Legio Custodes – Orion Assault Dropship
UNIT COMPOSITION: 1 ORION ASSAULT DROPSHIP
600 PointsPts
Created as a dedicated super-heavy assault dropship for the Legio Custodes, the Enyalas pattern Orion is capable of carrying multiple Custodian Sodalities into combat and unleashing punishing aerial salvoes in support of an ongoing assault. Protected by frontal armour unmatched for an aircraft of its size, the Orion’s twin Arachnus blaze carronade can tear through both aircraft and ground armour, while a combination of spiculus pods and lastrum bolt cannon scour its landing zone clear, allowing the warriors within to deploy before it soars back into the sky to unleash death upon any foe who dares approach.
| Armour | Transport Capacity | ||||||
| M | BS | Front | Side | Rear | HP | ||
| Orion Assault Dropship (⌀160mm) | |||||||
| Orion Assault Dropship (⌀160mm) | 18 | 5 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 26 |
WARGEAR
- Centreline Mounted twin Arachnus blaze carronade
- Two Hull (Front) Mounted twin lastrum bolt cannon
- Two Hull (Front) Mounted spiculus heavy missile pods
- Eclipse shield
TRAITS
- Loyalist
- Legio Custodes
ACCESS POINTS
- This Model has one Access Point on the Rear Facing.
Movement (M) – The Movement Characteristic is primarily used to determine how far a Model can move during the Movement Phase, with higher values denoting an ability to move further (see Moving Units). If a Model’s Movement Characteristic is reduced to 0, then the Controlling Player may not move, Rush or otherwise change the Model’s position on the Battlefield regardless of any other Rules that may affect it until its Movement is changed to a value greater than 0.
Ballistic Skill (BS) – The Ballistic Skill Characteristic is primarily used to determine a Model’s ability to make attacks during a Shooting Attack, with a higher value making it easier to succeed at attacks (see Ranged Hit Tests). If a Model’s Ballistic Skill is reduced to 0 then that Model cannot make Shooting Attacks, even if no Hit Test is required or it would have otherwise automatically succeeded due to the use of a Special Rule.
Range (R) – This Characteristic determines the maximum distance, in inches ("), at which attacks may be made with a Weapon. A Weapon with Range 0 or ‘-’ may not make attacks as part of a Shooting Attack.
Firepower (FP) – This Characteristic is used to determine how many Dice are rolled when making attacks with this Weapon. A Weapon with a Firepower Characteristic of 0 may not be used to make attacks of any kind.
Ranged Strength (RS) – This Characteristic is used only during Wound Tests or Armour Penetration Tests for attacks made using ranged Weapons. If a Weapon has a Strength Characteristic of ‘0’ or then any Wound Tests made for it automatically fail and no Dice are rolled (if the Wound Test could have triggered a variable Special Rule, then that Rule is considered to automatically fail to activate as part of the Test).
Armour Penetration (AP) – This Characteristic is used to determine if a Model Hit by attacks made with a Weapon may make an Armour Test. Like Saving Throws, lower values are more valuable for this Characteristic. When modifying the Armour Penetration Characteristic the same Rules are used as those for modifying Saving Throws.
Damage (D) – This Characteristic determines how the Wounds or Hull Points Characteristic of a Target Model that fails a Saving Throw after sustaining a wound from a Weapon is modified. A Weapon with a Damage Characteristic of 0 cannot inflict Damage on a Model, regardless of the Weapon’s other Characteristics or Special Rules.
Rules and Special Rules
The term Rule refers to any instructions that allow Players to resolve game actions as part of a Battle, covering all of the interactions between Models and Units (such as moving, Shooting and making Assaults). All of the material in the Principles of Combat, Rules of Battle and Battles in the Age of Darkness sections of this book are considered to be Rules. Special Rules modify how a Rule works, but do not present new basic game instructions, and in this book are mostly found in the Armoury of the Age of Darkness section. In all cases, Special Rules take precedence over Rules where the two present differing instructions.
Traits
Traits are a special kind of Characteristic, one which all Models have but which confers no inherent Rules or benefit on its own. Instead, Traits are used by other Special Rules and effects to target specific Models and apply benefits or penalties. The most common Traits are those for Allegiance and Faction, which are possessed by almost all Models. Allegiance requires that each Model have either the Loyalist or Traitor Trait, and most Models will gain one or more Traits based on the Army List from which they were selected.For example, a Legionary selected from the Imperial Fists Faction and selected as part of a Loyalist Army would have the Loyalist and Imperial Fists Traits. On their own these Traits have no effect on the Model’s Characteristics, Points cost or other features, but Rules that target Imperial Fists or Loyalist Models will apply their effects to the Model.
