Games Workshop has dropped the new Balance Dataslate for Warhammer 40,000. There are big buffs and major nerfs ahead for the Grimdark!
The new Metawatch article dropped from Games Workshop and along with it is the new Balance Dataslate. There’s a TON of changes within the core rules and also some targeted changes at outlier armies. So what all has changed? Here’s a few highlights:
Core Rule Changes
Devastating Wounds now only cause regular wounds that bypass armor saves. This stops the “spill over” damage from them being Mortal Wounds.
There are new limits on Stratagems that can be used more than once:
Overwatch needs Line of Sight to work and Titanic units can no longer use this stratagem:
Ruins DO provide cover against Towering units now:
This is by no means all the changes. But it’s nice to see that GW actually did go in an decide to make some changes directly to the Core Rules.
Targeted Changes
Additionally, there’s a bunch of targeted changes to specific factions. Let’s look at the most important targeted changes:
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Genestealer Cults got a massive nerf for their unit recursion:
Adeptus Custodes got “maximum models in a unit” caps adjusted:
And as for the current Meta-dominating targeted nerfs for Aeldari? Well, maybe not as much as you were hoping. They got a direct change to their Phantasm Stratagem:
And that was it for the Aeldari. Now, they are getting hit pretty hard from the core rules changes so we’ll have to wait and see if all these changes combine to unseat them from their dominate spot. Again, there’s more nerfs all over the place and that doesn’t count for point increases.
That said there’s also a few big buffs ahead. Particularly for Death Guard and the Leagues of Votann.
Now, if you want to read ALL the changes (and I really suggest you do) you can download them all at the links below:
Munitorum Field Manual – Fall 2023
Finally, if you were wanting to know the rationale behind these changes GW does have a 25 minute video with Warhammer 40,000 Studio Manager Stu Black covering the “why” behind them:
There’s a LOT of things that got tweaked and we’re already dissecting what these changes will mean for the game. Stay tuned for more thoughts VERY soon.
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Writer, Editor, Texas Native, and Austinite for 15+ years, Adam covers all things Tabletop Gaming. Which includes Warhammer 40,000, Age of Sigmar, D&D, Board Games and everything else that involves dice, boards, cards and a table.
A hobbyist, player, and collector of miniatures and games, Adam’s current obsession are his Death Armies for Age of Sigmar, his Blood Angels and Tyranids for 40k, and his ever growing Arkham Horror: The Card Game Collection.
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