The Leagues of Votann are making a big comeback in Warhammer 40,000, bringing with them a fresh set of strategies and a new army rule, Prioritised Efficiency, that will change the way you approach the battlefield.
This new rule, which revolves around accumulating Yield Points (YP), reflects the pragmatic nature of the Leagues, balancing aggression with defense.
Whether you’re grabbing objectives early or holding them tight later in the game, understanding how to manage your YP will be key to mastering the new Leagues of Votann Codex.
Prioritised Efficiency: Flexibility Between Attack and Defense
The core of the Leagues of Votann army ability is all about adaptability. As the battle progresses, your army’s ability shifts between Hostile Acquisition and Fortify Takeover, depending on how many YP you’ve accumulated. Early in the game, when your YP are low, your army focuses on Hostile Acquisition, boosting your offensive capabilities by improving your hit rolls against enemies on objectives and allowing rerolls for Advances and Charges. This gives your Leagues of Votann units the flexibility to quickly seize ground and disrupt your opponent’s plans.
As the game progresses and your YP reaches 7 or more, your army transitions to Fortify Takeover, where the focus shifts to defense. This grants a bonus to your hit rolls when targeting enemies on your objectives and reduces the effectiveness of enemy attacks against your units. The shift in abilities encourages a balanced approach, where you can dominate early on and then bunker down to hold your gains. The Prioritised Efficiency rule allows you to stay dynamic and keep your opponents guessing.
Yield Points: The Key to Tactical Success
The Yield Points system drives the entire strategy behind the Leagues of Votann. You earn YP by controlling objectives, with the first point coming from holding an objective within your deployment zone, and additional points for controlling objectives outside your zone or holding more objectives than your opponent. From the second battle round onwards, you can accumulate even more YP, which helps to unlock the defensive buffs of Fortify Takeover. This system not only incentivizes aggressive early play but also rewards long-term planning as you balance the need for offense and defense.
YP are not just for switching between Hostile Acquisition and Fortify Takeover; they also power up Stratagems and Enhancements. For instance, the Needgaârd Oathband Detachment benefits from a unique enhancement, Ancestral Crest, which allows you to spend YP instead of Command Points for the Command Re-roll Stratagem. This opens up tactical options that could save precious Command Points while enabling you to gain strategic advantages at critical moments in the game.
New Detachments and Strategies
Alongside the new army rule, the Leagues of Votann Codex introduces several unique Detachments that offer specialized strategies. The Needgaârd Oathband, for instance, gains YP from destroying enemy units, making it a great choice for players who prefer a more aggressive playstyle. Meanwhile, the Dêlve Assault Shift Detachment focuses on getting your troops into close combat quickly, with Stratagems and Enhancements designed to give your units the mobility and power needed to engage the enemy swiftly.
For players who favor ranged combat, the Persecution Prospect Detachment enhances the effectiveness of Hernkyn scouting units, allowing you to pin down enemy forces with long-range firepower. The Brandfast Oathband provides additional speed, while the Hearthfire Arsenal Detachment focuses on experimental weaponry and advanced firepower to secure key objectives.
Conclusion: Tactical Depth and Flexibility with the Leagues of Votann
The upcoming Codex: Leagues of Votann brings exciting new ways to approach the battlefield with their flexible army rules and modular Detachments. With Prioritised Efficiency and the Yield Points system, you’ll need to think strategically about when to be aggressive and when to play defensively. Whether you’re focusing on a devastating offense or fortifying your positions, the Leagues of Votann give you the tools to adapt to any situation. Keep an eye out for more updates and miniatures from the new Codex – this is just the beginning for the resurgent Kin.
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