All the new 40k Datasheets are here for the Blackstone Fortress. Check out our thoughts on how they will work on the tabletop!
First Chaos, and then Janus and his band of adventurer’s stats have been spotted for 40k as well. Check out all the new models’ unique abilities and datasheets that are coming in the latest installment of the Warhammer Quest series.
The game is coming jam-packed with brand new minis that are going to be playable on the 40k tabletop as well.
We now have rules for the following models inside Blackstone Fortress:
- UR-025
- Eldar Ranger model
- Kroot
- Ministorum Priest
- Missionary Zealot
- Ratlings
- Janus(?)
- Imperial Navigator
For the Chaos Side, we’ll be seeing:
- Renegade Guardsmen
- Ur Ghul
- Sorcerer models
- Negavolt Cultists
- Chaos Lord
- Chaos Marines
- Beastmen
The models might be incentive enough for you to want the box, but the game itself doesn’t sound half bad either!
Spotted on Imgur, Janus and his men are getting some exclusive rules for the 40k tabletop.
Janus Draik
Janus is able to chew through infantry models if he manages to wound them. He’s got a decent pistol with -2 AP and 2D flat…that can kill a Terminator or finish off a character. He’s only S3 but his sword is AP -4. The AP is ridiculous but at only S3 and three attacks, he probably won’t be doing much in combat other than guaranteeing a few Guardsmen kills.
Just like Elucia Vhane, he’s got his own Concealed Archeotech Weapon that lets him dish out D3 mortal wounds practically for free. He can also reroll ones for himself and embark on any Imperium transport like the inquisition.
Espern Locarno
Espern is essentially a mortal wound engine that can target units for his smite. However, he only knows smite and it only has a range of 12″.
Pious Vorne
Pious Vorne especially hates Chaos. She’s got a special flamer that can roll 2d6 when hitting and discards the lowest when she targets enemy Chaos units.
She is a literal glass cannon so don’t expect her to stay on the table too long. She can reroll failed hits when she charges an enemy, but with a 5+ FNP and a 7+ armor sv, she won’t last.
Taddeus the Purifier
The neat thing about Taddeus is he actually buffs Adeptus Minisotum and Astra Militarum units for an extra attack. He also has a built-in reroll for himself and has a S5 AP-1 power maul. Not bad considering he’s only a 3PL character.
UR-025
UR-025 is coming in strong with a MK1 assault cannon. Talk about a relic! It’s only got four shots at S5, but isn’t that bad considering all the other bonuses he has. He can heal a wound each turn, comes with a 3+ sv at T5, and last but not least, has a S10 power claw.
The bad news is that he can’t be taken in any detachment and remain battle-forged (besides a support auxiliary).
Rein & Raus
Rein and Rauss have some really cool rules and for the most part, are really fluffy. The sad fact is that they’ll get squashed like bugs in the first battle round. These guys come loaded with rules that let them deploy almost anywhere, they can operate independently, reroll failed hits/wounds, and even move after shooting. Again, these guys are T3 with a 4+ sv IN COVER.
A single Guardsmen unit has enough volley fire to take these guys out in one round of shooting.
Dahyak Grekh
Dahyak follows the deepstrike rules which is nice as he can drop right on top of objectives. He’s got a 4+ sv in cover and can target characters. Too bad his weapon literally does nothing. S4 rapid fire 1 is no reason to take a character.
He does have a mini-mortal wound dealer with concealed booby traps which is nice. You may cause your opponent to react a little differently. Bottom line, he’s a cheap disruptor unit.
Amallyn Shadowguide
Amallyn is in the same boat as Dahyak and the Ratlings. She can deepstrike, has a built-in reroll against Slaanesh units, and can (basically only throw grenades) if she advances. Her Battle Focus excludes her only shooting weapon…Phase Crystal is nice as she’s got a 4+ invulnerable and ignores other models/terrain.
Lastly, she has a 3+ sv in cover. More than likely, you’ll be rolling that 4++ more though.
Blackstone Fortress Chaos 40k Rules
Also spotted on Imgur, Chaos looks like it’ll be getting a decent upgrade with these exclusive Blackstone Fortress units.
