Horus Heresy 3e Review: Kaedes Nex

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

3.5/5 stars - rounded up. Expensive, but effective. 

Background.

If there was ever a space marine that should have been part of the Night Lords instead of the Raven Guard, it is Nex. He was a condemned criminal on Kiavahr but found his pardon with Corax who offered him a new life so long as he only targeted prey that Corax selected. And so it began. Nex is obsessed with the hunt and the kill. He is a murderer and a very skilled one at that. Despite being a Moritat, he is shunned actively by everyone in the Raven Guard as an ill omen. Good job he likes it like that.

Strengths. 

Nex's BS is 6. And nothing can change that. Snap shots? Nope. His BS=6. He is the Blood Crow and doesn't do changes to his BS. In addition, any shrouded test is at a maximum of 6+. This combines to make him a potentially deadly shot.

So let's look at his weapons: a pair of Kiavahr looted fulcrum hand cannons. They are S=6 with an impressive firing rate, but only at 12 inches (good job he has infiltrate=8). He can and will cause damage with these thanks to breaching, but also don't overlook the Stun ability of these weapons - excellent! In close combat, he also gets to wield these at an impressive AP=2 with Shred as well. 

He has other equipment like Cameleoline and melta bombs, but really, his talent is to set up close and explode with those fulcrum hand cannons. 

Weaknesses. 

With a 3+ save and 3 wounds, he might go down fast. But. In this edition, he can at least join other squads which I recommend if you are infiltrating.

He is also a specialist, rather than a true command figure. Hence zero challenges for him. But this is actually a distinct advantage. Let others take on challenges whilst his AP=2 close combat skills whittle down the enemy. This is rather good!

Overall.

Although the points cost is rather high for Nex, his utility is strong. Take with another infiltrating squad and set up to open fire. Then charge in as soon as possible. Let another character take on any challenges, whilst Nex destroys the rest of the squad. A good deal, but still a bit overpriced and vulnerable to sniping. Yet, he also has precision shots, so perhaps not such a worry.