Greetings, Citizens,
New season will begin on Monday, September 2nd.
Last Season’s divergence from the usual schedule to celebrate the Anniversary has drawn the attention of the Inquisition, and they have brought the full roster of the new Imperial Agents with them.
Much like with the new codex, this Season will focus on both elements from the Servants of the Emperor and Space Marine factions, getting a nice 2 for 1! While talking about the Imperial Agents, there will not be any changes to which faction any of the bodyguards or Warlords belong to, but all cards that are a member of the Imperial Agents will be getting a new keyword to tie them together cross-faction.
For the wider changes, we’ve still got a good overall balance, but doing a little more focused spot balance for T’au and Chaos, who were a bit behind last season.
Finally, we’re doing a huge catch-up on releasing cards to the general pool (70 in total!), and going forward, we’ll be looking to do much more regular and structured releases. These will coincide with the balance changes as a neat and unified point at the Season switchover.
With all that, let's dive in!
Balance Changes
Servants of the Emperor and Space Marines:
Espern Locarno - Imperial Navigator
+10 Wounds, +5 Psychic
Espern and all Servants Psionic Blast cards have had heavy nerfs and have been treated with a lot of caution. This was due to the “Greyfax Psyker” meta of some time past, but since Greyfax’s readjustment, it hasn’t been quite so oppressive. Greyfax is still a Top 10 Warlord, so it's nothing too significant, but it should be enough to bring the Navigator in line with similar cards.
Iota - Culexus Assassin
+30 Wounds
For the same reasons as mentioned above, Iota has also faced nerfs in the past. As an Epic, they’re much more potent than Espern and have better synergy with Cawl, who is still under review. With that in mind, Iota’s Psychic is not being increased, but a bump in Wound should make them a better disruption/control piece rather than an out-and-out damage dealer.
Meh’Lindi - Callidus Assassin
+2 Range, +3 Melee
Trait Change: Anti-Infantry/Outflank -> Poison/Furious Charge
Meh’Lindi is sitting as the least popular of the assassins, and she’s had her traits mixed up a few times before. Looking at some missing gaps in the SoE roster, switching Meh’lindi to a card that can get an immediate Poison off on the drop is going to be very valuable and means she can fill a number of roles. Furious Charge to clear a lane, and then Poison from the flanks; get an immediate Poison off on a big target and take the hit to protect other cards and anything in between. Hopefully, she has a good spot in some decks!
Paragon Taremar Aurellian - Grey Knights Paladin Paragon
+6 Psychic, +6 Melee
The Grey Knights's triple attack profile is part of their appeal, but it often leaves them short on power. A good increase to Psychic and Melee should make a big difference, and leaving Range as a more “bonus” attack lets the other two shine.
Apothecary Aralan - Grey Knights Paladin Apothecary
+1 Cost, +10 Psychic, +5 Melee
Similarly, the Aralan, while useful as a psychic Medicae, was a bit flat on damage, so by adding just 1 point in cost, we’ve maximised the amount of damage we can add, making him much more formidable in combat.
Brother Varon - Grey Knights Battle Brother
-2 Range, +4 Psychic, +4 Melee
Sticking to the same logic as with Aurellian, using Range as a bonus attack only means we can take a little off that side and increase the other two more significantly.
T’au:
Dohra'ohk Kyrek - Kroot Farstalker with Londaxi Tribalest
+10 Wounds
While still a relatively new card, the Farstalker has got an above-average pick-rate, but a notably below-average win rate. Given the strong attack and BGH boost, it's most likely he’s struggling to stay on the board! So, a buff in Wounds should help him out.
Shas’la Ho’sen - Vior’la Tidewall Gunrig
-2 Cost
Perhaps a bit too expensive for what it delivers, the Gunrig is getting a cost reduction, leaving more room for extra goodies!
Name Unknown - Kroot Hound
Ready Change: Melee Debuff -> Melee Buff
The Kroot Hound is another popular but less successful card that had a number of iterations. The Furious Charge spot works well for it, but there are still very few cards that actively support Melee for T’au, with very few cards that have a Melee Buff ready. Changing the Hound’s ready gives it a bit more distinction and more support value.
Chaos:
Gorecrawler - Greater Brass Scorpion of Khorne
-4 Cost
One of the biggest and earliest of the Chaos Lords of War, the newer knights, at the cheaper price point, seem to have the edge. While they still can’t match Gorecrawler for out-and-out offensive power, a bit of a price cut should allow more opportunities to claim skulls for Khorne!
Cypher - Fallen Angel
Trait Change: Outflank/Target Acquired -> Scout/Target Acquired
Cypher is a well-rounded card but struggles as a ranged support card in the Chaos lineup. While he still has that role, by switching to Scout rather than Outflank, his burst damage with Target Acquired is going to increase, and so he should have more scope as a decisive 1 Turn sniper.
Iron Malice - Black Legion Land Raider
-5 Cost, -30 Wounds
Trait Change: Big Game Hunter/Taunt -> Taunt/Big Game Hunter
Iron Malice is an interesting card that didn’t quite hit the mark. Being the only Taunt card over 40pts (excluding Lord of War), and with Taunt being the secondary trait, it often defeated its own purpose with a weaker damage reduction and a vulnerability to Big Game Hunter. It is now out of Big Game Hunter range at 39pts and has had a chunk of heath removed to compensate. Additionally, having Taunt as a secondary trait drastically changes the role of the card mid-way through its progression, which always felt a bit off. Now, it should feel much more like a serious protection unit that can deal with some potent retaliation damage at higher levels.
