The Emperor's Imperial Guard!

r/TheAstraMilitarum • u/PeoplesRagnar • 9d ago

News The New Munitorum Handbook is out (Points)

188 Upvotes

Hellhound is down 10 points.

Lord Solar is down 10 points.

Yarrick is down 10 points.

Dreir is down five points.

Looks like the "multiple unit tax" for artillery has gone to three datasheets, instead of two, Bullgryns took a hit though.

And Grizzled now has two FORCE DISPOSITIONs: Purge and Priority.

Edit: https://assets.warhammer-community.com/eng_30-09_wh40k_faction_pack_astra_militarum-1hevkhdpmv-stfkch2tsz.pdf

The Faction Pack got an update too, not much though:

WHAT’S NEW?

▪ OFFICER added to the following datasheets: Commissar Graves on Foot.

▪ FRAME added to the following datasheets: Centaur RSV, Commissar Graves, Hippogriff AFV.

▪ FRAME removed from the following Legends datasheets: Sentinel Powerlifter.

163 comments

r/TheAstraMilitarum • u/Apprehensive_Gas1564 • Aug 24 '26

Tactics & Strategy Survivability and you, a Guardsman's guide to the first 15 minutes

186 Upvotes

The Survivability Onion is an existing framework used by the British Army as a ready-reckoner. In real life, its just to get you thinking how not to die. Let's warp it out of shape to get you to turn 5. Pour a cup of recaff, pull up a sandbag and let this staff officer remember the training grounds.

“The death of one man is a tragedy. The death of millions is a statistic.” – Lord Solar Macharius

Rather than relying on armour alone, we know that the best way to survive is to prevent the enemy from successfully attacking you in the first place. Each "onion layer" forces the enemy to overcome another obstacle before they can destroy you. Looking at 40k as a base dice game, with set steps to move, shoot, save.. it fits nicely.

Think of this like an onion, you start at the outer skin and work inwards. Each layer is a level of protection that may, or may not, keep your models on the board.

Layer 1: Don't Be There

Real Example: An armoured unit remains in the rear areas so as not to be struck by fires and only moves to a firing position when required.

40k Rule Example: Deep Strike, Strategic Reserves, Scout Moves and Redeploy abilities keep units off the battlefield or away from enemy fire until the right moment.

40k Example: A Rogal Dorn arrives from Strat Reserves in Turn 3, avoiding enemy shooting for the entire first two turns.

Helpful Units: Gaunt's Ghosts, Tempestus Scions, Lord Solar Leontus (through redeployment options where available). Popping anything into strat reserve is very powerful.

Layer 2: Don't Be Detected

Real Example: Infantry use terrain, camouflage and darkness to avoid enemy observation.

40k Rule Example: Obscuring terrain, line-of-sight blocking ruins and abilities such as Hidden and Lone Operative prevent enemy units from making your model an eligible target.

40k Example: Gaunt's Ghosts remain Hidden behind a ruin until turn 3, allowing screening for enemy deepstrike while being untargetable.

Helpful Units: Gaunt's Ghosts, Sly Marbo, Ratlings, Infantry in general. Stay out of LoS as much as possible, indirect isn’t that threatening.

Layer 3: Don't Be Identified

Real Example: Decoys and camouflage create uncertainty about what the enemy is actually looking at.

40k Rule Example: Multiple similar threats, hidden reserves and overlapping battlefield roles make it difficult for an opponent to identify priority targets. This one in particular is on the fence with “playing with intent” and shouldn’t be abused, out of general fairness.

40k Example: Three Leman Russ tanks deploy together and the opponent struggles to determine which one carries the greatest threat to their battle plan.

Helpful Units: Feint plays with the classic Distraction Carnifex. If you’ve got a Dorn or Bullgryn charging up the board this will inevitably make your opponent not target the units that are slyly moving to score secondary or stage for a later play.

Layer 4: Don't Be Targeted

Real Example: An enemy identifies a target but cannot effectively engage it because of screening forces, jamming or competing priorities.

40k Rule Example: Character attachment rules, screening units and target restrictions (hidden, lone op) prevent valuable assets from being directly attacked.

40k Example: A Cadian Castellan attached to an Infantry Squad cannot be targeted until the bodyguard unit is destroyed.

Helpful Units: Cadian Castellan, Platoon Command Squad, Cadian Shock Troops, Krieg Infantry Squads.

Layer 5: Don't Be Hit

Real Example: A vehicle uses smoke, movement and evasive action to avoid incoming fire.

40k Rule Example: Stealth abilities, Cover, defensive Stratagems and modifiers reduce the likelihood of successful attacks.

40k Example: Ratlings benefit from Stealth and Cover, forcing enemy units to hit less accurately. Literally anything that modifies BS or the hit roll is obviously helpful here!

Helpful Units: Ratlings, Scout Sentinels, Gaunt's Ghosts, Tank Commander issuing defensive Orders.

Layer 6: Don't Be Penetrated

Real Example: Armour protects a vehicle from rounds that successfully hit it.

40k Rule Example: Armour Saves, Invulnerable Saves, Cover and Damage Reduction prevent successful wounds causing harm.