Obsidius Mallex & his Psykers
Similar to Elucia from the Rogue Trader Kill Team box set, Obsidius and his followers have to be set up right next to each other all at the same time. Obsidius himself looks like a Chaos Lord that rerolls 1s for his band of heretics as well as Black Legion units. He’s pretty decked out getting four swings with a thunder hammer as well as a plasma pistol for back up.
Everything else is pretty standard issue on what you’d find for a Chaos character.
The Rogue Psykers are cheap mortal wound spammers as they only know smite. However, their Unrestrained Power rule lets them reroll ones in the psychic phase. That’s a little bit of protection against perils of the warp. However, these guys perils on any roll of a double. They also don’t take up a slot in your detachment…nothing game breaking, but it’s nice.
Traitor Guardsmen
Traitor Guardsmen are literally just bodies for the table. Don’t expect these guys to do much other than screen and hold backfield objectives. The way it’s worded, each unit HAS to come with certain equipment. If you take Obsidius, they have to be set up next to him and it looks like they can’t be given any orders.
Negavolt Cultists & the Legionnaires
Negavolt Cultists are going to be glass cannon shock troops that can potentially do some decent damage and then die immediately after. They can do some mortal wounds on the charge and rolling a six to hit counts as three hits…but there’s no AP and it’s only S5.
They DO have a 5+ FNP but at T3 and a 6+ sv, expect these guys to fold against anything that looks at them.
The black Legionnaires are a unit that contains only two Heretic Astartes. They have the Black Legion keyword along with Servants of the Abyss. We initially thought that this unit was meant to help flesh out a Batallion detachment for cheap, but Mallex’s Followers rule prevents them from taking up a spot in your detachment.
Other Blackstone Forces
Spindle Drones can hit really hard once their models start dying off. The sucky part is that as of right now, you can only play these guys in a narrative-type game. They Keywords we have to choose from in 40k can’t be combined with the drones in any way it appears.
Beastmen are looking to be another shock troop for Chaos. They are only 1PL and get +1S and Attack when they charge. These guys also don’t take up a detachment slot, but have to be a SotA army.
The Ur-ghul models are nothing new. But it’s another unit for Aeldari players to take in their list. Kabal Archons actually let them fight better with Court of the Archon. One downside is that you can’t take them in unit sizes bigger than one model.
Points wise we had the break down from Monday.
So when you combine the rules and the points together, what unit is looking the strongest to you?
Which of these units is your favorite now? Let us know in the comments of our Facebook Hobby Group.
About the Author: Rob Baer
Rob Baer
Job Title: Managing Editor
Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
Socials: Rob Baer on Facebook and @catdaddymbg on X
About Rob Baer: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor of Spikey Bits, the leading tabletop gaming news website focused on the hobby side of wargaming and miniatures.
Rob also co-founded and currently hosts the Long War Podcast, which has over 350 episodes and focuses on tabletop miniatures gaming, specializing in Warhammer 40k. and spent six years writing for Bell of Lost Souls.
Every year, along with his co-hosts, he helps host the Long War 40k Doubles Tournament at Adepticon and the Long War 40k Doubles at Las Vegas Open, which attracts over 350 players from around the world.
Rob has won many Warhammer 40k Tournaments over the years, including multiple first-place finishes in Warhammer 40k Grand Tournaments over the years and even winning 1st place at the Adepticon 40k Team Tournament.
With over 30 years of experience in retail and distribution, Rob knows all the products and exactly which ones are the best. As a member of GAMA (Game Manufacturers Association), he advocates for gaming stores and manufacturers in these difficult times, always looking for the next big thing to feature for the miniatures hobby, helping everyone to provide the value consumers want.
While he’s played every edition of Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy (since 5th Edition) and has been hobbying on miniatures since the 1980s, Titans of all sizes will always be his favorite! It’s even rumored that his hobby vault rivals the Solemnance Galleries, containing rulebooks filled with lore from editions long past, ancient packs of black-bordered Magic Cards, and models made of both pewter and resin.
