After a few months of smaller updates, it’s time for the next Age of Sigmar Battlescroll. Read on for our thoughts on the latest rules updates and points changes.

Core and Advanced Rules

First is a seemingly small change to how Reaction abilities work. Previously, the active player would declare their actions, then pass to the defending player. This had a few issues and the most obvious was that if the active player decided to not All Out Defence, the responding player could use All Out Attack and then the first player did not get a chance to use All Out Defence again. This meant that the non-active player always had an advantage in choosing how to spend their command points.

The new version instead implements a “pass” system where both players are given an option to use a reaction ability or pass, and if both players pass then they move onto a new ability. So if the active player doesn’t use All Out Defence, then the attacking player uses All Out Attack, the defending player gets one more chance to use All Out Defence before moving on.

The other changes to the core rules revolve around shooting. Covering Fire gets an update to outright state that Manifestations and faction terrain features cannot be picked as the target of its shooting attacks. This was already the case in the rules, but this saves you rummaging through several sections and pages to come to that conclusion.

You may have been expecting more clarification on the dreaded Redeploy and Covering Fire combo here. With Longstrikes by far the greatest beneficiary of that rules interaction, GW have gone for a targeted approach in resolving it – see the Stormcast Eternals section for more info. For all other units that can run and shoot (e.g. Blissbarb Archers) it’s business as usual.

A minor change to Guarded Hero makes it so that only models within 12” can shoot a foot hero, rather than units. This isn’t a massive change but it does mean merely stepping a pinky toe into the range of a shooting unit may not end in the unit absolutely peppering them with arrows.

Obscuring now carves out an exception if the shooting unit is in combat with the obscured unit. It didn’t make much sense to not be able to shoot a unit 2 feet in front of your face with a Shoot in Combat weapon just because the trees were a bit thick, no?

Grand Alliance: Order

Cities of Sigmar

The most often seen combos receive a bit of a nerf with the Runelord/Hammerers and Sorceress/various Aelf units going up 10-20 points each. There are some hefty 20-30 point drops for various human heroes, including Zenestra and Tahlia, and Tahlia gets her regiment options expanded to 0-1 Freeguild Veteran, any Cities of Sigmar. Cavaliers and Wildercorps Hunters also get a points drop.

Daughters of Khaine

Little of note. The Slaughter Queen on Cauldron of Blood and Bloodwrack Shrine can now take 0-1 Coven Matriarch and any Daughters of Khaine.

Fyreslayers

A few points rises here. Fyreslayers have been doing a bit better than people initially gave them credit for, and these updates don’t feel like a nerf to that so much as an attempt at some more internal balance for the faction’s limited range. Axe Hearthguard and Slingshield Vulkites both go up 10 while their counterparts remain untouched, and the Flameseekers also cop a 10 point increase. The Flamekeeper, Grimhold Exile, and Runeson on Magmadroth come down, while the Runemaster and Grimwrath Beserker go up.

Idoneth Deepkin

Volturnos and the Allopex go down by 20 points apiece, while the Leviadon gains 10. You’re probably still not seeing Volty often, but the Allopex being cheaper was sorely needed and we should start to see more sharks on the table again.

Kharadron Overlords

Some very minor points tweaks for everyone’s favourite diminutive capitalists. Brokk is ten points more expensive now, for some reason. Unlikely to impact dual Frigate lists, which remain the best way to run him. The poor, neglected Arkanaut Admiral has come down 20 points to 140, making them a much more appealing choice, especially as they can fit any KO unit in their regiment. Will it see them replace Khemists or Endrinmasters in lists? Probably not. Finally, Grundstok Gunhaulers continue to get cheaper and cheaper, now an absolute steal at 140. While they don’t punch especially hard, they have real play as utility pieces that can harass unattended heroes. Unfortunately, the limit of one Skyvessel per regiment for most KO heroes means they’ll struggle to fit into the 1-2 drop lists most KO players are building around currently. Hopefully some absolute hero will pay the auxiliary tax and take some 14 drop monstrosity to a GT. If you do, please blast Ride of the Valkyries the entire time and get in touch. The momentary fame of the bit will surely be worth inflicting the most miserable shooting phase imaginable on five of your newest enemies.

Lumineth Realm-lords

Enlightener down 10, Sevireth and Eltharion down 20. Avalenor, Lyrior and Sevireth get some expanded regiment options. The Alarith Spirit of the Mountain goes down 20 points, and Windchargers get 10 points cheaper.

Seraphon

Kroak gets 20 points more expensive – that frog has been having altogether too much fun. The Scar-Veteran on Aggradon and Oldblood on Carnosaur both get 20 points cheaper, and the Oldblood (alongside its on-foot equivalent) gets to take an expanded range of units in its regiment. Stegadons get a mighty 40 points cheaper, and probably still aren’t very exciting at 180.

