How will the Psychic Awakening affect the Grey Knights?

[Ichar]

 

I don't have the Annual myself, but I am copying Goonhammer's summary of the Grey Knights Tactics here:

 

 

 

 

Being one of the factions without a box set, Grey Knights received a number of new Tactics. They’re on the more expensive side but some are reasonably strong, so you’ll want to keep them in mind.

• Leave No Witnesses (1CP) – When a model fights, if there’s only one enemy within 6” you can re-roll failed wound rolls. This is relatively easy to trigger, especially against elite teams, is reasonably priced and has a powerful effect. A
• Mental Fortitude (3 CP) – Add 6” to the range of psybolt for a model. This can only be used once per battle. This is too expensive for what you get, but it’s a unique and powerful effect so there might be games where it wins you the battle. I don’t think it will see a lot of play but you will want to keep it in the back of your mind. D
• Psychic Onslaught (2 CP) – Give a Psycannon or Psilencer +1 S and an additional point of AP. This turns Psilencers into a pretty monstrous weapon at S5, AP-1, D3 damage and basically infinite shots. That’s an elite model murdering profile, and you’ll be using it often. A
• Psychic Communion (2 CP) – Use before a psychic test. Add +1 to the test for each friendly model in 3” of the caster (including the caster). This is great if you want to try to trigger the improved Psybolt profile or if you’re working around a deny. A
• Rite of Exorcism (2 CP) – Use before a deny. If the deny is successful, deal 1 mortal wound to the caster. It’s a chance for some free extra damage, but very conditional. C
• Ceaseless Vigil (2 CP) – Use at the beginning of the shooting phase. All models in your team get +1 to hit models that can in from reserves. The condition is something you don’t have control over but it effectively cancels out an attempt to deep strike a model into cover. C
• Canticles Of Warding (1 CP) – Ignore mortal wounds on a 5+. These sorts of abilities are very conditional and you already have deny to protect you against Psykers, but if you’re in a situation where it helps then it can be worth the CP. C
• Stillness of Spirit (1 CP) – Add 1 to the commander’s invulnerable saves until the end of the turn. This will give Brother-Captains and Champions a 3++ or Librarians a 4++. B
• Vengeful Strike (2 CP) – When a Brotherhood Champion is taken out of action the get to fight against before being removed. They already have this ability on their datasheet, so they can potentially fight 3 times that turn. B
• The Six Chants of Denial (3 CP) – A librarian can automatically deny a psychic power. The cost is high but there’s no randomness to this. If there’s a critical power that you absolutely must turn off this is your get out of jail free card. C
• Clarity of Vision (1 CP) – Add 1 to hit rolls for a Brother-Captain. Brother-Captains can take a selection of powerful ranged weapons like Psycannons or Psilencers, and if you do this can help you hit on a 2+ or 3+ even at long range and obscured targets. A strong ability to have in games of Commander for turning your Brother-Captain into a murder machine from any hiding spot you choose. B

Grey Knight Kill teams also kept Psybolt and it dropped to one command point. I hope that isn’t all they do with Psybolt in PA. Would rather see it as a native ability (Nemesis Storm Bolter?) or as a unit upgrade. It isn’t as strong or versatile as SIA, which is now free for DW unless the cost gets FAQd back in.

[Corvus Fortis]

Grey Knight Kill teams also kept Psybolt and it dropped to one command point. I hope that isn’t all they do with Psybolt in PA. Would rather see it as a native ability (Nemesis Storm Bolter?) or as a unit upgrade. It isn’t as strong or versatile as SIA, which is now free for DW unless the cost gets FAQd back in.

 

 

 

PBA was always 1 CP in KT. 

 

As for new tactics, most of them won't be used, unfortunately. They would be nice addition to our codex, but not anything that will heavily change our gameplay. We'll see, what we get.

 

Leave no witness - it is rare when there are no models in 6" in KT. It would be more usefull if it woked in 3" at least, but 6... Besides, GK don't have problem with elite armies thanks to Psybolt. I hope, in 40k it will be something like reroll against characters, or when a unit in close combat with a single model. Heck, why other factions can just give this rerolls to their units, but GK always must have some stupid coniditons to trigger them?

