ELITES The Gal Vorbak is built upon the remnants of the Serrated Sun Chapter of the Word Bearers Legion, the conquerors of the primitive world of Cadia who looked into the depths of the Eye of Terror itself and in doing so were changed for all time. Their psyches infiltrated by creatures from the darkness of the Æther, the survivors are named the Gal Vorbak, or ‘Blessed Sons’ in the language of Colchis, and are possessed of strengths and abilities far above those of other Legiones Astartes. It is said that each of the Gal Vorbak was host to some form of warp entity, itself subservient to the greater scheme plotted between Warmaster Horus and the nightmare powers beyond. In battle, this being comes to dominate the mind and body of the warrior. His already mighty form swells as hands turn into rending talons and jaws into slavering, fang-filled maws twisted beyond reason and reality. At Isstvan V, the Word Bearers’ pact with the horrors beyond was sealed in a great ritual of carnage and betrayal. | ||
M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | Ld | Sv | Base | |
Dark Brethren (base: 40mm) | |||||||||||
Dark Brethren | 8 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 3+ | 40mm |
This datasheet has Elites Battlefield Role. Full list of Legiones Astartes units sharing same Battlefield Role follows:
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.
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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.This weapon is very large, and more than a little clumsy, making swift blows all but impossible to achieve.
A model attacking with this weapon Piles-in and fights at Initiative step 1, unless it has the Dreadnought Unit Type or Monstrous sub-type.The mightiest weapons only reach their full potential when wielded in pairs, as they require an entirely different battle stance from that of more commonplace weapons.
A model fighting with this weapon does not receive +1 Attack for fighting with two weapons unless it is armed with two or more Melee weapons with the Specialist Weapon rule. The additional weapon does not have to be the same weapon as the one used to attack, but it must have the Specialist Weapon rule in order to grant an additional Attack for fighting with two weapons.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 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.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.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.Range | Str | AP | Type | |
Power sword | - | User | 3 | Melee, Rending (6+) |
Power axe | - | +1 | 2 | Melee, Unwieldy |
Power maul | - | +2 | 3 | Melee |
Power lance | - | +1 | 3 | Melee, Reach (1) |
Range | Str | AP | Type | |
Power fist | - | x2 | 2 | Melee, Unwieldy, Specialist Weapon |
Gravis power fist | - | 9 | 2 | Melee, Brutal (3) |
Thunder hammer | - | x2 | 2 | Melee, Unwieldy, Brutal (2), Specialist Weapon |
Lightning claw | - | User | 3 | Melee, Shred, Rending (6+), Specialist Weapon |
Relentless warriors are strong of arm – nothing can slow their implacable advance.
Relentless models can shoot with Heavy or Ordnance weapons, counting as Stationary, even if they moved in the previous Movement phase. They are also allowed to Charge in the same turn they fire Heavy, Ordnance, or Rapid Fire weapons.This creature is so massive, it takes up an inordinate amount of space in any vehicle or building it enters.
Bulky models count as a number of models equal to the value X in brackets after the rule’s name for the purposes of Transport Capacity and whether a given unit outnumbers another in combat.Some weapons are fuelled by unstable power sources and risk overheating with each shot – often to the detriment of their wielder.
When firing a weapon that Gets Hot, roll To Hit as normal. For each unmodified To Hit roll of 1, the firing model immediately suffers a single Wound with an AP value equal to that of the weapon that was used to attack (Armour Saves, Invulnerable Saves and Feel No Pain rolls can be taken, but not Cover Saves or Shrouded rolls) – this Wound cannot be allocated to any other model in the unit. A Vehicle instead rolls a D6 for each roll of a 1 To Hit. If this roll results in a 1 or 2, the Vehicle suffers a Glancing Hit.Assault weapons either fire so rapidly or indiscriminately that they can be fired while a warrior is moving.
A model attacking with an Assault weapon makes the number of Attacks indicated on its profile regardless of whether the bearer has moved or not. A model carrying an Assault weapon can make a Shooting Attack with it in the Shooting phase and still Charge in the Assault phase.
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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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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.The ancient volkite weaponry employed by the armies of Terra in the earliest years of the Great Crusade fired arcing blasts of energy rather than solid projectiles.
