Balance Changes and Imperial Agents Season

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