Yesterday, we delved into the lore of the Reductus Saboteur, co-star of Warhammer 40,000: Shadow Throne. Now it’s time to switch sides and learn more about the Blade Champion.
But before we go into details, consider this – Aristothes Carvellan, the Blade Champion who leads the Talonhunt in the narrative of Shadow Throne, is expected to capture the Patriarch of the Genestealer Cult alive (yes, really), without getting torn to ribbons in the act. That’s quite the challenge, so you’d have to be as hard as auramite nails to stand a chance. Well, as you may have seen in our rules preview, he really is!
The Adeptus Custodes are the guardians of the God-Emperor Himself, each a magnificent warrior with martial skills renowned across the Imperium and rightly feared by their enemies. To join the ranks of the Blade Champions is an honour beyond measure – one earned by defeating the mightiest foes in battle time and again.
Once a Custodian ascends, he will spend his years perfecting the specialist fighting styles of his order in the Colosseia Auris of the Blade Champions within the Emperor’s Palace.
With the clinical strikes of Behemor, not even the toughest hide or armoured hull can deny them. The Hurricanis style lets them carve their way through enemy ranks in a blur of blade and blood, while the executing techniques of Victus have claimed the lives of tyrants and warlords beyond count. Yet these are but three of the myriad forms of death known to the Blade Champions.
And when we say they’re good with swords, we really mean it. Hayani Rimush became known as the undisputed master of the Rendax style after slaughtering a seemingly impossible number of Hrud in a single battle. So many were slain by his blade that day it’s said he eventually stood triumphant atop a mountain of corpses a hundred metres high.
Unlike other members of the Adeptus Custodes, Blade Champions don’t take part in the Blood Games that constantly test the matchless defences of the Emperor’s Palace – their duty is to train relentlessly to perfect their skills as a warrior. The old adage that the best defence is a good offence is exemplified by the Blade Champions, for they protect the Master of Mankind through their ability to defeat any threat, no matter what form it takes.
If you want to add this deadly new Character to your Adeptus Custodes army (along with some handy reinforcements and a starting force of Genestealer Cults too!), pre-order Shadow Throne on Saturday. To tide you over, we’re releasing the official points value for you to use the Blade Champion in matched play from the get-go.