Warhammer 40,000/3rd Edition Tactics/Imperial Guard

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This is an old Edition's Imperial Guard tactics. The 5th Edition Tactics are here while the 2nd Edition Tactics are here.

Why Play Imperial Guard![edit]

Because they get all the goodies. No, seriously, they're present in almost every campaign book, and thus have loads of different play styles. You want an army of rugged survivalists that make Space Marines look like sissies, you can do that. You want an army of nothing but tanks, you can do that. They also have a multitude of different product lines for your base infantry models, from Praetorian Guard and Catachan Jungle Fighters to Cadian Shock Troops and Armageddon Steel Legion, so there's plenty of ways to make your force your own.

Special Rules[edit]

Deathworld Veterans (Codex: Catachans)[edit]

  • DEATHWORLD VETERANS: Deathworld Veterans are adept at using terrain to their advantage. They count Woods and Jungle as open ground for Movement purposes, gain a 4+ Cover Save from being in Woods and Jungle, can see and shoot through 12" of Woods or Jungle instead of 6" if they don't move in the Movement Phase, and if they're foot soldiers they may Infiltrate in missions that allow it as long as they set up in Woods or Jungle.
  • AMBUSH: Humans getting their sneak on, but their method is a trade secret, so you can only do it in pure Deathworld Veterans armies, not standard Codex: Imperial Guard ones with some Deathworld Veterans units attached.
    • The board that the battle is taking place on is divided up into 1' squares, with each square given a grid reference consisting of numbers down one side and letters down another, so a square could be uniquely identified as D2 or E3. Ambushing units are kept in reserve, and up to one unit may be hidden in each square as long as it isn't in the opponent's deployment zone. Write down the grid reference and unit name on a piece of paper, after deployment zones have been decided but before both sides deploy the remainder of their forces, to know where you placed your Ambushing units.
    • Ambushing units remain hidden until you want to reveal them, even if enemy units move through the squares they're hidden in. You may reveal a hidden unit at the beginning of any of your own turns.
    • Every faction has units or upgrades which allow them to detect Ambushes and Booby Traps; Tyranids have Lictors and Hive Tyrants, Eldar have Farseers and Rangers, Orks have Mekboyz and anyone with a Squighound or Attack Squig, Dark Eldar have Mandrakes and Warp Beasts, Chaos Marines have Sorcerers and Veteran Squads, Necrons have Necron Lords, and Sisters of Battle can purchase Auspexes for their squads for three points a pop.

Wargear[edit]

Imperial Guard Wargear[edit]

Codex: Imperial Guard Version One[edit]

  • Bionics: Your own version of I'll Be Back. If your dude or dudette with Bionics are killed, place their model on its side instead of just removing it, and roll 1D6 once the next turn comes around. On a 6 the model comes back to life with a single Wound, as the killing blow instead hits the Bionics and harmlessly ricochets off, but on any other result the model is removed as normal.
  • Carapace Armour: 4+ Armour Save, makes you look like a Stormtrooper. The best Armour Save available to the Guard; you want Power Armoured Humans, go play Sisters of Battle.
  • Comm-Link: If you issue your Command Section with a Comm-Link, then once per turn, one other Imperial Guard squad on the board that also has a Comm-Link may use the officer's Leadership value for a single test they need to take. The Command Section itself doesn't need to be on the board though, one of the few instances of a HQ's ability being able to affect units on the board whilst they're in Reserve.
  • Hellguns & Hellpistols: Lasguns and Laspistols with AP5, makes you fight like a Stormtrooper. The pistol version'is 1 point costlier than the Laspistol, and 1 point cheaper than the Bolt Pistol, which has +1S. You get what you pay for, but if you can afford the Hellpistol, you can usually afford the Bolt Pistol instead.
  • Holy Relic: Doesn't specify what it is, so feel free to shamelessly steal some obscure but real one you found with a quick Google search. Can be dramatically revealed at any time during a battle, but the model carrying it must not move on the same turn it's revealed. Once the shroud is off though, all Guardsmen within 2D6" get +1A for the rest of the turn.
  • Medi-Pack: In the hands of a Medic, this baby allows you to ignore the first saving throw their unit fails each turn. Doesn't work with Instant Death attacks or attacks that don't allow any saves, and can't be used if your Medic is in base contact with an enemy model, so you can't expect them to patch you up whilst they're busy punching someone, but then would you really want their attention distracted under the circumstances?
  • Refractor Field: 5++ Invulnerable Save. Whilst there's nothing in the book that officially says you HAVE to take it, you really do HAVE to take it.
  • Regimental Standard: An upgraded Standard Bearer, can do everything the regular one can (see its unit entry), and in addition, for any Assault going on within 6" of the bearer, the owning side adds +1 to its Combat Resolution score. If the bearer is killed in close combat, the enemy model that killed it picks up the Regimental Standard and the ENEMY side gets the +1 bonus, and in order to get it back again you have to have one of YOUR models kill them in close combat, essentially creating a "capture the flag" minigame in the middle of your war.
  • Scanner: An Infiltrator-detector with a range of 4D6", if a guilty party sets up within that distance, the bearer and any unit they're attached to either: A) all get a free shot each with whatever guns they're packing before the battle starts, or B) sound the alarm in a Raid scenario.
  • Targeter: This gadget allows the model carrying it to pre-measure the distance between them and a single target unit, before they make their shooting attack. If you use a Targeter, then no weapons with Guess range in your army can be fired in the same turn.
  • Trademark Item: Just like the Holy Relic above, this can be almost anything you can imagine and yet still model onto the miniature, though official suggestions include a Swagger Stick, a Smoking Cigar, a Billowing Cape, or Chestful of Medals. A character with a Trademark Item, and any squad they accompany, may re-roll all failed Morale and Pinning checks, but if the bearer's slain the unit will have to pass a Morale test of fall back.

