The Adeptus Custodes, the Emperor’s personal guard, are among the most elite warriors in the galaxy. Their power on the tabletop is directly reflected in the Custodes Datasheet, a crucial document for anyone looking to field these golden giants in Warhammer 40,000. Understanding the information contained within this sheet is paramount to strategizing and commanding your Custodes forces effectively.
Decoding the Custodes Datasheet Power
A Custodes Datasheet is more than just a piece of paper; it’s the key to understanding a unit’s capabilities and limitations on the battlefield. Think of it as the unit’s profile, providing all the stats and special rules you need to know. The datasheet details everything from movement speed and weapon skill to toughness and wounds, allowing you to quickly assess a unit’s survivability and offensive potential. Every stat is critical to understanding your army’s strengths and weaknesses. These stats are then used during the game to resolve actions such as shooting, melee combat, and psychic powers. For example:
- Movement (M): How many inches the unit can move in the Movement phase.
- Weapon Skill (WS): Determines hit rolls in melee combat.
- Ballistic Skill (BS): Determines hit rolls when shooting.
- Strength (S): Used in melee to wound the enemy.
- Toughness (T): Resists being wounded.
- Wounds (W): Represents how much damage the unit can take.
- Attacks (A): How many attacks the unit makes in melee combat.
- Leadership (Ld): Used for Morale tests.
- Save (Sv): Determines if an attack is saved.
Beyond the basic stats, the Custodes Datasheet also lists the unit’s wargear, special abilities, and keywords. Wargear dictates the weapons and equipment the unit carries, with each weapon having its own profile on a separate datasheet. Special abilities represent unique skills and rules that define the unit’s role on the battlefield. Keywords identify the unit’s faction (e.g., Adeptus Custodes), role (e.g., Infantry), and other relevant categories, which are crucial for determining army composition and accessing certain stratagems. Mastering these components of the datasheet is critical for successfully deploying and utilizing your Custodes army. To exemplify further, consider the following aspects commonly found within a datasheet:
- Unit Composition: This tells you how many models are in the unit.
- Wargear Options: Describes the weapons and equipment the unit is armed with, and any options for changing them.
- Abilities: These are special rules that the unit possesses, which can significantly impact its performance on the battlefield. Examples may include “Aegis of the Emperor” or unique combat doctrines.
In practice, the Custodes Datasheet guides every decision you make during a game. When shooting, you consult the datasheet for your weapon’s range, strength, and armor penetration. When charging into melee, you check your unit’s weapon skill, strength, and number of attacks. When taking casualties, you track the unit’s remaining wounds. Throughout the game, the datasheet serves as your constant reference, ensuring you understand the capabilities and limitations of your Custodes warriors.
To truly maximize the effectiveness of your Custodes army, consult the official Warhammer 40,000 rulebook and codex alongside the Custodes Datasheet. These resources will provide a comprehensive understanding of the rules and strategies necessary to unleash the Emperor’s wrath upon your foes.