New edition previews are always fun, but this pairing feels especially useful. On one side, the Aeldari get detachments that reward speed, timing, and nerve.
On the other, Ork players get a practical look at the new Boyz sprues. However, both updates speak to army identity in a very clear way. This is fast glass-knife warfare beside proper green tide hobby value.
Aeldari Detachments Turn Speed Into a Proper Battle Plan
The Aeldari rules preview is absolutely packed with movement tricks, and that is exactly right for the craftworlds. Armoured Warhost makes friendly Aeldari Vehicle ranged attacks gain Assault, so grav-tanks can Advance and still blast away.
Therefore, Fire Prisms, Falcons, and similar skimmers can hunt sight lines instead of choosing between speed and output.
Spirit Stone of Raelyth adds a neat support angle, giving an Aeldari Psyker Lone Operative near vehicles and letting it heal D3 wounds from a nearby vehicle.
Meanwhile, Vectored Engines lets an Aeldari Vehicle fall back and still shoot for 1CP, which is classic elegant nonsense.
Fateful Performance then gives Harlequins a very different flavor. Acrobatic Onslaught lets them charge through enemy models, which means screens become obstacles instead of roadblocks.
Since charge targets are chosen after distance is rolled, Harlequins can gamble for juicier prey with real confidence.
A Foot in the Future gives a Troupe Master’s unit re-rollable charges, while Deceptive Feint lets Harlequin Infantry move D3+3 inches when an enemy ends a move within 8 inches.
That is the sort of slippery rule that makes opponents feel like they are trying to punch smoke.
Path of the Outcast shifts toward Rangers and Shroud Runners.
Far-reaching Doom adds 6 inches to enemy detection range while they shoot, helping them reveal hidden targets from safer distances.
Camouflaged Snipers lets Rangers shoot without losing hidden status, while Casting Back the Veil marks a hit enemy unit with +6 inches detection range for allies.
Finally, Twilight Flickers gives Harlequins Stealth instead of pure charge aggression.
Prelude Performer grants Scouts 6 inches, and Captivating Performance lets a Troupe secure an objective before sprinting away. Importantly, both Harlequin detachments have the Acrobatic tag, so they cannot stack together.
Overall, these rules make Aeldari feel fast, precise, and deeply annoying in the best possible way.
Armageddon Boyz Bring Real Variety to Push-Fit Orks
The Ork kit focus is less about rules, but it matters for anyone building an army from the Armageddon box. The set includes 20 Boyz, and the big surprise is that they are not just doubled sculpts in disguise. Although the box uses two identical sprues of 10, the parts have enough cross-compatibility to build 20 unique Ork miniatures.
That is a bigger deal than it sounds, because repeated launch-box poses can make a horde look weirdly cloned. Each arm set fits at least two different leg-and-torso builds, which gives the mobs more life on the shelf and table. Additionally, the nine regular Boyz heads fit any body except the Nob’s body. So, even before conversions, there is plenty of room to make each lad look like his own loud problem. The Nob also gets two loadout options, which helps if players run the Boyz as two units of 10.
That avoids the classic duplicate sergeant problem many push-fit boxes suffer from. The included 10 Gretchin also get some customization, despite their heads and arms being molded together. Several grot assemblies can still be mixed across bodies, adding welcome variety to the little troublemakers. F
or Ork players, this is exactly what you want from a launch box. It keeps the easy build experience while avoiding the boring repetition that horde kits can suffer from.
Summary: Fast Elves, Loud Orks, and Strong Army Identity
Overall, this is a satisfying pair of previews because both sides understand their audience. Aeldari players get clever detachments built around speed, hidden threats, acrobatics, and precision shooting. Meanwhile, Ork players get confirmation that the Armageddon Boyz should build into a varied, characterful mob. However, the shared win is identity. The Aeldari rules reward elegant movement, while the Boyz kit rewards messy green individuality.