Deathworld Veterans (Codex: Catachans)[edit]

  • Bionics: Same as above.
  • Carapace Armour: Same as above.
  • Combi-Weapons: Same as above.
  • Comm-Link: Same as above.
  • Hellguns & Hellpistols: Same as above.
  • Holy Relic: Same as above.
  • Master-Crafted Weapons: Same as above.
  • Medi-Pack: Same as above.
  • Ogryn Close Combat Weapon: Same as above.
  • Power Weapons: Same as above.
  • Refractor Field: Same as above.
  • Regimental Standard: Same as above.
  • Scanner: Same as above.
  • Targeter: Same as above.
  • Trademark Item: Same as above.
  • Demolition Charge: One-shot bomb that can be thrown up to 6" instead of a model's regular shooting attack in the Shooting Phase, and only one model per squad may throw one each turn. S8 AP2 Ordnance Large Blast, but the model lugging it around can move and still chuck it. If the model carrying it somehow survives, as they're almost certainly going to be caught in the blast radius, then their model's replaced with another Catachan model carrying a Lasgun instead of the Demolition Charge, and if no such model's available, then they're just removed instead.

Imperial Guard Vehicle Upgrades[edit]

Codex: Imperial Guard Version One & Deathworld Veterans (Codex: Catachans)[edit]

  • Armoured Crew Compartment: Gives your Sentinel, Basilisk, or Griffon a roof, models available to buy at reasonable prices. Can only be fitted to Open-Topped vehicles, making them no longer Open-Topped.
  • Camo Netting: A Camo Cape for your vehicle, lets you deploy the vehicle anywhere in your deployment zone during missions using Hidden Set-Up Special Rules, instead of just behind suitable terrain pieces.
  • Crew Escape Mechanism: A number of different modifications, such as Escape Hatches, which all help a vehicle when being evacuated, allowing a vehicle so-equipped to be replaced with 1D3 Crew Member models when it's destroyed, placed as a unit within 2" of the wreck. Each Crew Member has a basic Guardsman or woman statline, and's armed with either a Lasgun or Laspitol at no extra points. The squad's counted as below half strength for Morale checks and claiming table quarters, and's worth no Victory Points, but their previous vehicle's only considered Damaged for Victory Points purposes whilst at least one Crew Member lives.
  • Extra Armour: A number of different modifications, such as Loose Caterpillar Tracks, which all help a vehicle when being attacked, allowing a vehicle so-equipped to automatically downgrade Crew Stunned results to Crew Shaken results instead.
  • Hunter-Killer Missile: One-shot Krak Missiles with unlimited range for your vehicles to give them a bit of anti-tank support.
  • Improved Comms: A number of different modifications, such as Whip Aerials, which all help a vehicle when co-ordinating with Reserves, allowing a player with a vehicle so-equipped to re-roll a single Reserve roll per turn, and re-roll to determine enemy units or obstacles hit by Preliminary Bombardments.
  • Mine Sweeper: A number of different modifications, such as Heavy Dozer Blades, which all help a vehicle when crossing Minefields, allowing a vehicle so-equipped to drive through Minefields unharmed, and any Minefield driven through's removed from the battlefield.
  • Rough Terrain Modification: A number of different modifications, such as Dozer Blades, which all help a vehicle when crossing Difficult Terrain, allowing a vehicle so-equipped to re-roll failed Difficult Terrain tests as long at it moves no faster than 6" that turn.
  • Searchlight: Can only be used in missions using Night Fighting Special Rules, and indeed're only useful in those sorties. The bearer can illuminate one enemy unit with their Searchlight, allowing other Imperial Guard units to fire at that enemy unit as normal, but other enemy units can fire at the bearer as normal as well.
  • Smoke Launchers: One-shot Grenade Launchers loaded with Smoke Grenades, that can be fired off after moving instead of firing any other guns, downgrading any Penetrating Hits scored by the enemy in their Shooting Phase into just Glancing Hits. The Codex suggests the smoke should be represented by Cotton Wool.
  • Track Guards: A roof for your caterpillar tracks, they need love too. If a vehicle fitted with them suffers an Immobilised result, roll 1D6 and on a 4+ treat it as a Crew Stunned instead.

