M
6"
T
4
SV
2+
W
5
LD
6+
OC
1
The Emperor's Vigilant Blades
Deathwatch
“Suffer Not the Alien to Live”
Hidden within fortress-monasteries scattered across the Jericho Reach and beyond, the Deathwatch draws its Battle-Brothers from a hundred Chapters, each veteran carrying his Chapter's honour into a black-armoured brotherhood sworn to annihilate the xenos. Kill-teams operate in the shadows, striking with surgical precision against threats too subtle or too vast for ordinary crusades, their black carapace armour marked only by the shoulder pad of their parent Chapter—a solitary reminder of the brothers they left behind.
Allied contingent · Deathwatch operate as an Agents of the Imperium kill team attached to a parent Imperium army; treat these cards as an allied contingent rather than a full standalone codex.
Army Rule
Xenophase Blade Doctrines
At the start of the battle, select one Vigilance Doctrine (e.g. Rechannelled Fury, Storm of Fire) for your army, granting a bespoke bonus against a chosen enemy category (ORKS, TYRANIDS, NECRONS, etc.) that scales with the mission's Kill Team focus.
1 available
Detachments & Enhancements
Deathwatch - Black Spear Task Force
Mission Tactics
Thousands of years of collated strategic data and hard-won combat experience have provided the Deathwatch with the ultimate battlefield tactics to combat almost any foe. At the start of your Command phase, you can select one of the Mission Tactics listed below. Until the start of your next Command phase, that Mission Tactic is active and its effects apply to all units from your army with this ability. Each Mission Tactic can only be selected once per battle. FUROR TACTICS When the enemy horde grows close, the Deathwatch will be tasked with the decimation of their core. Aiming not for clinical kills but for maximum destruction over a wide area, they tear the heart from the enemy army. While this Mission Tactic is active, weapons equipped by Adeptus Astartes units from your army have the [SUSTAINED HITS 1 ] ability. MALLEUS TACTICS When the giants of war lumber forth, the Deathwatch will adopt Malleus tactics. Even the largest behemoth has a weak point, and the archives of the Deathwatch number them all. While this Mission Tactic is active, weapons equipped by Adeptus Astartes units from your army have the [LETHAL HITS] ability. PURGATUS TACTICS By adopting Purgatus tactics, the Deathwatch focus their deadly ire upon the commanders of the enemy host, assassinating them one after another with pitiless head shots and killing thrusts of the blade. While this Mission Tactic is active, each time an Adeptus Astartes unit from your army makes an attack, if a Critical Hit is scored, that attack has the [PRECISION] ability.
Thief of Secrets
25 ptsThe Thief of Secrets is a blade whose machine spirit has an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. It has tasted the vitae of countless alien races, absorbing those liquids through auto-sanctified sanguinator-channels and codifying them through the honeycombed array of logicum cells within. The biological secrets of many xenos races have thus been laid bare, allowing the blade's user to modulate its power field, the better to slice through chitinous armour, rupture xenoform organs and burn out alien nervous systems. Adeptus Astartes model only. Improve the Strength, Damage and Armour Penetration characteristics of the bearer's melee weapons by 1. At the end of the Fight phase, if one or more enemy models were destroyed as a result of a melee attack made by the bearer this phase, until the end of the battle, improve the Strength, Damage and Armour Penetration characteristics of the bearer's melee weapons by 2 instead.
Osseus Key
15 ptsThe ancient clavis known as the Osseus Key is said to be the most powerful of its kind. Where other such devices are made from sanctified platinum, the Osseus Key is made from the hand and finger bones of deceased Imperial Fists heroes that fought in the Horus Heresy, scrimshawed with inhuman care and imbued with the fiercest machine spirits of the age. No portal can bar its bearer from entry, and no xenos machine can stand before his wrath. Watch Master or Techmarine model only. At the start of your opponent's Shooting phase, select one enemy Vehicle unit (excluding Titanic units) within 12" of and visible to the bearer. That unit must take a Leadership test. If that test is passed, until the end of the phase, each time a model in that unit makes an attack, subtract 1 from the Hit roll; if that test is failed, that unit is not eligible to shoot this phase. you can use these Black Spear Task
Beacon Angelis
25 ptsThe Beacon Angelis was devised to guide the Deathwatch to the threshold of the alien adversary. Housed within a reliquary, it calls out to the warriors' augur arrays with the voices of a hundred electric cherubim, its summons so strong that it draws the righteous unto its locale regardless of what darkness may surround it. Adeptus Astartes model only. Models in the bearer's unit have the Deep Strike ability. In addition, you can target the bearer's unit with the Rapid Ingress Stratagem for.
