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40K Rumors: Is The Lion The Next Primarch

5 Minute Read
Nov 5 2017
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There’s a veritable tidal wave of Dark Angels rumors flying around. Grab a grain of salt, and let’s tuck in.

From the Massive Grain of Salt Files, a bunch of Dark Angels rumors are making the rounds. Spotted on the Interwebs, Facebook, forums, and other corners of the webs, here’s what people are saying we might see in the Dark Angels codex. Before we go too much further, bear in mind, this isn’t nearly as “verified” as the Tyranid Codex leaks last week, but those did bear out to some truths. Maybe, with any luck we’ll get one true thing beyond “There will be a Dark Angels codex.”

via The Inner Circle Facebook Group

Here’s a big rumor list.

So the Codex is finally announced and a good friend of mine has given me some juicy tidbits.

Preorder on the 2nd of December
Available on the 9th of December

A few changes in a couple of units. Points moving to match the vanilla codex.
No Sammael in Sableclaw in the codex
Black knights and deathwing terminators may now be upgraded to a command squad (1 per army) this basically gives them the bodyguard ability.

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Now the juicy stuff

Abilities
And they shall know no fear

Inner circle
This unit automatically passes morale checks. In addition it may reroll at to hit rolls against Heretic Astartes and all to hit and to wound rolls against Fallen in the fight phase

Ravenwing
If this unit moves it gains a 6+ invulnerable save to all shooting attacks. If it advances it gains a 5+ Invulnerable save to all shooting attacks

Grim Resolve
All UNFORGIVEN units may Overwatch on a 5+ and will only lose one model to a failed morale test

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Have the same space marine stratagems as vanilla marines with the exception of
Masterful marksmanship
Cluster mines
Tremor shells

Also access to these unique stratagems

Fury of the First
2CP
Use this stratagem in your shooting phase. All plasma weapons may use the supercharge weapon template but ignore any mortal wounds that would be caused by a roll of 1.

Repent for Tomorrow You Die
Unforgiven Stratagem
1CP
Use this stratagem before overwatch, the UNFORGIVEN unit may fire overwatch at full BS.

Teleport Homer
Unforgiven Stratagem
2CP
Play at the beginning of your turn. Any DEATHWING unit may deepstrike from reserve within 9″ of an enemy unit as long as it is within 6″ of a RAVENWING UNIT

Deathwing Assault
Unforgiven Stratagem
2CP
Play at the beginning of your turn, any DEATHWING unit entering by deepstrike may fire twice or add 3″ to a charge roll this turn.

Same standard space marine Warlord Traits as vanilla marines with the following unique ones.

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Unforgiven
Hold at all costs
Your warlord and UNFORGIVEN units within 9″ of your Warlord may roll a D6 for every wound sustained, on a 5+ it is ignored.

Unforgiven Courage of the First Legion
UNFORGIVEN units in your army may use your Warlords Leadership for morale checks.

Deathwing
The Hunt
Any enemy Character that your Warlord slays in the fight phase grants one victory point

Ravenwing
Rapid Manoeuvres
Your warlord and any RAVENWING units within 6″ of him may add 2″ to all move, Advance and charge distances and add +1 to all JINK rolls

Relics

Sacred standard
Only one sacred standard can be taken per army

Standard of Devestation
All UNFORGIVEN units within 9″ of the standard may fire twice in the shooting phase and automatically pass morale checks.

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Standard of Retribution
All UNFORGIVEN units within 9″ of the standard may attack twice in the fight phase and automatically pass morale checks.

Standard of Fortitude
All UNFORGIVEN units within 9″ of the standard when suffering an unsaved wound may roll a D6 on a 5+ the wound is ignored and automatically pass morale checks.

Mace of Redemption
S+3 Ap-3 D2
If a unit suffers damage from this weapon reduce WS by 1 until the end of the next fight phase.
Against Heretic Astartes weapon is AP -4

Lion’s Roar
When attacking with this weapon, choose one or both of the profiles below. If you choose both, subtract 1 from all hit rolls for this weapon-
Boltgun 24″ Rapid Fire 1 S4 AP0 D1
Plasma 24″ AssaultD3 S7 AP-3 D1

Foe Smiter
Rapid fire 3 S4 AP-1 D1

Monster Slayer of Caliban
S+2 AP-2 D d3
If this weapon causes at least one unsaved wound roll a D6 on a 6 the model is removed from play. Does not effect models with the VEHICLE keyword

Shroud of Heroes
The shroud of heroes confers a 4+ cover save and for each unsaved wound roll a D6 on a 6+ the save is ignored

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And finally the biggest news in my opinion

Lion El’Jonson
M 8″
WS 2+
BS 2+
S 6
T 6
W 9
A 7
Ld 10
Sv 2+

Hope Melee Melee S+2 AP -3 D 2 If you roll a wound roll of 6+ for this weapon, it inflicts Mortal Wounds instead of its normal damage.

Despair 18” AssaultD3 S8 AP -3 D3 If a unit suffers any damage from this weapon, roll a D6 on a 6 the unit suffers D3 Mortal Wounds
And they shall know no fear

Master of the First – If your army is battleforged, you receive an additional 3 CP if Lion El’Jonson is your Warlord.

Armour of the Order – Lion El’Jonson has a 3+ invulnerable save. In addition all UNFORGIVEN units within 8” receive an 5+ Invulnerable save.

Blade Master – For every unsaved wound Lion El‘Jonson causes in the fight phase he can immediately make an additional attack. This ability can only be used once per fight phase.

Master Strategist- each time a stratagem is used roll a D6 on a 4+ the CP for that stratagem is not spent

I Primarch – You can re-roll any failed hit and wound rolls for friendly UNFORGIVEN units within 6” of Lion El’Jonson

So, the Lion might be coming back–I can see the case being made for that. These rules are maybe misremembered at best though. That Standard of Devastation is too good, and as he’s statted out here, Lionel Johnson is basically Bobby G but better, but many of the others seem like they could ring true.

A stratagem serving the function of the Tau homing beacon isn’t the most out there thing ever. So take a look, dig in to the rumors, and let us know what you think.

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Author: J.R. Zambrano
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