Nearly every sentient being has a psychic resonance with the warp – a terrifying realm where emotion takes form. It may seem like a horrific way to make war, but this impersonal slaughter has won untold victories in the name of the Emperor. Overwhelm your enemies by hurling regiments of Guardsmen into the meat grinder, or crush your foes beneath the tracks of dozens of tanks. If you like the idea of filling the air with countless lasgun beams, salvoes of missiles, and the fury of plasma blasts, then the Imperial Guard is for you. When the grand armies of the Astra Militarum open fire, it is apocalyptic. Astra Militarum armies are characterised by teeming regiments of ground-pounding infantry, mechanised assault spearheads, rumbling armoured columns, tortured battle psykers, companies of abhuman troopers, sprawling batteries of mobile artillery, sky-darkening squadrons of combat aircraft, and super-heavy war engines the size of mobile fortresses. In battle, the Imperial Guard bring immense firepower and sheer, crushing weight of numbers to bear. In a galaxy of terrors, those who would stand firm and fight for their species are champions all. You can support your masses of augmetic soldiers with maniples of battle robots – ancient Cybernetica war constructs driven by clattering difference engines – as well as insectoid walking tanks, Kataphron servitors or other lethal war machines. Rank upon rank of cyborg Skitarii march tirelessly into the teeth of rival guns, or ride to battle aboard Skorpius Duneriders, raising binharic hymns to the glory of the Omnissiah as their radium carbines and galvanic rifles howl and crack. It is not uncommon for forge worlds to launch vast, interstellar crusades in order to recover some lost repository of scientific knowledge or weapons technology, should such a prize present itself.Īn Adeptus Mechanicus army in the field resembles a bizarre and grotesque religious procession. Such is the will of the Omnissiah, and his priests will stop at nothing to see that will done.

The Adeptus Mechanicus prize knowledge above all things, and without a second thought they will shed oceans of blood – both the enemy’s and their own – in their endless crusade for its acquisition.

As bolts thunder from the guns of their guardian spears, swords and axes, their gilded storm shields deflect shots and blades as they fight and slay the enemies of the Emperor.

Equipped with the finest wargear that the Imperium can provide, your forces will be able to wade into the enemy.

Fortunately, a single Custodian Guard is the equal of entire regiments of any other soldier, meaning that you’ll triumph despite being constantly outnumbered in battle. The Adeptus Custodes never exceed ten thousand warriors at any given time. Guided by psychic divination and the intelligence gathered by shadowy agents, they strike down demagogues and warlords who might otherwise raise invasion forces against the heart of the Imperium. While they were created to defend the Throne World, the Adeptus Custodes have recognised that the most effective way to safeguard Terra is to take a proactive hand in the ongoing battle against Mankind’s innumerable foes. 10,000 years ago the Custodians were created by the Emperor as his companions and sworn bodyguards.

Horus heresy book 9