That rounds out the balance changes, and now here’s the full list of cards being added to the general pool. We’ve split them out by factions, and hopefully, you can all snag some new cards you may have missed this Season!
Cards Added to the General Pool:
Aeldari:
Dark Lightning - Drukhari Raider
Kalistri Silgar - Craftworld Saim-Hann Guardian Defender
Aileer Kyldroth - Striking Scorpion Exarch
Trithjain - Biel-Tan Night Spinner
T'au:
Honoured Aun’Kais - Invocation of the Elements
Grark Krarh - The Hunter Strikes
Servants of the Emperor:
Daedalosus - Technoarcheologist
Serene - Adepta Sororitas Rhino
Enginseer Verask - Adeptus Mechanicus Tech-Priest Enginseer
Pydanoris Bastoris - Adeptus Custodes Vexilius Praetor
Inquisitor Erasmus Cartavolnus - Inquisitor of the Ordo Malleus
Delpha Mojaro - Skitarii Marshal
8-Veriliad - Kataphron Destroyer
Bheta-666/2 - Adeptus Mechanicus Ironstrider Ballistarius
Protos-Reductus-1/5 - Skorpius Disintegrator
Exitor-Dho /323Mk12 - Skorpius Dunerider
Tyba Ω5-Decarote - Sydonian Skatros
Space Marines:
Brother Alasteir - Dark Angels Inceptor
Epistolary Thessellan - Ultramarines Librarian in Terminator Armour
Lucien Theldor - Ultramarines Apothecary Biologis
Lieutenant Optimar - Veteran Infiltrator Lieutenant
Veteran Brother Geminus - Ultramarines Sternguard Veteran
Veteran Sergeant Paxor - Ultramarines Sternguard Veteran Sergeant
Brother Sar'Tath - Salamanders Terminator
Brother Lytanus - Imperial Fists Terminator with Assault Cannon
Sergeant Gaius - Ultramarines Terminator Sergeant
Captain Darnath Lysander - Imperial Fists Captain
Brother Storn - Imperial Fists Heavy Intercessor
Sentinel of Terra - Imperial Fists Repulsor Executioner
Rodricus Grytt - Deatchwatch Veteran
Pedro Kantor - Crimson Fists Chapter Master
Imperial Space Marine - Crimson Fists Imperial Space Marine
Aethon Ordane - Raven Guard Librarian in Phobos Armour
Shadowstep - Raven Guard Land Speeder Storm
Vulkan He'stan - Salamanders Capatain
Fury of Nocturne - Salamanders Thunderfire Cannon
Brothers Chogan and Khunbesh - White Scars Attack Bike
The Huntsman - White Scars Land Speeder Tornado
Brother Decimus - Ultramarines Infernus Marine
Kasovar Klayde - Raven Guard Scout Hunter
Reszan Solaq - Raven Guard Scout with Heavy Bolter
Jensus Natorian - Deathwatch Codicier
Brother Castiel - Dark Angel Knight Master
Brother Boriel - Dark Angel Deathwing Terminator
Brother-Lieutenant Solarien - Raven Guard Phobos Lieutenant
Chaos:
Zah'mat T'Kor - Thousand Sons Tzaangor
Ghallaron the Pious - Dark Apostle
Flogoth Grelch - Death Guard Biologus Putrifier
Kh'har'ret the Butcher - Bloodmaster
Shalaxi Hellbane - Monarch of the Hunt
Orks:
Warboss Gordrang - Goff Clan Warboss in Mega Armour
Blokrotz Flame Spitta - Bad Moons Clan Burna-Bommer
Da Red Gobbo’s Surprise - Da Night Before Squigmas
Grotmas Gitz - Squig-riding loons
Daggafist - Bad Moons Clan Trukk
Tyranids:
Specimen: LV-594-FD-ζ - Hive Fleet Leviathan Winged Tyranid Prime
Specimen: LV-446-PD-Π - Hive Fleet Leviathan Neurotyrant
Specimen: LV-000-ST-Ξ - Hive Fleet Leviathan Neuroloid
Specimen: LV-204-VR-δ - Hive Fleet Leviathan Von Ryan’s Leapers
Specimen: LV-014-TI-ψ - Hive Fleet Leviathan Neurogaunt
Specimen: LV-021-SB-λ - Hive Fleet Leviathan Neurogaunt Nodebeast
Specimen: LV-167-RS-Σ - Hive Fleet Leviathan Barbgaunts
Specimen: LV-560-KP-Ω - Hive Fleet Leviathan Psychophage
Specimen: LV-282-SF-Θ - Hive Fleet Leviathan Pyrovore
Specimen: LV-914-FV-Θ - Hive Fleet Leviathan Neurolictor
Specimen: LV-999-HT-Φ - Hive Fleet Leviathan Norn Assimilator
Specimen: LV-087-RA-Ψ - Hive Fleet Leviathan Termagant
Specimen: LV-082-RA-Θ - Hive Fleet Leviathan Termagant
Specimen: LV-426-HT-Φ - Scythed Hierodule
Leagues of Votann:
Kâhl Yôht Grendok - Greater Thurain League Kâhl