Warhammer 40K: This Week’s Meta Hotness – Mandrakes

Let’s take a look a look at a unit that’s really coming out of the shadows of late, Drukhari Mandrakes.

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, but a lot less time looking at units that are running the show. Today let’s take a look at one of the hottest units currently running around the tabletop.

The Unit

The Mandrake is an elite unit of Drukhari mercenaries. Without ties to any of the main Drukhari factions these mysterious shadow creatures fight for their own profit. This fast light infantry unit is surprisingly mobile and acts as a close-range utility unit

Why They Are Good

For light infantry Mandrakes pack a decent enough punch. 2 shots at S4 AP-1 and the chance of a mortal wound isn’t bad. 3 attack at s4 Ap-1 in combat also isn’t bad. However, in the Drukhari book it’s nothing and makes them only a little more deadly than a normal Space Marine. Defensively they don’t look like much at all, no save, T3 and 1 wound. The devil is in the details here, with a -1 to be hit and 5++ they are more resilient than they seem. Mandrakes still aren’t all that hard to kill, but you do actually have to try to do it.

Their real power comes from the pair of rules “From Out Of The Shadows” and “Fade Away”. This combo lets them set up on the table anywhere outside of 9 inches. Then once per battle they can remove themselves from the table and deep strike the next turn. This makes them great for table control and lets them “move” much faster than it would seem. They lack the punch to be a mainline combat unit. But they do have the firepower to knock weak holding units off back table objectives and grab them. Their mobility tricks, combined with a cheap price, and just enough firepower and survivability make them a great utility unit.

A Sample List

Saying a unit is hot is all well and good, but let’s look at how players are using it. One list that highlights Mandrakes is the list that Richard Siegler ran to take 1st place at both the recent  GW Austin GT.

Patrol
Obsession – “Custom Coven” – Artists of the Flesh (All Consuming)

-HQ-
Haemonculus – Warlord – Master Regenerist, The Animus Vitae – 70pts

-Troops-
Wracks X 17 – Electrocorrosive Whip, Ossefactor, Wrack Blade X 16 – 154pts
Wracks X 5 – 40pts
Wracks X 5 – 40pts

-Elites-
Grotesque w/Master Cleaver X 4 – 140pts
Grotesque w/Master Cleaver X 4 – 140pts

-Heavy-
Talos X 2 – Heat Lances X 2, Talos Gauntlet, Talos Icho Injector – 210pts
Talos X 2 – Heat Lances X 2, Talos Gauntlet, Talos Icho Injector – 210pts

Patrol
Obsession – “Custom Coven” – Dark Technomancer

-HQ-
Succubus – Hypex, Quicksilver Fighter, Relic – Triptych Whip, Tolerated Ambition, Show Stealer – 95pts

-Troops-
Wracks X 4 – 40pts

-Heavy-
Cronos X 3 – Sprit Probe X 1 – 260pts
Cronos X 3 – Sprit Probe X 1 – 260pts

Patrol
Obsession – Kabal of the Black Heart: Thirst for Power

-HQ-
Archon – Ancient Evil, Djin Blade, Splinter Pistol, Huskblade, Tolerated Ambition, Splinter Genius
-No Force Org-
Court of the Arcon – Sslyth X 4, Ur-Ghul X 4 – 136pts

-Troops-
Wracks X 5 – 40pts

-Elites-
Mandrakes X 5 – 75pts

Pts: 2000 CP: +8CP

Using the Unit

I’d be lying if I said Mandrakes were the star of this army. They aren’t, but they still have a useful role to play. This army makes use of a single 5 model unit of the shadow walkers. With the army being built around large heavy monsters and big packs of Wracks its got a lot of punch but is slower than a lot of other Drukhari armies. The move away from units like Venoms or Raiders full of troops has made it a little harder for Drukhari players to rush units through enemy lines to grab objectives or control things. Most of this army only has a 7 or 8 inch move, vs older armies that ran many units with 14-16 inch moves.

Mandrakes with their options to infiltrate and deep strike midgame provide this service at an acceptable price. They provide a great option for jumping a unit onto a far flung objective. Or zipping over the main enemy force to grab something in the backfield. With so many more deadly units on the table they are unlikely to be a target priority until its too late. This is a great example of a useful utility unit that used right is far more useful than its base stats suggest.

Let us know what units you think are hot right now, down in the comments! 

Author: Abe Apfel

Abe is that rare thing, an Austin local born and raised here. Though he keeps on moving around, DC, Japan, ETC., he always seems to find his way back eventually. Abe has decades of experience with a wide range of tabletop and RPG games, from historicals, to Star Wars to D&D and 40K. He has been contributing to BOLS since almost the start, back when he worked at and then owned a local gaming store. He used to be big into the competitive Warhammer tournament scene but age has mellowed him and he now appreciates a good casual match. He currently covers 40K tactics and lore, as well as all things Star Wars, with occasional dabbling in other topics. Abe remains in mourning over the loss of WFB to this day.