Warhammer 40K: Primaris Reivers Review

Of the new Primaris Space Marine range, this kit is absolutely my favorite. Primaris Reivers are sort of a hybrid between Scout and Assault Marines, designed across their datasheet to serve as in-your-face harassers and backfield infiltrators. These terror troops can be equipped with awesome-looking bolt carbines that come with a forward tactical grip and an Assault classification or with a pistol and combat knife combo for more intimate encounters. With lighter armor, a single signature shoulder pauldron instead of two, strapped-on grenade bandoliers and those killer skull masks, these guys have a distinctive an exciting look. They feel unique and complementary to the rest of the Primaris line, and they are different enough from previous, similar tactical offerings to justify their presence in a Space Marines list.

What's more, these moral-debuffing, skull-faced killers can be outfitted with grav chutes, enabling them to drop down almost anywhere on the field at any point in the battle. If that's not enough excitement for you, you can also give each a grapnel gun so they can go all Batman across the terrain. Rounding out their gadgets and gizmos aplenty, they also are stocked with grenades- the standard frag and krak varieties as well as the new shock grenades. These are kind of like flash bangs that you can drop on enemy infantry to cause them to lose their overwatch shots. Ideally, you get these guys into position, shock the enemy, and charge right on in for some knife work. Love it!

Mohawks, grappling hooks, giant knives, skull masks. These guys rule.

The kit is superb, with lots of great options to personalize your squad. Or squads, as a standard Reiver squad is five models and you get ten in the box, including two sergeant options. You can pay the points and run ten, or just take five at the squad's base value. I especially like this aspect not only because I prefer games with lower model counts and smaller forces, but also because I was able to build two different squads, putting the carbines on one and the pistol/knife on the other. I appreciate not having to make that tough decision. The models themselves have some terrific, exciting poses with lots of dynamic action. There's even an option to have a couple of your guys firing their grapnels, the line and hook shooting out of the launcher. Good luck on not breaking that during the game, but hey, it looks great!

Reivers are lots of fun to play. In close combat, they fare well, especially with their extra attack. The shock grenades can save the day during a rush, and dropping them well behind enemy lines to take care of troublesome long-range troops is practically what they were made for. I really like the "special forces" vibe of these models from their looks and how they play on the table, and I really like how they have a very specific battlefield role among the Primaris range, which tends to focus on shooty, gunline tactics.