Many lower-ranking officers were accompanied into battle by a cadre of trusted warriors from their company. Some chose to utilise their most experienced veteran squad in this role, while others might keep a close circle of experienced warriors by their side on a more permanent posting. Such warriors were expected to provide personal protection, as well as fulfilling adjutant and advisory roles. Many of the finest unsung units of the Horus Heresy took on this duty, adding this honour to a record of reliable service spanning decades of warfare.
| LD | CL | WP | IN | |||||||||||
| M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | LD | CL | WP | IN | SAV | INV | |
| Veteran Champion (⌀32mm) | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | ||||||||||
| Veteran Champion (⌀32mm) | 7 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 3+ | - |
| Veteran (⌀32mm) | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | ||||||||||
| Veteran (⌀32mm) | 7 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 3+ | - |
| Ranged Weapon | |||||||
Ranged Weapon | R | FP | RS | AP | D | Special Rules | Traits |
| Bolter | |||||||
| Bolter | 24 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 1 | - | Bolt |
Compact and deadly, pistols are ideal weapons in close quarters. They lack the sheer range of larger weapons, but can be brought to bear with impressive speed and are no less deadly than their larger counterparts.
A Model may attack with two Weapons that have the Pistol Special Rule.| Ranged Weapon | |||||||
Ranged Weapon | R | FP | RS | AP | D | Special Rules | Traits |
| Bolt pistol | |||||||
| Bolt pistol | 12 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 1 | Pistol | Assault, Bolt |
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.| Ranged Weapon | |||||||
Ranged Weapon | R | FP | RS | AP | D | Special Rules | Traits |
| Frag Grenades | |||||||
| Frag Grenades | 6 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 1 | Blast (3") | Assault |
Designed to be carefully attached to a target and blast precise holes in the thickest armour, these cumbersome devices are ill-suited to open war. However, when a vulnerable target can be isolated in battle, there are no better tools for piercing its protection.
Weapons with this Special Rule can only attack Vehicles and immobile Models.| Melee Weapon | |||||||
Melee Weapon | IM | AM | SM | AP | D | Special Rules | Traits |
| Krak grenades | |||||||
| Krak grenades | -3 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 2 | Detonation | - |
The [Allegiance] Trait is used in the following Legiones Astartes datasheets:
The [Legiones Astartes] Trait is used in the following Legiones Astartes datasheets:
Infantry units include all types of foot soldiers. Infantry are fairly slow moving, but can cross almost any terrain and make the best use of cover to avoid enemy fire.
Infantry is the most basic Type, and is applied to most Models in the game. A Model with the Infantry Type uses the Core Rules without modification, gaining neither benefit nor penalty. Models with the Infantry Type may Embark and Disembark upon Models with the Transport Sub-Type.The humble sergeant stands as one of the greatest weapons in the arsenals of any army. Skilled in war and in leadership, each sergeant is the beating heart of their unit and the cornerstone upon which victory is built.
The following Rules apply to all Models with the Sergeant Sub-Type:Designed to rip and tear flesh, some weapons are fearsome and intimidating tools of warfare. Whether by the gnashing teeth of a chainblade or the jagged edges of flechette ammunition, these weapons scythe great holes in the lines of even the toughest of infantry and the largest of warriors.
Attacks made with the Shred (X) Special Rule can sometimes inflict an extra point of Damage.Designed to pierce the armour worn by heavy infantry, some weapons have gained a fearsome reputation on the battlefields of the Floras 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.Some weapons are designed for use in personal challenges rather than the vulgar press of battle. Often light and perfectly balanced, they provide a key edge in duels and bouts of honour.
A Weapon with the Duellist’s Edge (X) Special Rule grants a bonus to Focus Rolls in Challenges.On the battlefields of the Horus Heresy, precision proves far more valuable than wanton carnage, allowing attacks to be placed on the most valuable targets and not the chaff of the enemy army. Whether through well-honed skill or artfully crafted weapons, warriors capable of such feats are highly sought after in any host.
