Explore the new rules for Traitor Legions in Warhammer: The Horus Heresy. From berserk World Eaters to sneaky Night Lords, the Warmaster’s allies just got nastier.
Today’s Warhammer: The Horus Heresy faction focus shines the spotlight on the Traitors, with playtester James – Arch-Traitor-in-Residence – walking us through all the deliciously unhinged updates for the Warmaster’s chosen. This is the second of the edition’s deep dives, and it’s a juicy one, filled with corrupted rulesets, revamped Rites of War, and units that absolutely slap. If you’re the type to sacrifice honour for results, this is your moment.
Rites of War: Chaos Ascendant
Just like the Loyalists, Traitor Legions now get an all-new Rites of War framework that bundles together your Legion Tactica, Gambits, Advanced Reactions, and Detachments. But unlike their more straight-laced cousins, Traitor Rites lean into chaos, corruption, and wild battlefield momentum.
Take The Nails’ Bite for example. This is the World Eaters’ new Tactica that fully embodies the “axe-first, questions-never” ethos of Angron’s boys. When a World Eaters unit fails a Leadership test, it can become Lost to the Nails. That unit then gains bonus movement, attacks, and even becomes harder to break – but must charge the nearest enemy if one’s close. It’s thematic, brutal, and a blast to play.
On the other hand, if subtlety’s more your flavour, check out The Breaker, Perturabo’s new Gambit. Instead of dueling like a good little Primarch, he can simply signal to a nearby unit to shoot your character mid-challenge. It’s as petty and mean-spirited as it is on-brand for the Iron Warriors – and it’s hilarious.
Tactical Status and Reactions: Darkness Finds New Tools
Night Lords players might notice Night Fighting isn’t in the default mission pack anymore. But they’ve got new toys too. Tactical Statuses and a reworked Fear (X) system let you panic enemies before cutting them down. You can even sneakily retreat using The Better Part of Valour, a one-per-game Advanced Reaction that lets you Fall Back out of a charge and keep your squad intact – no more getting stuck in unfavorable fights.
And don’t underestimate the changes to cover. Medium and Heavy Cover now provide meaningful protection and line-of-sight blocking. This plays directly into traitor hands, giving more tactical depth to armies that lean on movement, misdirection, or shock assault.
Unit Standouts: Dreadnoughts, Fanatics, and Flamers, Oh My
First up is the Thousand Sons Saturnine Dreadnought. Give this bad boy the Pavoni psychic upgrade and access the Stoneform reaction. With +2 Toughness, it can hit Toughness 10 in a shooting phase – turning even lascannons into tickle guns. Add a thermal diffraction field and you’ve got a dreadnought that laughs at meltas. Of course, the Warp will betray you eventually… but what a way to go.
Then there’s the Ashen Circle of the Word Bearers. These guys are finally clear in purpose and nasty in play. Their flamers cause Panic (2), which can Rout enemy units even before the charge hits. Combine that with their Vanguard (3) scoring and axe-rakes that cripple enemies with Phage (M) and you’ve got a unit that wins objectives while dismantling your opponent’s plans.
A Whole New Meta Awaits
What James is most hyped about, though, is how open-ended the army-building is. You can still go skew-heavy with lascannons and multi-meltas, but balanced lists now matter more. There’s no clear “best list” in this edition, and that alone is a breath of fresh air. Expect to see more narrative-driven forces alongside competitive builds – with Tactical Marines possibly pulling wins against so-called “power lists.”
Final Thoughts: Embrace the Darkness, But Bring a Gameplan
This deep dive proves that Traitor Legions are not just edgy reskins – they’re dripping with flavor, backed by unique rules, reactions, and units that feel faithful to their lore. Whether you’re a glory-hound with the World Eaters, a cunning schemer with the Word Bearers, or a trauma-inducing nightmare with the Night Lords, there’s something compelling in every traitor playstyle.
The new edition isn’t just a fresh coat of paint – it’s a complete toolbox rework. And that means every game you play will tell a story, with new tactical wrinkles and cinematic moments baked into the rules. See you on the battlefield, where honour is optional – but carnage is guaranteed.
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