Abandoned creations of Teclis, the Idoneth Deepkin are plagued by an enervating curse of the soul that puts them constantly on a hunt for survival. After many long years of living in isolation and raiding the Mortal Realms for soul-stuff, their homes are now under threat as war wracks the eight realms, and corruption threatens their sacred chorrileums and the precious souls stored within.
Mathaela, Oracle of the Abyss has ascended from the hadopelagic regions of Ghyran accompanied by the Incarnate of the Sea, and joined by new Ikons of the Sea and Storm.
As previously hinted, the new Battletome features a change to the core army rule, so let’s submerge ourselves in this ocean of new possibilities.
The old Tides of Death ability has now been replaced by two separate tracks that represent two faces of the Idoneth: the Tides of the Sea and Tides of the Storm. You may use one Tidal ability once per battle round, and your first choice is either the Concealing Tide from the former, which makes your units harder to hit unless they’ve charged that turn, or Unpredictable Tide from the latter, which lets you redeploy one unit near a battlefield edge.
TIDES OF THE SEA
Once Per Battle Round, Any Hero Phase
CONCEALING TIDE
Declare: You can only use this ability if you did not use it in the previous battle round and you have not used any other Tidal abilities this battle round.
Effect: For the rest of the battle round, subtract 1 from hit rolls for attacks that target friendly Idoneth Deepkin units that did not use any Charge abilities in the same turn.
KEYWORDS: TIDAL
TIDES OF THE STORM
Once Per Battle Round, Any Hero Phase
UNPREDICTABLE TIDE
Declare: You can only use this ability if you did not use it in the previous battle round and you have not used any other Tidal abilities this battle round. Pick a friendly Idoneth Deepkin unit that is not in combat to be the target.
Effect: Remove the target from the battlefield and set it up again wholly within 7" of a battlefield edge and more than 9" from all enemy units.
KEYWORDS: TIDAL
You get to choose a second ability in the next battle round, either continuing progress in your previous track, or swapping to the opposite track. Importantly, swapping from one set of Tides to the other resets your progress – the Idoneth may have control over the ethersea, but they cannot halt its momentum.
TIDES OF THE SEA
Once Per Battle Round, Any Hero Phase
SWIFT TIDE
Declare: You can only use this ability if you used the ‘Concealing Tide’ ability in the previous battle round and you have not used any other Tidal abilities this battle round.
Effect: For the rest of the battle round, friendly Idoneth Deepkin units can use Run abilities and still use Shoot and/or Charge abilities later in the turn.
KEYWORDS: TIDAL
TIDES OF THE STORM
Once Per Battle Round, Any Hero Phase
INEXORABLE TIDE
Declare: You can only use this ability if you used the ‘Unpredictable Tide’ ability in the previous battle round and you have not used any other Tidal abilities this battle round.
Effect: Subtract 1 from the Rend characteristic of weapons used for attacks that target friendly Idoneth Deepkin units for the rest of the battle round.
Those who manage to ride the momentum of the waves unlock the Swift Tide, which allows the Idoneth to run while also shooting or charging in that turn. Those that embrace the raging storm are blessed by the Inexorable Tide, which reduces enemy Rend for the battle round.
The third step of the Sea track grants Strike-first for all friendly Idoneth, while the Storm track grants Crit (Mortal) to your melee weapons – both for the entirety of your turn. Deciding exactly when to use your abilities or switch between tracks will be key to your victory.
The Idoneth Deepkin no longer have access to their ability to deploy in reserve, but the Soul-Raid Ambushers’ ability Fade Like Mist now enables two units to use Unpredictable Tide, so you can still use the ethersea to reposition.
We’ll have more from the Idoneth Deepkin later in the week – so keep your goggles on.
