The Maelstrom is not just lore and shiny models this time. Instead, it is also bringing six new Detachments to play with.

Consequently, Chaos, Corsairs, Orks, and Votann all get fresh pirate flavored toolkits. Moreover, some of these rules seriously change how your army functions. So, if you like narrative mayhem with real gameplay teeth, this is your jam.

Renegade Warband: Red Corsairs Ditch the Dark Gods, Sort Of

Compared to most Traitor Legion slackers, the Red Corsairs feel weirdly focused. Therefore, the Renegade Warband Detachment straight up drops Dark Pacts. Instead, you get Vendetta, which tags one enemy unit each Command phase. Then, your Heretic Astartes get hit rerolls into that target.

Meanwhile, Twisted Doctrine lets units “Default to Doctrine” when they move. However, you must pass a Battle shock test first. If you do, you either shoot and charge after Falling Back, or charge after Advancing. Consequently, it feels like loyalist doctrine tech, but with Chaos spite.

The Stratagems push the theme hard too. For example, Vengeful Destruction adds +1 to wound into your Vendetta target. Then, Corrupted Munitions improves AP by 1 for ranged attacks. So, you can point at a problem unit and delete it with prejudice.

Corsair Coterie: Trapped Objectives and Unit Upgrades That Feel Like Characters

If you control an objective, the Corsairs turn it into a minefield. Specifically, Relentless Raiders dings enemies for D3 mortals on a 2+ when they end moves in range. Therefore, charging their objectives can feel like stepping on a rake.

Even better, Void Thieves makes objectives sticky in a nasty way. So, you can leave and still “hold” it until the enemy truly out-controls you later. Meanwhile, Veterans of the Void lets you buy one unique Enhancement for almost any Anhrathe unit. That is spicy, because it upgrades whole squads, not just heroes.

Webway Pathstone gives a unit Deep Strike, and it can bounce into Strategic Reserves once per battle. Consequently, you get peak pirate repositioning. Infamy is also rude, since it drops enemy OC by 1 within 3 inches.

Summary

In summary, these Detachments lean hard into piracy: pick a victim, hit fast, and booby trap the loot. Moreover, the article hints at more options, like Huron led raiders, Yriel’s elites, objective playing Freebooterz, and Yield Point Kin. Still, the best part is accessibility, because these rules will be free later via updated Faction Packs. So, you can test them without buying blind, and then go full void reaver when the preorders hit.

And remember, Frontline Gaming sells gaming products at a discount, every day in their webcart!