In addition to Models, Weapons can also have Traits. These are usually different to those possessed by Models, but are used for the same purposes. Weapons will commonly have Traits that define the type of Weapon it is or a specific type of usage. For example, a bolt pistol has the following Traits: Assault, Bolt. These identify which ‘family’ of Weapons it belongs to for any Rules that might only affect ‘Bolt’ Weapons and notes that it can be used for attacks where only ‘Assault’ Weapons may be used.
While they appear similar to Characteristics, it is important to note that Traits never have a ‘value’ attached to them. Furthermore, Traits cannot be modified in any way by another Special Rule or effect during a Battle, unless a Rule specifically states it affects a Trait.
Suppressive (X)
A hail of enemy gunfire serves to keep any warrior’s head down, and some weapons are designed specifically to suppress the foe. Only the most steadfast of troops will continue the advance when all they can hear is the whistle and crack of gunshots and the screams of the fallen.
Weapons and other attacks that have the Suppressive (X) Special Rule have a chance of inflicting the Suppressed Status on the Target Unit.If a Shooting Attack made for a Weapon or Model with this Special Rule inflicts one or more Hits on a Target Unit, that Target Unit must make a Cool Check in the Morale Sub-Phase of the same Player Turn. If this Check is failed all Models in the Unit gain the Suppressed Status, and if the Check is passed then there is no further effect. The value of X attached to this Rule is applied as a negative modifier to the Cool Characteristic of Models in the Target Unit when making Checks caused by an Attack with this Special Rule, if the attack includes multiple Weapons with different versions of this Special Rule the modifiers do not stack - use only the greatest modifier.
The Legio Custodes Trait is used in the following Legio Custodes datasheets:
The Loyalist Trait is used in the following Legio Custodes datasheets:
Warlord
Heavy Assault
Support
War Engine
Transport
Heavy Transport
Recon
Armour
Army List
Datasheets collatedWarlord
High Command
• Tribune
Command
Heavy Assault
Support
War Engine
Transport
Heavy Transport
Recon
Fast Attack
Armour
Lords of War
Faction Rules
• Wargear
Armourbane
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.When making Armour Penetration Tests for an attack with this Special Rule, a result that is equal to, or greater than, the target Armour Value inflicts a Penetrating Hit. A Weapon with this Special Rule can never inflict a Glancing Hit, and any Rule that would force them to do so instead inflicts a Penetrating Hit.
Breaching (X)
Designed to pierce the armour worn by heavy infantry, some weapons have gained a fearsome reputation on the battlefields of the Horus Heresy. While many such weapons are rare or temperamental in use, the sheer power of their attacks more than makes up for this.
With a Weapon that has the Breaching (X) Special Rule there is a chance that a Wound Test may result in the Wound ignoring Armour Saves.When any Wound Test is made for an attack with the Breaching (X) Special Rule, if the result of the Dice roll, before any modifiers are applied, is equal to or greater than the value of X attached to this variant of the Breaching (X) Special Rule, then if a wound is inflicted by that Wound Test, that wound becomes a ‘Breaching Wound’.
A Breaching Wound is always treated as having an AP Characteristic of 2 regardless of the Characteristics of the Weapon used to make the attack.
Heavy
Intended to break the lines of the foe or to hold the most dangerous of positions, heavy troops trade speed and manoeuvrability for indomitable toughness and stubborn tenacity.
The following Rules apply to all Models with the Heavy Sub-Type:- A Unit that includes only Models with the Heavy Sub-Type gains a bonus of +1 to its Cool Characteristic for Checks to avoid gaining Tactical Statuses.
- A Unit that includes any Models with the Heavy Sub-Type may not Rush.
- A Unit that includes any Models with the Heavy Sub-Type only uses its Movement Characteristic to determine how far it moves as part of a Set-up Move, not Movement and Initiative totalled.
Armour (Front, Side, Rear) – This Characteristic will often be presented with various separate Sub-Characteristics, one for each of the Model’s Facings (see the Vehicles and Damage). Each of these Sub-Characteristics is used to determine the effect of a Model’s armour and how hard it is to defeat. When any Armour Sub-Characteristic reaches 0, then any Hit on that facing will result in an automatic Penetrating Hit without any Dice being rolled (if the Hit could have triggered a variable Special Rule, then that Rule is considered to automatically activate as part of the Hit).
