Have you seen this unit? Part 17

Abhumans are a human subspecies. They are descendants of humans who have physically evolved (or devolved) after long periods of isolation on planets with various extreme conditions. Usually they are viewed as trash, except for two of them Ratlings and Ogryn. These are two more of the other fantasy crossover 40K races (space elves, evil space elves and dead space dwarves).

Sorry but there will be, no "BOOM! HEAD SHOT!"

Ratlings are the hobbits of the 40K universe. They come from agricultural worlds and usually have a medieval level of civilization. They are a very lazy, unambitious and epicurean. However, they somehow make excellent Imperial Guard snipers.

These are an elite choice for the Guard and come in a squad of three ( for the cost of the minimum age to be a U.S. Senator) and you can add up to seven more at a dime a piece. Stat-wise they are pretty much better ballistic and initiative Gretchin. They are WS, strength and toughness of 2, 1 wound and attack, BS and initiative 4, leadership 6 and a 5+ save. They also have the Infiltrate and Stealth special rules. They are armed with sniper rifles, a las pistol and flak armor.

Well they get the big look over from Guard players because, well snipers aren't great. With 4+ cover easily attainable and the fact that pinning tests are useless, these marksman haflings stay in the shire. 

Their low cost makes  them a nice filler unit, but why take them when a Veteran Squad with three melta guns costs the same as a full Ratling Squad. Which would you rather have?

Without some huge change to sniper rifles or pinning tests, I don't see these furry footed burrowers making it into army lists any time soon. I think that is fine as hobbits in space is super lame!



Ogryns evolved on cold, high-gravity prison planets. They are huge and dumb, but they are very loyal once introduced to the Imperial Guard. I guess they are the big scary neighborhood dog, that is really cuddly once you get to know him.

"SHUNK HEAD NOT BIG!!"

Well the Imperial Guard has put these brutes to use on the battlefield as shock troops. They do lack skill and agility, but they compensate with strength and toughness. They are armed with a Ripper Gun (12" S5 AP- assault 3), which is not also a gun but a viable club in close combat. Now add that to their WS 4, BS 3, strength and toughness 5, wounds and attacks of 3, initiative 2, leadership 6 and a 5+ save. They also have frag grenades, the rules Stubborn, Furious Charge  and Bulky. One member is a Bonehead (bionic brain Ogryn) that nets an extra attack and leadership 7. Three of these is the base squad and will run $1.30 in points.

Bulky- means that these guys take up two slots in a transport.

Well what isn't to like about these brutes? They seem to form a viable shock trooper for the Guard. They are strong, tough, multi-wound, multi-attack, and have Furious Charge. A five or six man squad in a Chimera could be quite formidable, a whole lot of strength 5 coming out of a vehicle (S 6 on the charge is nothing to sneeze at). As would a similar squad on foot to anchor a gun line, act as a tarpit or be a sturdy counter assault unit.

Sure they have a horrid initiative and their leadership isn't stellar. However, they have Stubborn to keep from the negatives from losing a combat, and you can always throw in a character for a leadership buff. A Primaris Psyker or cheap HQ Priest maybe?

All that aside why do these guys get the big pass? Well I think it is the cost. A descent squad and transport for them is a lot of points, like 260+ points for 5 Ogryns and Chimera. These are points that can be used to buy many many other toys for the Guard. They are also metal, or soon to be Finecast, but the real world cost of these guys is a bit staggering. Being cost prohibitive seems to be their biggest problem.

Sure they aren't the fastest, but they are strong and resilient. One should never overlook a pure strength and toughness 5 unit with multiple wounds (Thunderwolves anyone?) if you have the chance to take it. I really don't see a viable change to make with these guys to make people really want to use them.