 

Mental Fortitude is ridiculous. 3 CP for +6" for psybolt? In a game where you can place librarian in a middle of battlefield and reach 90% of it with psybolt? Where you can give psybolt 36" to every model within 6" of BroCap and it is still redundant? I can't imagine how they could design such a useless stratagem. 

 

Psychic Onslaught is really good. Enjoy twin heavy bolter with d3 damage on your gunner. On a demolisher it has a chance to one-shot a custodes. 2 CP is expensive, of course, but any commander with save worse than 3+ won't be safe.

 

Psychic communion is useless. Only 2 models per KT can cast and we already can cast it on 4+ on 2d6. There are not much denies in game. Nothing worth 2 CP. It really should be only 1. We already can have a librarian with +2 for casts. 

 

Rite of Exorcism is utterly useless. Waste 2 CP for 1 MW when we can deal up to 3 WM in our psychic phase for just 1 CP? No, thanks. Besides, most psykers in game have 4+ wounds. Single wound won't change much. Finally, you can just fail the deny. It could be more uselful in 40k if it will deal d3 mortal wounds. But I really wish that it had to be used after successful deny, not before.

 

Canticles are OK. If you desperate to save important model from a mortal wound, it can be nice. Commanders can also tank psybolts from other psykers pretty well with this. Nothing excpetional.

 

Stillness of Spirit is actually 2 CP and it has 0 worth. Heed is just better... and also never used, because you very rarely will have spare 2 CP to protect something. It should trigger when the model is a target of attack. You rarely know beforehand if it is worth it to use it. And SoS is the same price but worse. I just don't get it. May be useful in 40k to give 3++ to two GMNDKs and get sactuary on paladins, but, probably, too expensive CP-wise.

 

Vengeful Strike - doesn't BroChamp already have this abilitiy on his datahseet? Why to use it twice? Very situational.

 

Chants of Denial - could be nice in 40k if it will cost 2 CP. But I don't think there are critical psychic powers in KT. Just not that much psykers. At least, it is not absolutely useless. 

 

Ceaseless Vigil. Most Deepstriking units have good save and we don't have high AP shooting. I don't see much use to it. I really hope it will be interception fire for GK in 40k.

 

Clarity of Vision is Ok if you run brocap with special weapon. But why will you? He's too expensive and giving +1 to-hit for SB is too expensive. Why not just use Psybolt Ammunition ? it will be better in most cases. Besides, BroCap already has 2+ BS.

 

I don't see myself using most of this stratagems regulary and something - not at all. Psychic Onlsaught is nice in some situations, but mortal wound spam is just better.

[Ichar]

“PBA was always one CP in KT. “

 

Yep. Lol. I wonder how many times I have paid 2CP in KT games because I am thinking of 40k. Thanks for the reminder.

[Corvus Fortis]

I wonder what are the best close combat weapons after CA2019. With additional point and shock assault rule benefits from falchions are not so important as it were. I don't think, that any units with two attacks or better need them anymore. 

[Icosiel]

I have been and will forever remain an ardent supporter of halberds.

[Justicar Boreq]

After the CA 2019 interceptors are about 30pts more expensive in 10man squad than regular strike squad. Purgation squad with 4 psilencers is about the same price as 5man strike squad with falchions.

 

Do you guys think interceptors are worth their price?

Edited December 16, 2019 by Justicar Boreq

[Waking Dreamer]

After the CA 2019 interceptors are about 30pts more expensive in 10man squad than regular strike squad. Purgation squad with 4 psilencers is about the same price as 5man strike squad with falchions.

 

Do you guys think interceptors are worth their price?

 

Interceptors would easily be in our top 4-5 GK units. They complete a role simply no other GK unit can do nearly as well. An extra 30 points to get your 10-man GK infantry to be moving 12" instead of 6" every turn? Plus a 1-turn Shunt? Yeah, I think they're definitely worth it...are they at bargain price? Not necessarily, but they're definitely pointed "fairly" now, if not slightly better than fair.  

