The winds of change are blowing, and 11th Edition Warhammer 40,000 is right around the corner. If you are anything like me, you are already theory-crafting how the new core rules are going to shake up the meta.
I actually got a game in yesterday using the new 11th Edition terrain footprints and the brand-new cover mechanics, and let me tell you—it is incredibly impactful. In 10th Edition, cover was functionally just a flat +1 to your armor save. It was easy to get, but frankly, it created a lot of weird math. AP-1 weapons were frequently ignored, AP0 weapons didn’t trigger the save at all for a 3+ armor unit, and if your unit relied on an Invulnerable Save, cover barely mattered against heavy firepower.
11th Edition flips the script. The new rule changes cover from a save modifier to a -1 Ballistic Skill (BS) modifier for infantry and similar units (swarms, bests, etc.).
This is a massive, universal shift. Suddenly, a lot of units are hitting on 4s, 5s, or even 6s. You really feel it on the tabletop. Because it targets the attacking unit’s stats rather than the defending unit’s armor, it is much harder to bypass.
Naturally, this completely changes the value of certain units. Let’s break down who the biggest winners are in this new -1 BS environment.
The Winners: Who Gets Better in 11th Edition?
1. The “Ignore Modifiers” Crew (Dark Reapers & Havocs)
If you have units that natively ignore hit modifiers or cover, their stock just went through the roof.
Think about Dark Reapers or Chaos Havocs. In 10th Edition, they ignored the +1 save from cover, which was nice, but they still suffered from cover mitigating their AP. Now? Assuming their rules stay relatively similar, they won’t care about the new -1 BS rule and their targets won’t be getting that free +1 to their armor save anymore. Psychic weapons ignore modifiers now as well, so they will see a significant relative increase in efficacy.
The Net Result: They hit just as accurately as they always did, but their effective Armor Penetration is now much better against targets in cover. Put those Havocs in a detachment like Huron’s Marauders that boosts their ability to hit, and suddenly you have a unit hitting on 2+ into heavy cover with blistering, unmitigated AP. This opens up a lot of weapon and unit choices that were less desirable in 10th ed 40k.
2. The Auto-Hitters and Spotters (Hellhounds & Shroud Runners)
With BS getting penalized across the board, Torrent keyword weapons become premium real estate. Auto-hitting weapons entirely bypass the new cover rules. Fast, aggressive Torrent platforms are going to be incredible for flushing units out of ruins and the changes to Overwatch mean these weapons will be your go to choice for shooting in your opponent’s turn.
Additionally, units that hand out “Ignores Cover” buffs to the rest of your army—like the Astra Militarum Hellhound stripping cover from a target, or Aeldari Shroud Runners painting an enemy unit—go from being “nice to have” to choice tech pieces in competitive lists.
3. The Stacking Defenders (Chaos Sorcerers & Ork Wartrakks)
Here is where the math gets really nasty for your opponent. Assuming the reading of the rules for 11th is correct, it means you could get a -2 to hit modifier!
Because the new cover rule is a -1 BS (Stat Modifier), it mathematically stacks with a -1 to Hit (Roll Modifier). Remember, hit rolls are capped at +1/-1, but modifying the BS stat circumvents that cap!
Take the Chaos Sorcerer. In 10th, he wasn’t seen on the top tables very often. But his ability gives his unit a -1 to be hit. In 11th Edition, if you put a Chaos Sorcerer and his squad in cover, the enemy suffers a -1 BS and a -1 to the hit roll.
That is a net -2 to hit your unit in shooting, and he still provides the -1 to hit in melee! The same goes for units like the new Ork Wartrakk. These stacking defensive buffs are going to create absolute brick walls that standard shooting armies will struggle to clear off objectives.
What do you think?
We are just scratching the surface of 11th Edition. I want to hear from you guys—what units do you think are going to get significantly better (or worse) with this new cover mechanic? Drop your thoughts in the comments or over on the FLG Facebook group and snag some of the FLG 11th ed Footprints so you can get practice in front of the coming edition change!
