Unleash the full potential of your army with the new Warhammer 40k Auxiliary Cadre Tau detachments rules, and boost your army’s capabilities.
So the new Auxiliary Cadre Warhammer 40k detachment rules are a dream for T’au players who love blending Kroot, Vespid, and Fire Caste units into a single, coordinated strike force.
This detachment focuses on integrating alien auxiliaries into your army to unlock unique synergies, enhance battlefield control, and maximize tactical versatility.
With a mix of buffs, mobility options, and targeted firepower, the Auxiliary Cadre lets you craft a list that thrives on clever positioning and teamwork with December’s Grotmas Calendar rules. You can download the full rules here.
Core Detachment Rule – Integrated Command Structure
What It Does:
- Kroot and Vespid Stingwings units gain Targeting Triangulation (Aura): Enemy units within 9″ increase the AP of T’au Empire ranged attacks targeting them by 1.
- T’au Empire units (excluding Kroot and Vespid) gain Localised Stealth Projectors (Aura): Nearby Kroot or Vespid can only be targeted by ranged attacks from enemies within 18″.
These Tau detachments make Kroot and Vespid essential for enabling your T’au units to hit harder and survive longer. Targeting Triangulation pairs perfectly with Fire Warrior teams or Crisis Battlesuits, letting them punch through tougher armor.
Meanwhile, Localised Stealth Projectors ensures your Kroot and Vespid can advance safely into key positions, making them ideal for securing objectives or setting up ambushes.
Enhancements – Customizing Your Cadre
- Student of Kauyon (15 pts): Grants Deep Strike to up to three Kroot units, adding deployment flexibility.
- Admired Leader (20 pts): Improves Leadership by 1 and Objective Control by 1 for a nearby Kroot or Vespid unit.
- Fanatical Convert (10 pts): Grants the bearer’s unit the For the Greater Good ability, boosting overwatch firepower.
- Transponder Lock Module (25 pts): Lets a T’au Walker with Deep Strike deploy during the first three turns near friendly Kroot or Vespid.
These Enhancements make your units more flexible and lethal. Student of Kauyon opens up aggressive Deep Strike plays for Kroot Carnivores, while Transponder Lock Module turns T’au Walkers into heavy hitters that can deploy into critical positions.
Pair Admired Leader with a strong Kroot force to boost their Objective Control for securing key objectives while protecting them with Fanatical Convert for overwatch support.
Stratagems – Versatility and Firepower
- Experimental Modifications (1 CP): Improves AP by 1 for Kroot or Vespid weapons in shooting or melee.
- Multisensory Scanning (1 CP): Re-roll Wound rolls of 1 for T’au Empire units; Kroot or Vespid can re-roll all Wounds instead.
- Interlocking Manoeuvres (1 CP): Allows T’au Empire units to Fall Back or move after combat.
- Pheromone Waypoints (1 CP): Automatically adds 6” to the Move characteristic for Kroot or Vespid units when Advancing.
- Alien Expertise (1 CP): Lets T’au Empire units shoot after Advancing; Kroot or Vespid can also charge after Advancing.
- Guided Fire (1 CP): Adds +1 Strength to T’au ranged weapons (+2 if within 9” of Kroot or Vespid).
The Stratagems emphasize mobility and combined firepower. For example, use Pheromone Waypoints to advance Kroot Farstalkers into position, then follow up with Guided Fire to turn nearby Fire Warriors into armor-piercing machines.
Interlocking Manoeuvres ensures your T’au units can reposition after combat, while Multisensory Scanning makes Kroot and Vespid devastating against tougher targets with consistent wound re-rolls. Together, these abilities create a dynamic and adaptable battlefield presence.
Competitive Builds and Synergies
- Kroot Alpha Strike: Deep Strike Kroot units with Student of Kauyon, then follow up with Experimental Modifications to shred enemy infantry or light vehicles.
- Vespid Ambush: Use Pheromone Waypoints to advance Vespid Stingwings into flanking positions, then pair with Multisensory Scanning for deadly shooting efficiency.
- Fire Warrior Gunline: Position Fire Warriors behind a Kroot screen to maximize Targeting Triangulation for armor-piercing volleys. Add Guided Fire for even more punch.
- Crisis Battlesuit Synergy: Deploy Crisis Battlesuits near Kroot or Vespid units to benefit from Targeting Triangulation and leverage their firepower in coordinated strikes.
The new Auxiliary Cadre T’au detachment thrives on teamwork between Kroot, Vespid, and T’au units. By combining Targeting Triangulation with enhanced AP or Guided Fire, you can dismantle tough targets with ease.
Use Interlocking Manoeuvres to keep your T’au units mobile, while Kroot and Vespid handle objective play or create deadly ambushes. The synergy between units ensures your army is flexible, deadly, and unpredictable.
Sample Warhammer 40k Army List
This Army list focuses on using Tau’s strategic leadership to elevate your Kroot and Vespid, making them key parts of your strategy while still relying on the heavy firepower and versatility of the Tau battlesuits.