[dreadmad]

I wonder what are the best close combat weapons after CA2019. With additional point and shock assault rule benefits from falchions are not so important as it were. I don't think, that any units with two attacks or better need them anymore.

I think Halberds probably edge out Falchions now. On Strikes Falchions are 50% better against T3,~13% better against T4, the same Vs T5 and 50% WORSE Vs T8. Hammerhand does skew the math further in favour of the Falchions, but realistically you're not using it on a 5 man Strike Squad all that often.

 

T3 (and to an extent T4) should be dealt with easily enough through the masses Storm Bolter fire available so that's not overly a problem that's worth spending the extra points on - especially on a unit that's liable to get whittled down or killed before it even reached CC.

[Archaeinox]

Apparently the GK have

 

requested aid from the DA to take care of business on Sortiarius etc.

[Corvus Fortis]

At this point I wonder why Imperium even needs GK at all, if they cannot even handle their main job themeselves. GK are the ones who should be called for aid when daemons go on rampage.

 

Really, what is the logic? "We are, best psykers of the Imperium, cannot handle the best sorcerers of chaos. Let's call upon a corruptable space marine chapter to get the job done." This is just ridiculous. GW doesn't have a slightest care about both our lore and rules, and nothing changes my mind.

[Holier Than Thou]

If this is true, that we are requesting help to deal with Daemons rather than the other way round, could this be the biggest slap in the face yet?

[MoshJason]

If this is true, that we are requesting help to deal with Daemons rather than the other way round, could this be the biggest slap in the face yet?

An entire planet of demons.

 

There's what, 1,000 Grey Knights?

How many demons can 1 Grey Knight kill? Let's say a 1,000 per GK, which is ultra-mary sue levels of power.

 

That's 1,000,000 demons. So, an entire demon world with demon engines and rubric Marines and what not. So ofc they need help. The Earth has a population of 8 billion.

 

Guard always gets help with anything, sisters get help with anything, why not GK?

Edited December 22, 2019 by MoshJason

[Waking Dreamer]

They also requested aid from the Dark Angels in the Pandorax Campaign. And they were coordinating with multiple IG regiments, Warhound Titans, Armoured Tank divisions etc. in that fluff.

[momerathe]

Ordo Malleus bring in additional forces all the time; this seems like a complete non-issue to me. You'll enjoy life much more if you stop trying to take everything in the most negative way possible.

[casb1965]

I see it that GK call on the aid of others to kill of any corrupted beings rather than the Daemons themselves.

[Brother Tyler]

Psychic Awakening: The Piercing Eyes (Grey Knights short story at Warhammer Community site)

[Archaeinox]

The next story they release will probably be Enmity's Edge. It's primarily a DA story but it mentions how they are responding to the Gk request for aid.

[Archaeinox]

I have more fluffy info, this time something which you can likely expect to replace a "Psychic Anomaly Detected" blurb...

 

"Empowered, and delighted, by the malefic energies pouring through the Great Rift, Magnus the Red and his Thousand Sons have been weaving an elaborate plan to bring vengeance and ruin to their ancient enemies. Savaging Fenris – home of the Space Wolves – was just the beginning. The Daemon Primarch's next step summoned the daemonic Planet of the Sorcerers into realspace, and in the third act he restored Prospero itself, ruined millennia ago during the opening events of the Horus Heresy. The unlikeliest of allies came to the defence of the Fenris System in the end – the Dark Angels and Daemon-hunting Grey Knights. Both, however, sustained heavy losses. The Dark Angels have been reinforced with half-trusted Primaris Space Marines, whilst the ranks of the Grey Knights swell from the surge in psychically sensitive recruits. Now, these defenders, after millennia of distrust, must stand united if they are to have any hope of countering the machinations of the Crimson King"

Edited December 24, 2019 by Archaeinox

[casb1965]

So that looks like no Primaris For us and hopefully an improvement in our psychic phase.

