Horus Heresy 2e Review: Kyzagan Assault Speeder Squadron

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

3.5/5 stars. Rounded up. I like this unit more than I should.

Background.

This is the White Scars solution to ensuring heavy weapons keep up with the rest of the legion! Essentially it is a flying anti grav platform form those heavy weapons to fly to where they are needed and do some shooting with. They should be played like that accordingly.

Strengths. 

With a 15 inch movement combined with two reaper autocannons and one Kheres assault cannon, these speeders can readily pump out a good amount of fire power. They have the mandatory hit and run to escape problem situations along with deep strike, firing protocols, and some further special rules to keep them going.

Difference to First Edition.

This vehicle has lost its armour values and instead have a T=7 value along with 4 wounds. This will keep them going for a while, but they are no longer as tough as they potentially once were and I'd be concerned about seeing massed reaper autocannons targeting them more than I previously once was. Especially in the hands of certain other legions.

Weaknesses.

With the heavy rule, they can't get access to shrouded sadly. See also my note above about the difference to first edition.

Builds.

There are no massively unit altering upgrades to discuss here other than adding in more speeders (which comes suggested), and adding on hunter killer missiles (I'm on the fence about these - take to taste). I still like this unit a lot, but I think it got just a fraction more vulnerable in this edition. You will still see it when playing for or against mounted White Scars armies though, no question. 

Horus Heresy 2e Review: Ebon Keshig Cohort

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

3.5/5 stars, rounded up. The rules are good.

Background.
Exiled and seeking atonement through an honourable death, or by surviving and returning to their original roles, these terminators are essentially a vanguard for the White Scars, or at best ablative wounds screening units. 

Strengths. 

As tartaros terminators, they can take advantage of the quick moving systems of the armour and also make sweeps which is good. Coming as standard with power glaives is nice enough, but I would suggest that some should be upgraded to power fists and combi-bolters to be honest. Stubborn and feel no pain is great to have though, as are the 3 attacks base all round. 

Important to note here that enemies don't score points for killing them. Plus the rule of cool applies: the miniatures look excellent. 

Weaknesses.

They could really do with the power fist upgrades for the AP=2. The Karash special rule meanwhile merits a mention here as this is a unit that cannot be joined by others without the rule. Still, this gels well with the rite of war and represents a fluffy way to play White Scars when needed. The lack of transportation is a big issue here potentially though. They are not cheap either and there's a mild argument that regular Tartaros terminators do the job better and cheaper? (Jury is out for me on that). 

Difference to First Edition.

Neutral.

Builds.

5 Kharash, 2 with power fists and combi-bolters, vexilla, grenade harness (250 points).

A basline entry unit. But note that points cost. Ouch.

10 Kharash, 5 with power fists and volkite chargers, vexilla, grenade harness (505 points).

Getting in to the regime of the price not being worth paying here, but there's something to be said for this kind of fast moving, charging, and shooting unit I think.

Horus Heresy 2e Review: Golden Keshig Squadron

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4/5 stars. The rules are very good overall and play to the White Scars strengths.

Background.

At the tip of the spear of the White Scars attacks are these heavy jet bikes. Ridden by superlatively skilled battle brothers, they are equal parts swift and deadly. 

Strengths. 

I like the power lance here which means in combat the rider is striking at a massive I=8. This is enough to wipe out lesser units before they have a chance to hit back, and this cannot be under sold. Brutal 3 is simply amazing. The scatter bolt launcher on board is solid as well for both pinning and shredding. This calls for a swift assault play style that the White Scars are famed for. Just watch out for reactions. 

Weaknesses.

Being heavy means that the Golden Keshig has no way to get hold of shrouded. This is a problem, but one that can also be worked around with the right foreplanning. Use that hit and run rule as well as much as possible to gain the maximum benefit of the power lances.

Difference to First Edition.

Neutral.

Builds.

3 Golden Keshig, vexilla (150 points).

The baseline unit.

6 Gold Keshig, vexilla, champion with thunder hammer (295 points).

Pretty much a maximum upgraded squad. I don't strongly feel the need to buy power weapons or charnabal weapons for this squad to be honest. 

Horus Heresy 2e Review: Jaghatai Khan

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4/5 stars. The rules are strong and support a quick moving play style.

Background.

