With a new codex and the Hexfire battlebox up for pre-order tomorrow, the Thousand Sons are back with a vengeance this week. It's high time we took another look at a few of the tricks they’ve been hiding within their sorcerous robes.
Before we discover some of the sons of Magnus' most improved units, let's take a look at how Thousand Sons Detachments have been restructured.
The Mere Servants Detachment ability encourages a more flavourful ratio of Thousand Sons to their slaves, so we’ll be seeing a lot more Scarab Occult Terminators and Rubric Marines serving at the heart of many armies.
Not only does this ability mean that Thousand Sons forces are now arranged more like they are in the lore, but their Terminators and Rubric Marines are massively improved too. Let’s find out how.
Both units now have an additional Wound. When combined with their classic All Is Dust ability, this update leaves them all but impervious to small-arms fire.
To make things even more challenging for your opponent, these core units never flee from the battlefield – they’ll fight on until every speck of dust has trickled from their baroque armour.
Rubric Marines and Scarab Occult Terminators also have an additional Attack – that’s three apiece for the Terminators. Considering the nasty new profile for the Prosperine khopeshes they now carry, they’re definitely not to be taken lightly in melee.
Meanwhile, soulreaper cannons have received increases to both their Strength and rate of fire, so they make an excellent weapon upgrade option.
The fighting elite of the Thousand Sons now stand proudly (if they could even feel pride, that is) alongside the Blightlord Terminators of the Death Guard as some of the most powerful and resilient Heretic Astartes infantry units. Thanks to their buffs in the new codex, Rubric Marines are a tough, reliable unit with serious firepower at their disposal – what more you could ask for from a Troops unit?
There’s much more in this codex than a few upgraded profiles, and the combos that the new Stratagems unlock are nothing short of diabolical. For example, you can use Unwavering Phalanx to drop enemy weapon Damage down to 1, kicking in your Rubric Marines’ All Is Dust ability to blunt their firepower.
Another effective tactic is to burn your enemy to cinders with warpflamers using Wrath of the Wronged.
Against more vulnerable opponents such as Astra Militarum or Genestealer Cultists units, you’ll be killing targets on a wound roll of 2+, as their armour will be no match against your Armour Penetration of -2.
For more formidable foes, an Infernal Master can augment your firepower by striking a Malefic Maelstrom Infernal Pact.
With a boosted Strength of 5 and a bonus to wound, you’re even immolating Space Marines on a 2+, while Toughness 5 Orks are going to be barbecued good and proper.
Speaking of the Infernal Master, make sure you grab this Thousand Sons Character – and a unit of Scarab Occult Terminators, no less – in the Hexfire battlebox. It’s up for pre-order from tomorrow, along with a codex that includes all the shiny new rules you could wish for.