When the T'au Empire makes war, its leaders meticulously plan their assaults according to two philosophies – Mont'ka, the Killing Blow, and Kauyon, the Patient Hunter. In the upcoming Codex: T'au Empire, these strategies are yours to command.
Called Tactical Philosophies, you’ll choose one of these at the start of the battle after the turn order has been decided. This means you’ll know exactly what you’re facing, so you can take advantage of the first turn with a powerful Mont'ka strike, or weather the enemy assault before springing a crafty Kauyon ambush.
Mont'ka, The Killing Blow
Favoured by aggressive, dynamic commanders, the tenets of Mont'ka emphasise a blisteringly powerful assault aimed directly at the enemy’s command structure, striking hard and fast to take out key targets before meaningful resistance can form.
Accordingly, the Mont'ka Tactical Philosophy rewards decisive action in the first three turns, allowing its warriors to rapidly advance into enemy lines and blaze away with powerful close-range firepower.
This allows players to move even their foot-slogging Fire Warriors into a commanding position early in the game, getting their new, improved pulse rifles into that all-important Rapid Fire range from the get-go. Mont'ka is a particular favourite of Crisis Battlesuit cadres deploying via Manta Strike, who aim to scrub elite troops from the field by dropping down at close range.
Kauyon, The Patient Hunter
The more cautious approach, Kauyon teaches that the enemy should be lured into an exposed position before their weak points are smashed by a prepared assault. By offering some tasty bait, such as an important objective or seemingly vulnerable unit, commanders can position their units carefully before striking back with overwhelming force.
Durable units get a lot of mileage out of the Kauyon Tactical Philosophy, as the army must be able to withstand several turns of enemy attacks before springing their trap. Stealth and Ghostkeel Battlesuits are well suited for the task, as their camouflage systems offer extra protection and their high rate of fire generates extra hits on the counter-attack.
Units held in Strategic Reserve adhere to Kauyon, as they can spring up right where the enemy doesn’t want them after several turns spent safely off the battlefield.
It’ll take a cunning commander to decide whether to surge ahead and strike hard with the diminishing range of Mont'ka, or to weather the storm until the full benefits of Kauyon come online. Flexibility and boldness will get the most out of your Tactical Philosophies, while a timid approach will only waste their powerful benefits.
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