The Warhawk returns in second edition with the same enigmatic background: spirited away to a life of Chogoris, he learns about rapid and devastating ways of warfare which he brings to his sons in bulk. Regarded as a recluse, but really just never felt the need to show off to anyone, the Khan is a leader that paved the pathway forward for the Great Crusade and made the victories of other legions seem all the greater for it. 

Strengths. 

If the rules for the White Scars are poor, then the Khan will make up for it. Granting furious charge in turns they move is excellent (just try not to get pinned down, okay!) and a bonus reaction in the movement phase is strong.

He has a 2+/4+ save in the shooting phase but gets the invulnerable save beefed up in movement and assault phases which is very pleasing. He can also come into play from reserves whenever the controlling player wants. 

His armaments are good (AP=2 in combat) and whilst he is not be best fighter among his brothers, with the addition of his Sojutsu jetbike he is looking speedy, deadly, and going at I=8 is strong. The jet bike that he comes with is worth the small points cost addition to my mind.

Weaknesses.

At the time of writing, there is no model for the Khan mounted on his jetbike. I can't over emphasize how much this sucks as many players want this. As above, he is not the best primarch out there, but when played to his strengths of fast movement (etc.), he is a force to be reckoned with, make no mistake. 

Overall.

Great army wide buff combined with being one of the fastest primarchs available mark out Khan as unique. Take the jet bike and enjoy.

Difference to First Edition.

Neutral overall I think. 

Horus Heresy 2e Review: White Scars Armoury

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

3/5 stars. The rules are average. 

Legion Shamshir Jetbike. This provides a free swap of a jet bike for independent characters (but not unique ones). This provides nice access to shrouded to my mind which is a good boon to have. The scatter bolt launcher is nifty enough. 

Scatterbolt Launcher. A variant bolt gun that comes with a template, shred and pinning. Not bad at all really. 

Power Glaive. For a cheap cost, characters can upgrade their power weapons and get breaching along with S+1 at AP=3. This is certainly worth considering. 

Cyber Hawk. Re-rolling 1's to hit against an enemy is worth the cost to get the hawks for any character and this should be considered an almost standard upgrade to be candid. Adding +1 to charge rolls is just the icing on the cake. 

We will look at the Stormseer distinctly.

Difference to First Edition.

Neutral. Not much to see here. 

Horus Heresy 2e Review: White Scars Traits and Rites

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

3/5 stars. The rules are average. 

Warlord Traits.

There are three different warlord traits to choose between and fittingly one is loyalist only, one is traitor only, and one can be taken by both.

Heroes Never Die. What an interesting trait this one is. While alive, there is a bonus assault reaction and the warlord's unit gets stubborn which is very nice. But if and when he dies, all White Scars who witnessed it gain Fearless. This is truly a strong trait.

Born to the Saddle. Ignoring difficult terrain is solid, and an invulnerable against dangerous terrain wounds are great. The bonus reaction here is for movement. Overall this is a solid trait without being game breaking but will resonate very nicely with the rest of the army for builds that focus on rapid movements.

The Forgotten Sons. For the traitors, they gain bonuses when there is an ally detachment of Sons of Horus around such that they pass morale and pinning checks. This is very strong, but requires the Sons of Horus in there. They also gain access to the Death Dealers reaction from the Sons. Flavorful and reasonably good, but at the price of needing that extra detachment. 

Rites of War.

Chogorian Brotherhood. Unlock those sky hunters and outrider squadrons as troops (or non-line elites) and give your infantry outflank for free. This is very nice and will pay dividends for the Saim Hain play style that can be pulled off with the White Scars. The price here is that there are no heavy supports available unless they fly, and infantry must be mobile or held in reserves. Very fluffy overall.

The Sagyar Mazan. Those who have transgressed are exiled and these penitents are the Sagyar Mazan. In brief, they seek but an honourable death. This unlocks Ebon Keshig as troops and all infantry must have the Kharash rule which is nice in the sense of not giving away points to the enemy. Gaining fearless on the charge is also powerful. On the flip side, having nothing in reserves can be a problem as is the lack of heavy support (and primarch or fortification to a much lesser extent). 

Difference to First Edition.

There are lots of differences here, both subtle and less subtle. I think overall, these rules make up for the worse legion rules overall, but they are comparable to first edition in many ways. Unfortunately for fans of this legion, overall they are not looking anywhere near as good as they once were in my opinion.