Warhammer 40K: The Five Best Things About Codex Drukhari
Let’s take a look at the new updated Codex: Drukhari. It’s good – really good!
The Dark Eldar are back, with a shiny new 9th Edition Codex chock full of rules and updates. This book is fully in 9th Edition now and has a lot going for it. Let’s take a look at some of the best things that it brings.
5. Real Space Raids
Drukhari are a weird army in that they now act more like 3 armies in one, and the separate parts don’t interact all that much. The 8th Edition Codex attempted to make this work and give some extra flexibility to the army with some unique detachment rules. However, these didn’t pan out in practice, with some, like allowing 6 patrol detachments simply not working out when they didn’t line up with Matched Play’s 3 detachment limitation.
However, the 9th book seems to have gotten it right. Not only does it allow you to take 3 patrol detachments, one from each of the major sub (or dom?) – armies, at no cost, but also introduces the Realspace Raid rule. Not only does this allow you to field a combined detachment with all the Drukhari in it, but it also rewards you for doing so. With these rules, you really can build the force you like and one that represents the Dark Eldar way of war.
4. Crusade Rules
Look, I’m always a fan of the Crusade rules and they continue to be a huge win. These add more options, more upgrades, and more flavor to the books. Crusade brings back some Drukhari classics like the Soul Trap and lends a lot of flavor and fun to the game. GW continues to hit it out of the park with these rules and once again proves Crusade is how you should be playing.
3. Favored Retinues 
When the 8th Edition Codex came out a lot of people noticed that some units were missing from it. In particular, the Kabaltie Trueborn and the Hekatrix Bloodbrides, upgraded versions of Warrior and Wytches, were gone. We’ll now we all rejoice as they’ve returned to the army, though in a limited form. These upgraded units take the form of the new-style unit/character upgrades we’ve seen in the 9th Edition books, allowing you to play points to upgrade a base unit. This is a great way to bring them back and make them feel special and elite. This gives you new rules, upgrades and is very flavorful.
2. The Succubus
OK wow. It’s not like the Succubus was a bad character before, but this book has really kicked them up a notched. They start off cheap, around 60 pts, and get a ton of attacks, plus throw out a re-roll aura. That’s all pretty rad. They also have easy access to D2 weapons, and can chew through lots of targets just base. However thanks to a ton of upgrade options, from powerful obsessions, and great Relics and Warlord traits, to the Lords of Commorragh upgrades they can turn into some of the deadliest, and fastest, close combat characters in the game, all for a budget price.
1. Mother F’ing Drazhar!
This one has been a long time coming. For seemingly eons, Drazhar has kind of sucked. 8th saw a slow improvement with him getting some buffs over time, but this Codex really brings him to the forefront. Drazhar is an absolute beast in this book, with a ton of attacks all at either D2 or D3. Not only does he boost Incubi, which are pretty rad now, but he also boosts himself, getting a +1 to wound. On top of that, he gets to fight twice a turn. If he happens to be your warlord he also gets to re-roll all hits and wounds. That lets him get up to 14 D2 attacks at Ap -3 that will hit and wounds Marines on a 2+, and potentially get to re-roll those.
This is a guy who can go through ten-man Marine squad a turn. But it’s not just his crazy damage output that makes him stand out. He is also a tank (or as much as one of Drukhari get) with 6 wounds a 2+/4++ and reducing all incoming damage by 1. He can put out a lot of pain, and take plenty himself (he probably likes it anyway). Truly this is a model you WANT in your army.
Let us know what your favorite part of the new codex is, down in the comments!
