HEAVY SUPPORT Originally used as an informal name for the variously armed battalions of Death Guard Terminators of Calas Typhon’s company carried into battle aboard the battleship Terminus Est, the term ‘Grave Wardens’ also eventually became synonymous both within the Death Guard Legion and beyond it, specifically for the alchemical-weapon equipped Terminators unique to the Death Guard. Alone among the Legiones Astartes, the Death Guard made free and frequent use of alchemical weapons such as the crawling horror of phosphex, inimically lethal cullgene gas and flesh-eating vasgotox fluid as a matter of course, and outfitted specialised units in modified Tactical Dreadnought Armour to disperse it accordingly. Where the Grave Wardens walked, they brought a lingering, ugly death to whatever crossed their paths, and as the Death Guard were unleashed on the Imperium in the wake of the Warmaster’s betrayal, weapons which had previously only been used against the foulest and most resilient forms of alien life were turned upon humanity instead and the Death Guard’s tally of murder grew world by world. | ||
M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | Ld | Sv | Base | |
Grave Warden (base: 40mm) | |||||||||||
Grave Warden | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 2+ | 40mm |
Chem-master (base: 40mm) | |||||||||||
Chem-master | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 2+ | 40mm |
Shrouded in DeathThe Death Cloud projector served not only as a weapon, but also as a shield against the foe – the thick cloud of toxic gas it produced obscured the Grave Wardens on the battlefield and thwarted those that attempted to drive the Death Guard from the battlefield by force of arms. When an enemy unit successfully Charges a unit that includes one or more models with this special rule, the Charge is always considered to be Disordered.Assault grenade launcherA robust, if short ranged, belt-fed weapon, the grenade launcher carried by Grave Wardens is a modified pattern designed primarily for mounting on vehicles of the Imperial Army. It carries two kinds of ammunition: one is a standard shapedcharge krak shell and the other a toxin warhead which unleashes a burst of highly lethal chemical agents and concentrated acid vapour on detonation. The weapon has two profiles; one may be selected to use each time a unit equipped with assault grenade launchers makes a Shooting Attack.
Death Cloud projectorThe Terminator armour of the Grave Wardens carried in-built alchemical containment and projection units, allowing the unit to direct focused jets of lethally poisonous vapours against their enemies.
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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 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.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.Certain items can only be used once, so a general must choose wisely when to do so.
A weapon or ability with this special rule can only be used once during the course of a battle. Once a weapon with the One Use or One Shot special rule has been used to attack, it is no longer counted as a weapon and may not be destroyed (for example, by rolls on the Vehicle Damage table) or repaired by any other rule or effect.An Ancient Terran innovation, pairing a bolter with another secondary weapon to allow elite formations of warriors to project superior firepower at the climactic moment of battle. Most often used to break through enemy lines or to stymie the onslaught of enemy armour, these weapons are the mark of the elite of the Legiones Astartes, issued to the most skilled of warriors to maximise their worth.
Combi-weapons are divided into two types: magna and minor. Both are composed of a primary weapon and a secondary weapon, and a model with any combi-weapon may attack with both primary and secondary weapons in the same Shooting Attack without needing the Firing Protocols (X) special rule.Range | Str | AP | Type | |
Bolter (Primary) | 24" | 4 | 5 | Rapid Fire |
Flamer (Secondary) | Template | 4 | 5 | Assault 1 |
Meltagun (Secondary) | 12" | 8 | 1 | Assault 1, Armourbane (Melta), One Shot |
Plasma gun (Secondary) | 24" | 7 | 4 | Rapid Fire, Breaching (4+), Gets Hot, One Shot |
Volkite charger (Secondary) | 15" | 5 | 5 | Assault 2, Deflagrate |
Grenade launcher (Secondary) | ||||
- Frag | 24" | 3 | 6 | Assault 1, Blast (3"), Pinning |
- Krak | 24" | 5 | 4 | Assault 1 |
Disintegrator* (Secondary) | 24" | 5 | 2 | Rapid Fire, Instant Death, Gets Hot, One Shot |
Range | Str | AP | ||
Power fist | - | x2 | 2 | Melee, Unwieldy, Specialist Weapon |
An auxiliary weapon system fitted to Terminator armour, the grenade harness unleashes a barrage of fragmentation bombs at the foe as the Terminator charges.
A unit that includes at least one model with a grenade harness 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.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.Many are the weapons and creatures whose merest caress is fatal.
