Welcome to another Warhammer+ Wednesday! Alongside a bunch of other great content, this week brings us a special episode of Battle Report which demonstrates exactly what the deadly new T’au Empire Codex can do. If you want to witness how all of the rules previewed recently on the Warhammer Community site work in an actual battle setting, this is your chance to see them in action.
The Greater Good is going toe to toe with one of its bitterest foes, the Adeptus Astartes of the Raven Guard. These two have quite a bloody history – during the Prefectia Campaign, the Raven Guard lost their Master of Shadows, Corvin Severax, to a sneaky gambit by Commander Shadowsun.*
This animosity continued throughout the Second Agrellan War, and is maintained to this day – so this episode of Battle Report gives the Raven Guard a chance for revenge. We caught up with our hosts – Nick Bayton and, making his Battle Report Debut, the inimitable Simon Grant – for a quick Q&A about this week’s clash.
Warhammer Community: Which faction are you playing, and why are they clearly the superior force?
Nick Bayton: I am controlling a T'au Empire army, festooned with more huge guns than Muscle Beach. They’re able to blow Astartes away with ease, this one should be a breeze... if my dice are with me…**
Simon Grant: Meanwhile, I’m commanding the Raven Guard. The sons of Corax are the undisputed masters of covert warfare – while The T'au have to rely on advanced stealth technology to avoid detection. They'll never see the Raven Guard coming!
WarCom: Tell us about your army list. How does it ensure a resounding victory?
Nick: I've taken a balanced army in a Patrol Detachment. A Commander in a Coldstar Battlesuit leads loads of Crisis Suits, Fire Warriors, Pathfinders, a Broadside, a mighty Hammerhead and, of course, Darkstrider. Using markerlights, Stratagems, and abilities it buffs shooting to a terrifying level. I've also chosen the Mont'ka philosophy, so all my models are super manoeuvrable and deadly in the first three turns.
Simon: I've also gone for a balanced list: plenty of Intercessors, and a squad each of Hellblasters and Inceptors to punch plasma holes in Battlesuits. I've also included an Invictor Tactical Warsuit to offer a deadly melee threat to the T'au battleline from the outset with its Concealed Deployment ability.
WarCom: What mission are you playing, and what's your strategy going into the game?
Nick: We're playing the Cleanse the Land mission from the War Zone Nachmund: Grand Tournament Pack, which requires players to spread out over the battlefield, taking and holding objectives. My plan is to establish a strong firebase early on, taking out the big threats in Simon's army, then spread out onto the board to take those precious objectives.
Simon: My plan is to claim as many objectives as possible early in the battle with my four Combat Squads of Intercessors, as the mission rules mean they'll remain under my control for the rest of the battle unless Nick can take them off me. Meanwhile, I'll use my Invictor Tactical Warsuit and my Primaris Captain's Warlord Trait, Master of Ambush, to attack Nick's lines straight away and keep his units pinned in his deployment zone for as long as possible.
WarCom: Obviously, your opponent's army is pathetic, and its general is a fool. But if you had to pick one thing that worries you going into this match-up, what would it be?
Nick: Clearly, T'au firepower is superior to anything the foolish Gue'la can bring to bear, but I'm a little worried about the Invictor Warsuit. Space Marine plasma weapons are also most unhealthy for my T'au, so those Hellblasters and Inceptors are going to have to go, and fast.
Simon: I'm not going to lie – the firepower at Nick's disposal is formidable enough to make even a Space Marine know a twinge of fear! He also has a number of Stratagems that synergise well, enabling Fire Warriors to punch through power armour with ease. While he has Command Points to spare, Nick's army will be a real threat, so I need to try and drain his reserves as soon as possible. I can see my Invictor Warsuit taking one for the team to do just that!
Thanks both – we can’t wait to see the outcome, and may the best general win.
With Eldritch Omens coming to pre-order, this week’s Warhammer+ Wednesday comes with the perfect way for you to brush up on painting Ranger cloaks with the Citadel Colour Masterclass.
Meanwhile over at the Warhammer Vault, you can keep up with the End Times as it reaches the elven lands of Ulthuan in End Times: Khaine. Plus, get your hands on October 2021’s issue of White Dwarf, which is packed with rules updates for Kill Team and Seraphon, as well as hobby advice, horror, and a Horus Heresy history lesson.
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* You can read all about this in the War Zone Damocles book, Kauyon, which is available on the Warhammer Vault.
** Nick’s dice skills are legendary. You’ve never seen so many 1s!
