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Well my wait is over, Malevolence is now in my hands and I can finally give an in depth analysis of the changes to our beloved Custodes. My opinions are of course my own, and worth exactly what it cost to give: nothing, so take them as you will.
The good news is that none of our weaponry has changed, however stats and points values have been. I am very happy to say that Sisters of Silence have not been separated into their own list, and that assassins are somewhere close over the horizon.
Let us begin with the First of the Ten Thousand: Constantin Valdor. A full 50pts increase, and still he has digital lasers that are already included in his profile. I personally think that they should have just removed digital lasers and kept him at 5 attacks, but he's still the Eternal Warrior Beast with E-Money's spear. I've had mixed luck with him, but that's more the dice's fault than his rules, if his spear rolls well he's a monster, albeit one I think should have been 300pts or given the extra attack for digilasers. Warlord Trait remains unchanged, it's decent but pales next to the flexibility of the other HQ choice.
The Shield Captain is that Choice, and I'm happy to say he's in relative good health. Digilasers are up to 15pts, but honestly that's where they should have been all along as Legion Praetors pay 15pts. Praesidium shields are down to 15pts, so my typical Shield Captain build will be unchanged in base points. Archaeotech pistols are down to 10, still wouldn't take it, would prefer an adrathic sidearm or something with AP2. Solarite power talons are cheaper, 10pts for 1, 15 for the pair, but unless you're wanting to shred daemon armies at initiative I'd still advise to stick to the solarite gauntlet, things just melt before S10. Of the spears, only the Paragon Spear has changed, now 25pts, outrageous but maybe that will stop people from taking the ridiculous shield and spear combo, over paying and missing out on the charge bonus. Finally the Tribune upgrade has been increased to 50pts, I begrudgingly have to admit its still worth it for Fearless, Eternal Warrior and the all important flexibility of choosing the Warlord Trait. Sorry Valdor and Krole, Tribune remains my Eternal Warlord.
Now to Elites!
Hetaeron Guard got kicked in the nuts, a full 40pt base squad increase and they still can't score. Solarite talons are down to 10pts, paragon blades up to 25pts. I feel this was a missed opportunity, instead of caving to the anti-custodes grumps, they should have instead tweaked them. The sidebar proclaims them "demigods of the battlefield", sweet, up their WS to 6 and give them scoring, I'd gladly be for the points increase, but as is I wouldn't even run them with gauntlet and shield because in scoring missions that's an enormous drain on my list.
Aquilon Terminators got what they should have got from the start: 3 wounds. Alas they've been bumped up 40pts and still can't score. If scoring was given I would take these fellows (flamers and gauntlets give such flexibility) but alas I have scoring units that can do their same job for cheaper. However arae-shrikes for the unit is now a flat 15pts, something to consider especially since the outrageous price increase for them on other squads.
Now I am extremely put out by how they treated the Achillus Dreadnought. The First FAQ upped the price of the spear and clarified the D impalement, there was no need to increase the points except to placate the "Custodes are undercosted" crowd. At current points its a hard pass for this lad, which is a shame as the model is beautiful and one of the reasons I started this army.
Troops:
Custodian Guard are unchanged except for charging extra for the Vexilla weapons, unnecessary, another sop to those wanting Custodes to cost more. Arae-shrikes are now 15pts a model, far too costly. I suspect certain complainers are the root cause of this, they really don't do much that a competent player could avoid, hard pass to take them on your units now unless you really have points to spare. (Surprise,you don't)
Sentinel Guards are happily unchanged except for the cheaper solarite talons and arae-shrike points changes, I have preached long and loudly on taking these lads with gauntlets as your troop base, the changes to other units cement my argument.
The Coronus has not, as nefarious rumours on the Internet have suggested, gone down to AV12 on the front, it's stats are unchanged, searchlight is free and Armoured Ceramite is still overcosted. It's cost is now 175pts, I will admit its was a steal at 135pts, the combo of transport and light tank gives your army so much flexibilty, I would gladly have paid 275 points if it was an assault transport. Verdict is still take it, fill your lists with this wonderfully versatile vehicle.
