The overwhelming might of the Astra Militarum is drawn from a vast number of systems and worlds across the Imperium, each bringing their own combat doctrines to bear against the xenos, the heretic, and the traitor in humanity’s unending war against anyone who even gives them a funny look.
In the new Codex: Astra Militarum, three of the most famous regiments – the Cadian Shock Troops, the Death Korps of Krieg and the Catachan Jungle Fighters all play a little differently under new core infantry options.
There is now a separate datasheet with individual loadout options and rules for Infantry Squads. Heavy Weapons Teams and Command Squads, offering more chances for strategy and synergies.*
The Cadian Command Squad has the Cadia Stands! rule, granting the Benefit of Cover against ranged attacks that target them, so long as an officer still lives. Paired with withering Covering Fire from the Cadian Heavy Weapons Squad, which allows Overwatch attacks to hit on unmodified hit rolls of 4+ while within 6” of a friendly Platoon unit, (such as the Command Squad and its Shock Troop bodyguard) you can build a redoubtable firebase able to hold objectives with determination.
Covering Fire
Each time you target this unit with the Fire Overwatch Stratagem, while resolving that Stratagem, hits are scored on unmodified Hit rolls of 5+, or on unmodified Hit rolls of 4+ instead if this unit is within 6" of one or more friendly Platoon units.
Cadia Stands
While this unit contains an Officer, each time a ranged attack targets this unit, if this unit is within range of an objective marker you control, models in this unit have the Benefit of Cover against that attack.
The new Death Korps of Krieg Heavy Weapons Squad are deployed to provide direct support to their Platoons. They fight to the very last, upholding their Final Duty to unleash one devastating last salvo. Krieg Command Squads represent the Grim Determination of the Death Korps, conveying Stratagems and Orders to subordinates even when Battle-shocked.
Final Duty
While this unit contains a Fire Coordinator, each time a Heavy Weapons Gunner model is destroyed, roll one D6: on a 3+, do not remove it from play. The destroyed model can shoot after the attacking model's unit has finished making its attacks, and is then removed from play.
Grim Determination
While this unit contains an Officer, you can target this unit with Stratagems even while it is Battle-shocked and Orders issued to this unit do not cease to affect this unit if it becomes Battle-shocked.
Years of fighting on hostile death worlds have made the Catachans even more deadly in less hostile environs, and the Catachan Command Squad’s Gung-ho Command grants Assault to all ranged weapons in the squad.
Meanwhile, with a cry of Bring it Down! their Heavy Weapon Squads concentrate their fire on a monster or vehicle, re-rolling hit and wound rolls of 1.
Bring it down!
Each time a model in this unit makes a ranged attack that targets a Monster or Vehicle unit, re-roll a Hit roll of 1 and re-roll a Wound roll of 1.
Gung-Ho Command
While this unit contains an Officer, ranged weapons equipped by models in this unit have the [ASSAULT] ability.
Using these units in unison helps the Astra Militarum punch above their weight in warzones rife with superhuman soldiers, ancient technological marvels, and monsters beyond mortal imagination – not that any Commissar worth his salt would let his troops express the idea that the Imperium was lacking in offensive capability.
With a host of new Detachments, and a new option to take Rogal Dorn Tank Commanders, there’s plenty to dig into in Codex: Astra Militarum. Our coverage continues this week ahead of the Death Korps of Krieg Army Set arriving for pre-order on Saturday.
* The generic Platoon Command Squad and Platoon Infantry Squad datasheets have been removed – but there’s nothing to stop you from using one of the three archetypes for your own infantry. Do your Mordians have more in common with Cadia or with Krieg?
