Warhammer 40k: Ciaphas Cain’s Datasheet Revealed – And Jurgen, Too
The Imperial Commissar is making a return in the new edition, and we’ve got a look at what he can do on the tabletop. Ciaphas Cain’s rules rule.
We recently learned that the (in)famous Commissar Ciaphas Cain would soon be taking to the battlefield with an all-new miniature. A legendary character requires legendary rules, and they’ve finally been revealed.
Hero of the Imperium
Cain’s always taken a unique understanding of his duties as a Commissar, and his rules reflect this. Notably, the absence of the standard Summary Execution ability common to most Commissars makes Cain stand out. Preferring to inspire his troops through the application of his glorious presence instead of fear of execution, allowing nearby Astra Militarum units to re-roll failed battle-shock rolls. This makes him a pretty solid addition to any army with the new edition’s emphasis on battle-shock. He also, of course, has the standard Voice of Command And Officer so he can issue 2 orders to Regiment units, limited to the Duty and Honour!, Move! Move! Move!, and Take Cover! orders.
He also enjoys (suffers from) the Trapped by Excuses rule. No matter how badly he’d like to flee the battlefield, Cain always finds himself in the thick of it. Trapped by Excuses prevents Cain from leaving the battlefield via strategic reserves. The only respite he can find is to embark upon a vehicle, but what guarantee of safety is that in a universe of enormous guns and power weapons?
He’s also got a pretty strong once-per-game ability, Unparalleled Luck. At the start of any phase you can use this ability to grant a 2+InvSv for the duration of that phase. A Terminator-level save in the clutch is nothing to sniff at, especially for a unit you’re probably trying to just get to safety.
Two-For-The-Price-Of-One
The good commissar never goes anywhere without his trusty accomplice/sidekick/adjutant, Jurgen. The dour Valhallan is a Psychic Blank, which goes a long way to ensuring Cain’s survival in a hostile galaxy. Despite being modelled in such a way that you can build them separately, Jurgen and Cain are treated as a single unit/model on a shared base.
This means that Jurgen’s protective abilities in the form of Feel No Pain 4+ against psychic attacks and mortal wounds is baked in for Cain himself. Combined with Unparalleled Luck, Cain’s a pretty tough character and can really shore up whatever unit you choose to attach him to.
You can pre-order Cain and Jurgen this Saturday, along with the new annotated edition of the first Cain novel, For the Emperor! Cain’s rules will also soon be added to the Astra Militarum Faction Pack soon, along with his points in the official 40k app.
I wonder if Cain and Jurgen will be making an appearance on Armageddon sometime soon?
