Warhammer 40K: Ynnari & Harlequins In The New Codex
Games Workshop has folded the Ynnari completely into the Aeldari Codex with a new detachment and the Harlequins, too!
There’s a reason the new Aeldari Codex has a whopping eight detachments inside of it. That’s because two of them are (mostly) focused on allowing you to run either an Ynnari or Harlequin themed detachment. The Harlequins are a little different though. So let’s get into how these units function.
Ynnari Detachment – Devoted of Ynnead
Unlike the Craftworld Aeldari and Drukhari who broadly keep to themselves, the Ynnari welcome servants from all Aeldari societies equally and maintain an unusual mix of infantry from all of these factions.
Rather than needing a whole other Codex or Index to find out what the dark despoilers of Commorragh do, Codex: Aeldari includes all of the datasheets you need to field your allotment of Kabalites, Incubi, Wyches, and other mercenary death-dealers.
The Devoted of Ynnead do come with some limitations. For starters, you can no longer choose Ynnari as your faction keyword. You also have to have Yvraine or the Yncarne as your Warlord. But in exchange you can include Ynnari units and a bunch of Asuryani units also gain the Ynnari keyword. Oh and you get access to the rest of the detachment rules, too.
This feels like a long walk to fix a short problem…but it works. Anyhow, the Ynnari detachment does still get access to the universal Aeldari rules, too (ie Battle Focus). Combined with the Ynnari rules, you can bet these warriors are going to get even more lethal the more death that surrounds them.
Oh one last thing: this detachment also has it’s own Enhancements and Stratagems, too. So if you want to really run a combined Aeldari/Druhkari/Corsair/Harlequin army then this Detachment is calling for you.
Harlequins Detachment – Ghost of the Webway
At the top I said the Harlequins were a little different. So before we get into their Detachment there’s one key rule we need to cover: Disparate Paths.
This rule allows you to take Harlequins units in your army as part of the generic Asuryani Faction. You still can’t choose Harlequins as your Army Faction however.
That said, The Ghost of the Webway provides a lot of upgrades for Harlequins in your army. It will basically let you build a Harlequin-themed army as Troupes become Battleline.
If you notice, there’s no restrictions limiting you to just Harlequins in this Detachment either. You just get more benefits for them specifically. So bust out all the Aeldari toys to support the Harlequins and really mix-it-up!
Aeldari With A Dash of Harlequins
I’m a little torn about these two Detachments. I do feel like we’re losing some of the uniqueness of both the Ynnari and Harlequins. At the same time it’s going to very easy to bring them in your existing Aeldari armies. Personally, I felt like the Harlequins codexes in the past were a bit thin and was hoping they’d get expanded.
It seems GW went the other direction with both them and the Ynnari. While I understand the decision for the Ynnari (it was already a combo-force anyhow), I’ll keep hoping we get an expanded Harlequin army one day.
What do you think of these changes to the Ynnari and Harlequins? Do you prefer them folded into the Aeldari or not?
