40K: Wherein Lie the Power of the Imperial Guard?
Since the arrival of the Imperial Guard codex last year they have managed to retain their position at the head of the 40k metagame. But where in the codex is the true seat of their power?
We have certainly seen some powerful codices come in their wake. I don’t think anyone would call the Space Wolves a weak codex. Tyranids and Blood Angels each in their turn have stepped up the plate and been found wanting.
In tourney after tourney you can be assured of a strong IG presence in the top tier of winners. WarGamesCon starts today and we will be reporting the army breakdowns and performance to you all as we see it, but I expect the trend to continue.
My question is why? Some say the codex has undercosted and easy to use units. Others point to the unique use of heavy tanks in squadrons as allowing a level of firepower that cannot be easily countered. Yet more point to units that seemed oddly out of place in the “tough and gritty” IG codex such as the Psyker Battle Squad, that gives an already powerful army abilities that cover what could be designed weaknesses.
Another argument says that the physical model range for the IG motorpool is ideally designed to take advantage of the 5th Edition LoS rules, allowing cunning generals to build multilayered fortresses of steel that minimize enemy fire while diminishing none of their own; negating the need for terrain-based cover.
~So where in the codex does the true strength of the IG lie? Can it ever be addressed by rebalancing new codices, or will the IG untimately require an updated 6th Edition rulebook to reshape the rules landscape under their feet?
