Friday, January 19, 2018

Adeptus Custodes Codex Previews: Strategems


The last of the Adeptus Custodes Codex previews, its time to look at their Strategems.


via Warhammer Community
https://www.warhammer-community.com/2018/01/19/adeptus-custodes-preview-part-4-stratagemsgw-homepage-post-2/

After 10,000 years as the Imperium’s final line of defence, the Adeptus Custodes are marching forth from Terra in force, and thanks to a new codex, you’ll be able to lead them in battle with new units, Stratagems, Relics and much more. In today’s preview, we’re checking out the cunning tricks you’ll be able to play on your opponents with the new Adeptus Custodes Stratagems.

While the martial might of the Adeptus Custodes is legendary, it’s not just wargear or training that makes them a terrifying force on the battlefield, but their strategic genius. Each member of the Adeptus Custodes is a honed statesman and commander, sharpened by psycho-indoctrination, careful study of history and the constant oversight of one of the most important military operations in the Imperium – the continued defence of Terra from threats both without and within.
Thanks to the new Codex: Adeptus Custodes, you’ll be able to represent this tactical mastery with no fewer than 27 Stratagems, providing new opportunities for matched play gamers to outsmart their foes, giving narrative fans thematic ways to roleplay with their army and even offering a sneaky reference or two to Rogue Trader…
The Tanglefoot Grenade is a new Stratagem representing one of Warhammer 40,000’s oldest pieces of wargear. Back in the day, grenades and missiles could bear a dizzying array of payloads, with tanglefoot ammunition being one of them. These have been re-canonised as ancient relics in the new Codex: Adeptus Custodes, and a pretty handy one at that – whether you’re trying to wreck an enemy charge or stop a particular target getting away, you’ll find them very useful indeed.
Concussion Grenades are another returning relic from Rogue Trader, designed to work with the Allarus Custodians. Use them before charging into combat and you’ll be able to neutralise your opponent’s most dangerous units
Of course, with an elite army like the Adeptus Custodes, you’ll be very vulnerable should you start taking casualties, but thankfully, the Stratagems in the book contain several ways to overcome this. One combination in the book we particularly like is following Even in Death – which allows your Custodians to attack after they’re slain – with Shoulder the Mantle – which allows you to nominate a new character in your army as the Warlord. By doing so, you’ll be able to deny your enemy the crucial Slay the Warlord secondary objective in most missions while doing some damage on your way out.

Meanwhile, for your larger units, the Avenge the Fallen Stratagem allows any unit your opponent has decided to focus on in any given Fight phase to hit back, and hard.
As befits an army that fights alongside the wider Imperium, acting as bodyguards or agents to other Imperial figures, there are tools in the codex to support mixed armies too. If you’re fielding an Astra Militarumarmy, for instance, you’ll find a nearby unit of Custodian Guard a valuable source of extra morale thanks to the Avatars of the Emperor Stratagem.
Between the new Stratagems and units, the armies of the Adeptus Custodes offer surprising tactical depth to the canny general, making them a rewarding choice for the cerebral player. Come back tomorrow for our final preview, where we’ll be checking out the various Warlord Traits and Relics you’ll be able to use to customise your Adeptus Custodes Characters…