[Justicar Boreq]

Jumping to another thing I hope they do something about Castellan Crowe. Did some math and Ceowe has base 5 attacks, 6 with shocking assault. At best it's another 6 with his special ability to generate another attacks, which gives us up to 12 wounds, 0 AP, D1 each.

 

Compared to Strike Squad of 5 man, we can get Nemesis Force Sword which has the same strength as Black Blade of Antwyr. With 4 guys, one justicar and shocking assault we get 11 hits basic, same strength, AP -3, 1d3 DMG.

 

Yeah, Crowe has rerolls, purifying flame and fight phase on dying, but I for being viable HQ option I think he should get better weapon stats, right now it has stats of storm bolter. I would love to see him actually in play

[Waking Dreamer]

Jumping to another thing I hope they do something about Castellan Crowe. Did some math and Ceowe has base 5 attacks, 6 with shocking assault. At best it's another 6 with his special ability to generate another attacks, which gives us up to 12 wounds, 0 AP, D1 each.

 

Compared to Strike Squad of 5 man, we can get Nemesis Force Sword which has the same strength as Black Blade of Antwyr. With 4 guys, one justicar and shocking assault we get 11 hits basic, same strength, AP -3, 1d3 DMG.

 

Yeah, Crowe has rerolls, purifying flame and fight phase on dying, but I for being viable HQ option I think he should get better weapon stats, right now it has stats of storm bolter. I would love to see him actually in play

 

The weapon stats are fairly fluffy, I'd leave that as is - but give him the ability to cause a MW for every unmodified wound roll of a 6. Keeping everything else the same, that gives him at max 12 chances (re-rolling) to inflict a MW in one round of combat. 

 

I play-tested the MW ability on 6+ to wound, and "accidentally" stripped 6 out of 8 wounds from my opponent's Primaris Calgar in one round. So I had to adjust it to unmodified 6s. This, combined with D6 MW smite + fight again upon dying makes him a well-rounded beatstick (hordes and dueling) for only 80 points!

[Justicar Boreq]

 

 

Jumping to another thing I hope they do something about Castellan Crowe. Did some math and Ceowe has base 5 attacks, 6 with shocking assault. At best it's another 6 with his special ability to generate another attacks, which gives us up to 12 wounds, 0 AP, D1 each.

 

Compared to Strike Squad of 5 man, we can get Nemesis Force Sword which has the same strength as Black Blade of Antwyr. With 4 guys, one justicar and shocking assault we get 11 hits basic, same strength, AP -3, 1d3 DMG.

 

Yeah, Crowe has rerolls, purifying flame and fight phase on dying, but I for being viable HQ option I think he should get better weapon stats, right now it has stats of storm bolter. I would love to see him actually in play

The weapon stats are fairly fluffy, I'd leave that as is - but give him the ability to cause a MW for every unmodified wound roll of a 6. Keeping everything else the same, that gives him at max 12 chances (re-rolling) to inflict a MW in one round of combat.

 

I play-tested the MW ability on 6+ to wound, and "accidentally" stripped 6 out of 8 wounds from my opponent's Primaris Calgar in one round. So I had to adjust it to unmodified 6s. This, combined with D6 MW smite + fight again upon dying makes him a well-rounded beatstick (hordes and dueling) for only 80 points!

Oh yeah it sound good. I hope they do something like this to make him better. Guess we'll find out in one hour

[Corvus Fortis]

Crowe is already a viable HQ. For 80 points he is very nice, just a bit tricky to use. He always pays off in my games. He could use this mortal wounds on 6 to-wound or AP-3/4 or BroChamp stances.

[Corvus Fortis]

Sorry for double-post, but PA4 is revealed. Neither new models for us, nor doctrines. But we get some kind of psychic doctrines. Abilitiy is called Masters of the Warp. This one only works as monofaction bonus and it is "channeling of different aspects of the warp to provide army-wide bonus". I guess, it is some kind of Sacred rites for SoB, which will probably be chosen before the battle.

[dreadmad]

Neither new models for us, nor doctrines.

While I agree it looks like they don't get Doctrines, it doesn't outright state that - it could be they get Doctrines and the Masters of the Warp ability is instead of a faction specific Doctrine.