40K DatasheetS

Navigating the vast and complex universe of Warhammer 40,000 can be daunting, especially when facing down hordes of Orks or the insidious forces of Chaos. Central to understanding the capabilities of your units and strategizing for victory are the fundamental documents known as 40K DatasheetS. These sheets contain all the vital statistics and special rules that define each unit in the game, allowing players to wage war effectively on the tabletop battlefield.

Understanding the Anatomy of 40K DatasheetS

40K DatasheetS are the essential reference point for every unit in your Warhammer 40,000 army. Think of them as the stat blocks for your soldiers, vehicles, and monstrous creatures. They provide a standardized way to understand a unit’s capabilities, limitations, and unique abilities. Mastering the information contained within these sheets is crucial for building effective armies and executing successful strategies. Without understanding the intricacies of each unit’s datasheet, you’ll be fighting blind against your opponent.

Each datasheet typically includes the following information:

• Unit Name: Clearly identifies the unit type (e.g., Space Marine Intercessor Squad, Leman Russ Battle Tank).

• Keywords: Descriptive tags that define the unit’s characteristics and affiliations (e.g., Infantry, Adeptus Astartes, Vehicle, Imperium). These keywords are often used to determine which abilities or stratagems can be applied to the unit.

• Stats Line: A series of abbreviations representing key statistics:

  1. M (Movement): How far the unit can move in inches.
  2. WS (Weapon Skill): The skill of the unit in melee combat.
  3. BS (Ballistic Skill): The skill of the unit in ranged combat.
  4. S (Strength): The unit’s raw physical power.
  5. T (Toughness): The unit’s resistance to damage.
  6. W (Wounds): The amount of damage a unit can sustain before being destroyed.
  7. A (Attacks): The number of attacks the unit makes in melee combat.
  8. Ld (Leadership): The unit’s morale and resistance to fear.
  9. Sv (Save): The unit’s armor protection, representing the minimum roll needed on a D6 to avoid damage.

• Weapons: Details of the weapons the unit is equipped with, including their range, type, Strength, AP (Armor Penetration), and Damage.

• Abilities: Special rules or passive effects that the unit possesses, granting unique advantages or modifying its behavior.

Understanding how to interpret these stats is paramount. For example, a unit with a high Toughness and Wounds value is generally more resilient, while a unit with a high Ballistic Skill is more accurate when shooting. Similarly, a weapon with high Armor Penetration is more effective against heavily armored targets.

Now that you have a good grasp of what 40K DatasheetS are and how they’re used, it’s time to dive deeper and explore individual unit sheets. To gain a more in-depth understanding, take a look at the official Warhammer 40,000 rulebooks and codices. These resources provide the definitive datasheets for all available units, along with explanations of their abilities and how they interact with the game’s rules.