Unit Analysis[edit]

Headquarters[edit]

Codex: Imperial Guard Version One[edit]

  • 1 Command Platoon: A Force Organisation Chart within your Force Organisation Chart! A Command Platoon is a mandatory choice, made up of up to seven separate squads which all count as the same Headquarters Choice, including when rolling for Reserves and deploying: one Command HQ, up to one Sentinel Squadron, and up to five Heavy Weapons Squads.
  • 1 Command HQ: A squad of five Guardsmen including an officer, who can be either a Captain or a Colonel, and one of the regular Guardsmen can be upgraded to a Veteran Sergeant, all armed with a mixture of either Lasguns or Laspistols and CCWs, plus Frag Grenades for the whole squad if they want them.
    • Up to four Guardsmen can also be equipped with special weapons, such as Flamers, Meltaguns, Plasma Guns, or Grenade Launchers, and if this much wasn't enough firepower for you, then two Guardsmen or can also form a Heavy Weapons Team with either a Heavy Bolter, Missile Launcher, Lascannon, Autocannon, or Mortar.
    • And it's not just a godly amount of dakka this unit brings to the field either, as they also have access to a Medic and Standard Bearer, both powerful buffers, as well as a Chimera to cruise around in issuing orders and looking important. The Medic comes with a Medi-Pack (see Wargear), whilst the Standard Bearer lets any Imperial Guard squad re-roll failed Morale checks as long as they've got at least one model within 12" of the Standard, with the option to also purchase either a Regimental Standard or Holy Relic (again, see Wargear). Their Comm-Link is three times more expensive than the ones other squads can get, though in their case, it does unlock the ability to actually use them in the first place, (see Wargear, 'tis a lovely section).
    • Leadership: Allows all Morale and Pinning tests taken by Imperial Guard units within 12" of the Command HQ to be made against the Colonel's or Captain's Leadership.
  • 0-1 Sentinel Squadron: Same as below. Taken as part of the same single Headquarters choice as the rest of the Command Platoon, but considered separate for deployment and Reserves.
  • 0-2 Anti-Tank Heavy Weapons Squads: Six Guardsmen with Lasguns and either three Missile Launchers or Lascannons, with optional Comm-Link for one of them. Lascannons are the priciest of the weapons available to these squads. A cheap way to get a lot of anti-tank firepower on the battlefield.
  • 0-2 Fire Support Heavy Weapons Squads: Six Guardsmen with Lasguns and either three Heavy Bolters or Autocannons, with optional Comm-Link for one of them. Heavy Bolters are the cheapest of the weapons available to these squads. A cheap way to get a lot of anti-light vehicle firepower on the battlefield.
  • 0-2 Mortar Heavy Weapons Squads: Six Guardsmen with Lasguns and three Mortars, with optional Comm-Link for one of them. Given their own Heavy Weapon Squad entry, despite there being other anti-infantry weapons available like the Heavy Flamer and Multi-Laser, so go with Sentinels if you want those two. A cheap way to get a lot of anti-infantry firepower on the battlefield.
  • 0-5 Commissars: Commissars don't take up Headquarters Slots, so you can take up to five of them, plus however many other Headquarters choices are allowed by the scenario. They start with a Laspistol and CCW by default, but can take almost anything from the armoury to replace them, and they can get a Horse for free if they're assigned to a Rough Rider Squad.
    • Advisors: This Special Rule requires them to stick with your highest-ranking officers, so the first Commissar you take must join your Command Platoon Command HQ, to keep an eye on your Colonel or Captain. Each subsequent Commissar taken must join the next highest-ranking officer not already assigned one; first the Lieutenants of your Infantry Platoon Command Sections, and then the Sergeants of your other Imperial Guard squads as you see fit, excluding Hardened Veterans or vehicle squadrons. Commissars must always keep within 2" of their assigned officers or Sergeants, and remain with their units if their charges are killed.
    • Summary Execution: And of course, who can forget their raison d'être? If a unit containing a Commissar is foolish enough to fail a Morale check in front of them, the Commissar automatically *BLAM!*s their assigned officer or Sergeant for his or her own good, which counts as their being dead for Victory Points purposes. The squad then falls under the Commissar's control, and must immediately make a Regroup test using the Commissar's Leadership, carrying on as normal if passed without needing to fall back, but being completed eliminated if failed, the Commissar getting *BLAM!*ed by his own men before they scarper. This test also has to be taken if the officer or Sergeant is killed by the enemy, and if the Commissar takes over a Command HQ or Command Section, then the squad's Leadership Special Rule now applies for the Commissar instead, and he basically now has his own Platoon!