Stormcast Eternals

The big one – the Vanguard Chamber ability gets a huge nerf. Originally a passive giving its bearers a flat run/retreat and shoot/charge, it now grants the same effect via an active Hero phase ability that is Once Per Turn (Army). So you’re stuck picking a single one of your Vanguard units to benefit from the effect. As a kicker, it’s also only in your Hero phase, and only lasts for the turn, meaning that during the enemy turn that unit of Longstrikes doesn’t have access to the Redeploy and Covering Fire combo any more. Good riddance. Don’t really expect this to affect Longstrikes too much though – they’re still by far the best shooting in the book, and still a good candidate for a power reduction in the future.

Ionus Cryptborn gets the Ruination Chamber ability added to his warscroll, to match the Ruination Chamber keyword he got last time around. Having access to the 4+ spell ignore is definitely useful for him.

In the Ruination Brotherhood AoR, Iridan gets the Warmaster keyword, so that their need to be the General is not in conflict with Ionus being included in the army.

Points wise, a bunch of heroes get a bit cheaper, including some edge case options like Bastian and the Celestant Prime, which bodes well for some more varied list building. More excitingly, and desperately needed for Stormcast in particular, an increased selection of heroes get access to a broader variety of units to ease the burden of chamber-specific options. Annihilators get cheaper in both flavours, and the Grandhammer variant look quite tasty at 190 points.The Questor Soulsworn are a steal at 200, and elsewhere a couple of fulcrum units get minor points rises, Prosecutors and Vigilors being the most common with +10 points each.

Sylvaneth

Gossamid Archers’ Zephyrspites ability gets a minor wording change, from “it cannot move into combat during any part of its move” to “it cannot end that move in combat.” Given that they have Shoot in Combat, it feels like this is to stop people arguing that some of the subsequent move away from the unit they’re engaged with is technically still moving into combat. If anyone ever tried to argue that with you they would have become an excellent candidate for an immediate friendectomy, but still it’s good to have these things clarified in the rules.

The Twistweald’s base sizes get clarified, and Belthanos, Drycha, and the Lady of Vines get a broader selection of units to choose from.

Grand Alliance: Chaos

Beasts of Chaos

Bestigors, Bray-Shamans, and Ungors went up by 10 points. Is it worth finding a new unit to spam before the army moves to Legends? If it is, Dragon Ogors went down by 20 points.

Blades of Khorne

Bloodthirsters get wider regiment choices, and the Insensate Rage one gets 10 points cheaper while Unfettered Fury gets 10 points more expensive. The Realmgore Ritualist gets 20 points pricier, a just cost for that great terrain ability. The Skullmaster drops 10 points. Otherwise, the infantry units with the highest impact (Blood Warriors, Skullreapers, Wrathmongers) go up 10 points each, while the underwhelming Bloodcrushers come down to 160. Even with a 60 point differential, it’s hard to imagine wanting to bring them over Mighty Skullcrushers.

Disciples of Tzeentch

A few minor points changes. Changecaster, Tzaangor Shaman, Screamers, and Enlightened on Discs go down by 10 points, the Changeling goes up by 10.

Hedonites of Slaanesh

Some additional clarification on the temptation dice part of the An Excess of Depravity battle trait. Rolls replaced by temptation dice count as unmodified rolls (so can trigger 6+ effects, e.g. bouncing back mortal wounds on a save). They also cannot be rerolled, clearing up whether or not you could reroll a charge after rolling a 1 or 2 on one of your temptation dice. You can’t, which makes the idea of giving away more than one temptation dice a bit more appealing for Hedonites players. Also an FAQ to confirm that Dexcessa’s battle fury tokens still confer additional attacks even on turns where they haven’t slain any enemy models.

Shalaxi gets 30 points cheaper, and Sigvald saves 20. Siggy and Glutos also both get more choice in their regiments. Blissbarb Seekers, the only unit that could remotely be considered a problem unit in Slaanesh at the moment, get 10 points more expensive.

Maggotkin of Nurgle

Rotigus drops 30 points, Orghotts and the Lord of Afflictions drop 20, and the Lord of Plagues drops 10. Meanwhile, the Lord of Blights goes up by 10 points. Beasts of Nurgle are down 10, and Pusgoyle Blightlords go down by 30. The changes to Pusgoyles and the Lord of Afflictions are quite welcome, giving cheaper access to some more hammer-like units where Maggotkin has really been struggling.

Skaven

Gnawholes get an update on their deployment via Splinters of the Vermindoom, no longer needing to keep away from friendly models and being able to be within 1” of other terrain rather than 3”. This should help to make sure they can always be placed on all of the deployment maps. Stormfiends’ Grinderfist Tunnellers ability gets updated to Once Per Turn (Army), Any Movement Phase – so only one unit can deep strike per turn.

Krittok and the Verminlords can now bring any Skaven, as well as a Skaven Overclaw, the choice of which has expanded to also include the Clawlord, Clawlord on Gnaw-beast, and Deathmaster. The Master Moulder is now 90 points, the Warlock Engineer drops 10, and the Hell Pit Abomination drops 20. Rat Ogors, the Ratling Warpblaster, the Warp Lightning Cannon, and Jezzails all get 10 points cheaper, so it would seem to be more about offering compelling alternatives to Ratling Guns and Scourgers rather than pricing them out of competitiveness.

