>>7707
Runes of Battle

Available to Warlocks and Spiritseers. Runes of battle are the Eldar powers of war, short term manifestations of their psychic might made to turn the battlefield in their favor. Warlock utilize these powers to affect the outcome of skirmishes and battles across the stars while the Farseers pilot the destinies of whole craftworld through eons. Warlock have tempered their powers to a fine blade but every sword in their hands can be used as a shield, allowing them to use each power either for themselves or against their foes, giving the psykers a supreme range of versatility. As a rule all powers from the runes of battle have a range of no greater than 18", either for the beneficial or debilitating versions of the powers. Warlocks can be attached to Guardian Defenders, Storm Guardians, Windriders, or Vaul's Wrath artillery. Also, remember that, under 7th edition rules, a Warlock will know 2 powers, Conceal/Reveal and whatever power he rolls. So, with a Warlock, NEVER switch for the Primaris, you get it anyway.

The Spiritseer can be attached (as an IC) to almost any squad; this matters for when Runes of Battle powers are referred to as boosting the defenses of units such as Wraithblades and Dark Reapers, in that normal warlocks will not usually be able to benefit squads they are not attached to.
Primaris Power - Conceal/Reveal WC 1
Conceal grants the warlock the shrouded special rule and as such benefits the whole squad attached to him, a +2 to existing cover saves or just a flat out 5+ cover in the open is phenomenal, no warlock would go wrong taking conceal as most units benefit from enhanced defenses and a cover save booster like this goes fantastic on everything that can benefit from it, Guardians, Wraithguard, Scorpions, you name it.
Reveal, by contrast, strips both the stealth AND shrouded rules from an enemy in range; this can sometimes strip powerful defenses from units you are planning to wipe out. However, like all Runes of Battle, you need to make tactical use of the power which may be often skipped for the benefits of Conceal.
1: Destructor/Renewer WC 1
Destructor is the Kamehameha of warlocks, their direct fire power from codices of old, a psychic heavy flamer the destructor is an iconic power that now features the soul blaze special rule. As a power and not an actual weapon the warlock cannot fire this in overwatch.
Renewer is a big tool for the right units, a nearly unheard of targeted healing power that restores a single allied model in range for a single lost wound. Most models only have one wound to begin with so this power doesn't affect them (and cannot be cast as a phoenix down) but instead serves a fantastic purpose when targeting most HQ units or durable multiwound models in the army such as Wraithlords and Wraithknights, as well as the potent Avatar of Khaine. HEALMEHAMEHAAA!
2: Embolden/Horrify WC 1
Embolden is back from the old codex but with a new effect, granting the warlock and his unit fearless rather than leadership rerolling powers. This is a boost and nerf over previous version as fearless straight up negates pinning, morale, ect. However embolden used to allow for rerolling on your leadership test which included psychic powers, an ability beloved by power spamming seers and what have you. A solid power for anything not already fearless such as fragile storm guardians.
Horrify is a power that is unfair to judge on its lonesome. At its core it reduces the LD of an enemy unit by -3, making them of course more susceptible to morale tests and the like. However, with the advent of multiple pinning weapons with the new codex as well as that of the Hemlock Wraithfighter's Mindshock pod the horrify power has enormous effect. A unit with reduced leadership is at best LD7 now, reducing their chance of success against any and all pinning or morale tests down a full 33.4% (16.7% if they can reroll). In armies with the right weapon it’s amazing, otherwise it's just decent. Also fun to consider is that the diresword benefits greatly when used on a Horrified target as they now have a decent shot (42% at LD 7) of being removed from play (fuck you, Eternal Warrior!) if they take a wound. Be sure to high five Eldrad if this goes off. Also makes Mind War far more reliable AND potent. Combine this with Harlequin allies and the Shadowseer or Death Jester for even more trolling.
