Detachment Focus: Corsair Coterie

In this series of articles we take a deep dive into a specific detachment for a faction, covering the faction’s rules and upgrades and talking about how to build around that faction for competitive play. In this article, we’re covering the Corsair Coterie Detachment for Codex: Aeldari.

Are you bored of the bureaucracy and relentless grind of the path system of the Asuryani? Minor murder cult got you down? Sick of the constant need to inflict pain and terror just to feel young again or tired of your primitive and austere life on a far flung Maiden World? It’s high time to seek treasure and reave the void with the Anhrathe and join a Corsair Coterie!

Thanks to Games Workshop for providing a preview copy of these rules. We were also provided with a preview of the Munitorum Field Manual update, but any points referenced are subject to change until published on Warhammer Community and/or the Warhammer 40k App.

Detachment Overview

Credit: Sky Serpent

The Corsair Coterie is a detachment which represents the disparate mix of experienced Aeldari Pirates who seek plunder and glory across the void with access to some fun and interesting detachment rules which amplify the new Anhrathe datasheets.

Just like Eldritch Raiders, this detachment offers synergy to bringing Aeldari Outcasts into your army with the Rangers and Shroud Runners benefiting from the Outcast Ambush stratagem.

Detachment Rule: Relentless Raiders

Relentless Raiders offers two rules for your pirate party. The first sees enemy units take D3 mortals on 2+ when finishing a Normal, Advance, Charge or Fall Back move within range of an objective marker that you control, this is great at inflicting chip damage across the game as your Anhrathe look to swarm the board with fast, Scouting units.

This tactic is further compounded by Void Thieves, the second rule of Relentless Raiders, which means that every Corsair unit can sticky an objective as you force your opponent into a game of attrition.

Veterans of the Void is a flavorful rule shared with the Eldritch Raiders detachment which allows Anhrathe units to take Enhancements, evoking the idea of how a Coterie is composed of many different bands of experienced Corsairs though limited to the usual offering of four. This is a really nice idea which takes inspiration from the previous iteration of the Corsairs army list found in the Forge World source book Imperial Armour: The Doom of Mymeara.

Enhancements - Veterans of the Void

Corsairs do not get normal Enhancements - instead, they get Corsair Enhancements, which work very similarly to normal Enhancements except that they can be applied to non-Characters units (unless otherwise specifieed), and do not appear to have the normal limitations on Epic Heroes, as in the other Corsair detachment there's one specifically for Yriel, and here there are two for CHARACTERS, and the only Anhrathe Characters are Epic Heroes.

Infamy (Aura) (25 points) – any enemy units within 3” of the unit with this enhancement reduce their OC by 1 to a minimum of 1, great for units which are planning to hold or capture expansions
Webway Pathstone (25 points) – This gives a unit Deep Strike and allows you once per game to place the unit into Strategic Reserves, useful for a unit of Corsair Voidscarred who are looking to reposition in the late game, you’re going to run one unit for rule of cool purposes right!?
Archraider (35 points) – Not to be confused with the Archraider enhancement from the Drukhari Reaper’s Wager detachment, this gives an Anhrathe Character the Lord of Deceit ability and likely gels well with Kharseth as their role with a support character who can push forward and project a 12” bubble of Vect and Deep Strike denial. We all know how good this ability is.
Voidstone (15 points) – This well priced enhancement gives an Anhrathe Infantry unit a 5+ invulnerable save, offering an extra layer of protection to a fragile subfaction, Corsair Skyreavers will enjoy the use of this relic as they have no native access to an invuln.

Stratagems

A useful arsenal of shenanigans and utility here and all at the cost of 1 CP each…

Pirates’ Due (Battle Tactic, 1 CP) – Put those Corsair blades to test with Pirate’s Due. This allows you to reroll a wound roll of a 1 in close combat while granting full rerolls to Anhrathe units if they're fighting an enemy on an objective; a Prince Yriel led unit can become a real melee threat with this.
Lethal Ruse (Strategic Ploy, 1 CP) – fall back and charge (for any Aeldari) is a useful ability for any melee orientated unit but where this stratagem shines is that Anhrathe units using it also essentially Grenade the enemy while dancing their way out of danger!
Outcast Ambush (Strategic Ploy, 1 CP) – one for the Outcasts, your Rangers and Shroud Runners gain a scattering of special rules for the shooting phase with Rapid Fire 1, Ignores Cover and an extra pip of AP which makes a unit of 6 Shroud Runners a serious choice, as they'll suddenly lift real targets.
Into the Breach (Strategic Ploy, 1 CP) – your Anhrathe unit can make a Normal Move of D6+1” after destroying an enemy unit in the shooting phase, a useful ability to have in your back pocket.
Cloak and Shadow (Strategic Ploy, 1 CP) – a lone op strat which gives the unit Stealth too, this works on Aeldari Infantry who are controlling an objective and can only be selected as the target of a ranged attack if within 18”, perfect for holding far objectives while your Skyreavers swoop to move block and jail the enemy!
Vengeful Sorrow (Strategic Ploy, 1 CP) – Surge (for d6+1)! This works on Aeldari units and may serve best on Aspect Warriors such as Howling Banshees who have joined the piratical cause or used on a whim to lock units in combat with some of your cheaper Corsairs. This can also be combined with the Opportunity Seized Battle Focus ability to cover some serious ground, making it almost impossible for enemy Infantry to escape a Banshee unit fully.

