Warhammer 40K Hot Mess: Adeptus Custodes
Goatboy here with a return of the 40K hot mess. This time around, let’s look at the Adeptus Custodes’ new Codex, and how we could fix them.
Now this isn’t just me returning the old Custodes Index back. Instead this is how to shift things in a better way, going in the direction GW seems to want to go with Adeptus Custodes. With that, let’s see what we can do.
Step one I think is looking at what GW did with the updated Codex. The old way the book played was taking your units of tough golden gods and moving them to the middle of the table, on top of an imaginary objective, and then daring the opponent to pull you off of the neoprene circle of importance. It wasn’t very exciting. It did not feel very interactive. It felt really static and dull. So how do we bring some power back to the army without just making it boring?
Let Adeptus Custodes be Tough
I think the ability to get a -1 damage stack was something that shouldn’t have gotten taken away. It felt like an ability that could either be a once-a-game sort of thing locked per certain leaders or just an extra Stratagem attached to one of the Detachments. I think finding something simple that is an extra ability you choose to activate, limited to once per battle, and locked into specific character choices is one of the ways to give them something powerful and useful.
Powered up Karate
I do like how the new Martial Ka’tah’s are easier to use as you choose them per unit when you activate them. I wonder if there is a way to power them up based on specific Detachments? This could just be moving it to a 5+ for those specific moves or maybe something like the warlord can power it up some way. I think just powering up these abilities could help them be a bit more offensive would be great to have.
Add Key Custodes Forge World Units in Plastic
I think there is a serious hole in the Adeptus Custodes range right now – with the lack of shooting options in Custodes. I belive that simply adding an updated plastic Custodian style unit with a cool shooting attack might be a cool add-on. I think some kind of walking heavy bolter-like option that shoots a bit more shots, hits a bit harder, and lives in that Damage 3 zone. It would obviously be an Anti Infantry option but it is something that could be the backfield damage option that isn’t just your Silent Sisters.
Make Custodes Jetbikes Better
I really feel like the bikes got left behind in this codex and it is a shame as they sure seem to give you a ton in each boxed set. I wonder if they should have gotten a rule that gave them +1 damage on the charge on top of the other things. A simple little tweak that could let them be the mini bully they used to be. Its a shame as I have so many of them and more still in boxes. These are some of the most beautifully designed models in the entire game, and it’s a shame to see them languish with meh rules.
Really the Adeptus Custodes codex right now is going to live on its updated points. But having a bunch of tough Terminators running around might be too much. Will just have to wait and see what shows up when the later codexes come out and the Balance Dataslate Custodes points are updated.
For the Emperor!