Transport Capacity – This Characteristic is only used to determine how many Models may Embark upon a Model (see the Transport Rules). Most Models with the Vehicle Type will have a Transport Capacity of 0/-, which simply means that no Models may Embark upon that Model.
Hull Points (HP) – The Hull Points Characteristic is primarily used to determine a Model with the Vehicle Type’s capacity for receiving damage during a Battle, with a higher value allowing a Model to sustain more damage before it is removed from play. When a Model’s Hull Points Characteristic is reduced to 0 that Model is removed from play as a Casualty, see the Rules for Destroyed Vehicles here.
Hull (Arc) Mounted – Hull (Arc) Mounted Weapons will always specify a single Firing Arc and may only attack targets in that Firing Arc. The different Hull arcs are: Front, Rear, Left and Right. Some Units may specify Side as an arc - this means both Left and Right arcs.
For example, a Land Raider Carrier has a Hull (Front) Mounted twin heavy bolter - this Weapon may only attack targets in the Front Firing Arc.
For example, a Land Raider Carrier has a Hull (Front) Mounted twin heavy bolter - this Weapon may only attack targets in the Front Firing Arc.
Twin Lastrum bolt cannon
| Ranged Weapon | |||||||
Ranged Weapon | R | FP | RS | AP | D | Special Rules | Traits |
| Twin Lastrum bolt cannon | |||||||
| Twin Lastrum bolt cannon | 36 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 2 | - | Bolt |
Transport
From armoured transports, to fleet orbital shuttles and even more esoteric modes of travel, mounting infantry atop faster moving transports is an ancient tactic. The best transports offer a safe haven for fragile infantry as well as a means to traverse even the most difficult terrain at speed.
All Models with the Transport Sub-Type are bound by a set of Rules regarding how they operate:- All Models with the Transport Sub-Type have a Transport Capacity Characteristic, which determines the maximum number of Models that can Embark upon it - one Model per point of Transport Capacity, unless another Rule states otherwise.
- Only Models with the Infantry or Paragon Type may Embark or Disembark upon a Model with the Transport Sub-Type.
- A Unit may only Embark on a Model with the Transport Sub-Type if all Models in the Embarking Unit have the same Faction as the Model with the Transport Sub-Type.
- A Model with the Transport Sub-Type may only have a single Unit Embarked upon it at any one time (Models with the Specialist Sub-Type, Command Sub-Type or Paragon Type that have joined a Unit are considered part of that Unit and may Embark alongside it).
- A Unit may not be partially Embarked on a Model with the Transport Sub-Type - either all Models or no Models in a Unit may be Embarked on a given Model.
- If a Model with the Transport Sub-Type has a Unit Embarked upon it, the Embarked Unit is not considered part of the same Unit. The two remain separate Units for all purposes.
Assault Vehicle
Some vehicles are designed to deploy assault troops directly into the heart of combat. Whether by means of assault ramps or other methods, they allow the troops aboard to disembark in fighting order and engage the foe without delay.
A Vehicle with this Special Rule allows Models to Disembark and Charge without penalty.A Unit that is Disembarked from another Model that has the Assault Vehicle Special Rule may have a Charge declared for it in the Charge Sub-Phase of the same Player Turn without being forced to make a Disordered Charge.
Access Points
Each Model with the Transport Sub-Type will have a number of Access Points defined in its entry. These are the doors, ramps and hatches that passengers use to get in and out of the Vehicle. All Access Points are defined as being within a specific Facing, corresponding to one of the four Armour Facings that most Models with the Vehicle Type have - for example, a Rhino has one Rear Access Point, and Access Points on both Side Facings. An Access Point must be physically represented on the noted Armour Facing, and when Models are Embarking or Disembarking using that Access Point they count all points on that Armour Facing as an Access Point. Where a Model has two Side Access Points, this indicates one Access Point on each Side Facing. If a Model has an Access Point on only one Side Facing, then this will be noted as Side (Left) Access Point or Side (Right) Access Point to indicate which Facing the Access Point is present on.
Models that do not have the Vehicle Type but that do have the Transport Sub-Type and a Base, count the entirety of the edge of their Base as an Access Point, regardless of the facing of any Access Points they have. Likewise, Models with the Flyer Sub-Type that are mounted on Flying Bases also count the entirety of the edge of their Base as an Access Point.
