Ah, Grotmas—a time of gift-giving, brutal wagers, and fast, deadly warfare! Today’s Warhammer reveals have something for every Aeldari fan, whether you’re rocking the sleek sophistication of the Asuryani or diving into the grim chaos of the Drukhari and their Harlequin allies. Let’s break down the highlights of these two flavorful new detachments: the Armoured Warhost and The Reaper’s Wager.
Armoured Warhost: The Swift and the Deadly
The Asuryani are here to remind everyone that speed kills. The Armoured Warhost Detachment is tailor-made for players who love the idea of an unstoppable tide of vehicles and battle-skimmers blitzing across the board, leaving smoldering wrecks in their wake.
Why You’ll Love It
Picture this: your opponent sets up their defenses, only for your grav-tanks, transports, and jet-fighters to roar across the battlefield, shooting first, then swooping in for a second pass. The Skilled Crews Detachment rule takes Aeldari mobility to a whole new level:
- Assault Weapon Bonuses: Suddenly, your vehicles can fire their weapons even when advancing, keeping up the pressure while staying elusive.
- Reroll Advance Rolls: No more fumbling when it’s time to reposition. Your vehicles dart across the board like they’re late for a Webway party.
Combine that with powerful Stratagems and Enhancements, like:
- Guileful Strategist: Redeploy three vehicles at the start of the game. Because who doesn’t like mind games with their opponent?
- Vectored Engines: Your vehicles can Fall Back and still shoot, ensuring you don’t get bogged down by pesky melee threats.
This Detachment makes your army fast, flexible, and an absolute nightmare for opponents who can’t keep up. You’ll dominate the board and outmaneuver even the sneakiest foes.
The Reaper’s Wager: Carnage with a Side of Flair
For those who prefer their Grotmas gifts wrapped in cruelty, The Reaper’s Wager is here. This Detachment embraces the theatricality of the Harlequins and the cold brutality of the Drukhari, combining their talents in a gloriously violent competition.
The Lore and Playstyle
This isn’t just a battle—it’s a performance. As Harlequin troupes take center stage, Drukhari allies join in, and the two factions compete for the most lurid, blood-soaked kills. It’s a brutal retelling of one of the Dark City’s most infamous saedaths, and the theme carries directly into the tabletop rules.
Here’s the kicker:
- Callous Competition fuels the carnage. Every time a Drukhari or Harlequin unit destroys an enemy, their side of the “wager” takes the lead. This drives their rivals to fight harder, granting rerolls of 1 to Hit and Wound rolls for whichever faction is currently losing.
- You’ve got a natural incentive to go all-in on the violence, leveraging the best of both factions to keep the blood flowing and the bets rolling.
Key Tools for Chaos and Style
The enhancements and Stratagems are all about upping the ante:
- Webway Walker: Deep Strike into the heart of the action and re-roll Charge rolls if you’re behind on kills. No one wants to be outdone in a performance, after all.
- Fateful Role: Models can fight on death on a 4+ (or a 3+ if their side is losing). Drukhari and Harlequin units will literally fight to the bitter end to prove their worth.
For players who love thematic armies and the sheer chaos of friendly competition (if you can call anything involving the Drukhari “friendly”), The Reaper’s Wager is a flavorful way to keep your games unpredictable and packed with narrative depth.
Why These Detachments Matter
Both of these Detachments emphasize what makes the Aeldari factions so unique and exciting to play. The Armoured Warhost showcases the Asuryani’s unparalleled speed and precision, while The Reaper’s Wager highlights the theatrical, grisly personality of the Drukhari and Harlequins. Together, they bring incredible diversity and playstyle variety to the Aeldari.
If you’ve been waiting for a reason to dust off your Eldar skimmers or dive into the dark delights of the Drukhari, Grotmas is bringing the perfect excuse. So gear up, grab these rules, and get ready to bring some holiday mayhem to the battlefield!
P.S. Tomorrow, the Orks are crashing the Grotmas party. Expect Waaagh-fueled chaos, and maybe leave some dakka for the rest of us!
And remember, Frontline Gaming sells gaming products at a discount, every day in their webcart!