Deathworld Veterans (Codex: Catachans)[edit]

  • 1 Deathworld Veteran Command HQ: Mostly same as above, but the squad consists of the Colonel or Captain and between two and four Deathworld Veterans, can't take a Veteran Sergeant or Standard Bearer, and can't equip a Lascannon or Autocannon but can bring a Heavy Flamer.
    • Deathworld Veterans: These guys and gals're automatically Deathworld Veterans.
  • 0-5 Commissars: Same as above, but get an extra Special Rule.
    • Oops, Sorry Sir: It turns out Commissars're very accident-prone. At the beginning of the game, roll 1D6 for each Commissar you've taken, and for each roll of 1, one of your Commissars has tripped and fallen...

Special Characters[edit]

  • Lord Commander Solar Macharius: "Peace? There cannot be peace in these times." - Himself. The highest ranking officer an Imperial Guard army can ever field on the tabletop, though since he isn't part of a squad, it's unclear how he interacts with Commissars. Only becoming an option once the 2,000 point threshold has been met, he wields a Master-Crafted Bolt Pistol and Power Weapon, and has a Crimson Cloak as his Trademark Item.
    • Commanding Presence: Allows all Morale and Pinning tests taken by Imperial Guard units within 12" of him to be made against his Leadership of 10.
    • Ferocious Charge: Serious unresolved anger management issues give him +3 Attacks on the charge instead of the usual +1.
    • Helm of Macharius: A nice hat which dazzles the foe with its brilliance, giving him a 3++ Invulnerable Save.
    • Old War Wounds: Even the best healthcare in the Imperium could do nothing for a lifetime of injuries that would've felled a normal man. This means that his Weapon Skill and Attacks stats are both randomly determined before the battle begins, WS being 1D3+2, A being 1D3+1, so he can be WS5 A4 at best, or WS3 A2 at worst.
    • Master Strategist: Macharius knows when to strike at a foe at their most vulnerable, letting an army containing him to choose whether or not they go first in missions that normally determine that randomly.
  • Commissar Yarrick: "Now, dat Yarrick. I hate 'im more dan any 'umie alive... But I honour 'im da most too." - Ghazghkull Thraka. The Hero of Hades Hive himself can only be taken in armies of 2,000 points or more, and only with your opponent's permission. He doesn't count as one of your quota of regular Commissars, takes up a Headquarters slot instead, and doesn't have to be assigned to an officer or execute anyone. He's as tough as a Space Marine at T4, and his Storm Bolter and Laspistol are both Master-Crafted.
    • Force Field: His unique Deflector Shield reduces the Strength of any shooting or melee attack that hits him by 1D6, cancelling it out completely if reduced to S0, but having no effect on attacks that don't use Strength to hurt. At the very least, you'll always reduce every attack by a minimum of 1, and combined with his Toughness makes him pretty resilient to small arms fire.
    • Bale Eye: A Digital Weapon built into his Bionic Eye, giving him an additional attack in close combat that hits automatically at S4.
    • Battle Claw: An Ork Power Klaw, counts as a Power Fist. No need to question how he got permission to use xeno-tech, he earned it.
    • Fearless: You'd be too if you'd been at Hades. Yarrick ignores Morale and Pinning tests, and so does any unit he joins.
    • Iron Will: Yarrick gets improved Bionics, resurrecting on a 4+ instead of a 6+.
  • Nork Deddog: "I said fetch the Medi-Kit, not the carrier, Nork." - Colonel Greiss. The most loyal Ogryn in the galaxy can be taken as a bodyguard for the highest-ranking officer in your army, joining their Command HQ like your first Commissar would. He gets +1 WS, I, and Ld compared to a regular Ogryn, and a 4+ Armour Save from his Carapace Armour. He lends your Command HQ a serious bit of muscle in close combat, and can contribute at range too with his Ripper Gun and Frag Grenades.
    • Very Loyal: Nork must at all times remain within 2" of the officer he has been assigned to, attending to their every need to the best of his ability.
    • Bodyguard: As long as Nork is within 2" of the officer he has been assigned to, he may take any shooting attacks against said officer onto himself as a living shield. He may also swap places with his officer in close combat, after models have moved but before attacks have been made.