Attacks made with the Precision (X) Special Rule are allocated by the Attacking Player, not the Defender.Some weapons cleave flesh with ease, inflicting terrible wounds that no mortal toughness can resist. Though of less use against armour and steel, such munitions are capable of tearing bloody holes in the ranks of advancing infantry and stalling any attack in its tracks.
With a Weapon that has the Rending (X) Special Rule, there is a chance that a Hit Test may result in an automatic wound.Whether by skill or the merits of a weapon’s design, some warriors are capable of sweeping strikes that scythe through the ranks of the foe.
If a Model with this Special Rule is outnumbered, it gains extra attacks.Whether by dint of superior skill or exemplary wargear, some warriors are better able to place strikes on enemy weak points. Such attacks can fell even the most powerful foes with a single well-placed shot.
Attacks made with the Critical Hit (X) Special Rule have a chance to automatically cause a wound and inflict 1 extra point of Damage.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.
If a Model has a power weapon as part of its Wargear, you can select one of the following for that Model to have:| Melee Weapon | |||||||
Melee Weapon | IM | AM | SM | AP | D | Special Rules | Traits |
| Power sword | |||||||
| Power sword | 1 | A | S | 3 | 1 | Breaching (6+) | Power |
| Power axe | |||||||
| Power axe | -1 | A | +1 | 3 | 1 | Breaching (5+) | Power |
| Power maul | |||||||
| Power maul | -1 | A | +2 | 3 | 1 | Breaching (6+) | Power |
| Power lance | |||||||
| Power lance | +1 | A | S | 3 | 1 | Precision (6+) | Power |
| Power fist | |||||||
| Power fist | -3 | A | +4 | 2 | 2 | - | Power |
| Gravis power fist | |||||||
| Gravis power fist | 1 | A | +3 | 2 | 3 | - | Power |
| Paired Gravis power fists | |||||||
| Paired Gravis power fists | 1 | +1 | +3 | 2 | 3 | - | Power |
| Thunder hammer | |||||||
| Thunder hammer | -2 | A | +3 | 2 | 2 | - | Power |
| Crozius Arcanum | |||||||
| Crozius Arcanum | 1 | A | +2 | 3 | 2 | Breaching (6+) | Power |
| Lightning claw | |||||||
| Lightning claw | 1 | A | S | 3 | 1 | Rending (6+), Breaching (6+) | Power |
| Pair of lightning claws | |||||||
| Pair of lightning claws | 1 | +2 | S | 3 | 1 | Rending (6+), Breaching (6+) | Power |
| Saturnine war axe | |||||||
| Saturnine war axe | 1 | A | +1 | 2 | 2 | Reaping Blow (2) | Power |
| Saturnine concussion hammer | |||||||
| Saturnine concussion hammer | -3 | A | x2 | 2 | 3 | Critical Hit (6+) | Power |
| Saturnine disruption fist | |||||||
| Saturnine disruption fist | -2 | A | +2 | 2 | 3 | - | Power |
Some weapons are almost as dangerous to the wielder as to the foe. Supercharged powerpacks can explode in combat or volatile munitions can jam or even detonate, all of which can prove deadly to those charged with deploying such weapons.
Weapons with this Special Rule may inflict Hits on the Models making Shooting Attacks with them.Template weapons shoot clouds of fire, gas or other lethal substances, rather than shells or bullets.
Weapons and attacks with the Template Special Rule use the Flame Template to determine how many Models they Hit.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.Some weapons feature multiple weapons systems linked to the same trigger. Often each weapon will have a specific role, but in extremis, both can be fired simultaneously, blasting the foe with a variety of deadly munitions.
A Weapon with this Special Rule can fire multiple profiles simultaneously.Some weapons are so terrifyingly potent that their use instils abject fear in even the most strong-willed warriors. In the face of such wanton power the target can only flee or prepare for death, for few would live to tell of the true horrors of the Age of Darkness once they were unleashed on the battlefield.
Weapons and other attacks that have the Panic (X) Special Rule have a chance of inflicting the Routed Status on the Target Unit.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.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.Blasts of exotic radiation, malignant scrap-code or other targeted attacks can render the systems of complex war engines vulnerable without penetrating their armour. While such weapons are less likely to leave their target as a broken ruin, the deleterious effects of their attacks can render even the most powerful war machines impotent.