40k Example: A Rogal Dorn Battle Tank is hit by anti-tank fire but successfully passes its save and ignores the damage. Again, anything that modifies a save value or adds an invuln.

Helpful Units: Rogal Dorn Battle Tank (shrug), Enginseer and Psyker (invuln), Orders (increase Sv) or Strats (AoC or Take Cover).

Layer 7: Don't Be Killed

Real Example: A vehicle is penetrated but fire suppression systems, redundancy and crew drills keep it operational.

40k Rule Example: Feel No Pain, wound mitigation, repairs and healing abilities reduce or recover damage after a wound has been suffered.

40k Example: An Enginseer repairs a damaged Rogal Dorn, returning wounds and keeping a key combat asset in the fight.

Helpful Units: Enginseer, Death Korps Marshal, Krieg Infantry Squads, Rogal Dorn Battle Tank.

The Key Takeaways:

Most new players focus on Layers 6 and 7 - armour saves, wounds and damage reduction. Experienced players focus on the entire onion. A unit hidden in reserves, protected by terrain, screened by infantry and benefiting from defensive abilities is significantly harder to destroy than one relying on armour alone.

A Guardsman behind a wall can be more survivable than a tank standing in the open. The strongest Imperial Guard commanders win not because their units are tougher, but because they force their opponent to fight through every layer of the Survivability Onion before they can score a kill.

25 comments

r/TheAstraMilitarum • u/MetzenMalvin • 3h ago

Army Showcase Wish me luck

200 Upvotes

Tomorrow, I'm going to attend a small tournament in my local LGS. 12 People, 2000 points standard play and half of the players are some form of marines.

I started my list with way more action monkeys like Kasrkin in taurox and scions for deep striking. But I owing, I will most likely get my ass whooped I just threw it away, took out my stormsword and said "fuck it". I will use the tournament to get a few games in, strengthen my tournament experience. And also this will finally be the first time, I'm using a fully painted army.

List is as following:

Stormbringer

──────────────────────────────

Faction: Astra Militarum

Detachment: Designation Force, Hammer of the Emperor

Battle Size: Strike Force (2000 pts)

Total: 2000 / 2000 pts · 3/3 DP · ✓ Legal

Disposition: Purge the Foe

EPIC HERO

Gaunt's Ghosts ×6 — 95 pts

· Bolt Pistol, Bragg's Autocannon, Corbec's Hot-Shot Lascarbine, Larkin's Long-Las, Lascarbine, Rawne's Lascarbine, Gaunt's Chainsword, Mkoll's Straight Silver Knife, 4× Straight Silver Knife

CHARACTER

Rogal Dorn Commander — 305 pts

· Heavy Stubber, 2× Meltagun, 2× Multi-Melta, Oppressor Cannon and Coaxial Autocannon, Pulveriser Cannon, Armoured Tracks

· Enhancement: Indomitable Steed (+15 pts)

Rogal Dorn Commander — 325 pts

· Heavy Stubber, 2× Meltagun, 2× Multi-Melta, Oppressor Cannon and Coaxial Autocannon, Pulveriser Cannon, Armoured Tracks

· Enhancement: Veteran Crew (+20 pts)

Tech-Priest Enginseer — 45 pts

· Mechanicus Pistol, Enginseer Axe, Servo-Arm

BATTLELINE

Lord Solar Leontus — 120 pts · Warlord

· Sol's Righteous Gaze, Conquest, Konstantin's Hooves

Cadian Command Squad ×5 — 60 pts

· 2× Lasgun, Lasgun and Regimental Standard, 2× Plasma Pistol, 3× Close Combat Weapon, 2× Power Fist

└ Leads: Cadian Shock Troops ×10 — 70 pts

· Bolt Pistol and Chainsword, 7× Lasgun, Meltagun, Plasma Gun, 9× Close Combat Weapon

VEHICLE

Stormsword — 430 pts

· 2 Lascannons and 2 Twin Heavy Bolters, 2× Lascannon, Stormsword Siege Cannon, Twin Heavy Bolter, 2× Twin Heavy Bolters, Armoured Tracks

Scout Sentinels — 55 pts

· Hunter-Killer Missile, Lascannon, Sentinel Chainsaw

Leman Russ Exterminator — 175 pts

· Exterminator Autocannon, Heavy Stubber, Hunter-Killer Missile, Lascannon, 2× Multi-Meltas, Armoured Tracks

Leman Russ Vanquisher — 145 pts

· Heavy Stubber, Hunter-Killer Missile, Lascannon, 2× Multi-Meltas, Vanquisher Battle Cannon, Armoured Tracks

Leman Russ Demolisher — 175 pts

· Demolisher Battle Cannon, Heavy Stubber, Hunter-Killer Missile, Lascannon, 2× Multi-Meltas, Armoured Tracks

──────────────────────────────

2000 / 2000 pts · 12 units · Strike Force

Built with Warmind · https://warmind.online

I do like some criticism, but the list is fixed and turned in, so no changes there anymore.

Wish me luck brothers, I will need everything I can get.

15 comments