Mission Report returns to give you another dose of Warhammer 40,000 Kill Team goodness. In the inaugural article last month, we looked at Adepta Sororitas kill teams from the Kill Team Annual 2019. This time around, we’re taking a look at the curious creatures known as Kroot and digging into the Kroot Mercenaries rules.
Kroot Mercenaries Kill Teams
If you enjoy an aggressive, fast-paced style of play, the Kroot deserve your consideration. While often found as part of larger T’au Empire armies, their natural agility and stealth make them perfect candidates for clandestine missions behind enemy lines. That, in turn, makes them perfect for games of Kill Team. With your basic Kroot and Kroot Hound costing a mere 6 points per model, you’ll be able to overwhelm many opponents by sheer weight of numbers. Of course, you’ll want to save 27 points for a Krootox Rider, because… well, just look at it!
Besides looking the business, you can spend a Command Point to double down on their formidable melee strength by fighting a second time!
The mighty fists of the Krootox hit at Strength 6, and Damage 2, so your enemy will definitely feel it. But the Krootox is no one-trick pony – the rider’s oversized Kroot gun can knock out the toughest targets at extreme range.
Speaking of range, despite their bulk, they’re still quite fast! Moving at 7" as standard, their Agile Brute ability takes the gamble out of deciding whether or not to Advance.
However, mighty though they are, you can only include one Krootox Rider in your Kill Team, so Kroot Carnivores and Kroot Hounds will make up the bulk of your units.
Speaking of Kroot Hounds, they move at a blistering 12", so they can easily reach almost any objective, eschewing ranged weapons entirely to, well… ess-CHEW on your enemies! *Ahem*. The Voracious Predator ability makes them ideal for quickly finishing off wounded fighters.
And if you really want to make sure your unfortunate victim stays down for good, pop a Command Point to sic ’em.
One of the most interesting aspects of Kroot warriors in the lore is the way in which they feed on their opponents, even in the heat of battle, to empower themselves. In a game with the granularity of Kill Team, where every model counts, this is a big deal. Spending two Command Points on Hyper-evolution will give your fighter a serious boost!
Taken as a whole, Kroot Mercenaries are great at grabbing objectives and closing on a melee-vulnerable rival due to their high speed. The bladed rifles the Carnivores carry pull double duty – effective in close combat as well as at range – making this one of the most versatile and adaptable kill teams in the game. Once they’ve evolved the right specialist abilities, you’ll find they perform reliably well against much costlier foes.
Dahyak Grekh
No conversation about Kroot can be complete without mentioning one of the coolest models in Warhammer Quest: Blackstone Fortress.*
Dahyak can be taken as a unique Commander in your games, with a set of Stealth skills and special abilities that will keep the pressure on your enemies.
If you’re eager to start building one of these mercenary kill teams, the Kroot Carnivores kit is a great place to begin, including all sorts of extra bits to mark out your specialists, and the Kroot Shaper makes a very nice Leader model! You’ll also need to pick up the Kill Team Annual 2019 to find their full rules.
Check back next month for another instalment of Mission Report! Until then, get out there and conquer your corner of the 41st Millennium!
* Quite the feat in a game known for its amazing models!