Warhammer 40K: Howling Banshees Become Whirling Death With These New Rules
Games Workshop has another Aeldari preview and this time it’s all about those Howling Banshees and their new rules!
It might feel like forever ago when the plastic Howling Banshees were released with their Phoenix Lord Jain Zar. That’s mostly because time has no meaning anymore and/or it’s a flat circle or something. In anycase, with the new Aeldari Codex on the horizon the Howling Banshees are back with some new tricks up their Aspect Warrior sleeves.
“These ritual war helms are equipped with psychosonic amplifiers, which augment the wearer’s battle cry into a harrowing aural assault. The shriek-that-kills disorientates and paralyses the enemy, even causing lasting damage to their nervous system. Put simply, targets of a charge cannot fire Overwatch or Set to Defend – presumably too agonised trying to muffle the caterwauling.”
Banshee Wail
The signature helm of the Howling Banshees is their Banshee Mask. Not only do these prevent the unit from taking Overwatch when they charge, they don’t allow the enemy the option to set to defend. Furthermore, the unit they charged (or really any enemy unit in Engagement Range — which is probably who you charged) cannot fight until ALL eligible units in your army have fought. So they are probably swinging last this turn.
This is a nice update to the old school rule and the fact that an Autarch can wear one of these masks also makes them an even more attractive HQ option.
But we’re not here to learn about the Autarchs, the Howling Banshees will not be dismissed so easily. They’ve got a couple more cool rules to help mess up their opponents.
Whirling Death finally makes this unit a viable threat vs Space Marines. Sure, they could do a number before but now (thanks to their Banshee Blades making their attacks Strength 4) they will also be wounding Marines on 3+. And anything that was toughness 3 or less? Well, you get the idea. It’s a flurry of attacks at 3 per model and now they are going to hit like they mean it!
Acrobatic is the defensive part of their kit and it makes them even tougher to tag. On top of that, don’t forget about that 5+ Invulnerable save they have now, too. The Howling Banshees are going to surprisingly durable once they make it to the safety of close combat. And that will be even easier thanks to Battle Focus!
Man, I really want to know what the Striking Scorpions are going to do now…
