Best Link Skills for Night Lords in Warhammer 40,000
The Night Lords, masters of fear and deception, excel at close-quarters combat and psychological warfare. Choosing the right link skills significantly enhances their effectiveness on the battlefield. This guide will explore the optimal link skills for different Night Lords units and playstyles, focusing on maximizing their strengths and exploiting enemy weaknesses.
What are Link Skills and Why are They Important?
In Warhammer 40,000, link skills allow units within a certain range to share abilities or benefit from improvements. For Night Lords, cleverly utilizing link skills can amplify their inherent stealth, ferocity, and tactical flexibility. Effective link skill choices can turn a good unit into a truly devastating force.
Best Link Skills for Different Night Lords Units
The ideal link skill varies depending on the unit's role and intended strategy.
1. For close-combat units like Outriders and Raptors:
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Improved Close Combat: This is a must-have for any Night Lords unit focusing on melee. The increased attack power and potential for extra wounds significantly improves their chances in close combat.
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Fear: Night Lords thrive on spreading terror. This link skill amplifies their inherent fear aura, making enemies more likely to break and flee. This is especially potent against low-morale units.
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Stealth: While Night Lords already possess excellent stealth capabilities, this link skill further enhances their ability to ambush and outmaneuver the enemy, ensuring they strike first and strike hard.
2. For ranged units like Outriders and Warp Talons:
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Improved Ballistic Skill: Accuracy is vital for ranged units. This link skill improves hit rolls, ensuring that more shots find their mark, causing increased damage output.
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Stealth: Similar to close-combat units, stealth is advantageous even for ranged units to allow for surprise attacks and to mitigate enemy counter-fire.
3. For HQ choices like a Lord or Sorcerer:
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Prescience: A powerful psychic power that allows rerolls on failed to-hit rolls. This can significantly improve the effectiveness of all units within the link's range.
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Fear: As before, this is a crucial ability that weakens your enemies and makes your army stronger. A powerful warlord with a large fear aura can turn the tide of the battle.
4. Which Link Skills are Less Effective?
Some link skills might seem attractive but prove less beneficial for Night Lords due to their playstyle:
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Improved Leadership: While a good attribute, Night Lords often rely on stealth, trickery, and sheer terror rather than unwavering leadership to win battles.
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Re-rolls to Wound: While generally useful, the Night Lords often focus on high attack volume rather than relying on high strength/AP to overcome enemy armor. Investing in additional attacks tends to be more effective.
Optimizing Link Skills based on your Army Composition
Your Night Lords army composition dictates the best use of link skills. If you have a predominantly melee army, focus on link skills that enhance close-combat performance. If your army relies on ranged attacks, prioritize link skills that improve ballistic skill and accuracy. Don’t be afraid to experiment, analyze the results, and refine your strategy accordingly.
Considering the Enemy
Before choosing link skills, consider your likely opponents. Against armies with low morale, maximizing fear is crucial. Against heavily armored units, improved ballistic skill or close-combat skills that penetrate armor are vital. Strategic link skill selection can greatly impact your chances of winning.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Can I use multiple link skills on a single unit?
A: No, usually a unit can only benefit from one link skill at a time.
Q: How far does the link skill effect extend?
A: The range of the link skill is specified on the datasheet for the unit or character providing the link. It usually varies based on the unit or skill.
Q: What if my linked units are separated during the game?
A: The link will only be active if the units are within the required distance. If units move out of range, the link is broken until they are back in range.
This guide provides a strong foundation for choosing the best link skills for your Night Lords army. Remember that adaptability and strategic thinking are vital to success in Warhammer 40,000. Experiment, learn from your mistakes, and forge a Night Lords army that strikes fear into the hearts of your enemies!
