The origins of the Destroyer squads lie in the Unification Wars of Terra, but perhaps surprisingly not with the forces of the Emperor but his enemies. Considered dishonourable by some Legions who make little use of them or eschew them altogether, the Destroyers are equipped with and expert in the use of otherwise proscribed and forbidden weaponry. Alongside certain factions of the Mechanicum, only Destroyer cadres have license to use such forbidden devices. Rad weapons, bio-alchem munitions and the crawling burning horror of phosphex are among their dark arsenal—weapons which irrevocably taint the ground on which they are used. Marked by their fire-blackened and chem-scalded armour, Space Marine Destroyers are often shunned and deemed somehow tainted by their battle-brothers in many Legions and considered at best a necessary evil, although the effectiveness of their relic weapons cannot be denied. Legion Destroyer Squads often take to the battlefield equipped with Warhawk jump packs, allowing them to rapidly redeploy during battle to maximise the destructive capabilities of their weapons.
| LD | CL | WP | IN | |||||||||||
| M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | LD | CL | WP | IN | SAV | INV | |
| Legion Destroyer (⌀32mm) | 7 | - | - | - | ||||||||||
| Legion Destroyer (⌀32mm) | 7 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 7 | - | - | - | 3+ | - |
| Legion Destroyer Sergeant (⌀32mm) | 8 | - | - | - | ||||||||||
| Legion Destroyer Sergeant (⌀32mm) | 7 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 8 | - | - | - | 3+ | - |
This datasheet has Elites Battlefield Role. Full list of Legiones Astartes units sharing same Battlefield Role follows:
Some weapons strike with such force that they cause terrible wounds that can lay low even the most formidable combatant.
When a model is allocated a Wound inflicted by a weapon with this special rule, it does not suffer only one Wound but instead suffers a number of Wounds equal to the number in brackets associated with the specific variant of this special rule, with all of the Wounds inflicted using the same AP and special rules as that of the initial Wound. Roll to save against each Wound inflicted separately, but note that Wounds caused in excess of a given model’s remaining Wounds do not spill over to other models and are lost. This special rule has no effect on models that do not have a Toughness value.Some weapons rely not on the speed of their wielder, but on their sheer length or cunning design to inflict harm upon the foe before they can react.
A model making attacks as part of an Assault using a weapon with this special rule, adds the value of (X) that is included as part of this special rule to its Initiative Characteristic. If a model has more than one weapon with this special rule then that model only increases the value of its Initiative by the value of the special rule on the weapon whose profile is used by that model to attack during the Fight sub-phase. A weapon that is not used to attack does not modify the model’s Initiative Characteristic – models that may attack with more than one weapon, or models claiming the bonus for having a second weapon, may only add the value of the highest variant of this special rule and do not add the values together.These melee weapons are sheathed in disruption fields that allow them to cleave armour as though it were paper and annihilate flesh or bone with ease. They are both difficult to master, for a single mis-stroke can lead to catastrophe in a close packed melee, and expensive to manufacture and maintain, and so are mostly found only in the hands of the finest warriors in the Legiones Astartes.
All weapons listed here are counted as ‘Power’ weapons for those rules that affect such weapons. A model that is eligible to select a power weapon may take any of the weapons included in this Profile.| Ranged Weapon | |||||||
Ranged Weapon | R | FP | RS | AP | D | Special Rules | Traits |
| Power sword | |||||||
| Power sword | - | User | 3 | Melee, Rending (6+) | - | ||
| Power axe | |||||||
| Power axe | - | +1 | 2 | Melee, Unwieldy | - | ||
| Power maul | |||||||
| Power maul | - | +2 | 3 | Melee | - | ||
| Power lance | |||||||
| Power lance | - | +1 | 3 | Melee, Reach (1) | - | ||
| Ranged Weapon | |||||||
Ranged Weapon | R | FP | RS | AP | D | Special Rules | Traits |
| Power fist | |||||||
| Power fist | - | x2 | 2 | Melee, Unwieldy, Specialist Weapon | - | ||
| Gravis power fist | |||||||
| Gravis power fist | - | 9 | 2 | Melee, Brutal (3) | - | ||
| Thunder hammer | |||||||
| Thunder hammer | - | x2 | 2 | Melee, Unwieldy, Brutal (2), Specialist Weapon | - | ||
| Lightning claw | |||||||
| Lightning claw | - | User | 3 | Melee, Shred, Rending (6+), Specialist Weapon | - | ||
The Space Marines of the Emperor’s Legions are genetically engineered, psycho-indoctrinated warriors with superhuman abilities, and minds and souls tempered for war. Each of the Legions has its own idiosyncrasies and character – the product of their gene-seed and the unique warrior cultures fostered by their masters.