3: Enhance/Drain WC 1
Enhance is yet another staple of the warlock power of yesteryear, often seen in Seer councils and Storm Guardian squads this power gives a simple boost of +1WS and Init to unit. Eldar are already quick to the punch but with this power what they did well just got even better, Storm Guardians and Wraithblades (Spiritseer support) see a noticeable gain from the power and should have it active at all times prior to an assault. If you roll it on a squad of Guardian Defenders or Vaul's Wrath, use the Malediction version on the off chance someone's about to charge you - you might hold out long enough for the Shining Spears to bail you out...
Drain sucks out the same befits that enhance gives, reducing an enemy’s WS and Init by 1, unless you are assaulting a squad with two or more of your own units I don't tend to recommend Drain over Enhance as a lucky deny the witch would negate the power, however like all tactical powers you have to cast each power according to which effect would benefit you the most. It may be used to boost mono-filament weapons, though - try it if you're facing Dark Eldar, melee Tyranids or the minions of She Who Thirsts...
4: Protect/Jinx WC 1
Protect is a power that even idiots understand and appreciate, a simple but potent bonus to the units existing armor save by 1. This is quality cheddar right here - Guardians of both kinds now get armor that can stop bolters, while Windriders, Fire Dragons or Striking Scorpions now might as well have artificer armor. Wraithblades will become nigh-unkillable tarpits from hell. Probably even better on a Spiritseer than a Warlock, but won't go amiss either way. This power is awesome, and on the right units is worth casting every round, since few units’ don’t benefit from hardier armor than what they already have.
Jinx by extension has an equally nuts benefit for you as the former, reducing an enemy’s own armor save making them that much easier to kill off. Now a unit like Terminators suddenly fear AP3 Reapers, Spears and Banshees with a passion, fragile 4+ units suddenly became instantly shredded by mere shuriken catapults, making Guardian firepower or similar a hurricane of reaping death. Against units who are relying more on their cover or invulnerability save the benefits of this power are reduced somewhat, still if you reduce an enemy’s armor save and they need it against your guns, make them that much more screwed and cackle with glee.
5: Quicken/Restrain WC 1
Quicken grants your unit swiftness of the Eldar and improves the running distance off the unit by a flat 3", letting you close gaps or create them that much easier. With Battle Focus being found on just about every Eldar model this power only flops when the unit happens to be hunkered down in cover and wont be running for the rest of the game (I’m looking at you, Rangers and Dark Reapers).
Restrain by comparison is a power I don't honestly find very useful. Stripping away an enemy’s ability to run completely sounds useful, however the range of the power is 18" so you were already pretty close to the unit to start, and save the Eldar most armies sacrifice their shooting in order to use run in the first place, and cannot charge into assault if they did so. Useful for slowing down objective-grabbers or kiting melee deathstars, though. Although, try using against Wulfen or Harlequins, or anyone else who can charge after running, and see them fume as they have to rethink their plans.
6: Empower/Enervate WC 1
Empower instantly grants the psyker and attached unit gain an extra +1S. This is enough to make Storm Guardians actually effective against T4, though Vaul's Wrath, Guardian Defenders and Windriders usually don't care. Spiritseers could get more mileage out of it though - Banshees, Scorpions and Wraithblades really like this. (Can't usefully use it on Shining Spears, though. Roll on Daemonology with a Farseer hoping for Hammerhand if you want to try that.)
Enervate also has a limited benefit to you most days of the week, stripping the enemy squad (which I remind you is already within 18" of you) of 1S as to reduce their threat in melee. Now this is alright if you know you’re getting charged next turn and the drop in strength is the difference in melee ability like marines against Wraithguard. However on the whole few units even need their regular strength to threaten your flimsy Eldar, our brittle bones clock in at a pitiful T3 with most armies boasting at least a S4. Debuffing an enemy squad prior to an assault by yourself is alright though if the difference can be noticed, like Enhance/Drain you want to choose carefully between the two abilities. It's worth noting here that S2 can't wound T6 targets so when charging anything with S3 (like a blob or guards, cultists, orks and all brands of eldar) with Wraithblades always have your Spiritseer cast Enervate, then the only thing your wraiths will feel in the return swing is a soothing foot massage as their wraithbone boots crush the pathetic fleshy thing's trachea.