Cart (0)Are you ready for another round of units previews for Sons of Cadia?
Today we’ll have a look at some of the vehicles available to the Astra Militarum. Let’s face it: could you imagine the Astra Militarum without their nice and shiny tanks and their heavy artillery? I dare say that they wouldn’t be so tough then! (This text has been redacted by order of the Ordo Hereticus, and its author has been removed; the Astra Militarum is the invincible army of the Imperium, it has always won and will always win! Please carry on reading).
Where were we? Ah yes, let’s have a look at those powerful vehicles!
Armoured Sentinel
The Sentinel is a light all terrain vehicle that can quickly cover ground over any terrain. It is used by the Astra Militarum as quick deployment vehicle to bring fire power where it is needed most.
Role on the battlefield: The Sentinel is an excellent scout, revealing the dangers ahead so that other forces can prepare for them. It also fills the role of an anti-tank sniper, perfect for out-maneuvering the enemy.
Special skills: Veteran units can gain upgrades like Extra Armour or Camo Netting.
Weapons: The Lascannon is the Imperium’s best anti-tank weapon, long range, accurate and extremely good at penetrating armour. Like other las weapons it does not lose Armour penetration over distance and cannot use ammo types.
Strengths / Weaknesses: The Sentinels strength is in its speed and firepower, it can take a shot and fall back making it a tricky opponent to catch, it won’t stand up to much punishment however and is vulnerable to melee attacks.
Leman Russ
The Leman Russ is the main battle tank of the Astra Militarum, reliable and easily built, they can be found in almost every battle the Imperium fights, do not let their numbers fool you, they have a range of devastating weapons that have been fitted to a series of variants and upgrades, it is a legend loved by its commanders and feared by its enemies.
Role on the battlefield: Their front Armour will deflect most of the incoming damage but these units will also be your best damage dealers, they should be at the core of every army.
Special skills: Veterans can gain upgrades like Relic Plating or Hull Reinforcement.
Weapons: The Battle Cannon is a mid to long range weapon, equally good against all targets, it hits all men on a tile but only has average accuracy. The Vanquisher Cannon is designed to take out enemy armour, it has high penetration, good accuracy and long range, its low rate of fire limits its attacks against infantry.
The Plasma Destroyer is a powerful but unpredictable weapon, it fires three super heated plasma balls that are deadly to anything they touch, often wiping out entire squads in one go, it’s great against armour but suffers from its terrible accuracy. The Punisher Gatling Cannon is one of the most effective anti-infantry weapons, high rate of fire, good accuracy but limited by its short to mid range and lack of armour penetration.
The Lascannon is the Imperiums best anti-tank weapon, long range, accurate and extremely good at penetrating armour. Like other las weapons it does not lose Armour penetration over distance and cannot use ammo types.
The Heavy Bolter is a versatile weapon, long range, good accuracy and a high rate of fire make it great against infantry, it can be upgraded with ammo types that improve it’s damage and armour penetration making it a great all rounder.
The Multi-Melta shares the characteristics of the Meltagun but doubles it’s shots.
The Heavy Flamer shares the characteristics of the Flamer but has increased range and damage.
Strengths / Weaknesses: The Leman Russ is your primary damage dealer but they’ll need to be protected from melee attackers, once a vehicle is engaged in melee it is completely defenceless.
Chimera/Hellhound
Based off the same chassis the Chimera and Hellhound fill vital roles in the Astra Militarum, the Chimera ferries infantry into battle and carries the injured back to safety, dependable and tough it can also provide much needed fire support. The Hellhound controls the battlefield by replacing its rear compartment with tanks of promethium fuel, its presence is often enough to turn the tide of battle.
Special skills: Veteran units can gain upgrades like Machine Spirit Ritual that increases morale and Reactive Armour that can deflect missile attacks.
Weapons: The Multi laser shares the characteristics of the Lasgun but has a much higher rate of fire.
