40K: Everyone Needs Knights
With Chaos getting Knights, it’s time for everyone else to get their hands on Knight-like units. Here’s how to do it.
With the way the game of Warhammer 40,000 is heading (or where it already is depending on who you ask), Knights and Knight-equvalent units are becoming an intrisic part of the game. The problem is that not everyone has these Knight-type units and it’s going to cause issues moving forward. With Chaos Knights inbound, we think it’s time to go through the other factions and see what can be done.
Aeldari
The Aeldari have the Wraithknight, but it’s not pulling it’s weight like it used to. So what’s wrong with it/why are folks not using it any more? Frankly, it’s just not worth the points right now. There are lots of things in the Craftworld/Drukhari/Harlequin codexes that are just better. Fixes for the Wraithknight go beyond just a points drop.
The first fix is just to make different datasheets vs the single version that it has now. For example, if you make the Close-Combat version (with the Titanic Ghostglaive and Scattershield) give it something better than a lack-luster 4 attacks. Give it a boost with extra attacks or a re-roll to hit or SOMETHING. Same with the gun-options. If this thing is going to be a fire base, then make it have a bonus to hit or wound. If you think that’s too much – look at the Knight Errant as an example of what it COULD be.
The next fix is to create an accessory sprue. Large D-Cannons, Web Spinners, and alternative heads – including a Psyker option. The core kit is already great, but it could use a renovation to really make it worth of the slot it occupies.
Tyranids
The Tyranids are in a bad spot. Yeah, I’m baised as a Tyranid Player, but objectively they just don’t have a Lord of War and that’s a problem. The Tyrannofex (pictured above) isn’t on the same footing as a Knight. Trygons and Tryon Primes might seem like they are on the same footing due to their damage potential, but in reality they are lack-luster as anti-knight options. So what can be done?
Look, it’s not like Tyranids are lacking Big-Bug options. Especially for a Lord of War. All GW has to do is pick one and make it a thing. A Viragon, Cerebore, or a Dominatrix would all fit. GW, put the BIG back in Big Bugs! Give us something with T8 and 20+ Wounds. Give it Synapse and a boat load of guns. AND Claws. We gotta have claws. Just make it happen.
Necrons
Pictured – Mock-up of Necron Knight-type kit
The Necrons at least have the Tesseract Vault to work with but why stop there? If we have monolith powered by a C’Tan, why not make MORE weapons of war powered by the terrifying C’Tans? I’m not saying it has to be a giant Necron Robot powered by the shard…but I’m not saying it CAN’T be either! And it’s not like GW hasn’t made guys already in armor ride in other things that were just BIGGER versions of themselves before.
Or how about the Dreadknight?
Why do Marines get to ride in bigger versions of themselves? Give the Necrons the Russian Nesting Doll treatment too, GW!
“We want matching suits too!”
T’au
Okay, honestly the T’au aren’t exactly hurting in this department. The Stormsurge and Riptide just need rules adjustments. Maybe an accessory sprue kit too. Currently, it seems like the T’au (on a competative level) are really only fielding variations of one hyper-optimized list. Now, that could be a factor of the age of the codex (and partly the editions fault, too) but T’au seem to have found their spot and don’t really have a reason to move or try anything new.
Riptides seem to be doing better in terms of popularity vs Stormsurges – so maybe reviewing why one works better than the other is a start. Maybe GW could look at the T’au Supremacy Armor and create a new variant of a Stormsurge that uses some of the same ideas. Or shrink down the concept and create a new Riptide variant. There are some options for T’au!
Orks
The Orks already have Morka/Gorkanauts that have a similar role. Plus they have Stompas which are bigger brothers of the Knight-type unit. In a strange way, Orks seem to have leap-frogged Knights. This is a weird case of “are Orks close enough to Knights” or do they need to get a new unit? Similar to the T’au, I think they probably don’t need an entirely new unit. Perhaps the Morka/Gorkanauts just need a rules tweak/points tweak to put them on par with a Knight. Or at least in some type of 3:2 Ratio of ‘Nauts to Knights.
Another option is to introduce a new variant that trades in the transport capacity for more killing power – or toughness for that matter. I mean, it’s not like the Orks have are opposed to belly cannons or anything.
Give us a variant with a BIG gun in the belly. And maybe a wrecker ball. Orks love those things.
How would you help balance out the Knight-Type unit love in Warhammer 40,000? What units would you add or change?
