The WARHAMMER 40K Datasheet is the essential key to commanding your forces on the grim darkness of the far future’s battlefields. It’s a concise summary of a unit’s capabilities, strengths, and weaknesses, all distilled into a readily accessible format. Mastering the art of reading and understanding these datasheets is crucial for both new recruits and seasoned veterans alike, allowing you to make informed decisions and execute cunning strategies.
Understanding the Anatomy of a WARHAMMER 40K Datasheet
A WARHAMMER 40K Datasheet is your unit’s profile, outlining everything you need to know to effectively use them in a game. Think of it as a miniature instruction manual printed onto a single page, packed with information to help you utilize the unit to its full potential. They can look complicated at first glance, but are simple when they are broken down. Understanding each element is paramount to mastering the game.
At its core, the datasheet contains several key statistics that define a unit’s performance. These are typically presented in a statline, a row of abbreviations each representing a specific attribute. Understanding these abbreviations is the first step to understanding your units:
- M: Movement - How many inches the model can move in the Movement phase.
- WS: Weapon Skill - Determines the likelihood of hitting in melee combat.
- BS: Ballistic Skill - Determines the likelihood of hitting with ranged weapons.
- S: Strength - Used in melee to determine the ability to wound the enemy.
- T: Toughness - Determines the likelihood of being wounded by enemy attacks.
- W: Wounds - How much damage a model can sustain before being removed from play.
- A: Attacks - The number of attacks a model makes in melee combat.
- Ld: Leadership - Used in morale tests to determine if a unit flees.
- Sv: Save - The armor save, determining if the model avoids damage.
Beyond the statline, the datasheet includes information about a unit’s wargear, special abilities, and faction keywords. Wargear dictates the weapons and equipment a unit is armed with, each having its own profile that influences attack range, strength, and special effects. Special abilities can grant a unit unique advantages on the battlefield, such as improved movement, resilience, or offensive capabilities. Faction keywords determine which armies a unit can be included in and often unlock faction-specific Stratagems and abilities. To illustrate, let’s consider a small sample:
| Unit | Movement | Weapon Skill |
|---|---|---|
| Space Marine | 6" | 3+ |
| Ork Boy | 5" | 4+ |
To truly master the WARHAMMER 40K Datasheet, consult the official source material. It provides in-depth explanations of each stat, ability, and weapon, ensuring you have a comprehensive understanding of your units’ capabilities and are ready to conquer the battlefields of the grim darkness.