Transport[edit]

Codex: Imperial Guard Version One[edit]

  • Chimera: A Tank which is also a Transport Vehicle, it has AV12 for Front Armour, making it quite tough for a bus, and any unit you put in it will more often than not make it to wherever it's going in a miniml number of pieces. It can also give as good as it gets, with a turret-mounted Multi-Laser, Heavy Flamer, or Heavy Bolter, and the option to take another hull-mounted Heavy Bolter or Heavy Flamer, letting it play as a Hellhound-lite with twin Heavy Flamers.
    • Transport Vehicle: With capacity to squish up to twelve Guardsmen and men inside, or six Ogryns or Terminators, not that anyone in your army can actually take Terminator Armour, mind, and it can only carry the unit it was bought for, so no hitchhiking allies.

Deathworld Veterans (Codex: Catachans)[edit]

WIP.

Elites[edit]

Codex: Imperial Guard Version One[edit]

  • 0-1 Hardened Veterans: Guardsmen that've seen some serious stuff in their lives, and actually lived to tell the tale, despite the best efforts of said stuff. They all still've their Lasguns and Frag Grenades they were issued with so long ago now, but each has had numerous opportunities over the years to pick up some additional kit along the way, such as Krak Grenades, Autoguns, CCWs and Laspistols or Autopistols, or Shotguns. Their BS4 means they know how to use all their stuff too.
    • Three of them can take either Flamers, Bolters, Plasma Pistols, Meltaguns, Plasma Guns, or Grenade Launchers, one can have a Needle Sniper Rifle, you can take a Comm-Link on another, and two can form a Heavy Weapons Team with any of the goodies.
    • The Veteran Sergeant can take equipment from the Armoury normally reserved for officers, the squad can be joined by a Veteran Officer, and everyone can bundle into their own personal Chimera.
    • Hardened Veterans: These guys and gals automatically have the two Battle Honours; Hardened Fighters, and Steadfast.
  • Storm Troopers: Big Toy Soldiers with Big Toy Guns, though jibes aside, BS4 Hellguns're no laughing matter, to be learned at your peril. A 4+ Armour Save also makes them more survivable than regular Guardsmen, and anyone can swap their Hellgun for a Hellpistol and CCW. Two of them may also take special weapons, but no heavy weapons, and a Chimera can be assigned to them if they don't want to Infiltrate or Deep Strike.
    • Infiltrators: Dynamic entry via squatting in the mud. Unlike Deep Strike below, as many squads of Stormtroopers as you want can Infiltrate as long as the mission allows it, though not if they have Chimeras.
    • Deep Strike: Dynamic entry via Para-Glider or Grav-Chute, though again there's only room in the Valk' for a single squad per army to do this. Storm Troopers in a Chimera can't make this manoeuvre either, despite airdropping tanks being possible in real life with far more primitive equipment than in the 40,000 Millennium. You would think the Imperium would have a medium dropship between the Sky Talon and the Devourer Dropship that wasn't Space Marine exclusive?
  • Ogryns: Three to five space-Ogres. WS4 and S5 mean they hit as well as an Ork Warboss, and T4 make them the toughest infantry you have available. They can take a Chimera as a personal battle bus, though see It's Dark in dere! below, and whilst it isn't as much of a must-take for them compared to more squishy units in your army, the short range of their guns means they'll want to get close to the enemy quickly in order to contribute.
    • Ripper Guns: Nothing to be sniffed at, S4 AP6 Assault 2, though let down by the 12" range, and can be replaced with Ogryn CCWs for free.
    • It's Dark in Dere!: Given their size, Ogryns can get claustrophobic in what're for them tight spaces, which includes Chimeras. An Ogryn squad may only embark in a transport if there's an officer or a Commissar within 12" of the unit, but they may start the game embarked on a transport without issue.
  • 0-1 Ratling Snipers: Your source of mass Sniper Rifles. Gretchin-esque statline, Strength and Toughness 2, but also BS4 to aim with. I4's nice, but with WS2 combined with their aforementioned Strength, they're unlikely to do much. Ld6 makes them more likely to bolt than other squads, and they don't have any sort of Sergeant character to help them, which by extension means no Commissar either.
    • Infiltrators: Just like Stormtroopers, Ratlings can sneak onto the battlefield if the mission lets you.
    • Sniper Rifles: Range 36" SX AP6 Heavy 1.