Any unit with this special rule will have a number of additional special rules and abilities specific to their ‘named’ Legion, all of which will be defined in other Horus Heresy – Age of Darkness publications. A Space Marine unit may only have one such ‘named’ rule, e.g., Legiones Astartes (Sons of Horus). Space Marine units from a different Legion may only be included in an army using an Allied Detachment and in conjunction with the Allies in the Age of Darkness chart.The humble vexilla displays the heraldry of a particular squad, proclaiming not only its designation in the Legion but also its proud legacy in the annals of the Great Crusade.
A unit that includes at least one model with a Legion vexilla adds +1 to the Wounds score used to determine if they win a Combat in the Assault phase. In addition, a unit that includes at least one model with a Legion vexilla may, before any dice are rolled to determine Fall Back distance, choose to Fall Back only a distance equal to the roll of a D6 instead of 2D6 (or 3D6 if a Cavalry unit), and if forced to move off the edge of the battlefield will instead stop moving, with any model that would have moved off of the battlefield ending its Fall Back move prematurely when it reaches 1" from the edge of the battlefield.This energy scanning device has the effect of alerting the user to the concealed presence or imminent arrival of enemy troops in the vicinity.
A unit that includes at least one model with an augury scanner gains all of the following benefits:A nuncio-vox is a beacon and communications array that allows constant co-ordination with other elements of an army – be they in a neighbouring region or in orbit high overhead. This allows precision reinforcements to be deployed nearby and strikes to be targeted with deadly accuracy.
While at least one model with a nuncio-vox is present on the battlefield and not Embarked in a Vehicle or Building, the controlling player may re-roll any Scatter rolls made (whether as part of a weapon attack or the deployment of a model or unit), as long as the model with the nuncio-vox has line of sight to the unit targeted by the attack or the point chosen as the target of the deployment. In addition, a unit that includes at least one model with a nuncio-vox ignores the -1 penalty to Leadership imposed by the Night Fighting rules.Some weapons are capable of breaching armour with a terrifying ease, whether by specially designed munitions, careful targeting or sheer brute power.
When rolling To Wound for a model that has the Breaching (X) special rule, or is attacking with a weapon that has the Breaching (X) special rule, for each To Wound roll equal to or higher than the value listed in brackets, the controlling player must resolve these wounds at AP 2 instead of the weapon’s normal AP value. This rule has no effect on models that do not have Wounds, such as models with the Vehicle Unit Type.A branch of weaponry now commonplace among the ranks of the Legiones Astartes, bolt weapons are based on a robust Terran design, refined from the weapons used during the Emperor’s battles to conquer Old Earth. These brutally efficient weapons fire a caseless, self-propelled and mass reactive munition, more akin to a miniature rocket than a simple bullet and easily capable of eviscerating most foes against which the Space Marines of the Imperium find themselves matched. Such was the success of these weapons that they would eventually come to replace the more complex Martian weapons that had once dominated the arsenals of the Legiones Astartes.