After normal attacks by this weapon have been resolved, count the number of unsaved Wounds caused on the target unit. Immediately resolve a number of additional automatic Hits on the same unit using the weapon’s profile equal to the number of unsaved Wounds – these can then be saved normally. Models in the targeted unit must still be in range in order for these additional Hits to take effect. These additional Hits do not themselves inflict more Hits and do not benefit from any other special rules possessed by the attacking model, such as Preferred Enemy (X) or Precision Strikes (X).Pistols are light enough to be carried and fired one-handed.
A model attacking with a Pistol weapon makes the number of Attacks indicated on its profile regardless of whether the bearer has moved or not. A model carrying a Pistol weapon can make a Shooting Attack with it in the Shooting phase and still Charge in the Assault phase. A Pistol weapon also counts as a close combat weapon in the Assault phase. In addition, all models with two Pistol type weapons can attack with both in the same Shooting phase. This follows the normal rules for shooting.
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This weapon fires ammunition that cheats an enemy of their shelter.
Cover Saves and Damage Mitigation rolls granted by the Shrouded special rule cannot be taken against Wounds or Hull Point damage caused by weapons with the Ignores Cover special rule. This includes Cover Saves granted by Reactions and other special rules as well as Cover Saves conferred by terrain.Sniper weapons are precision instruments, used to pick out a target’s weak points.
If a weapon has the Sniper special rule, or is fired by a model with the Sniper special rule, all Wounds inflicted by its attacks are ‘Precision Shots’. Wounds from Precision Shots are allocated against a model (or models) of the attacking player’s choice in the target unit, as long as it is in range and line of sight of the firer, rather than following the normal rules for Wound allocation. Note that Snap Shots can never be Precision Shots and attacks with the Blast or Template rules may never benefit from the effects of the Sniper special rule.Coming under fire without knowing where the shots are coming from, or having ordnance rain down from the skies, can shake the resolve of even the bravest warriors, making them dive flat and cling to whatever cover presents itself.
If a non-Vehicle unit suffers one or more unsaved Wounds from a weapon with the Pinning special rule, it must take a Leadership test once the firing unit has finished its Shooting Attacks for that Phase. This is called a Pinning test. If the unit fails the Test, it is Pinned. As long as the Test is passed, a unit can be called upon to take multiple Pinning tests in a single turn, but only once for each unit shooting at them.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.Range | Str | AP | Type | |
Bolt pistol | 12" | 4 | 5 | Pistol 1 |
Bolter | 24" | 4 | 5 | Rapid Fire |
Combi-bolter | 24" | 4 | 5 | Rapid Fire, Twin-linked |
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 | 72" | 5 | 5 | Heavy 1, Rending (5+), Sniper, Pinning |
Heavy bolter | 36" | 5 | 4 | Heavy 4 |
Gravis bolt cannon | 48" | 5 | 4 | Heavy 6, Twin-linked |
Gravis heavy bolter battery | 48" | 5 | 4 | Heavy 8, Twin-linked |
Avenger bolt cannon | 36" | 6 | 3 | Heavy 7 |
This weapon has been crafted with one aim in mind – to pierce the hides of armoured vehicles.
If a model or weapon has this special rule, it rolls an additional D6 for armour penetration when targeting a Vehicle model, or, when targeting a model with the Automata or Dreadnought Unit Type, re-rolls all failed rolls To Wound instead. These effects apply to both Shooting Attacks and close combat attacks.Range | Str | AP | ||
Power fist | - | x2 | 2 | Melee, Unwieldy, Specialist Weapon |
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.Some weapons are so cruel of form or powerful in aspect that a well-placed strike can slay even the toughest opponent.
Attacks with this special rule cause Instant Death on a To Wound roll equal to or greater than the number listed in brackets associated with the specific rule. Roll any viable Saves against this Instant Death-causing Wound separately and before any other Wounds the attack inflicts.Certain plasma weapons are designed not just to break the target with the sheer power of its initial strike, but also to burn and short-circuit the internal workings exposed. The superheated matter emitted by plasma cannons serves ideally for this purpose, continuing to sear and burn long after impact.
If the target of a weapon with this special rule is a model with the Vehicle Unit Type and that model loses one or more Hull Points as the result of an attack from this weapon, roll a D6. On a 4+, the target model loses an additional D3 Hull Points with no Cover Saves, Invulnerable Saves or Damage Mitigation rolls allowed.Trusted lieutenants or paragons of martial virtue, these warriors let no challenge go unanswered in the heat of battle.
A model with this special rule may issue and accept Challenges as if it had the Character type. Note that this does not allow a model with this special rule to use any other special rules associated with the Character type.Whether through force of will, bionic augmentation or foul sorcery, this warrior can still fight despite fearsome wounds.
