Reivers and Combat Attrition - could they be finally good?

[Primordial]

So, this morning's 40k stream talked about the new morale system, and combat attrition:

 

https://www.warhammer-community.com/2020/06/24/faction-focus-astra-militarumgw-homepage-post-4fw-homepage-post-4/

 

And in the stream, there was a mention of some units that could affect the dice roll for combat attrition, the examples being scary units like Flayed Ones and Reivers. 

 

Could this finally be something that makes Reivers a decent choice? I'm really hoping so (largely because I am just assembling some, haha).

 

 

 

 

[BLACK BLΠFLY]

Sound of pin dropping... one hand clapping

 

:D

[BluejayJunior]

Possibly. I certainly hope so. Especially if they update their rules to be -1 on Combat Attrition rolls. 

I've seen a lot of speculation about how the new rules will work. I like them and I hope they work well on the table. Especially if it means that Reivers are useful. They need a niche with Assault Intercessors on the way. 

[Alcyon]

It'll be interesting to see exactly what Assault Intercessors do by comparison. If Astartes Chainswords have some bonus like +1 Str and are comparatively more expensive we might see Reivers fulfill a role of going after hordes in close combat. Big Ld impacts and lots of attacks at str 4 at a reasonable price, with the ability to come in from the opponent's back line would be interesting in contrast.

[Dracos]

They made Reivers irrelevant day one when they didn't make them a Troop choice. 

[Panzer]

The main problem of most units simply not failing the morale test in the first place (because of high LD, immunity or because the unit was so small it simply got wiped) is still present though and stuff like their modifier (or heck all the modifiers Night Lords can stack) didn't really help with that before so I wouldn't hold my breath.

Edited June 25, 2020 by Panzer

[Medjugorje]

They made Reivers irrelevant day one when they didn't make them a Troop choice. 

aboslutly wrong. They are irrelevant because they dont have access to better melee weapons. Would be a huge difference if the leader has a hammer 

[Dracos]

Honestly I would prefer they have rules that make them worth choosing. I was going to say not every nail needs a hammer but so far it looks like a marine unit without a hammer is meh. (Units of powerfist suitable substitute). It’s sad a unit can’t be intrinsically good without a Thunder Sgt.

[Subtleknife]

I would prefer if there blades were ap 1 and the sgt could take hammers etc.

[Lemondish]

Their kit will now always be compared to Intercessors. The carbine is a worse auto bolt rifle, and their blades are going to be a worse astartes chainsword. 

 

The only real way to find room for them is if those things are a small part of what the unit is about. Unfortunately, terror troops and the shock grenade are not nearly powerful enough to overcome their weaknesses against Intercessors. Even deep strike and the grapnel launcher are now less valuable with strategic reserves playing a role. Then there's the other issues to consider - while force org slots in 8th were largely irrelevant (you had more slots in a detachment than you ever used, and we all brought multiple detachments), you now need to find a way to fit those units into a single detachment if you don't want to be spending CP to bring more. That Elite slot is pretty competitive, so I'm not so sure Reivers, even if they got a boost to their special rules, would be all that useful without some form of rebalancing on their weapons. 

 

If they do get an FAQ to help more reliably force failed morale tests, then that would be something. I don't think it would be enough. 

[Medjugorje]

I would prefer if there blades were ap 1 and the sgt could take hammers etc.

that would make a real difference. Not just being better but having a task which they can perform.

 

 

Honestly I would prefer they have rules that make them worth choosing. I was going to say not every nail needs a hammer but so far it looks like a marine unit without a hammer is meh. (Units of powerfist suitable substitute). It’s sad a unit can’t be intrinsically good without a Thunder Sgt.

but thats how the game work. I would prefer it too if there were good without a hammer but you know it to be true

Edited June 25, 2020 by Medjugorje

[Medjugorje]

at Elite slot is pretty competitive, so I'm not so sure Reivers, even if they got a boost to their special rules, would be all that useful without some form of rebalancing on their weapons. 

 

If they do get an FAQ to help more reliably force failed morale tests, then that would be something. I don't think it would be enough. 

It would be a good thing to give them rules for a few chapters which could work well with them but without being OP in other chapters.

 

Like +2 to charge because they are in prepared assault. So you could bring them with Black Templars with a highly chance to arrive in melee but without being OP and other chapters could bring them too.

[Cryptix]

I'd like it if Reiver blades were STR0 AP-2 and Astartes Chainswords were STR+1 AP-1, some more diverse statlines would be nice