Fast Attack:
To my great delight the Agamatus Jetbikes remain unchanged, most likely due to the points increase in the last FAQ. This is the best unit in our army, the versatility of the adrathic weapon allows you to pen vehicles and roast multi-wound units, just keep them out of combat!
The Pallas unfortunately got thwacked with a 10pt increase, absolutely unnecessary, the poor little guy did nothing wrong. It's still a very flexible unit, the ability to jink all day and shoot at full BS is an understated strength, but jetbikes are a better choice.
The new Venatari are disappointing, when Blood Angels jump troops start with artificer armour out of the gate its rather dubious to see custodes with 3+ saves. They are fast and have some cool looking weapons, alas the lack of AP2 weaponry at range or close range (baring the lance, but then why aren't you using regular spear custodes?) keeps them in the "paint some for the cool models, but never use them" category.
Heavy Support:
Sagittarum have become slightly better with the option to take solerite gauntlets, they're still too expensive for a non scoring unit, but I take heart at the fact that it looks like we'll see more weapon options for them, hopefully long range stuff.
Contemptor Galatus remains at 250 and his shield is now a 4++ like his sentinel brothers, I'd pick him over the Achillus.
Caladius Grav tanks really took a beating, 25pt increase base, a further 10pt increase for the blaze cannon, a sicaran is better bang for buck, an arcus even more so. Totally unnecessary change and disappointing. You are better served for your points to take multiple Coronus that can transport and shoot.
When the Telemon first came out I felt the points were exactly where it needed to be. Arguably our best gun platform (keep it out of melee!) but if shaken you had a 350-360pt paperweight. Now at base 320, storm cannons at 40pts, a fully loaded Telemon costs 400pts! If they're going to charge Knight Prices for it, at least give it unshakable or something, this is ridiculous. Now some argue that its a steal next to the Leviathan dread because of its armoured ceramite, but I counter with the fact that either Knights are undercosted (I lean towards this hypothesis) or Levithans are overcosted. To add to that, Leviathans excel at getting up close and personal and tearing both infantry and vehicles to pieces with its weapons, the Telemon is a gun platform that needs its BS to fire effectively or is reduced to a snap-shooting lump.
Lords of War: The Orion was already of dubious value at 605 points, its main selling point being the only assault transport in our army. the 10pt increase does nothing but give a sop to the complainers, in fact it should have gotten a points decrease as it eats so much of a list's points for somewhat decent shooting (no matter what happens I always seem to miss with one heavy blaze cannon). I recommend taking this in 3k games, its just not worth it in 2.5k.
Our newest unit is the Ares Gunship, the bombs are meh, especially in this age of power armour, I do like the magna-blaze cannon, Phill Scott and I joke that my rolls on MWG with the blaze cannons were the reason for the master crafted rule. Instant Death and Armourbane added to exoshock will ensure whatever you hit with this thing will feel it, and the burst fire seems perfect for killing marine terminators. I do like the Achilles heel of the exposed capacitors, my recommendation would be to fly in with this thing, shoot the most dangerous enemy vehicle, then hover with your back to a board edge to avoid any explosions. It is a little overcosted, 640 cuts it out of most games, I feel it is worth a solid 625 to bring it just within 2500 point games.
To sum up the changes we were thwacked with mostly unnecessary, the result of complaints in meta that obsessed over certain units and ignored our truly tactically flexible units. That being said, I welcome these changes if what they buy is tabletop peace, that the childish reactions to Custodes armies mere presence at events and tournaments cease and camaraderie and good sportsmanship take its place. I had the same hopes with the last FAQ, my quiet fear is that there is no pleasing the loudest and rudest complainers, but time will tell.
In the meantime, fill your lists with sentinels and Coronus, experiment with the synergy sisters units can give you, and have fun wherever and whenever you play!