All weapons listed here are counted as ‘Bolt’ weapons for those rules that affect such weapons.| Ranged Weapon | |||||||
Ranged Weapon | R | FP | RS | AP | D | Special Rules | Traits |
| Bolt pistol | |||||||
| Bolt pistol | 12 | 1 | 4 | 5 | Pistol | Assault, Bolt | |
| Bolter | |||||||
| Bolter | 24" | 4 | 5 | Rapid Fire | - | ||
| Combi-bolter | |||||||
| Combi-bolter | 24" | 4 | 5 | Rapid Fire, Twin-linked | - | ||
| Kraken bolter | |||||||
| Kraken bolter | 30" | 4 | 4 | Rapid Fire | - | ||
| - Tempest rounds | 18" | 3 | 6 | Assault 3, Ignores Cover | - | ||
| - Scorpius rounds | 24" | 5 | 4 | Assault 1, Breaching (4+) | - | ||
| Nemesis bolter | |||||||
| Nemesis bolter | 72" | 5 | 5 | Heavy 1, Rending (5+), Sniper, Pinning | - | ||
| Heavy bolter | |||||||
| Heavy bolter | 36" | 5 | 4 | Heavy 4 | - | ||
| Gravis bolt cannon | |||||||
| Gravis bolt cannon | 48" | 5 | 4 | Heavy 6, Twin-linked | - | ||
| Gravis heavy bolter battery | |||||||
| Gravis heavy bolter battery | 48" | 5 | 4 | Heavy 8, Twin-linked | - | ||
| Avenger bolt cannon | |||||||
| Avenger bolt cannon | 36" | 6 | 3 | Heavy 7 | - | ||
R | FP | RS | AP | D | Special Rules | Traits |
- | x2 | 2 | Melee, Unwieldy, Specialist Weapon |
R | FP | RS | AP | D | Special Rules | Traits |
- | User | 3 | Melee, Shred, Rending (6+), Specialist Weapon |
R | FP | RS | AP | D | Special Rules | Traits |
- | x2 | 2 | Melee, Unwieldy, Brutal (2), Specialist Weapon |
These weapons are relics of the darkest years of Old Terra’s isolation, designed to poison both the enemy and the land upon which they were detonated. The Emperor himself forbade the use of such weapons, save by the elite of his own legions.
During a turn in which a unit with at least one model with rad grenades successfully Charges, or is themselves successfully Charged, all models in the enemy unit(s) suffer a -1 penalty to their Toughness Characteristic, to a minimum of Toughness 1, until the end of the Fight Sub-phase that follows the successful Charge. Note: This does affect Instant Death thresholds.This class of grenade contains only a small explosive charge, and is intended primarily to disorientate and distract the foe while closing on a fixed position.
A unit that includes at least one model with frag grenades makes attacks at its normal Initiative Step during an Assault after it has successfully Charged through Difficult Terrain or Dangerous Terrain, but still suffers any penalties to Charge rolls imposed by Difficult Terrain or Dangerous Terrain when resolving a Charge through Difficult Terrain or Dangerous Terrain.This class of grenade encompasses a variety of shaped charges, plasma detonators and crude bombs, all intended to disable armoured vehicles.
The controlling player may choose to have a model with krak grenades that is Engaged or otherwise in base contact during the Assault phase with a Building or Fortification, or a model with the Vehicle, Dreadnought or Automata Unit Type, inflict one automatic Str 6, AP 3 Hit on the target in Initiative Step 1 instead of attacking normally. Any model in a unit that is chosen to inflict Hits using krak grenades may not otherwise attack or make use of any other special rule or item of Wargear that inflicts Hits or Wounds on a model in the same Assault phase (but may participate in Sweeping Advances as normal).Made from high grade composite armour plating over an augmenting musculature of electro-fibre bundles, power armour features its own energy systems, sensors and environmental seals. Legiones Astartes power armour is the signature wargear of the Space Marine Legions and subject to an on-going evolution in design stretching back to the Thunder Warriors of the Unification Wars of Old Earth, fused with the wisdom of the Mechanicum of Mars and technological relics recovered over the years of the Great Crusade. At the outset of the Horus Heresy, the most common patterns employed by the Legions are the ‘Crusade’ and ‘Maximus’ types, with the ‘Iron’ pattern favoured for siege and close assault work, although there are considerable customised panoplies and many other Legion-specific sub-patterns in service.
Power armour provides a 3+ Armour Save.The Warhawk is the standard pattern of jump pack unit employed by the Space Marine Legions. Its ability to function in almost any atmosphere and its robust systems have proven better than many of the more advanced devices in use by the Mechanicum and xenos forces.