Characters
- Tau Commander in a Coldstar – 115 pts, Character, provides command and buffs for Tau units, especially for Kroot and Vespid
- Enhancement: Admired Leader (20 pts) – improves leadership and Objective Control for nearby Kroot and Vespid units
- Kroot Shaper – 60 pts, Character, offers leadership and combat support for Kroot units
- Enhancement: Student of Kauyon (15 pts) – grants Deep Strike to Kroot units, providing them greater flexibility in deployment
- Crisis Commander in Enforcer Battkesuit – 105 pts, Character, versatile battlesuit commander for support and offense
- Enhancement: Transponder Lock Module (25 pts) – allows Deep Strike within 12″ of Kroot or Vespid, adding tactical flexibility
Battleline
- Strike Team (10 models) – 75 pts, backfield objective holders
Other Units
- Kroot Carnivores (10 models) – 130 pts, cheap troops with decent melee and shooting potential
- Kroot Carnivores (10 models) – 1300 pts, cheap troops with decent melee and shooting potential
- Vespid Stingwings (10 models) – 130 pts, fast, aggressive units with good shooting capabilities and speed
- Vespid Stingwings (10 models) – 130 pts, fast, aggressive units with good shooting capabilities and speed
- Crisis Fireknife Battlesuits (3 models) – 130 pts, Other, versatile unit for both shooting and melee combat
- Crisis Fireknife Battlesuits (3 models) – 130 pts, Other, versatile unit for both shooting and melee combat
- Riptide Battlesuit – 190 pts, Other, heavy support unit for ranged firepower and tanking damage
- Stealth Suits (3 models) – 60 pts, Other, provide stealth and additional fire support, moving with Kroot or Vespid
- Kroot Hounds (10 models) – 80 pts, Other, speed and combat support for Kroot units
- Kroot Hounds (5 models) – 40 pts, Other, speed and combat support for Kroot units
- Broadside Battlesuit (1 model) – 90 pts, Long range firepower and support for the Kroot.
- Stormsurge – 400 pts, Other, powerful heavy battlesuit providing support and anti-vehicle firepower
Kroot provide a strong, cost-effective battleline that can be enhanced by Shaper leadership and the Student of Kauyon enhancement, which grants Deep Strike to Kroot units.
Meanwhile, Vespid Stingwings bring high mobility and decent ranged damage, benefiting from Admired Leader to boost their leadership and objective control.
The Tau Commander and Crisis Commander provide the necessary leadership and firepower, with the Admired Leader and Transponder Lock Module enhancements granting bonuses to the Kroot and Vespid, making them more reliable in a combat role.
The battlesuits, including Crisis Battlesuits, Riptide, and Stormsurge, bring heavier fire support and tanking potential to the army, ensuring that you have enough firepower to deal with tougher opponents.
The Multisensory Scanning, Guided Fire, and Pheromone Waypoints stratagems further enhance the synergy of your army, improving the strength and accuracy of your Kroot and Vespid units while also giving your Tau battlesuits the ability to keep advancing and dealing damage reliably.
Don’t forget, the points are ever-changing in Warhammer 40k (and just changed again), so be sure to check out the Field Munitorum for all the current points!
Auxiliary Cadre – Final Thoughts
The Auxiliary Cadre Detachment perfectly embodies the T’au philosophy of unity through diversity. By blending the unique strengths of Kroot and Vespid with the precision firepower of the T’au, this T’au detachment creates a cohesive force that rewards careful planning and coordinated attacks.
Whether you’re advancing Kroot under the cover of stealth projectors or unleashing devastating volleys from Fire Warriors and Crisis Battlesuits, the Auxiliary Cadre delivers a dynamic and rewarding playstyle. Embrace the Greater Good and dominate the battlefield with this versatile detachment!
See All the New 40k Detachment Rules Here
What do you think about the new Tau Auxiliary Cadre 10th Edition Warhammer 40k Detachments rules from the first Grotmas Calendar?
About the Author: Sam Duguid
Sam Duguid
Job Title: Freelance Writer
Socials: @duguid_mr
About Sam Duguid: Sam has been into Warhammer 40K for about half his life, starting back in 2006 with the Battle for Macragge starter set in 4th edition. He got really competitive and even became the Top ITC Eldar Corsair player in 2019, using a sweet list made up entirely of Venoms and Reavers bands.
While Sam is all about the different flavors of Eldar, they also enjoy playing Astra Militarum, Charcharodons, Night Lords, and Knights! When they’re not focused on 40K, Sam loves to get into Warhammer Fantasy, Horus Heresy, Age of Sigmar, Legions Imperialis, Battlefleet Gothic, and even Titanicus.
They’re always looking for any game that they can convince their friends to play with them. Currently, Sam is working on their airborne Astra Militarum army along with several Age of Sigmar and Old World armies.