If a model has this special rule, or is attacking with a Melee weapon that has this special rule, they always Wound on a 2+ in close combat.There are many virulent and lethal poisons in the Age of Darkness. It is simplicity itself to adapt such toxins for battlefield use. It does not matter whether they coat blades or bullets, or are secreted by alien monstrosities – all are lethal.
If a model has the Poisoned special rule, or is attacking with a Melee weapon that has the Poisoned special rule, it always Wounds on a fixed number (generally shown in brackets), unless a lower result would be required, when attacking in close combat. In addition, if the Strength of the wielder (or the Poisoned weapon) is higher than the Toughness of the victim, the wielder must re-roll failed rolls To Wound in close combat.This weapon is particularly heavy and requires both hands to wield.
A model attacking with this weapon never receives +1 Attack for fighting with two Melee weapons.Those warriors or war engines equipped with multiple weapons often incorporate sophisticated tracking systems, or have received advanced training to allow them to wield them all simultaneously on the battlefield.
When making a Shooting Attack, a model with this special rule may attack with a number of different weapons equal to the value of this special rule. This rule does not allow a single weapon to be attacked with more than once, and only applies if the model is equipped with more than one weapon. For example, as part of a single Shooting Attack, a model with the Firing Protocols (2) special rule may attack with up to two different weapons.This datasheet has Heavy Support Battlefield Role. Full list of Legiones Astartes units sharing same Battlefield Role follows:
Only when outnumbered in the press of the melee, can these weapons be wielded to the greatest effect.
If a model is in base contact with more than one enemy model in the Initiative step in which they fight, they gain a number of Attacks equal to the value of X as noted in the variant of the special rule (if no value of X is included then count the value of X as 1).One of the first issued Tactical Dreadnought Armour patterns, the Cataphractii suits were even more heavily protected than their contemporaries, with slab-like ceramite pauldrons housing additional shield generators. This design has the unfortunate side effect of overstraining the armour’s exoskeleton and slowing the wearer dangerously, however. This difference led to the pattern’s declining use with some Legions at the outbreak of the Horus Heresy.
Legion Cataphractii Terminator armour confers a 2+ Armour Save and a 4+ Invulnerable Save. In addition, a unit that includes any models with Cataphractii Terminator armour may not make Sweeping Advances.A Note on Unique and Variant Terminator Armour: If a unit is described as having a particular additional variant of Terminator armour, such as the Gorgon Terminators of the Iron Hands, or as wearing a personalised and unique suit, such as the armour worn by the Primarch Horus, the rules for this armour will be provided in the unit’s description and should not be inferred from elsewhere. | ||
The source of the darkness around these warriors matters not – only a lucky shot has any chance of piercing the shroud that hides them from view.
When a model with this special rule suffers an unsaved Wound, Glancing Hit or Penetrating Hit, it can make a special Shrouded roll to ignore it (this is not a Saving Throw and so can be used against attacks that state that ‘no Saves of any kind are allowed’). Shrouded rolls may not be taken against Melee Attacks, against attacks with the Ignores Cover special rule or for models (excluding models with the Primarch Unit Type) with the Fearless special rule.A robust, if short ranged, belt-fed weapon, the grenade launcher carried by Grave Wardens is a modified pattern designed primarily for mounting on vehicles of the Imperial Army. It carries two kinds of ammunition: one is a standard shapedcharge krak shell and the other a toxin warhead which unleashes a burst of highly lethal chemical agents and concentrated acid vapour on detonation.
The weapon has two profiles; one may be selected to use each time a unit equipped with assault grenade launchers makes a Shooting Attack.Range | Str | AP | ||
Assault grenade launcher | ||||
- Krak | 18" | 6 | 4 | Assault 2 |
- Frag | 18" | 1 | 5 | Assault 4, Poisoned (3+), Ignores Cover |
The Terminator armour of the Grave Wardens carried in-built alchemical containment and projection units, allowing the unit to direct focused jets of lethally poisonous vapours against their enemies.
Range | Str | AP | ||
Death Cloud projector | Template | 1 | 4 | Assault 1, Poisoned (3+) |
The Death Cloud projector served not only as a weapon, but also as a shield against the foe – the thick cloud of toxic gas it produced obscured the Grave Wardens on the battlefield and thwarted those that attempted to drive the Death Guard from the battlefield by force of arms.
When an enemy unit successfully Charges a unit that includes one or more models with this special rule, the Charge is always considered to be Disordered.