The Custodes’ Stormshield Question

So the word is out, and stormshields are getting changed to a 4++ and +1 to one’s Armor Save. What does this mean for the band formerly known as Legio Custodes? Read on to find out!

*EDIT* It currently means nothing negative, but because I am an idiot and spaced on one of the most important rules for this faction, I wrote a meaningless article. HOWEVER, if you assume that the eventual new Codex will alter or remove the ability to gain +1 to Invulnerable Saves, then read on.

I think most of us saw this coming, despite GW’s original clarification that only the stormshields in the Indomitus box were going to work this way. I know several other Custodes players who were outraged by this change, and feel like it might as well be a worthless piece of wargear. While I too am disappointed by this unsurprising change, I think that some of these hot takes may be somewhat of an overreaction. 

There are a lot of AP weapons in the game right now. With guns becoming even more deadly, model’s armor saves will be more important than ever. If you’re standing in certain terrain with a stormshield, you could have a +2 to your armor save, and if you’re trying to stay alive on an objective while autocannons and the (soon to be) Damage 2 Heavy Bolters about, you’re gonna need some help. Stormshields can definitely help out here, and while you lose a lot of the killing power that the guardian spear had compared to the sentinel blade, the change could be worth it. 

In a weird sense, killing power has seemingly never mattered less than it has in 9th edition. Very few of the Secondaries are about killing. The most reliable way to accrue points is to stand somewhere and not die. While stormshields losing the 3++ does make them initially far less appealing for Custodes, small arms fire is usually how my Custodes end up dying. Bolt rifles are prolific, and super annoying. 

Now for heroes, it obviously is a huge loss. Stormshields were already not really a super tempting option for Shield-captains (ironically), but now they’re just obviously a no way am I doing this choice. I usually only put them on my Vexillus Praetors, but now I’m less excited about them now. 

The only place that I will be trying them out will be on the Custodian squads, I just feel like this will be the only place that losing the 3++ could be potentially mitigated. Little squads of three that hide and sit on Objetives midfield or outflanking into the enemy’s deployment zone might be worth a shot. 

I’m not honestly expecting to be happy with the change, I think I’m more trying to find a silver lining here. I already didn’t really run too many Custodian squads, and I doubt that this is really going to turn me around on that. I’m up for giving it a chance though, as staying power is critical. What do think? I can imagine that most non-Imperial players are smiling ear to ear, and honestly it’s not like the Imperium can’t afford to be toned down a little. Just don’t do it to MY army man.

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