The first Warhammer 40,000 balance dataslate for 2024 is here. Games Workshop's grimdark sci-fi miniatures game can be complex, even with its latest edition streamlining some parts, so adjustments are expected. Though if you play Aeldari, the new changes might lead to some friction.
The 2024 Warhammer 40,000 Balance Dataslate
In an official Warhammer-Community post, Games Workshop explains the changes made in the latest Warhammer 40,000 balance dataslate.
As mentioned before in their first dataslate for Warhammer 40,000 10th Edition, the goal for the game's competitive meta is to ideally have each army's win rate around 55%. At the time of writing, the Aeldari and the Necron armies are sitting around 56%.
This Warhammer 40,000 balance dataslate addresses notably adjusts the Aeldari. The Phantasm stratagem can only affect Infantry units now. In addition, the cost of the Night Spinner and Wraithguard models has gone up.
Of course, the balance dataslate has affected more than one army. Here are just a few examples. The Drukhari's Power Through Pain rule, which lets a unit re-roll an attack, now provides bonus armor penetration if it is a melee attack. The Leagues of Votann now have stricter limits on their Ruthless Efficiency Detachment Rule.
Furthermore, a core rule regarding Devastating Wounds has been changed. If a weapon with this trait scores a Critical Wound, no saving throw of any kind can be rolled; including invulnerable saves.
Lastly, the Warhammer 40,000 balance dataslate attempts to address internal balance. To this end, several Battleline units have had their points lowered like lesser Chaos Daemons and Space Marine Intercessors. By contrast, Indirect Fire units, like the aforementioned Night Spinner units, had their points increased across the board.
Curiously, the army with the second-highest win rate, the Necrons, remains untouched. Considering a Necron army claimed victory at year's Las Vegas Open, it implies that the army is working exactly as intended.