Deathworld Veterans (Codex: Catachans)[edit]

  • 0-1 Catachan Devils Squad:
    • Deathworld Veterans: These guys and gals're automatically Deathworld Veterans.
    • Ambush: These guys and gals can Ambush.
  • Deathworld Veteran Assault Team:
    • Deathworld Veterans: These guys and gals're automatically Deathworld Veterans.
    • Gung Ho: Diet Fearless, they can re-roll failed Morale and Pinning tests, and they can attempt to regroup even if the squad's below half-strength.
  • Deathworld Veteran Snipers: Up to three BS3 Deathworld Veterans with Sniper Rifles. You don't get Ratlings, so these're the best you're gonna get.
    • Deathworld Toxins: The native life of Catachan produces all manner of deadly toxins, which can be coated on Sniper Bullets to let them re-roll To-Wound.
    • Deathworld Veterans: These guys and gals're automatically Deathworld Veterans.
    • Ambush: These guys and gals can Ambush.
    • Camouflage: Space Marine levels of Cover Save in Woods and Jungle.
    • Disappear: Your three Deathworld Veteran Snipers don't form a squad, and're set up separately instead. In addition, their models can NEVER move for ANY reason, can't claim table quarters or objectives, and don't have to be killed for their opponent to achieve Meat Grinder. During any of your Movement Phases, you may permanently remove a Deathworld Veteran Sniper model from the battlefield, which doesn't count towards Victory Points purposes.

Special Characters[edit]

  • Colonel Schaeffer's Last Chancers: "You will atone for your sins, and when you die you will thank me for allowing you to!" - Himself. Note, they have two additional members compared to a regular maxed-out Imperial Guard squad at twelve strong, and only just fit in a Chimera if you get one for them.
    • Individual Special rules: Schaeffer and every Last Chancer each have a Laspistol and Frag & Krak Grenades, but they all come with unique loadouts too.
      • Colonel Schaeffer: The boss has a Plasma Pistol, Power Weapon, and Carapace Armour, which with his WS4, T4, I4, and A3 mean he's pretty good in a fight.
      • 'Hero': A second Laspistol for this guy, plus a Lasgun and CCW.
      • 'Ox': Just a Heavy Bolter for him.
      • 'Brains': Carries the Comm-Link, as well as a Lasgun
      • 'Demolition Man': Throws Melta Bombs all over the place, and has a Lasgun too I guess.
      • 'Shiv': Like the Colonel also has a Plasma Pistol, and a Mono-Filament Knife that counts as a Power Weapon, making him a worse version of Schaeffer.
      • 'Scope': Aww, look at his Needle Sniper Rifle, he thinks he's a Vindicare.
      • 'Grease Monkey': Armed with a Bolt Pistol, probably nicked it.
      • 'Rocket Girl': Guess, just guess.
      • 'Fingers': Carries a Lasgun for himself, and Frag & Krak Missiles for the lady, what a gent'.
      • 'Animal': Trusted with the Scanner of all things, in addition to a Meltagun and a CCW.
      • 'Warrior Woman': Dual-wields a Sword and Knife which count as 2 CCWs, and a Lasgun.
    • Single Unit: The Last Chancers form a single squad, and must stick with Colonel Schaeffer at all times, not like they've got a choice or anything.
    • Harsh Discipline: The Last Chancers auto-pass all Morale and Pinning tests as long as Colonel Schaeffer's alive, he'd get cross if they didn't, and they wouldn't like him when he's cross.
    • Combat Master: Schaeffer has been dabbling in The Book of Weeaboo Fightan Magic, making opponents subtract -1 from all dice rolls when trying to hit him.
    • Hardened Veterans: The Last Chancers're taken instead of your army's allocated single Hardened Veterans squad. And just like Hardened Veterans Squads, the Last Chancers get Hardened Fighters and Steadfast Battle Honours, the only ones anyone ever seems to get around here.
    • Ox: A guy so buff, he can move and fire with his Heavy Bolter.

Troops[edit]

Codex: Imperial Guard Version One[edit]

  • Infantry Platoon: Just as with the Command Platoon, each Infantry Platoon takes up a single Troops Choice, but can be comprised of up to six separate squads; one Command Section, and between two and five Infantry Squads.
  • Command Section: A watered-down Command HQ, lead by a Lieutenant rather than a Colonel or Captain, no access to Medics, Standard Bearers, or Sentinels, and with only two special weapons and a heavy weapon, but otherwise the same. They can still take a Chimera for some well-needed fire-support though.
    • Leadership: Allows all Morale and Pinning tests taken by Imperial Guard units within 12" of the Command Section to be made against the Lieutenant's Leadership.
  • Infantry Squad: A 60 point Sergeant or 70 point Veteran Sergeant, and nine Guardsmen who cost nothing at all. These guys and gals're all about quantity, Lasgun and Frag Grenade spam. Each squad can take a single special weapon and heavy weapon, as well as a Comm-Link, and the Sergeant can swap his Lasgun for a Laspistol and CCW.
  • Armoured Fist Squad: Before you get into the profile for the Armoured Fist Squad, a warning in bold informs you that you can only take ONE of said units for each separate Infantry Platoon you've also taken. This's a shame, as its a mobile squad with a lot of utility, coming with ten Guardsmen and a Chimera. They've got all the same stats and gear as regular Guardsmen.

