A look into the Tau Codex Rules and Formations.... the Age of Tau has Began!!!!

Today, as soon as I entered the internet, this was one of the first things with which I came across, and spent a good time to read and reread it and I have to tell you : If any of this is true, this codex is not just a reprint of the previous ... is far superior to that ...

So I'm given you some Q&A Time with Iuchiban!Someone has the new Kauyon campaign book early, and is spilling the awesome xenos beans. For the full content go to the links at the end of my message... here we go!

Via Iuchiban (in warseer)10-23-2015
Q: – Is there a Decurion-style detachment in the book?
– How is the artwork in the fluff section, are there new pictures or do you feel it’s all recycled?

Yes there is, and looks powerful:
Hunter Contingent:

Consists of:
0-1 Command
1+ Basic
1-10 Auxiliaries

Command:
– 1 Commander or Shadowsun
– 0-1 Ethereal or Aun’va or Aun’shi
– 1-2 Crisis bodyguards

Basic (Hunder Cadre):
1 Commander
0-1 Fireblade
0-1 Crisis Bodyguards
3-6 Strike, Breacher or Kroot
1-3 Stealht, Ghostkeels, Riptides or Crisis.
1-3 Scouts, Piranhas, Vespid, Drones
1-3 Broadsides, Hammerhead, Stormsurge, Sniper
Rules for Hunter Cadre:

– Defensive fire at 12″ (This is something new, I think...)
– Can run and the shoot. In this order.
Rules for Hunter Contigent:
– Reroll Warlord trait
– Units can combine their shooting attacks, and shoot as if they were a single unit. So they can get benefit from special rules and the same markerlight, for example (there are lots of examples ahead...). This is really, really powerful.

The strength of your force may be calculated by multiplying its weight by its velocity. Strive always to maximize both and victory shall be yours.- Commander Puretide

Q: So Hammerheads and Skyrays in squadrons of 3 get BS 5 natively?
Thanks so much for your efforts Iuchiban, we all really appreciate it!
Now, a question: what does the Armoured Interdiction Cadre (3 hammerheads 1 skyray) formation do?

Let’s go with the formations:

Hunter Cadre (see previous posts)

Retallion Cadre
– 1 Commander
– 3 units of Crisis
– 1 Broadside unit
– 1 Riptide unit
Rules: Relentless
+1 BS when Deep striking
May choose to enter from reserves in turn 2 via Deep Strike. This includes Broadsides.

Pew pew spess mehreens!

Infiltration Cadre
– 3 Pathfinder units
– 2 Stealth battlesuit units
– 1 Piranha unit
Rules: If one unit of the formation is destroyed, rest of the formation enters from reserve next turn automatically.
If an enemy unit gets hit by 3 or more markerights from this formation, you get a free Seeker missile hit to this unit.

Optimised Stealth Cadre

IMO this is one of the best formations in the book. Ghostkeels and any Stealth Battlesuit unit in the formation at 6" of the Ghostkeel ignore cover, add +1 to BS and hit vehicles in the rear!!!!!

Firebase Support cadre
– 2 units of battlesuits
– 1 unit Riptides
Note that they do not have to be max size like before
Rules: They formation can combine their shooting attacks and shoot as a single unit. When doing so, they get Tank and monster hunter SR.

Armored Interdiction Cadre
– 3 Units of Hammerheads
– 1 Unit of Sky Rays
Rules: Choose a point in the battlefield. When shooting to a unit at 6″ or less from this point, reroll to hit.

Air Support cadre:
– 1 Sun Shark Bomber
– 1 Razorshark Strike Fighter
Rules: Ignore shaken and stunned with 2+.
Beginning of the turn, roll a D6 for each lost hull point. If you roll a 6, recover 1 HP.

More pew pew , and still against spess mehreens!

Allied Advanced Cadre
– 4 units of Kroot
– 2 units of Vespids
Rules: Vespids get Infiltration and Stealth (Forests)
Kroot at 12″ from Vespid units, get Obscured (Forests) instead of Stealth (Forests), and get +1 BS
They all get supporting fire with other units of the formation...

Q: – Can you clarify the last line of Contingent buff? What kind of limitations do sharing special rules have? Could a Broadside fire a twin-linked weapon at a unit and other units enjoy that rule?

May be this is a bit confusing. The rule says (will try to translate as accurately as possible):

– Any time a unit of the Hunter Contigent shoots, any other unit of the same Detachment, that still can shoot can join their fire power to the attack. Those units have to shoot to the same unit, as if they were a single unit; this includes use of markerlight tokens. If 3 or more units shoot this way, they get +1 to BS.

I think is pretty clear: They can benefit for example from the Tankhunter or monster hunter as you only need a model in a unit to get this rule. Special rules that apply to weapons only do not get any boost.

The Firblade will boost all units that shoot with him, as attack is resolved as a single unit.
Very powerful.

Didn't even have to take the blade from the sheath...

Very powerful indeed. The new Tau 7th Edition books looks to have gotten a HUGE buff in the Kauyon supplement. Seems like this thing may be a must have for every Tau player out there not wanting to buy both the new codex, AND the Kauyon book!

But it's not over, for there some more news related to the new codex, also in BOLS. Just see the link, but here are some of the main points:

– Darkstrider (Can joint breachers now, as well as Strike and Pathfinders teams). The -1T to target Works very good with the new Pulse Shotguns

– where is Tide Wall in all of this? I am really surprised, but the Tidewall is NOT in the codex.

And just for clarification, Markerlights are the exact same except that for one point they can turn the Stormsurge’s Destroyer Missiles into Strength D right?  I am afraid that the wording is the same as in previous codex: 1 markelight token boosts 1 Destroyer missiles fro S8 to SD. Rest of Markerlight uses remains the same.

– If the Hunter Cadre can run and shoot, what’s the point in using Ethereal’s Water ability?

Ethereal water invocation is: Snap shot and then run. In this order
Hunter Cadre is run and shot. In this order.

Just noted that Hunter Cadre vehicles can as well move flat out and then shot. That’s good for Fusion Piranhas … mmm interesting. By the way it only works if unit is at 12″ from the commander before running or moving flat out.

In the meanwhile...

Well, that has maked me excited... but I'll wait for the codex. Howerver, that didn't stop me from adding some forces to what had previously ...

Yeah, today I'm happy...

Oh yeah, just got the Infiltration Cadre Burning Dawn and an old box of Fire Warriors to use as a Strike Team. So expect to see new developments in the field of assembly and painting these miniatures soon on my blog ...

Well, I guess that's everything for today... Thank you for your time and until the next publication

Joaquim de Oliveira

This publication was only possible thanks to:

BOLS (part1 and 2)