If any Models in the Embarking Unit are more than 2" from a Facing on the Transport Model that has an Access Point, then no Models can Embark and the Unit remains in play. If all Models in the Embarking Unit are within 2" of a Facing on the Model with the Transport Sub-Type that has an Access Point, then all Models in the Unit are removed from the Battlefield. Players may find it useful to mark or otherwise note which Unit has Embarked on which Model with the Transport Sub-Type and this information should be declared to all Players.Models that do not have the Vehicle Type but that do have the Transport Sub-Type and a Base, count the entirety of the edge of their Base as an Access Point, regardless of the facing of any Access Points they have. Likewise, Models with the Flyer Sub-Type that are mounted on Flying Bases also count the entirety of the edge of their Base as an Access Point.
The entire process of Embarkation is resolved during the activation of the Embarking Unit during the Move SubPhase, and as such does not interfere with the activation and movement of the Model the Unit Embarks on. A Model may have Units Embark on it after it has been activated and moved, and also may be activated (if it has not already been activated) and then moved during the Move Sub-Phase after another Unit has Embarked on it.
Centreline Mounted – Centreline Mounted Weapons may only attack targets in the Centreline Firing Arc.
Shooting Attacks
A Shooting Attack is the process by which a Unit makes a coordinated series of attacks targeting an enemy Unit.In order to make a Shooting Attack for a Unit that has been selected during the Attack Sub-Phase, as part of a Reaction or for any other Rule or Sub-Phase that requires a Shooting Attack to be made, the following procedure must be followed:
As part of the Rules for conducting a Shooting Attack, the term ‘Attacking Unit’ will be used to refer to the Unit whose Models will be making attacks as part of that Shooting Attack, while the term ‘Attacking Player’ will be used to identify the Player that controls the Attacking Unit. The term ‘Target Unit’ will be used to refer to the Unit that is selected as the Target Unit for the Shooting Attack.
Shrouded (X)
Billowing clouds of smoke or fields of electromagnetic interference can hide warriors from the foe’s sight. That which cannot be struck, cannot be harmed and needs not the protection of heavy and encumbering armour.
Shrouded (X) is a Damage Mitigation Test that may be taken in addition to a Saving Throw.A Model with the Shrouded (X) Special Rule gains a Shrouded Damage Mitigation Test that may be used in Step 9 of the Shooting Attack process to discard Wounds allocated to the Model. A Damage Mitigation Test may be made after and in addition to a Saving Throw. The Target Number for a Shrouded Damage Mitigation Test is the value of X attached to the specific variant of the Special Rule. A Shrouded Damage Mitigation Test may not be made against wounds inflicted by a Melee Weapon.
Ordnance (X)
Huge artillery cannon and vast laser weapons are commonly employed as the primary armament of the greatest war machines of the Imperium. These weapons are devastating when properly braced and prepared for firing - more than capable of destroying smaller war engines in a single blast.
Weapons with the Ordnance (X) Special Rule double the value of a Characteristic when Stationary.When making a Shooting Attack with a Weapon that has the Ordnance (X) Special Rule, a modifier of x2 is applied to a Characteristic if the Model with that Weapon is part of a Unit that remained stationary in the Controlling Player’s previous Movement Phase (if that Characteristic is AP, then the AP is instead changed to AP 2). The value of X in the specific variant of the Ordnance (X) Special Rule determines which Characteristic gains the x2 modifier.
Twin Arachnus blaze carronade
| Ranged Weapon | |||||||
Ranged Weapon | R | FP | RS | AP | D | Special Rules | Traits |
| Twin Arachnus blaze carronade | |||||||
| Twin Arachnus blaze carronade | |||||||
| - Concentrated fire | |||||||
| - Concentrated fire | 72 | 2 | 10 | 2 | 2 | Ordnance (D), Armourbane | Las |
| - Burst fire | |||||||
| - Burst fire | 48 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 2 | Heavy (FP) | Las |
This datasheet has Lords of War Battlefield Role. Full list of Legio Custodes units sharing same Battlefield Role follows:
Lords of War
Spiculus heavy missile pod
| Ranged Weapon | |||||||
Ranged Weapon | R | FP | RS | AP | D | Special Rules | Traits |
| Spiculus heavy missile pod | |||||||
| Spiculus heavy missile pod | 48 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 2 | Breaching (5+), Suppressive (1) | Missile |
Penetrating Hits – For each Penetrating Hit result, the target Unit suffers 1 Penetrating Hit. If available, any Saving Throws or Damage Mitigation Rolls may be made to discard the Penetrating Hit in the appropriate Step of the attack process (see the Rules for Shooting Attacks or Melee Attacks). If not discarded due to a Saving Throw or Damage Mitigation Roll the Model will lose a number of Hull Points equal to the Damage Characteristic of the Penetrating Hit, which is decided by the Characteristics of the Weapon used to inflict the Penetrating Hit in the same manner as wounds.