Weapons with the Shock (X) Special Rule have a chance of inflicting Statuses on Vehicles even if it does not penetrate their armour.The crack of the sniper’s rifle or the burst of heavy artillery, both signal a sudden and indiscriminate death and send infantry scurrying for cover. Such weapons are meant as much to pin the foe in place as to kill them, breaking up advancing ranks of troops and shattering defensive formations.
Weapons and other attacks that have the Pinning (X) Special Rule have a chance of inflicting the Pinned Status on the Target Unit.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.
Each Combi-weapon will have two components; a bolter Primary component and a Secondary component. Unless otherwise specified, each Combi-weapon has the following components:| Ranged Weapon | |||||||
Ranged Weapon | R | FP | RS | AP | D | Special Rules | Traits |
| Bolter (Primary) | |||||||
| Bolter (Primary) | 24 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 1 | Combi | Bolt |
| Flamer (Secondary) | |||||||
| Flamer (Secondary) | Template | 1 | 4 | 5 | 1 | Template, Panic (1), Limited (1), Combi | Flame |
| Meltagun (Secondary) | |||||||
| Meltagun (Secondary) | 12 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 3 | Melta (6), Limited (1), Combi | Melta |
| Plasma gun (Secondary) | |||||||
| Plasma gun (Secondary) | 24 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 1 | Breaching (6+), Limited (1), Combi | Plasma |
| Volkite charger (Secondary) | |||||||
| Volkite charger (Secondary) | 15 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 1 | Deflagrate (5), Combi | Volkite |
| Grenade launcher (Secondary) - Krak | |||||||
| Grenade launcher (Secondary) - Krak | 24 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 2 | Combi | - |
| Graviton gun (Secondary) | |||||||
| Graviton gun (Secondary) | 18 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 1 | Blast (3"), Breaching (6+), Shock (Pinned), Pinning (1), Limited (1), Combi | Graviton |
The humble vexilla displays the heraldry of a particular squad or officer, proclaiming not only its designation in the Legion but also its proud legacy in the annals of the Great Crusade.
A vexilla adds a bonus to Combat Resolution scores.A nuncio-vox is a beacon and communications array that allows constant coordination with other elements of an army, allowing a commander a measure of control and the ability’ to direct their forces, even during the most chaotic battles.
Nuncio-vox allow Units to remove Statuses in the Start Phase.This energy scanning device pierces weather, camouflage and obscuring smoke, alerting the userand their squadmates to the concealed presence of enemy troops in the vicinity, allowing attacks to be directed more effectively.
Augury scanners allow attacks to ignore Shrouded Damage Mitigation Tests.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.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.This datasheet has Retinue Battlefield Role. Full list of Legiones Astartes units sharing same Battlefield Role follows:
Some weapons are designed not only to kill and main, but also to shock and disorient the foe. Such weapons may rely on blinding flares, bursts of enervating energy or even subtle poisons to slow and disable the enemy, but their effects are the same. Debilitated and vulnerable, warriors struck by such weapons become easy prey.
Weapons and other attacks that have the Stun (X) Special Rule have a chance of inflicting the Stunned Status on the Target Unit.A combat shield is a wrist-mounted shield or buckler containing a small field generator that enables it to withstand great amounts of damage.
A combat shield grants a 5+ Invulnerable Save and a bonus to Focus Rolls.At the front of any charge and the heart of any defensive line are an army’s champions. These warriors stand ever ready to accept the challenge of their foes and inspire their allies.
The following Rules apply to all Models with the Champion Sub-Type:| Ranged Weapon | |||||||
Ranged Weapon | R | FP | RS | AP | D | Special Rules | Traits |
| Disintegrator rifle | |||||||
| Disintegrator rifle | 24 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | Overload (1) | Disintegrator |
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.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.Within each of the Legions, individual companies maintain their own standards or icons, listing the battle honours earned. Whenever that formation goes to war, this icon is displayed proudly at the forefront of their advance.
A company standard adds a bonus to Combat Resolution.