Legiones Astartes – Castellax-Achea Automata
ELITES Never ones to squander their Legion’s ranks in bloody attrition or vainglorious frontal assaults, the Thousand Sons Legion, and indeed their Primarch, had long acknowledged the usefulness of the unliving might of battle-automata as obedient, resilient and ultimately expendable shock assault units. As with every other facet of warfare, the use of such battle-automata was something the Thousand Sons believed they could improve upon with the application of their psychic arts as a method of control and perhaps direct augmentation, freeing them potentially from the need for the techno-arcane lore of the Mechanicum to be directly called up in these machines’ construction and fielding. That such research had long been considered a ‘heretek anathema’ to the Mechanicum was a factor ignored, as was so much else in the Thousand Sons’ hubris, and with the secret assistance of nearrenegade elements from the isolated Forge World of Zhao-Arkhad, their early experiments had yielded fruit in the form of a custom-designed Castellax variant of their own specifications in the last years before their censure, a fact that came as a deadly shock to their attackers as Prospero fell. | ||
- Castellax-Achea Automata 140 pts
| M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | Ld | Sv | Base | |
| Castellax-Achea (base: 60mm) | |||||||||||
| Castellax-Achea | 7 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 3+ | 60mm |
Unit Composition
- 1 Castellax-Achea
Wargear
- Æther-fire cannon
- Two Asphyx bolters
- Two Achea force claws
- Atomantic deflector
Unit Type
- Automata (Psy-automata, Psyker*)
*A Castellax-Achea may not select a Minor Arcana from the Prosperine Arcana special rule.
Special Rules
- Legiones Astartes (Thousand Sons)
- Hammer of Wrath (1)
- Adamantium Will (4+)
Options
- •The unit may include up to four additional Castellax-Achea+140 points each
- •Any model may exchange its Æther-fire cannon for an Asphyx bolt cannonFree
Achea Force ClawAll weapons listed here are counted as ‘Force’ weapons for those rules that affect such weapons.
Achean Force: The controlling player of any unit that includes one or more models with the Psyker Unit Sub-type and a weapon or ability with this special rule, may choose to activate this special rule before making any attacks with that weapon or resolving the ability. To activate this special rule, the controlling player must make a single Psychic check using the Leadership Characteristic of any model in the unit that does not have the Independent Character special rule. If the Check is successful, then the Strength value of all attacks made with weapons or abilities with this special rule is increased by +2 (in addition to any modifiers the attack or weapon may already possess), this benefit is applied only in the Phase in which these attacks are made and ends immediately after that Phase is resolved. If the Check is failed then no benefit is gained, but the models in that unit may attack as normal. | |||||||||||
This datasheet has Elites Battlefield Role. Full list of Legiones Astartes units sharing same Battlefield Role follows:
Elites
Rapid Fire Weapons
Rapid Fire weapons are very common and usually come in the form of semi-automatic rifles. Their versatility means they can be fired as effectively when a squad is advancing as when taking single, long-ranged shots.
A model armed with a Rapid Fire weapon can make two attacks at a target up to half the weapon’s Maximum Range away. Alternatively, it can instead make one attack at a target over half the weapon’s range away, up to the weapon’s Maximum Range.If a unit attacking with Rapid Fire weapons is found to be partially within half range of the target, the firing models within half range make two attacks, while those further away make one attack.
Models that attack with Rapid Fire weapons in the Shooting phase cannot Charge in the ensuing Assault phase.
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Twin-linked
These weapons are grafted to the same targeting system for greater accuracy.
When attacking with a weapon that has this special rule, the controlling player may re-roll all failed To Hit rolls.Melee Type
Weapons with the Melee type can only be used in close combat.
Shred
Some weapons and warriors strike in a flurry of blows, tearing flesh asunder in a series of brutal strikes.
If a model has the Shred special rule, or is attacking with a Melee weapon that has the Shred rule, it re-rolls failed To Wound rolls in close combat.Similarly, if a model makes a Shooting Attack with a weapon that has the Shred rule, it re-rolls its failed To Wound rolls.
Rending (X)
Some weapons can inflict critical strikes against which no armour can protect.
If a model has the Rending special rule, or is attacking with a Melee weapon that has the Rending special rule, there is a chance that their close combat attacks will strike a critical blow. For each To Wound roll equal to or higher than the value listed, the target automatically suffers a Wound, regardless of its Toughness. The controlling player may choose to resolve these Wounds at AP 2 instead of the weapon’s normal AP value.Similarly, if a model makes a Shooting Attack with a weapon that has the Rending special rule, a To Wound roll of equal to or greater than the listed value wounds automatically, regardless of Toughness, and is resolved at AP 2.