Aerial Reserves
As such, all Models with the Flyer Sub-Type must always begin any Battle in a special type of Reserves referred to as Aerial Reserves. Aerial Reserves operate in exactly the same fashion as Reserves, with the exception that only Rules that specifically reference Aerial Reserves can allow Models to enter or leave Aerial Reserves or otherwise modify or affect Models in Aerial Reserves or any Reserves Rolls made for them.Eclipse Shield
These energy fields are designed to absorb and reflect incoming kinetic and energy strikes, a powerful defence that few weapons can penetrate. The only flaw of these ancient and inscrutable devices is the huge power drain they exert and the rarity of their construction.
Eclipse shields grant a 5+ Shrouded Damage Mitigation Roll against Shooting Attacks once a Model suffers a Penetrating Hit.The first time in a Battle Turn a Model with an eclipse shield suffers a Penetrating Hit, it gains a 5+ Shrouded Damage Mitigation Roll against all subsequent Shooting Attacks until it is returned to Aerial Reserves.
Super-heavy
From the lumbering Baneblade tanks of the Imperial Army to the destructive power of the Legiones Astartes Falchion, all of the war machines that fall into this category are huge armour-clad constructions that each wield enough firepower to destroy an entire army.
The following Rules apply to all Models with the Super-heavy Sub-Type:
- Models with this Sub-Type are not affected in any way by Difficult Terrain or Dangerous Terrain, but may still neither pass through nor end their move in Impassable Terrain.
- A Model with this Sub-Type always gains any benefits for having remained Stationary when making Shooting Attacks, regardless of whether the Model moved in the preceding Movement Phase or the distance moved. This does not count if the Model has Rushed in the Preceding Movement Phase.
- When making multiple Shooting Attacks in the same Shooting Phase, a Model with this Sub-Type does not have to make all attacks as Snap Shots.
- A Model with this Sub-Type may only make Reactions in response to actions undertaken by Units that contain one or more Models with the Paragon Type, Super-heavy Sub-Type, Knight Sub-Type* or Titan Sub-Type*.
- When a Player is instructed to roll on the Vehicle Damage Table for a Model with this Sub-Type, no roll is made. Instead, the Model loses a single Hull Point.
- If a Model with this Sub-Type has a Transport Capacity, then it may transport any number of Units, so long as the number of Models in the transported Units does not exceed the Vehicle’s Transport Capacity.
*See Liber Questoris for more details on these Unit Sub-Types.
The Flyer Sub-Type
The following Rules are exceptions to the Core Rules that always apply to a Model with the Flyer Sub-Type at all times during a Horus Heresy Battle:- Whilst on the Battlefield, a Model with the Flyer Sub-Type does not block Line of Sight or the Movement of any Model.
- When moving a Model with the Flyer Sub-Type, ignore all Terrain effects and Rules. However, a Model with the Flyer Sub-Type may still not end a move in or on Impassable Terrain, a Terrain Feature or a Building.
- Models with the Flyer Sub-Type may move through Models with the Vehicle Type, but never inflict Hits on enemy Units they move through and are never eligible to be the Target of the Death or Glory Advanced Reaction.
- No Model of any kind may join a Unit that includes a Model with the Flyer Sub-Type.
- A Model with the Flyer Sub-Type can never gain any Tactical Statuses and ignores any Rules that would force it to do so.
- A Model with the Flyer Sub-Type may never be Locked in Combat or attacked in any way during the Assault Phase and may not be targeted by attacks made using a Melee Weapon.
- A Model with the Flyer Sub-Type may never make a Reaction of any kind, unless that Reaction specifically states it may be made by Models with the Flyer Sub-Type - but can be targeted by Reactions.
- When a Player is instructed to roll on the Vehicle Damage Table for a Model with this Sub-Type, no roll is made. Instead, the Model loses a single Hull Point.