It feels a bit rude that Clanrats have escaped without a points bump this time.

Slaves to Darkness

Pledged to Slaanesh is no longer a flat 3D6” charge, instead you now roll 3D6 and discard one of your choice. This is a direct nerf to one of the most powerful (and most-used) things in the S2D Battletome. It was good on Varanguard, it was good on Knights, it was especially good on Chosen inside the Silver Tower. A good change. The Slaughterbrute gets a minor buff, now ignoring the Companion ability on its weapons while it stays within combat range of its master, allowing it to pick up buffs from elsewhere in the faction.

Chosen, the Gaunt Summoner, and Varanguard went up, who could have seen that coming? Be’lakor also went up, but this is likely going to remain his show for the foreseeable future. He just brings too much value.

A ton of other small heroes get cheaper, and/or get wider regiment choices.

Grand Alliance: Death

Flesh-Eater Courts

The Raise The Banners ability from the Lords of the Manor Battle Formation gets a toning down – it now returns one additional model to a Serfs unit, but only returns an additional model to a Knights unit on a 4+. Current FEC lists have been very knight-heavy to take advantage of this rule, and this should help to tone it down a little.

Ushoran gets 20 points more expensive, while it’s a 10 point increase for his most common companions, the Abhorrent Cardinal and Marrowscroll Herald. The mounted Ghoul Kings get 20 points cheaper, and the Gorewarden saves 10. In units, it’s just the Morbheg Knights with a 20 point increase, which is likely to have a significant effect given that that most armies have 12 of them. The most common FEC build is up by at least 120 points with this scroll, so it’s going to force some changes.

Nighthaunt

The Knights of Shrouds both get access to a wider regiment selection.

Ossiarch Bonereapers

Cuts to some lesser used stuff. The big one is a hefty 30 point drop the Harvester, which may actually be enough for it to see play. 20 points to Arkhan and Zandtos make those more competitive, especially Zandtos since he can be a subcommander.

The smaller cuts to Soulreaper and Boneshaper probably won’t save them, since they can’t help that they’re stuck in a competitive slot of Ossiarch Foot Casters.

Soulblight Gravelords

The stock Vampire Lord and Radukar the Beast get cheaper, Dire Wolves go up 10, Vargheists go down 10. Minor changes before an impending Battletome.

Grand Alliance: Destruction

Bonesplitterz

*Tumbleweed*

Gloomspite Gitz

Skragrott’s Babbling Wand gets a minor rewording to avoid some duplication between the activation condition and the effect, but no change to what it does, and similarly the Snarlboss on Warwheela loses an extraneous “non-hero” from its Keepin’ Up Wiv Da Boss ability. Snarlfang Riders get a bump to 4+ to hit on their jaws, to match the Snarlpack Cavalry.

Da King’s Gitz Army of Renown gets a couple of updates too. The Da King’s Adjutant heroic trait for a free unit back from the Loonshrine gets updated to completely stop any use of that and the Moonclan Lairs ability in the same turn – no more double revives. The spells both get updated to be wholly within 18” rather than just within 18”, and the Moonhoned Shiv artefact is confirmed to be a cumulative effect if you retreat multiple times.

An FAQ clarifies that the 4” move for Squig units under the light of the Bad Moon replaces just the D6 roll, rather than the entire characteristic.

Points drops for Fellwaters, Fanatics, Stabbas, Shootas, and a big 30 point drop for Sneaky Snufflers.

Ogor Mawtribes

It’s buffs for the Gutbusters, and price increases for the Beastclaw. All three Stonehorn variants gain 10-20 points, while Gluttons go down 10. The Butcher, Firebelly, and Slaughtermaster all get a broader choice of units when list-building. The various foot Ogors could stand to get a lot cheaper before they were considered to be anything approaching good

Orruk Warclans

The Skaregob Totem’s Sinister Stare gets a welcome simplification – it’s now a passive effect that affects all friendly Kruleboyz units’ dirty trick rolls within its aura, rather than having to pick one specific unit. The Breaka-Boss on Mirebrute Troggoth goes up to control score 5, as befitting a Monster character.

The Tuskboss on Maw-Grunta gets some expanded regiment choices, as do Skumdrekk and the Swampcalla Shaman. Killaboss on Great Gnashtoof gets cheaper.

Sons of Behemat

Brodd gains 20 points, the Kraken-eater saves 20 points, congratulations, your list probably hasn’t changed.

Regiments of Renown

Lots of points drops for these, which we won’t list here. Revisit them and see if they could make a cool addition to your army!

That’s it for this Battlescroll! It might be surprising to see a comparatively light touch after last year’s huge swathe of updates, but post-Adepticon we know there’s a new General’s Handbook on the way, which will no doubt shake up the competitive scene with some new Season Rules.

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