Playing This Detachment

Credit: Keewa

With access to many cheap and fast units who can all sticky objectives, this force can play a strong primary denial game as you force your opponent to take mortals every time they seek to retake primary.

You can seek to cage and move block the enemy with the vast amount of Scout in the army but it is a fragile force which your opponent will likely pick apart with any hammers.

While many will (void) dream of a pure Anhrathe force, and I do, a smattering of Asuryani units will up the competitive ante with Jain Zar and 10 Howling Banshees a strong choice. It is worth noting the Aeldari Infantry stratagems work on Harlequins who usually have to make do with stratagems only available in their detachments; the Rillie-tann are often seen on Corsair voidships after all.

There is also the aforementioned synergy with the Outcast units of the Rangers and Shroud Runners.

A Sample List

I’ll get my Coterie! - click to expand

I’ll get my Coterie! (2000 Points)

Aeldari

Corsair Coterie

Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Prince Yriel (95 Points)

Kharseth (130 Points)

Corsair Enhancement: Archraider

Jain Zar (120 Points)

1x Blade of Destruction
1x Silent Death

Maugan Ra (100 points)

1x Maugetar

BATTLELINE

Corsair Voidreavers (65 Points)

1x Voidreaver Felarch

     ◦ 1x Close combat weapon

     ◦ 1x Mistshield

     ◦ 1x Neuro disruptor

     ◦ 1x Power sword

4x Corsair Voidreaver

     ◦ 1x Blaster

     ◦ 4x Close combat weapon

     ◦ 3x Power sword

     ◦ 4x Shuriken pistol

Corsair Voidreavers (65 Points)

1x Voidreaver Felarch

     ◦ 1x Close combat weapon

     ◦ 1x Mistshield

     ◦ 1x Neuro disruptor

     ◦ 1x Power sword

4x Corsair Voidreaver

     ◦ 1x Blaster

     ◦ 4x Close combat weapon

     ◦ 3x Power sword

     ◦ 4x Shuriken pistol

Corsair Voidreavers (135 Points)

Corsair Enhancement: Infamy
1x Voidreaver Felarch

     ◦ 1x Close combat weapon

     ◦ 1x Mistshield

     ◦ 1x Neuro disruptor

     ◦ 1x Power sword

9x Corsair Voidreaver

     ◦ 2x Blaster

     ◦ 9x Close combat weapon

     ◦ 6x Power sword

     ◦ 8x Shuriken pistol

     ◦ 1x Wraithcannon

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Wave Serpent (125 Points)

1x Shuriken cannon
1x Twin bright lance
1x Wraithbone hull

OTHER DATASHEETS

Corsair Skyreavers (75 Points)

5x Skyreaver
1x Flamer
1x Shredder

Corsair Skyreavers (75 Points)

5x Skyreaver
1x Flamer
1x Shredder

Corsair Skyreavers (75 Points)

5x Skyreaver
1x Blaster
1x Fusion Gun

Corsair Voidscarred (185 Points)

Corsair Enhancement: Webway Pathstone
1x Voidscarred Felarch

     ◦ 1x Close combat weapon

     ◦ 1x Mistshield

     ◦ 1x Neuro disruptor

     ◦ 1x Power sword

6x Corsair Voidscarred

     ◦ 2x Blaster

     ◦ 6x Close combat weapon

     ◦ 3x Power sword

     ◦ 3x Shuriken pistol

     ◦ 1x Wraithcannon

1x Shade Runner

◦ 1x Paired Hekatarii blades

◦ 1x Shuriken pistol

1x Soul Weaver

     ◦ 1x Channeller Stones

     ◦ 1x Power sword

     ◦ 1x Shuriken pistol

1x Way Seeker

     ◦ 1x Executioner

     ◦ 1x Shuriken pistol

     ◦ 1x Witch staff

Dark Reapers (90 points)

1x Dark Reaper Exarch
1x Close combat weapon

1x Reaper launcher

4x Dark Reaper
4x Close combat weapon

4x Reaper launcher

Howling Banshees (190 points)

2x Aspect Shrine Token
1x Howling Banshee Exarch
1x Executioner

1x Shuriken pistol

9x Howling Banshee
9x Banshee blade

9x Shuriken pistol

Rangers (55 Points)

5x Ranger

     ◦ 5x Close combat weapon

     ◦ 5x Long rifle

     ◦ 5x Shuriken pistol

Rangers (55 Points)

5x Ranger

     ◦ 5x Close combat weapon

     ◦ 5x Long rifle

     ◦ 5x Shuriken pistol

Rangers (55 Points)

5x Ranger

     ◦ 5x Close combat weapon

     ◦ 5x Long rifle

     ◦ 5x Shuriken pistol

Shroud Runners (160 Points)

6x Shroud Runner

     ◦ 6x Close combat weapon

     ◦ 6x Long rifle

     ◦ 6x Scatter laser

     ◦ 6x Shuriken pistol

Starfang (75 Points)

Starfang (75 Points)

Exported with App Version: v1.46.2 (1), Data Version: v732

The concept of this list is to play to the strengths of the detachment and field as many Corsair units as possible to push objectives and move block alongside their Outcast friends. There is a little bit of Asuryani back up in the form of Maugan Ra, Jain Zar and their Aspect Warriors but let’s just pretend they are Corsair Princes and Princesses and get kitbashing!

Final Thoughts

The Corsair Coterie detachment offers an exciting way to play with the new Anhrathe datasheets and offers plenty of piratical tricks but likely lacks enough punch on its own but presents a new unique way of playing the Aeldari. Ahoy!

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