In either case, against Vehicles each Armour Penetration roll of equal to or greater than the listed value allows a further D3 to be rolled, with the result added to the total Strength of the attack. These Hits are not resolved at AP 2, but are instead resolved using the weapon’s AP value.
For example, a model with the Rending (5+) special rule that rolls To Wound against a non-Vehicle model will wound automatically on the roll of a 5+, and the attacking player has the choice of using an AP value of 2 instead of the AP value of their weapon.
Heavy Weapons
These are heavy, man-portable weapons that typically require reloading between each shot or bracing to counter their recoil.
When making a Shooting Attack, a model with a Heavy weapon attacks the number of times indicated. If a model equipped with a Heavy weapon moved in the preceding Movement phase, they can only make Snap Shots with that Heavy weapon during the Shooting phase. Note that weapons with the Blast special rule cannot fire Snap Shots. Models that make Shooting Attacks with Heavy weapons in the Shooting phase cannot Charge in the ensuing Assault phase.
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Blast Markers and Templates
Some weapons are so powerful that they don’t just target a single model or unit, but have an ‘area effect’ which might encompass several different models or units. To better represent these circumstances, Horus Heresy – Age of Darkness games use a series of different Blast markers and templates:- A ‘Small’ Blast marker (3" in diameter).
- A ‘Large’ Blast marker (5" in diameter).
- A ‘Template’ (a teardrop-shaped template roughly 8" long).
- A ‘Massive’ Blast marker (7" in diameter).
- An ‘Apocalyptic’ Blast marker (10" in diameter).
- An ‘Apocalyptic Barrage’ marker (a clover-shaped set of five overlapping markers, each 5" in diameter).
- A ‘Hellstorm’ (a teardrop-shaped template roughly 16" long).
The templates and Blast markers are used as a way of determining how many models have been hit by an attack that has an area of effect or a blast radius. When an attack uses a template or Blast marker, it will explain how the template is positioned, including any kind of scatter that might occur (scatter is discussed further later in this section). To work out the number of Hits, you normally need to hold the template or Blast marker with its central hole over an enemy model or a particular point on the battlefield, and then look underneath (or through, if using a transparent template) to see how many models lie partially or completely underneath. Various special rules and weapon effects will provide additional details on the specific use of templates when making attacks with those special rules or weapons.
A unit takes a Hit for each model that is fully, or even partially, underneath the template or Blast marker. Remember that a model’s base is counted as being part of the model itself, so all a template or Blast marker has to do to cause a Hit is to cover any part of the target’s base.
Army List
Datasheets collatedPrimarch
Elites
Troops
Dedicated Transports
Fast Attack
Heavy Support
Atomantic Deflector
Powered by the vast glut of energy from its atomantic heart, many of the more advanced Legiones Astartes war machines entered the field of battle veiled in a protective shroud of energy that could deflect or disperse las bolts and kinetic munitions. Yet, such was the power channelled through this little-understood device that, in death, these engines of war would erupt in fiery ruin, a danger to both friend and foe.
A model with an atomantic deflector gains a 5+ Invulnerable Save and any model with an atomantic deflector and a Wounds Characteristic that suffers an unsaved Wound with the Instant Death special rule is not immediately removed as a casualty, but instead loses D3 Wounds instead of one for each unsaved Wound with the Instant Death special rule inflicted on it. In addition, when a model with an atomantic deflector loses its last Wound or Hull Point, but before it is removed as a casualty or replaced with a Wreck, all models both friendly and enemy within D6" suffer an automatic Hit at Str 8, AP -.Hammer of Wrath (X)
Many warriors hurl themselves headlong into combat, seeking to crush or trample the foe.
If a model with this special rule ends its Charge Move in base contact with an enemy model, it makes a number of additional attacks equal to the value in brackets listed as part of this special rule. These attacks hit automatically and are resolved at the model’s unmodified Strength with AP-. These attacks do not benefit from any of the model’s special rules (such as Furious Charge, Rending, etc.). These attacks are resolved during the Fight sub-phase at Initiative step 10, but do not grant the model an additional Pile-in Move.If a model with this special rule Charges a Vehicle of any kind or a Building, the hits are resolved against the Armour Value of the Facing the charging model is touching. If the model is in contact with two or more Facings, the player controlling the target model chooses a Facing upon which the attacks are resolved. If a model with this special rule Charges a Building or Vehicle that is a Transport, the hits are resolved against the Building or Vehicle, not the unit Embarked within the Building or Vehicle.
Owning Player, Opposing Player and Controlling Player
Sometimes a rule will ask the owning, opposing or controlling player to make an action or decision of some kind. The owning player is always the player who ‘owns’ the model in question – the one who has the model in their army. The opposing player is always their opponent. The controlling player is always the player in current command of that model – there are some special rules which can force models to switch sides during the course of the game.