The Tome of Ectoclades
30 ptsThis grimoire, bound in the skin of the alien, holds the most powerful truths the Deathwatch have uncovered about their foes, whether xenos or those who harbour them. On occasion, such knowledge has been known to save not only the book's custodian, but entire worlds. Watch Master or Captain model only. Once per battle, after you have selected your Oath of Moment target, the bearer can use this Enhancement. If it does, select a second enemy unit to be an Oath of Moment target. Designer's Note: This means that each time a model with the Oath of Moment ability makes an attack that targets either of your Oath of Moment targets, you can re-roll the Hit roll.
6 stratagems
Stratagems
Armour of Contempt
1 CPDetachment · Shooting phase · Deathwatch - Black Spear Task Force
WHEN: Your opponent's Shooting phase or the Fight phase, just after an enemy unit has selected its targets. TARGET: One Adeptus Astartes unit from your army that was selected as the target of one or more of the attacking unit's attacks. EFFECT: Until the attacking unit has finished making its attacks, each time an attack targets your unit, worsen the Armour Penetration characteristic of that attack by 1.
Adaptive Tactics
1 CPDetachment · Command phase · Deathwatch - Black Spear Task Force
WHEN: Your Command phase. TARGET: Up to two Kill Team units from your army, or one other Adeptus Astartes unit from your army. EFFECT: For each unit targeted, select Furor Tactics, Malleus Tactics or Purgatus Tactics. Until the start of your next Command phase, that Mission Tactic is active for that unit instead of any Mission Tactic that is active for your army. rule, you can use these Black Spear Task
Hellfire Rounds
1 CPWargear · Shooting phase · Deathwatch - Black Spear Task Force
WHEN: Your Shooting phase. TARGET: One Kill Team unit from your army that has not been selected to shoot this phase. EFFECT: Until the end of the phase, ranged weapons (excluding Devastating Wounds weapons) equipped by models in your unit have the [ANTI-INFANTRY 2+] and [ANTI-MONSTER 5+] abilities. RESTRICTIONS: You cannot select any units that have already been targeted with either the Kraken Rounds or Dragonfire Rounds Stratagems this phase.
Kraken Rounds
1 CPWargear · Shooting phase · Deathwatch - Black Spear Task Force
WHEN: Your Shooting phase. TARGET: One Kill Team unit from your army that has not been selected to shoot this phase. EFFECT: Until the end of the phase, improve the Armour Penetration characteristic of ranged weapons equipped by models in your unit by 1 and improve the Range characteristic of those weapons by 6". RESTRICTIONS: You cannot select any units that have already been targeted with either the Dragonfire Rounds or Hellfire Rounds Stratagems this phase.
Dragonfire Rounds
1 CPWargear · Shooting phase · Deathwatch - Black Spear Task Force
WHEN: Your Shooting phase. TARGET: One Kill Team unit from your army that has not been selected to shoot this phase. EFFECT: Until the end of the phase, ranged weapons equipped by models in your unit have the [ASSAULT] and [IGNORES COVER] abilities. RESTRICTIONS: You cannot select any units that have already been targeted with either the Kraken Rounds or Hellfire Rounds Stratagems this phase. rule, you can use these Black Spear Task
Site-to-site Teleportation
1 CPDetachment · Fight phase · Deathwatch - Black Spear Task Force
WHEN: End of your opponent's Fight phase. TARGET: Up to two Kill Team units from your army, or one other Adeptus Astartes Infantry unit from your army, if those units are not within Engagement Range of one or more enemy units. EFFECT: Remove those units from the battlefield and place them into Strategic Reserves. Until the end of your next Movement phase, models in those units that do not have the Deep Strike ability have the Deep Strike ability.