When a model with this special rule suffers an unsaved Wound, it can make a special Feel No Pain roll to avoid being Wounded (this is a special Saving Throw which is made after unsaved Wounds are suffered).Understood only by the secretive Tech-Priests of Mars, these weapons unleash projectiles of super-heated plasma capable of melting both armour and flesh with equal ease. Kept contained by temperamental magnetically sealed flasks, the plasma that feeds these weapons is as dangerous to the wielder as to the foe and deadly leaks or even explosions are far from unknown. Yet, such is the destructive power of these weapons that even the risk of such detonations does not outweigh their value.
All weapons listed here are counted as ‘Plasma’ weapons for those rules that affect such weapons.Range | Str | AP | Type | |
Plasma pistol | 12" | 7 | 4 | Pistol 1, Breaching (4+), Gets Hot |
Plasma gun | 24" | 7 | 4 | Rapid Fire, Breaching (4+), Gets Hot |
Plasma cannon | 36" | 7 | 4 | Heavy 1, Blast (3"), Breaching (4+), Gets Hot |
Gravis plasma cannon | 36" | 7 | 4 | Heavy 1, Large Blast (5"), Breaching (4+), Gets Hot |
Plasma blaster | 18" | 7 | 4 | Assault 2, Breaching (4+), Gets Hot |
Executioner plasma destroyer | 60" | 7 | 4 | Heavy 1, Large Blast (5"), Rending (4+) |
Hellfire plasma cannonade | ||||
- (Sustained fire) | 36" | 7 | 4 | Heavy 6, Breaching (4+) |
- (Maximal fire) | 36" | 8 | 4 | Heavy 1, Rending (4+), Gets Hot, Large Blast (5") |
Omega plasma array | ||||
- (Sustained fire) | 36" | 7 | 4 | Heavy 8, Breaching (4+), Twin-linked |
- (Maximal fire) | 36" | 9 | 4 | Heavy 2, Rending (4+), Gets Hot, Plasma Burn, Twin-linked |
Bloodlust is a powerful weapon on the battlefield, spurring a warrior to hack their foes apart in a flurry of mindless carnage.
In a turn in which a model with this special rule Charges into combat, it gains a number of Attacks equal to the value of X for Charging, rather than +1. A model that has made a Disordered Charge that turn receives no benefit from Rage.In the name of the Warmaster Horus, a vast host took up arms against those they had once called brothers – some driven by a lust for power and others by a misguided desire for justice. Regardless of the cause they held dear, there could be no turning back for these warriors, only victory or damnation.
A model with this special rule may only be included in an army that has the Traitor Allegiance.The Word Bearers applied their blasphemous theories not only to their creed and bodies, but also to their weapons. The workings of the so-called ‘warpfire’ weapons defy all conventional wisdom, indeed they should not function at all. Yet, in battle these weapons emit a searing burst of ætheric fire with a scream that can drive warriors to panic and dismay.
All weapons listed here are counted as ‘Bolt’ weapons for those rules that affect such weapons.Range | Str | AP | ||
Boltspitter | 24" | 4 | 5 | Rapid Fire |
Once proud weapons and relics of the Great Crusade polluted by the accursed practices of the fallen Word Bearers, who took a perverse pride in bearing the tainted relics of their former allegiance into battle against those of their kin who remained loyal.
Any model with both the Character Sub-type and the Legiones Astartes (Word Bearers) special rule may exchange a power weapon for a Tainted blade, Tainted axe or Tainted maul for +10 points each:Range | Str | AP | ||
Tainted talons | - | User | 3 | Melee, Rending (6+), Murderous Strike (6+) |
The Word Bearers applied their blasphemous theories not only to their creed and bodies, but also to their weapons. The workings of the so-called ‘warpfire’ weapons defy all conventional wisdom, indeed they should not function at all. Yet, in battle these weapons emit a searing burst of ætheric fire with a scream that can drive warriors to panic and dismay.
Any model with the Legiones Astartes (Word Bearers) special rule may exchange a plasma pistol for a Warpfire pistol for +5 points per model; a plasma gun or plasma blaster for a Warpfire blaster for +5 points per model; or a plasma cannon or Gravis plasma cannon for a Warpfire cannon for +5 points per model.Range | Str | AP | ||
Warpfire blaster | 24" | 6 | 4 | Assault 2, Breaching (4+), Pinning |