Psychic Focus
Before making any To Hit rolls with this weapon, the Psyker must make a Psychic check. If the Check is passed, then the Psyker may attack as normal using the profile shown for this weapon. If the Check is failed, then the Psyker suffers Perils of the Warp, and if the model is not removed as a casualty then it may attack as normal but may not use this weapon.Adamantium Will (X)
So strong of mind is this warrior that the powers of the Warp have little grasp upon them.
Models with the Adamantium Will special rule gain an Invulnerable Save against any Wound inflicted by a weapon with the Force or Psychic Focus special rules and Wounds inflicted by Perils of the Warp – the value of this Save is indicated in brackets after the rule. For example, a model with Adamantium Will (5+) gains a 5+ Invulnerable Save against any Wound inflicted by a weapon with the Force or Psychic Focus special rules and Wounds inflicted by Perils of the Warp. If, for any reason, the Adamantium Will special rule is presented without a value in brackets then consider the rule to be Adamantium Will (5+).Independent Character
Mighty heroes go where they are needed, being at the forefront of the most vital charges and leading their troops to victory.
Independent Characters can join other units. They cannot, however, join units that contain Vehicles, Dreadnoughts, Automata or any model with the Monstrous sub-type (unless the Independent Character also has that Unit Type or sub-type). They can join other Independent Characters though to form a powerful multi-character unit.Modifiers
Certain pieces of Wargear or special rules can modify a model’s Characteristics positively or negatively by adding to it (+1, +2, etc), subtracting from it (-1, -2, etc) or even setting its value (1, 8, etc). A model’s Initiative cannot be modified below 1, and no other Characteristic can be modified below 0.
Legiones Astartes (Thousand Sons)
All models with this special rule are subject to the following provisions:
CULT ARCANA
All models with the Infantry or Cavalry Unit Type (but not those with the Artillery or Automated Artillery Sub-type) with this special rule gain the Psyker Sub-type (this does not grant any Disciplines, but does not otherwise remove any Disciplines a model already has access to). In addition, all models with the Infantry or Cavalry Unit Type and the Character Unit Sub-type that have this special rule must select one Minor Arcana option (see the Prosperine Arcana special rule). Any model with the Infantry or Cavalry Unit Types and both the Independent Character and Legiones Astartes (Thousand Sons) special rules that does not already have one or more Psychic Disciplines may be upgraded for +15 additional points to gain a single Psychic Discipline from the Core Psychic Discipline list.
Prosperine Arsenal
Models with this special rule gain access to unique Wargear options (see The Armoury of the Thousand Sons).
Æther-fire cannon
A later development of the Pyrae Cult Techmarine artificers, these modified plasma weapons utilised both occult lore and the unique techno-arcana of the Forge World of Zhao-Arkhad in their construction.
Achean Force: The controlling player of any unit that includes one or more models with the Psyker Unit Sub-type and a weapon or ability with this special rule, may choose to activate this special rule before making any attacks with that weapon or resolving the ability. To activate this special rule, the controlling player must make a single Psychic check using the Leadership Characteristic of any model in the unit that does not have the Independent Character special rule (unless the unit is entirely composed of models with the Independent Character special rule, in which case the controlling player can select which of those model’s Leadership Characteristics is used). If the Check is successful, then the Strength value of all attacks made with weapons or abilities with this special rule is increased by +2 (in addition to any modifiers the attack or weapon may already possess), this benefit is applied only in the Phase in which these attacks are made and ends immediately after that Phase is resolved. If the Check is failed then no benefit is gained, but the models in that unit may attack as normal.Range | Str | AP | ||
| Æther-fire cannon | 24" | 6 | 4 | Heavy 1, Blast (3"), Rending (6+), Achean Force |
Achea Force Claw
All weapons listed here are counted as ‘Force’ weapons for those rules that affect such weapons.Range | Str | AP | ||
| Achea Force Claw | - | 6 | 3 | Melee, Rending (5+), Achean Force |
Achean Force: The controlling player of any unit that includes one or more models with the Psyker Unit Sub-type and a weapon or ability with this special rule, may choose to activate this special rule before making any attacks with that weapon or resolving the ability. To activate this special rule, the controlling player must make a single Psychic check using the Leadership Characteristic of any model in the unit that does not have the Independent Character special rule. If the Check is successful, then the Strength value of all attacks made with weapons or abilities with this special rule is increased by +2 (in addition to any modifiers the attack or weapon may already possess), this benefit is applied only in the Phase in which these attacks are made and ends immediately after that Phase is resolved. If the Check is failed then no benefit is gained, but the models in that unit may attack as normal.
