Warhammer 40K: This Week’s Meta Hotness – Kabalite Trueborn
This unit was born to rule the table top – lets take a look at Kabalite Trueborn.
In the ever-shifting meta of 40K armies rise and fall. We’ve spent a lot of time talking about armies that are hot or not and a lot less time looking at units that are running the show. That changes today as we’re taking a look at one of the hottest units currently running around the tabletop: Kabalite Trueborn!
The Unit
Kabalite Trueborn are a “elite” troop Drukhari infantry unit. They normally act as the bodyguard or honor guard for an Archon, one of the leaders of a Kabal. The Trueborn are an upgraded version of the basic Kabalite Warriors. They have a similar load out and increased stats which makes them a great mid ranged shooting unit.
Why They Are Good
The simple answer to why Trueborn are good is simply that they are reliable. As a unit they have the same weapons options as basic Warriors. This lets them take not only splinter rifles, but also a pair of Blasters, a Dark Lance, and a Phantasm Grenade Launcher. This gives the unit very strong mid/close range firepower. They have enough shots to hurt horde-style units and yet also have heavy enough shots to really put the hurt onto vehicles or heavy infantry/monsters. Outside of shooting they don’t do much… then again with such strong shooting (getting BS 2+ is a real bonus) if they can get re-rolls on 1s it means they are likely going to just hit with everything they have. 
Most of the time you will also find them in a Raider zipping around the table. Since they get to ignore all hit penalties they can shoot with their Dark Lance and still hit on 2s instead of 4s like regular warriors. Even with the point bump to become Trueborn they are a relatively cheap unit that can put out super accurate and deadly firepower. And as troops they are super easy to fit into a list by running you on average just 20 points more than a unit you were already taking.
A Sample List
Saying a unit is hot is all well and good but let’s take a look at how players are using it. A lot of Drukhari lists have been running true born and have done well at a number of recent events recently. One list that shows off the use of Trueborn is Jay Wood’s list he ran to take 1st place at the recent Da Summer Waaagh GT. (via 40kstats.com)
++ Patrol Detachment 0CP (Aeldari – Drukhari) [33 PL, 11CP, 625pts] ++
+ Configuration +
Battle Size [12CP]: 3. Strike Force (101-200 Total PL / 1001-2000 Points)
Detachment Command Cost
Obsession: Kabal of the Obsidian Rose: Flawless Workmanship
Raiding Forces – CP Refund
+ Stratagems +
Stratagem: Prizes from the Dark City [-1CP]
+ HQ +
Archon [5 PL, 80pts]: Ancient Evil, Overlord, Splinter Pistol, The Helm of Spite, Venom Blade, Warlord
. Splintered Genius (Obsidian Rose): Splintered Genius
Drazhar [8 PL, 145pts]
+ Troops +
Kabalite Trueborn [8 PL, 140pts]
. 6x Kabalite Trueborn: 6x Splinter Rifle
. Kabalite Trueborn w/ Heavy Weapon: Dark Lance
. Kabalite Trueborn w/ Special Weapon: Blaster
. Kabalite Trueborn w/ Special Weapon: Blaster
. Trueborn Sybarite: Phantasm Grenade Launcher, Splinter Rifle
Kabalite Warriors [3 PL, 55pts]
. 3x Kabalite Warrior: 3x Splinter Rifle
. Kabalite Warrior w/ Special Weapon: Blaster
. Sybarite: Phantasm Grenade Launcher, Splinter Rifle
Kabalite Warriors [3 PL, 55pts]
. 3x Kabalite Warrior: 3x Splinter Rifle
. Kabalite Warrior w/ Special Weapon: Blaster
. Sybarite: Phantasm Grenade Launcher, Splinter Rifle
+ Elites +
