The Imperial Guard, also known as the Astra Militarum, represents the unshakeable bulwark of humanity in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. To command these vast armies effectively on the tabletop, understanding the Imperial Guard Datasheet is absolutely essential. It’s your key to unlocking the potential of every unit, from the humble Guardsman to the mighty Leman Russ battle tank.
Decoding the Imperial Guard Datasheet
The Imperial Guard Datasheet is essentially a profile card for each unit within the Astra Militarum army. It provides all the vital statistics and abilities needed to deploy and use a unit in a game of Warhammer 40,000. Understanding how to read and interpret this information is paramount to building a competitive and effective force. Mastery of the datasheet is key to battlefield success.
These datasheets are structured to give you an at-a-glance understanding of a unit’s capabilities. They break down key information into easily digestible sections, including:
- Unit Name: Identifies the specific unit (e.g., Infantry Squad, Leman Russ Battle Tank).
- Stats: Core characteristics like Movement (M), Weapon Skill (WS), Ballistic Skill (BS), Strength (S), Toughness (T), Wounds (W), Attacks (A), Leadership (Ld), and Save (Sv).
- Weapons: Lists the weapons the unit is equipped with and their profiles (Range, Type, Strength, Armor Penetration, Damage, Abilities).
- Abilities: Special rules and capabilities that the unit possesses (e.g., First Rank Fire! Second Rank Fire!, Orders).
Datasheets are used constantly throughout a game. Before deploying your army, you consult the datasheets to understand the strengths and weaknesses of each unit. During the game, you refer to them to determine hit rolls, wound rolls, saving throws, and the effects of special abilities. For example, if you want to shoot with a Lasgun, you need to consult the datasheet to see the weapon’s profile and determine the appropriate dice rolls. Or, if you’re issuing an order to a squad, the datasheet will outline the specific effects of that order. The datasheet is your primary source of information.
Ready to put your knowledge into practice? Explore the official Warhammer 40,000 website for the most up-to-date Imperial Guard datasheets and start building your unstoppable Astra Militarum army.