army a high speed close combat contender, with rules like the Withdraw and Regroup Stratagem letting them zip back into Strategic Reserves when they need to redeploy across the battlefield in a snap. Once they’re charging in for the kill they can amp up their combat skills with the Spear Thrust and Sabre Swing Stratagem, which hands out your choice of useful abilities, doubling them up if used on a Mounted unit like a roaring squadron of Outriders.
SPEAR THRUST AND SABRE SWING - 1CP
SPEARPOINT TASK FORCE – BATTLE TACTIC STRATAGEM
Some foes can be ended with a single charge. Others require sustained savagery to fell. The White Scars are adept at both methods of fighting.
WHEN: Fight phase.
TARGET: One Adeptus Astartes unit from your army that has not been selected to fight this phase.
EFFECT: Select either the [LANCE] or [LETHAL HITS] ability. Until the end of the phase, melee weapons equipped by models in your unit have the selected ability. If it is a Mounted unit, until the end of the phase, melee weapons equipped by models in your unit have the [LANCE] and [LETHAL HITS] abilities instead.
The Khan himself ensures that you can advance behind cover and make an explosive charge without concern for blocking terrain, thanks to his Skilled Riders ability. When he does get within polearm’s reach, he’s just as deadly as you’d expect – able to skewer Infantry, Monsters, and Vehicles in equal measure.
By contrast, Caanok Var and his Iron Hands are an immovable wall of veteran warriors, laying down the Hammer of Avernii – a unique spin on the existing 1st Company Task Force Detachment – with extreme prejudice. The Iron Captain’s analytical mind is the perfect tool for keeping track of your Oath of Moment targets, and can even pick out a new victim when Recalculating after a kill.
DETACHMENT RULE
HAMMER OF AVERNII:
RECALCULATING
Caanok Var ensures every bolt shell is directed where it serves the greatest purpose.
Once per battle round, after your Oath of Moment target is destroyed, if a Caanok Var model from your army is on the battlefield, select one enemy unit visible to that model. That enemy unit becomes your Oath of Moment target until you select a new one.
The Chapter’s famed resilience comes right to the fore with the Steel Font Enhancement that revives a slain Bodyguard model every turn, while several Stratagems now affect Dreadnoughts as well as classic veteran units like Terminators, Bladeguard, and Sternguard Veterans. The Dominator Beacon is particularly useful in Dreadnought-heavy armies, extending the ability to lock down objectives to your ironclad walkers so they can keep the fight going after smashing an opponent off a critical point.
DOMINATOR BEACON - 1CP
HAMMER OF AVERNII – STRATEGIC PLOY STRATAGEM
These custom‑built servo‑skulls detach from augmetic tethers as the Iron Hands pass, settling into sentry patterns around vital strategic sites.
WHEN: Your Movement phase.
TARGET: One Adeptus Astartes Dreadnought, Terminator, Bladeguard Veteran Squad, Sternguard Veteran Squad or Vanguard Veteran Squad unit from your army within range of an objective marker you control.
EFFECT: That objective marker remains under your control, even if you have no models within range of it, until your opponent controls it at the end of a phase.
Caanok Var is a hugely versatile character who is equal parts fearsome warrior and calculating battle leader. His Cold and Calculating ability lets his unit take on almost any kind of foe, gaining Lethal Hits when fighting Vehicles and Sustained Hits 1 against everyone else, while the most important fights will come on your terms thanks to his Cerebrex Logic Engine.
Both of these characters and their Combat Patrols – with Suboden Khan available only in his at first – are on sale in stores from Saturday, and all of the rules can be found on the Downloads page. If you’re starting a new army with Suboden Khan or Caanok Var at the head, make sure to let us know on Facebook!
* If you’re already a fan of the Stormlance Task Force from Codex: Space Marines, you’ll be right at home here.
