The Mechanicum makes use of the humble Tarantula sentry gun for the most menial of tasks, for its limited cogitator unit is seen as the least expression of the Machine God’s greatness, only one step above base servitor units. This simplistic automated unit is not considered worthy of inclusion in the provenance of the Cybernetica alone, and as such is used by all the tech-arcana where its tireless vigilance can allow other troops to be put to better use on the front lines of a conflict.
| Armour | Transport Capacity | ||||||
| M | BS | Front | Side | Rear | HP | ||
| Mechanicum Sentry Gun (⌀Use model) | |||||||
| Mechanicum Sentry Gun (⌀Use model) | - | 4 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 2 | - |
Tarantula sentry guns provide area denial fire, engaging enemies who move within their sensor range with their potent heavy weaponry.
A Model with this Special Rule may not make Shooting Attacks except as part of a Reaction.Tarantula sentries are deployed in key locations on the battlefield, calculated to cover crucial choke-points and provide optimal overlapping firepower with other units.
Tarantulas are deployed and operate individually.Some weapons trade precision for indiscriminate destruction, high explosive impacts that can devastate a wide area. From artillery shells to high energy blasts, such weapons are popular tools of destruction on the battlefields of the Horus Heresy.
Attacks made with the Blast (X) Special Rule use a Blast Marker to determine how many Hits are caused.The [Allegiance] Trait is used in the following Forces of the Taghmata datasheets:
The [Mechanicum] Trait is used in the following Forces of the Taghmata datasheets:
Heavy beams and armour-piercing cannon rarely inflict superficial damage, but always blast and break the hull of their target. Such weapons are superior tank killers, their sheer power prized over lesser weapons when the objective is to apply maximum damage without concern for finesse.
A Weapon with the Armourbane Special Rule counts Glancing Hits as Penetrating Hits.Exotic beam weapons of arcing energy or sequential explosions triggered by the death of the first victim, some weapons cause not a single casualty, but a slew of them. Such weapons are wielded with grim efficiency against close packed formations of troops on the battlefields of the Horus Heresy. The most well-known examples are the volkite weapons of Mars, but many others are known.
Unsaved Wounds inflicted by attacks with the Deflagrate (X) Special Rule can cause additional Hits.The beams of energy generated by melta weaponry dissipate over long ranges. When used at close quarters, however, their effect on armoured vehicles is devastating.
This Special Rule increases the amount of Damage against Vehicles when Shooting Attacks are made within a specific range.Some weapons are so heavy that, while they can be fired on the move, are more powerful when properly braced and made ready before shooting. Warriors on the battlefield must use their judgement to decide when speed is required and when the full firepower of their arsenal must be unleashed.
Weapons with the Heavy (X) Special Rule gain +1 to a Characteristic when Stationary.Some warriors are skilled at infiltrating enemy lines. When battle commences the foe will find such warriors almost upon them, ready to fight even before the first shot is fired.
Models with the Infiltrate (X) Special Rule can deploy outside of their Deployment Zone.Most combat aircraft fly at such speeds that regular weaponry is hard pressed to track or hit them. Only cannon and beams specifically designed to strike such swift targets have any hope of landing hits upon them by any means other than sheer luck.
Attacks made with the Skyfire Special Rule ignore penalties when attacking Flyers.| HIGH COMMAND – The highest ranked officers of an Army. |
Whether forsaken as oathbreakers or simply deemed beneath their superiors’ notice, there are some warriors for whom death offers neither glory nor honour.
A Player scores less Victory Points when they destroy a Unit that includes only Models with this Special Rule.Long range artillery fire is the terror of any infantry advance, striking its targets no matter what cover they seek or where they attempt to take shelter.
A Weapon with this Special Rule may be used to attack Target Units out of Line of Sight.Some weapons carry only a severely limited stock of munitions. Often intended as weapons of last resort, used at the correct point they can turn the tide of battle.
A Weapon with the Limited (X) Special Rule can only be used to attack a limited number of times per Battle.This datasheet has Recon Battlefield Role. Full list of Forces of the Taghmata units sharing same Battlefield Role follows:
| Ranged Weapon | |||||||
Ranged Weapon | R | FP | RS | AP | D | Special Rules | Traits |
| Twin heavy bolter | |||||||
| Twin heavy bolter | 36 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 1 | - | Bolt |
Tarantula sentry guns provide area denial fire, engaging enemies who move within their sensor range with their potent heavy weaponry.
A Model with this Special Rule may not make Shooting Attacks except as part of a Reaction.Tarantula sentries are deployed in key locations on the battlefield, calculated to cover crucial choke-points and provide optimal overlapping firepower with other units.
Tarantulas are deployed and operate individually.| Ranged Weapon | |||||||
Ranged Weapon | R | FP | RS | AP | D | Special Rules | Traits |
| Twin lascannon | |||||||
| Twin lascannon | 48 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 1 | Heavy (D), Armourbane | Las |
| Ranged Weapon | |||||||
Ranged Weapon | R | FP | RS | AP | D | Special Rules | Traits |
| Twin volkite culverin | |||||||
| Twin volkite culverin | 45 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 1 | Heavy (FP), Deflagrate (6) | Volkite |
| Ranged Weapon | |||||||
Ranged Weapon | R | FP | RS | AP | D | Special Rules | Traits |
| Sentry melta array | |||||||
| Sentry melta array | 18 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 2 | Heavy (RS), Melta (8) | Melta |
Some weapons feature augmented motility and enhanced targeting systems, able to track and lock onto fast moving targets with ease.
Weapons with this Special Rule are better able to utilise it for intercepting new arrivals on the Battlefield.| Ranged Weapon | |||||||
Ranged Weapon | R | FP | RS | AP | D | Special Rules | Traits |
| Hyperios missile launcher | |||||||
| Hyperios missile launcher | 48 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 2 | Skyfire, Rapid Tracking | Missile |
| Ranged Weapon | |||||||
Ranged Weapon | R | FP | RS | AP | D | Special Rules | Traits |
| Orias frag missile | |||||||
| Orias frag missile | 48 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 1 | Barrage (3), Blast (5"), Limited (1) | Missile |