Mandrakes [3 PL, 75pts]
. 4x Mandrake: 4x Baleblast, 4x Glimmersteel Blade
. Nightfiend
Mandrakes [3 PL, 75pts]
. 4x Mandrake: 4x Baleblast, 4x Glimmersteel Blade
. Nightfiend
++ Patrol Detachment 0CP (Aeldari – Drukhari) [63 PL, -2CP, 1,125pts] ++
+ Configuration +
Detachment Command Cost
Obsession: Kabal of the Black Heart: Thirst for Power
Raiding Forces – CP Refund
+ Stratagems +
Stratagem: Prizes from the Dark City [-1CP]
+ HQ +
Archon [5 PL, -1CP, 85pts]: Hatred Eternal, Huskblade, Overlord, Splinter Pistol, Stratagem: Tolerated Ambition, The Djin Blade
. Splintered Genius (Black Heart): Splintered Genius
+ Troops +
Kabalite Trueborn [8 PL, 140pts]
. 6x Kabalite Trueborn: 6x Splinter Rifle
. Kabalite Trueborn w/ Heavy Weapon: Dark Lance
. Kabalite Trueborn w/ Special Weapon: Blaster
. Kabalite Trueborn w/ Special Weapon: Blaster
. Trueborn Sybarite: Phantasm Grenade Launcher, Splinter Rifle
Kabalite Warriors [3 PL, 55pts]
. 3x Kabalite Warrior: 3x Splinter Rifle
. Kabalite Warrior w/ Special Weapon: Blaster
. Sybarite: Phantasm Grenade Launcher, Splinter Rifle
Kabalite Warriors [3 PL, 55pts]
. 3x Kabalite Warrior: 3x Splinter Rifle
. Kabalite Warrior w/ Special Weapon: Blaster
. Sybarite: Phantasm Grenade Launcher, Splinter Rifle
+ Elites +
Incubi [4 PL, 80pts]
. 4x Incubi: 4x Klaive
. Klaivex: Demiklaives
Incubi [4 PL, 80pts]
. 4x Incubi: 4x Klaive
. Klaivex: Demiklaives
+ Dedicated Transport +
Raider [6 PL, 110pts]: Dark Lance, Grisly Trophies, Kabal, Phantasm Grenade Launcher, Shock Prow
Raider [6 PL, 110pts]: Dark Lance, Grisly Trophies, Kabal, Phantasm Grenade Launcher, Shock Prow
Raider [6 PL, 110pts]: Dark Lance, Grisly Trophies, Kabal, Phantasm Grenade Launcher, Shock Prow
Raider [6 PL, 100pts]: Dark Lance, Kabal, Phantasm Grenade Launcher
Raider [6 PL, 100pts]: Dark Lance, Kabal, Phantasm Grenade Launcher
Raider [6 PL, 100pts]: Dark Lance, Kabal, Phantasm Grenade Launcher
++ Patrol Detachment 0CP (Aeldari – Drukhari) [13 PL, -1CP, 250pts] ++
+ Configuration +
Detachment Command Cost
Obsession: Cult of Strife: The Spectacle of Murder (Restricted)
Raiding Forces – CP Refund
+ HQ +
Succubus [4 PL, -1CP, 75pts]: 1 – Adrenalight (Combat Drug), Competitive Edge, Stratagem: Tolerated Ambition, The Triptych Whip
. Agoniser & Archite Glaive
. Show Stealer (Strife): Show Stealer
+ Troops +
Wyches [6 PL, 120pts]: *Random x 2* (Combat Drug)
. Hekatrix: Hekatarii Blade, Phantasm Grenade Launcher, Splinter Pistol
. 7x Wych: 7x Hekatarii Blade, 7x Plasma Grenades, 7x Splinter Pistol
. Wych w/ Razorflails: Razorflails
. Wych w/ Shardnet and Impaler: Shardnet and Impaler
Wyches [3 PL, 55pts]: *Random x 2* (Combat Drug)
. Hekatrix: Hekatarii Blade, Phantasm Grenade Launcher, Splinter Pistol
. 4x Wych: 4x Hekatarii Blade, 4x Plasma Grenades, 4x Splinter Pistol
++ Total: [109 PL, 8CP, 2,000pts] ++
Using the Unit
Jay’s list makes use of two units of ten Trueborn. Both units are armed with two Blasters, a Dark Lance, and a PGL. Beyond that there isn’t a whole ton to say about them. Both are riding in Raiders and get a Kabal obsession that allows for re-rolls making them extra reliable.
Trueborn in their transport are an annoying unit that move around with a lot of speed and can deliver accurate and heavy fire to pretty much any target on the table. Working as a team they can hit almost any thing they want with 8 heavy weapon shots (and I do mean hit) making them a real threat.
Let us know what units you think are hot right now, down in the comments!