At the start of the controlling player’s Movement phase, or when deployed as part of a Deep Strike Assault, a model with a Legion Warhawk jump pack may set its Move Characteristic to a value of 12 for the duration of the controlling player’s turn (sometimes referred to as ‘activating’ the jump pack). This allows a model with a Warhawk jump pack to move up to 12", regardless of the Movement Characteristic shown on its profile and gain any other benefits of a Movement Characteristic of 12 (including the bonus to Charge distance). In addition, all models with a Warhawk jump pack that have been activated ignore terrain while Moving and Charging, but must take Dangerous Terrain tests as normal when beginning or ending their Movement in Dangerous Terrain. A model with an activated Legion Warhawk jump pack treats all Difficult Terrain as Dangerous Terrain and may move over both friendly and enemy models or units without penalty – but must end its Movement at least 1" away from any model from another unit.Many warriors live and die according to the principle of ‘death before dishonour’. Seldom do such warriors take a backward step in the face of danger.
When a unit that contains at least one model with this special rule takes Morale checks or Pinning tests, the unit ignore any negative Leadership modifiers. If a unit is both Fearless and Stubborn, the unit uses the rules for Fearless instead.Some warriors are marked by the dire weaponry they bear or the grim tactics in which they are trained. These dour cohorts are shunned by their brethren, whether out of respect for their burden or from fear of their rage.
A unit that includes any models with this special rule may not be joined by any model that does not also have this special rule (this includes Legion Techmarines and Legion Apothecaries, which may not be assigned to a unit with this special rule unless they also have this special rule).A carefully placed explosive charge can easily doom even the most heavily armoured vehicle, but are difficult to attach accurately in the heat of combat.
A weapon with this special rule may only be used to attack models of the Vehicle, Dreadnought or Automata Unit Types, any model with a Movement Characteristic of 0 or ‘-’, or Buildings or Fortifications. Furthermore, a model that is chosen to attack with a weapon with this special rule during the Assault phase may only make a single attack in the Fight sub-phase, regardless of its Attacks Characteristic and any bonus attacks from Charging or other special rules.These rare and highly sophisticated devices attach to portable heavy weapons systems partially negating their weight (if not their bulk), allowing them to be wielded in the manner of an assault weapon, although at a reduced effective range.
A heavy weapon with a suspensor web may be treated as having the type Assault rather than Heavy when used to attack as part of any Shooting Attack at targets at up to half the weapon’s usual maximum range.With their origins tracing back to the ancient duelling societies, assassin cults and bloody vendettas of the Terran Courts during the Age of Strife, these elegant and deadly weapons rely on speed and dexterity rather than brute force for their lethality. The master weaponsmiths of Terra are each said to have their own rituals of forging, impressing a distinct pattern in each bespoke weapon as legible as a signature to those with the wit to read them. As well as the nobles of the Terran Court, certain Space Marine Legion officers favour the Charnabal weapons over more ‘clumsy’ power weapons as they see them as being more responsive to true martial skill, while others think them effete and decadent weapons.
All weapons listed here are counted as ‘Charnabal’ weapons for those rules that affect such weapons. A model that is eligible to select a Charnabal weapon may take any of the weapons included in this Profile.| Ranged Weapon | |||||||
Ranged Weapon | R | FP | RS | AP | D | Special Rules | Traits |
| Charnabal sabre | |||||||
| Charnabal sabre | - | User | - | Melee, Breaching (5+), Duellist’s Edge (1) | - | ||
| Charnabal tabar | |||||||
| Charnabal tabar | - | +2 | - | Melee, Breaching (6+), Duellist’s Edge (1) | - | ||
| Charnabal glaive | |||||||
| Charnabal glaive | - | +1 | - | Melee, Breaching (5+), Duellist’s Edge (2), Two-handed | - | ||
Forged by the master craftsmen of the Mechanicum, these superior variations of power armour are often highly embellished with ciphers of strength and durability, while some of wildly differing designs are far older than the present age and owe their origins to the forgotten zenith of human technological might.
Artificer armour confers a 2+ Armour Save.