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A large ape-shaped subterranean desert-dwelling beast that excavates tunnels with iron-hard claws and devours other cave-dwelling creatures with its expandable jaws. The Ambull is originally native to the death world of Luther McIntyre, but nowadays can be found across the Imperium thanks to well-meaning Magos Biologis of the Adeptus Mechanicus spreading the creatures around in attempts at domestication (apparently they taste delicious when properly cooked). Unfortunately, though not unsurprisingly, a dead'ard predator whose main shtick is tunneling proved almost impossible to contain or control, and the Ambulls have almost always managed to get out, becoming an exceedingly dangerous pest on any world they end up infesting. Why nobody thought to simply lobotomize them like [[Grox]] is anyone's guess. | A large ape-shaped subterranean desert-dwelling beast that excavates tunnels with iron-hard claws and devours other cave-dwelling creatures with its expandable jaws. The Ambull is originally native to the death world of Luther McIntyre, but nowadays can be found across the Imperium thanks to well-meaning Magos Biologis of the Adeptus Mechanicus spreading the creatures around in attempts at domestication (apparently they taste delicious when properly cooked). Unfortunately, though not unsurprisingly, a dead'ard predator whose main shtick is tunneling proved almost impossible to contain or control, and the Ambulls have almost always managed to get out, becoming an exceedingly dangerous pest on any world they end up infesting. Why nobody thought to simply lobotomize them like [[Grox]] is anyone's guess. | ||
Exactly how tough Ambulls are has varied a bit over the course of their appearance history, however. | Exactly how tough Ambulls are has varied a bit over the course of their appearance history, however. Back when Ambulls were just a bit of old background fluff, [[Ciaphas Cain]] and a squad of Valhallans encountered Ambulls on an ice world (an environment they were in due to a Necron warp portal rather than human interference), and the guardsmen were able to wipe out almost an entire nest full of them with minimal casualties, and the one guardsmen who was injured by the Ambulls survived. The recent reintroduction of Ambulls to the setting has ''significantly'' beefed them up, with a single Ambull being the focus of a whole expansion to Blackstone Fortress, making it out to be a monster that would take a whole team to take down. | ||
On Necromunda, they apparently like to make robotic versions of the Ambull called Ambots. The ambull's brain is placed inside a mechanical body, intended for mining purposes. Of course, the more creative thinking Hive Gangers found a new use for the hulking, chain saw handed ambot; namely as a nigh unstoppable killing machine. | On Necromunda, they apparently like to make robotic versions of the Ambull called Ambots. The ambull's brain is placed inside a mechanical body, intended for mining purposes. Of course, the more creative thinking Hive Gangers found a new use for the hulking, chain saw handed ambot; namely as a nigh unstoppable killing machine. | ||
Revision as of 12:38, 15 February 2019
A large ape-shaped subterranean desert-dwelling beast that excavates tunnels with iron-hard claws and devours other cave-dwelling creatures with its expandable jaws. The Ambull is originally native to the death world of Luther McIntyre, but nowadays can be found across the Imperium thanks to well-meaning Magos Biologis of the Adeptus Mechanicus spreading the creatures around in attempts at domestication (apparently they taste delicious when properly cooked). Unfortunately, though not unsurprisingly, a dead'ard predator whose main shtick is tunneling proved almost impossible to contain or control, and the Ambulls have almost always managed to get out, becoming an exceedingly dangerous pest on any world they end up infesting. Why nobody thought to simply lobotomize them like Grox is anyone's guess.
Exactly how tough Ambulls are has varied a bit over the course of their appearance history, however. Back when Ambulls were just a bit of old background fluff, Ciaphas Cain and a squad of Valhallans encountered Ambulls on an ice world (an environment they were in due to a Necron warp portal rather than human interference), and the guardsmen were able to wipe out almost an entire nest full of them with minimal casualties, and the one guardsmen who was injured by the Ambulls survived. The recent reintroduction of Ambulls to the setting has significantly beefed them up, with a single Ambull being the focus of a whole expansion to Blackstone Fortress, making it out to be a monster that would take a whole team to take down.
On Necromunda, they apparently like to make robotic versions of the Ambull called Ambots. The ambull's brain is placed inside a mechanical body, intended for mining purposes. Of course, the more creative thinking Hive Gangers found a new use for the hulking, chain saw handed ambot; namely as a nigh unstoppable killing machine.
From the description of the Ambull's physical appearance, and their knack for tunneling, there's a certain resemblance to the Umber Hulk, a Dungeons & Dragons monster that predates the creation of 40k.
Tabletop
In 2019 the Ambull will finally be coming to the tabletop, in both regular and robotic varieties, via expansions to Blackstone Fortress and Necromunda respectively. And, just like Blackstone Fortress, there are 40k rules for the Ambull.
His statline's pretty monstrous with S/T6 and 7 wounds that regenerate each round with a 3+ save, while his claws are AP-3 Dd3, meaning this fucker can rip through marines like paper. While he has a rather decent M6, he can dig underground for a turn and then reappear wherever he wants the next movement phase. This isn't quite as scary as Genestealer Ambush, but there's nobody that'd want a giant killer bug near them.
Like Spindle Drones, Ambulls lack any keywords, so they can't really be used in any army, but they would serve well as a thematic hazard or an objective to kill. Maybe give it to a third player to control.
