The Harrowdeep boxed set kicks off the new season of Warhammer Underworlds and is available to pre-order from Saturday. We’ve already seen what’s in the box, so now it’s time to look at how Xandire’s Truthseekers play on the tabletop.
We know that Xandire’s Truthseekers are on a mission to cleanse Harrowdeep, but to get some real insight into their strengths, we asked Dave Sanders from the Warhammer Underworlds design studio all about them. Here’s what he had to say.
Warhammer Community: Hi Dave, and thanks for talking to Warhammer Community. Xandire’s Truthseekers obviously look amazing. But how do they play?
Dave: Xandire's Truthseekers are an aggressive warband, pushing with unstoppable efficiency into enemy territory. Their unique inspire condition, and the reactions on their fighter cards, mean that should one of your Stormcast Eternals fall to the enemy, your opponent should be prepared for a sudden and shocking reprisal. Okay, that’s two sentences – but this warband has a lot going for it.
WarCom: Could you introduce us to three of the most important cards from their Rivals deck?
Dave: Righteous Blows is a solid aggressive objective that scores you two glory points in an end phase if there are more enemy fighters out of action than there are surviving enemy fighters. This plays to your warband's strengths, as your plan will be to try to eliminate as many enemy fighters as possible.
Blazing Arrow is a ploy for Luxa Stormrider that gives her next Range 3+ Attack action +1 Dice and Grievous – a new keyword that means +1 Damage on a critical hit. This ploy gives her a 3 Smash Attack action with Range 4 that has a high chance of dealing 2 Damage to her target. It’s perfect for picking off a weaker fighter out of nowhere.
Finally, Unfaltering Stride is an upgrade for your Stormcast Eternals that lets you push the upgraded fighter one hex after their activation. This can give you some crucial mobility in the later stages of the game, potentially allowing you to move from target to target.
WarCom: What does a new player need to learn in order to play Xandire's Truthseekers effectively?
Dave: Each of the fighters has their own role, and learning the impact each one can have on the game is crucial to getting the most out of this warband.
In particular, understanding the relationship between Stormrider and her companion Taros will make your warband feel far more mobile than the average Stormcast Eternals fighters. Also, knowing how to present difficult choices to your opponent with your frontline fighters – Calthia Xandire and Dhoraz Giant-fell – will make their attempts to stop you less effective too.
WarCom: What's your top tip for someone looking to get the most out of this warband?
Dave: Don't be afraid to take risks with Dhoraz and Xandire – they're tough, and you have several cards in your power deck that will help to keep them fighting fit. You should expect to lose one Stormcast Eternal over the course of a game – but it's not a disaster when it happens.
WarCom: How can a player use Xandire's Truthseekers to absolutely clobber Da Kunnin' Krew?
Dave: Try to split the attention of Da Kunnin' Krew. Together, they can certainly bring down a Stormcast Eternal, but if you get all three of your fighters in their faces early on, that's a much trickier proposition.
Where possible, look to score some easy glory points (and some objectives) by taking out the weaker fighters first. Xandire and Dhoraz can each take out a weak fighter in a single Attack action, while Stormrider and Taros can work in concert to achieve the same thing.
Thanks, Dave! If you like the look of Da Kunnin’ Krew, or you want to know the secrets to beating your enemies, join us later in the week when we’ll be taking a look at how these Kruleboyz play. In the meantime, prepare for Warhammer Underworlds: Harrowdeep going up for pre-order this Saturday by reading all about the new Rivals format, and try our guide to choosing a warband for Warhammer Underworlds to find the fighters that are right for you.