Deathworld Veterans (Codex: Catachans)[edit]

  • Deathworld Infantry Platoon:
  • Platoon Commander:
  • Deathworld Infantry Squad:
  • Fire Support Heavy Weapons Squad:
  • 0-1 Ogryn Squad: Same as above.

Fast Attack[edit]

Codex: Imperial Guard Version One[edit]

  • Hellhound: A Chimera without the transport capacity, which swaps out the Multi-Laser for an Inferno Cannon. It also comes with a hull-mounted Heavy Bolter by default, but can't swap it for a Heavy Flamer like the Chimera can, evidently you can have too much of a good thing.
    • Inferno Cannon: Has +1S compared to the Heavy Flamer you can fit on a regular Chimera, and automatically forces enemy squads wounded by it to fall back as if they had failed a Morale test, unless they ignored Morale checks entirely.
    • Move 'n Shoot: Allows it to move more than 6" and still fire its Inferno Cannon, but only that, and if it moves more than 6", it must fire the Inferno Cannon either to one side or behind it to prevent it hitting itself.
    • Fuel Tanks: Means it upgrades all Glancing Hits to Penetrating Hits, thanks to its large reserves of Promethium onboard.
    • Overall, this's a good unit for area denial, capable of forcing most enemy units to retreat from fortified position and out into the open, though it's particularly vulnerable to anti-tank weapons, so keep it away from the likes of Tankbustas and Havocs.
  • Sentinel Squadron: A squadron of between one and three Open-Topped chicken walkers, each armed with a single Multi-Laser or Heavy Flamer, and the Heavy Flamer's half-price compared to what other vehicles've to pay. Like most light vehicles, they're AV10 all around, and can punch as hard as Ogryns in melee with S5, though that's not really where you want them.
    • Scouts: They can deploy on the battlefield at the start of a game, even if not normally permitted by the scenario, and after deployment but before the first turn, they get an extra free move.
    • Essentially, these guys're your more mobile, assault-oriented Heavy Weapons Squads, and should be used as such, to provide other lighter units with fire support. Whilst they can hold their own in a fight if needs be, don't go charging them off on their own into combat without backup, as they'll die to a stiff breeze.
  • Rough Rider Squad: Because what better way to deal with a Gargant than a bunch of madmen on Horses? Strangely, each model has an identical statline to a regular Guardsman or woman, even though there're twice as many lifeforms on each base, and one's quite a bit bigger than the other. This means they're just as survivable as Guardsmen, at a third more expensive, and if equipped with Hunting Lances, everything on the table'll be gunning for them if they're at all familiar with them.
    • Said Hunting Lances're an upgrade to their base Laspistol and CCW, and they can also take Frag Grenades and Lasguns too, as well as the standard single Comm-Link and special weapon available to every squad, if you want to recreate the experience of a One Man Army, though fully kitting them out makes them even more pricey.
    • Hunting Lance: One-shot melee weapons that can only, and must, be used in the first round of the first combat the squad engages in, giving each model a single Attack at double Initiative, with +2S and ignoring Armour Saves. And whilst you're only WS3, a squad of ten'll still statistically score a few good hits.
    • Cavalry: They ride Horses, with all the benefits that entails, and in addition can Trot, letting them move 9" in the Movement Phase as long as its not through Difficult Terrain, but limiting them to charging 9" in the following Assault Phase, and they can only shoot Pistols whilst Trotting.

Deathworld Veterans (Codex: Catachans)[edit]

  • Deathworld Sentinel Squadron: Mostly same as above, more expensive than regular Sentinels but get +1 WS and A, aren't Scouts, and can only take Heavy Flamers.
    • Rough Terrain Modification: Deathworld Sentinels automatically come with Rough Terrain Modifications by default.
    • Chainsaw Warriors: The exact nature of the Rough Terrain Modification used on Deathworld Sentinels is a Chainsaw attachment, which's why they have an additional Attack over their standard-issue brethren.
  • Deathworld Veterans Patrol:
    • Deathworld Veterans: These guys and gals're automatically Deathworld Veterans.
    • Ambush: These guys and gals can Ambush.

