The SPACE MARINE Datasheet is the foundational element for commanding your glorious warriors on the tabletop battlefield of Warhammer 40,000. It’s your key to understanding the capabilities and limitations of each unit, providing vital statistics that dictate how they perform in combat. Mastering the information contained within a SPACE MARINE Datasheet is crucial for both novice and veteran players alike, enabling strategic decision-making and maximizing the effectiveness of your army.
Decoding the SPACE MARINE Datasheet
A SPACE MARINE Datasheet is essentially a stat block that outlines everything you need to know about a specific unit of Space Marines. It details their movement speed, weapon skills, toughness, saving throws, wounds, attacks, leadership, and more. Understanding these stats is essential for planning your tactics. These stats directly influence how the unit interacts with the environment and other units in the game. Consider the following aspects which can be found in a datasheet:
- Movement (M): How far the unit can move in inches during the movement phase.
- Weapon Skill (WS): Determines the unit’s ability to hit in melee combat.
- Ballistic Skill (BS): Determines the unit’s ability to hit with ranged weapons.
These stats are the building blocks for determining the outcome of attacks and maneuvers on the battlefield. Beyond the core stats, a datasheet also includes information about the unit’s wargear (weapons and equipment), special abilities, and any restrictions on how the unit can be deployed or used in your army. These special rules and abilities are often what differentiate units from one another, allowing for highly specialized roles within your army composition.
SPACE MARINE Datasheets are used to resolve actions during a game of Warhammer 40,000. For example, when shooting, you would use the Ballistic Skill (BS) stat, along with the weapon’s profile, to determine if the attack hits the target. Similarly, when attacked, the defending unit’s Toughness (T) and Save stat are used to determine if the attack wounds and inflicts damage. Here is a basic example:
| Statistic | Example Value | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Movement | 6" | Unit moves 6 inches. |
| Toughness | 4 | Opponent needs a certain roll to wound this unit. |
Want to dive deeper into SPACE MARINE Datasheets and see examples of them in action? Consult the official Warhammer 40,000 rulebook and Codex Space Marines for detailed explanations and unit profiles. They are great resources to learn more.