40K: The Unforeseen Consequences of Better Bolters
The Beta Bolter Rule Bolter Discipline is out this week and the ripples are being felt throughout the game. Who else is feeling the impact? Let’s chat.
There is nothing more iconic in 40k than a Space Marine wielding a Bolter. That image has been burned into the psyche of every 40k player and it’s even started to bleed into the mainstream, too. So it makes a lot of sense that Games Workshop would want to do something to make Bolters (and specifically Space Marines using them) better. Now, we’ve highlighted some of the big Imperial winners and we’ve talked about some of the other Bolters that are in trouble – but there are a lot more ramifications of this new Beta Rule. That’s what we’re going to focus on today.
Here’s the rule – in case you haven’t seen it yet.
Keep in mind, we don’t know if GW is going to adjust the pricing for Bolters for the armies that can take them, of if they are going to increase the point cost of the models that can use them. We think that those points probably should be adjusted for Matched Play – but for now, we’re going based on the current point costs.
Scouts are STILL the top Troop Choice
Basic Scouts with Bolters aren’t going anywhere any time soon. There is a reason you keep seeing 5-man squads of them pop-up in Detachments to fill the Troop slots vs other Troop options (like the classic Tactical Squad). They are relatively cheap and, with the upgrade to Bolters, are still really efficient for the points. In fact, one could argue that Scouts in the Troop slot are actually pushing Tactical Marines out even further that they already were.
Scouts were already the go-to option as the Troop-tax and they are getting better. This Bolter Beta Rule might be “the tide that raises all boats,” but that means the good stuff got better in equal proportion to the not-good stuff. Sorry Tacticals, you’re still not going to fill that slot. Maybe if the Scouts got moved to Fast Attack then maybe we’d see more Tactical Marines. Maybe.
Fragstorm Launchers Just Became Obsolete
This one is pretty clear. For many of the vehicles that can take the Fragstorm Launchers, they are an “upgrade” to Stormbolters. But Stormbolters on vehicles are now rocking 4 shots at 24″ – vs the D6 shots at 18″. I don’t know about you but I would rather take the consistent 4 shots at 24″ vs the shorter range AND more unreliable shooting of a D6 weapon. Fragstorm launchers probably aren’t the only victim either. That was just the first option that popped-up in my mind. Let us know what ELSE just got dumped due to this rule in the comments!
Lots of Vehicles Just Doubled Their Shooting
You might want to dust off your Rhinos because they just got even meaner. The Dual Stormbolter option just became a thing as it’s pumping out a respectable 8 shots by itself! That’s almost as much shooting as a 5-man squad can generate – and those squads don’t have the toughness of a Rhino! Rhinos aren’t the only things either – Drop Pods, Iron Clad Dreadnoughts, Stormravens, Land Raider Crusaders, and more just got to up their shooting by quite a bit. Hurricane Bolters are going to be nasty out to 24″ pumping out 12 shots each. Sure, it’s only str 4 with AP 0, but hey – you can pretty much wound anything on 6s!
Chaos Space Marines Might Be Worth It Over Cultists Now
…Okay, maybe not. But one can hope! CSM did get the benefit but I’m still not sure if Chaos Players are going to take them over Cultists. At least not in streamlined lists where you just need Troop Filler in your detachments. It’s almost like detachments aren’t being used for their slots but rather the CPs they unlock…Strange, right?!
Anyhow, if you are running CSM be glad that your basic troopers did get the buff with the Bolter rule – hopefully this is just the first fix for them. And don’t forget that applies to the specialist units too – Thousand Sons and Death Guard players, you’re all getting a boost! 1k Sons in particular are looking to be even nastier. We’ll see if the Emperor’s Children will be able to keep up whenever GW gets around to them.
A Pre-Nerf For Sisters?
Man, their official Codex isn’t even out yet and they are getting a nerf. How? Well pre-Bolter change, they could compete with Marines in terms of raw Bolter shooting. Think about it – both armies had basically the same stat line for the things that mattered: BS +3 and +3 Armor. But this Bolter change means that Space Marines get twice as many shots at ranges over 12″ – while it’s not a direct dig at the Sisters, it IS one more thing to make them not as appealing as a Space Marine. But who are we kidding Scouts are going to be chosen over both!
Chalk it up to the law of unforeseen consequences. Or maybe it’s just a series of oversights – whatever the case there are a lot more ripples in the meta thanks to this new Bolter rule. At the end of the day I do think it’s important that GW is taking steps to make Bolters and by extension basic Marines (both loyal and heretic) better. But perhaps this boost needs to be a little more targeted…But hey, that’s why it’s a Beta, right!?
What other ripples are echoing throughout the rules? Drop us a line in the comments about what you think some of these ‘hidden’ impacts will be!