The Inferno Cannon shares the characteristics of the Flamer but improves it in every way, more range, more damage, more penetration.
The Heavy Bolter is a versatile weapon, long range, good accuracy and a high rate of fire make it great against infantry, it can be upgraded with ammo types that improve it’s damage and armour penetration making it a great all rounder.
Strengths / Weaknesses: These units can take more damage than others but as vehicles they become vulnerable in melee. Outside of their unit roles they are less effective than other units but can still be useful in most situations.
Shadowsword
A vehicle that wins wars, a titan killer, a fortress in its own right. Shadowswords can only be found in small numbers across the entire Imperium such is its rarity, the knowledge to build such vehicles has been lost to much of the Imperium and is jealously guarded by the few that can. Any commander that fields such a weapon only does so when no other option is available or when facing such a terrible threat like an enemy titan.
Role on the battlefield: Super Heavy counter weapon. Deploy this and unleash hell.
Special skills: The Shadowsword comes with its own arsenal of weapons to deal with multiple threats at once.
Weapons: The Volcano cannon is one of the strongest weapons in the game, capable of destroying almost any unit with a single shot.
The Shadowsword comes with a variety of support weapons including two Lascannons and an impressive six Heavy Bolters.
Strengths/Weaknesses: The Shadowsword can fill any role, devastating to Armoured Vehicles and Infantry alike, equally good in short or long range combat, it however cannot defend itself in melee. It cannot replace an army and will need help if enemies get too close but it is more than capable at holding a flank or position all by itself. Its specialty is taking down enemy Gorkanauts and Morkanauts and should be dedicated to this role for best effect.
Basilisk
All imperial commanders love to deploy the Basilisk in excessive numbers, why fight an enemy when you can pound them to dust from a safe distance. Many battles have been won before contact with the enemy has even begun thanks to these mighty machines.
Role on the battlefield: The Basilisk makes its presence felt over the course of a long battle, more accurate and with a higher rate of fire than the whirlwind it only lacks the Whirlwinds burst damage and AoE, the Basilisk will need a few more turns to match the devastation of a Whirlwind strike but it is much more reliable and can be fielded in higher numbers.
Weapons: The Earthshaker Cannon has extreme range, good accuracy and better rate of fire than other artillery, its AoE is small but still hits every man on a tile, against armoured units it’s weaker but can wear them down over time.
Strengths / Weaknesses: The Basilisk needs a spotter to see it’s targets, any unit with line of sight on an enemy can spot for the Basilisk, its range is its obvious strength but in close range combat its weaknesses quickly become apparent. Don’t let it get too close to an enemy as it can be destroyed easily by almost any unit.
Valkyrie
There is no sound sweeter than the engines of the Valkyrie to the men and women of the Astra Militarum. Whether it’s there to ship them back home after a long campaign, bringing much needed supplies to starving troops, flying into hot landing zones to save the wounded or bringing overwhelming firepower to stop a rampaging enemy war machine, the Valkyrie does it all. The workhorse of the Imperium, piloted by the bravest soldiers alive, these warbirds have seen it all, done it all, and are always the first to volunteer for the next suicide mission.
Role on the battlefield: It plays a dual role of transporting infantry around the map and being a hunter-killer searching for enemy vehicles to dispatch at long range.
Weapons: The Multi-laser shares the characteristics of the Lasgun but has a much higher rate of fire.
Hellstrike Missiles are long range, extremely accurate and deliver a mighty punch, they have extreme penetration and will get through even the toughest plate.
Strengths / Weaknesses: The Valkyrie cannot take much punishment and will have to rely on its fast movement to get out of trouble, it is not hindered by terrain and can hover to protect itself from melee attacks. Its Hellstrike missiles are ineffective against infantry and if it’s in range to use its multi-laser then it is too close to the enemy, keep these alive and you’ll be rewarded with a unit that can win a battle despite the odds.
There are more units to show, but next week we’ll be showing something completely different… we’ll be talking a bit about the new campaign!