Heavy Support[edit]

Codex: Imperial Guard Version One[edit]

  • Leman Russ Battle Tank: Funny, what's this doing outside of the Ork Codex? With the Primarch of the Space Wolves named after this thing, it's gotta be good, right? And it doesn't disappoint, as an AV14 Front Armour AV12 Side Armour Tank, it comes with a turret-mounted Battle Cannon and either a hull-mounted Lascannon or Heavy Bolter as standard.
    • Sponsons: It can take a pair of these, packing either Heavy Bolters or Heavy Flamers, giving it a lot of anti-infantry firepower to protect it from those that might do it harm. You pay the same price in points for both options, so it doesn't make any difference which one you go with from an economics perspective.
    • Battle Cannon: Has got a whopping 72" range, the second longest in the Codex, and gives everything caught it its Ordnance 1/Blast a S8 AP3 hit, turning MEQs into so much mulch you'll forget you're not fighting Hrud.
  • 0-1 Leman Russ Vanquisher: A more advanced version of the basic 'Russ, by which we mean it has a bigger gun. Has all the same options as its smaller sibling, but comes with a Storm Bolter as well by default.
    • Veterans: Vanquishers're only entrusted to crews with plenty of experience, letting you upgrade them with one random Battle Honour rolled up at the start of each battle.
    • Vanquisher Battle Cannon: Loaded with more powerful shells, that lose Ordnance and Blast, but roll against BS as normal and use 2D6 for Armour Penetration, your dedicated anti-tank killer.
    • You only get one of them though, because the Orks invaded the only Forgeworld with the blueprints. They use them to make Kill Krushas now.
  • Leman Russ Exterminator: A 'Russ which swaps out the Battle Cannon for a Twin-Linked Autocannon, your dedicated anti-light vehicle killer. Its lighter armament compared to other 'Russes means it can cover more ground whilst laying down a constant rate of fire, so it can keep up with faster elements of your force, but it'll struggle against other Tanks, especially if it can't get around to their weaker rear armour.
    • Sponsons: Only has access to Heavy Bolters, and can't be fitted with Heavy Flamers, firmly pigeonholing it in the anti-light vehicle category.
    • Exterminator Autocannon: 48" S7 AP4 Heavy 2, re-rolls To-Hit.
  • Leman Russ Demolisher: A 'Russ which swaps out the Battle Cannon for a Demolisher Cannon, your dedicated anti-bunker killer. As a siege 'Russ, it also benefits from +1 to its Side Armour and Rear Armour, making it slightly more resistant to being flanked, an increased risk given the short range of its main gun, which requires it to be right in the thick of the action.
    • Sponsons: Adds Multi-Meltas and Plasma Cannons to the list of weapons available for its sponsons, the only way to access both these weapons in your army, though the newbies're significantly more expensive than the oldies but goldies.
    • Demolisher Cannon: 24" S10 AP2 Ordnance 1/Blast. More powerful than the Battle Cannon, but with shorter range.
  • Basilisk Artillery Gun: A Chimera without the transport capacity, which swaps out the Multi-Laser for an Earthshaker Artillery Gun. Like the Hellhound, comes with a non-exchangable hull-mounted Heavy Bolter too, but it'll rarely be in range at the scales you're working with. You don't really need to upgrade it with anything else, as with the distances this thing can translocate its munitions over, it shouldn't ever need to actually get involved in a close range firefight.
    • Earthshaker Artillery Gun: 120" S9 AP3 Ordnance 1/Blast.
    • Indirect Fire Still not happy with the range on your Earthshaker? We got you fam. Available as an upgrade, this changes it to Guess range 36"-240" Barrage, and allows it to target units it can't see, so you can shoot people on the next table over.
  • Griffon: No Melta Shells for you. A Chimera without the transport capacity, which swaps out the Multi-Laser for a Heavy Mortar. Like the Hellhound, comes with a non-exchangable hull-mounted Heavy Bolter too, which's more likely to be useful on this platform.
    • Heavy Mortar: Guess range 12"-48" S6 AP4 Ordnance 1/Blast.
    • Siege Shells: A modification behind a points paywall. These fire like Blast instead of Ordnance Blast but're still treated like Ordnance Blast for all other purposes. They roll 2D6+5 instead of 2D6 and picking the highest for Armour Penetration against bunkers, and affect models inside said bunkers on a 4+ instead of 6+.

Deathworld Veterans (Codex: Catachans)[edit]

  • 0-2 Mortar Heavy Weapons Squad: Mostly same as above, but can take between one and three teams instead of having to take all three, and also no Comm-Link.
    • Deathworld Veterans: These guys and gals're automatically Deathworld Veterans.
  • Booby Traps: Between one and three Booby Traps.

Tactics[edit]

Codex: Imperial Guard Version One[edit]

WIP.

Deathworld Veterans (Codex: Catachans)[edit]

WIP.


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