134 units
Datasheets
M
5"
T
6
SV
3+
W
3
LD
6+
OC
1
M
5"
T
5
SV
2+
W
5
LD
6+
OC
1
M
5"
T
6
SV
3+
W
5
LD
6+
OC
3
M
6"
T
4
SV
3+
W
2
LD
6+
OC
2
M
6"
T
4
SV
3+
W
2
LD
6+
OC
1
M
12"
T
4
SV
3+
W
2
LD
6+
OC
1
M
6"
T
4
SV
4+
W
1
LD
8+
OC
0
M
10"
T
12
SV
2+
W
24
LD
6+
OC
8
M
12"
T
5
SV
3+
W
5
LD
6+
OC
2
M
8"
T
10
SV
2+
W
12
LD
6+
OC
4
M
12"
T
5
SV
3+
W
3
LD
6+
OC
2
ATTACK BIKE
M
12"
T
5
SV
3+
W
5
LD
6+
OC
2
M
6"
T
4
SV
3+
W
4
LD
6+
OC
1
M
6"
T
4
SV
3+
W
3
LD
6+
OC
1
M
8"
T
10
SV
2+
W
12
LD
6+
OC
4
M
6"
T
4
SV
3+
W
5
LD
6+
OC
1
M
6"
T
6
SV
3+
W
6
LD
6+
OC
1
M
6"
T
4
SV
3+
W
5
LD
6+
OC
1
M
5"
T
5
SV
2+
W
6
LD
6+
OC
1
M
12"
T
5
SV
3+
W
6
LD
6+
OC
2
M
6"
T
4
SV
2+
W
5
LD
6+
OC
1
M
12"
T
4
SV
3+
W
5
LD
6+
OC
1
M
4"
T
7
SV
2+
W
4
LD
6+
OC
2
M
4"
T
7
SV
2+
W
4
LD
6+
OC
2
M
6"
T
4
SV
3+
W
4
LD
5+
OC
1
M
6"
T
4
SV
3+
W
4
LD
5+
OC
1
M
5"
T
5
SV
2+
W
5
LD
5+
OC
1
M
12"
T
5
SV
3+
W
5
LD
5+
OC
1
M
12"
T
4
SV
3+
W
4
LD
6+
OC
1
M
6"
T
4
SV
3+
W
4
LD
6+
OC
1
M
6"
T
4
SV
3+
W
3
LD
6+
OC
1
M
6"
T
9
SV
2+
W
10
LD
6+
OC
3
M
14"
T
10
SV
3+
W
14
LD
6+
OC
0
M
5"
T
5
SV
2+
W
6
LD
6+
OC
1
M
5"
T
5
SV
2+
W
3
LD
6+
OC
1
M
6"
T
4
SV
3+
W
2
LD
6+
OC
2
M
6"
T
4
SV
3+
W
2
LD
6+
OC
2
GRAVIS VETERAN
M
5"
T
6
SV
3+
W
3
LD
6+
OC
2
M
6"
T
4
SV
3+
W
2
LD
6+
OC
1
M
6"
T
4
SV
3+
W
2
LD
6+
OC
1
M
6"
T
9
SV
2+
W
8
LD
6+
OC
3
M
6"
T
4
SV
3+
W
2
LD
6+
OC
1
M
5"
T
6
SV
3+
W
3
LD
6+
OC
1
M
3"
T
6
SV
2+
W
6
LD
6+
OC
2
M
6"
T
4
SV
3+
W
2
LD
6+
OC
2
M
10"
T
10
SV
3+
W
12
LD
6+
OC
3
M
10"
T
10
SV
3+
W
12
LD
6+
OC
3
M
10"
T
10
SV
3+
W
12
LD
6+
OC
3
M
5"
T
6
SV
3+
W
3
LD
6+
OC
2
M
6"
T
4
SV
3+
W
2
LD
6+
OC
1
M
9"
T
11
SV
3+
W
11
LD
6+
OC
3
M
12"
T
9
SV
3+
W
11
LD
6+
OC
2
M
10"
T
6
SV
3+
W
3
LD
6+
OC
1
M
6"
T
4
SV
3+
W
2
LD
6+
OC
1
M
5"
T
6
SV
3+
W
3
LD
6+
OC
1
M
6"
T
4
SV
3+
W
2
LD
6+
OC
1
M
6"
T
4
SV
3+
W
2
LD
6+
OC
1
M
6"
T
4
SV
3+
W
2
LD
6+
OC
2
M
12"
T
5
SV
3+
W
8
LD
6+
OC
2
M
8"
T
8
SV
3+
W
12
LD
6+
OC
4
M
5"
T
6
SV
2+
W
6
LD
6+
OC
1
M
6"
T
10
SV
2+
W
8
LD
6+
OC
3
M
6"
T
4
SV
3+
W
4
LD
5+
OC
1
M
12"
T
4
SV
3+
W
5
LD
6+
OC
1
M
6"
T
4
SV
3+
W
4
LD
5+
OC
2
M
6"
T
4
SV
3+
W
5
LD
6+
OC
1
M
10"
T
12
SV
2+
W
16
LD
6+
OC
5
M
12"
T
12
SV
2+
W
16
LD
6+
OC
5
M
12"
T
12
SV
2+
W
16
LD
6+
OC
5
M
14"
T
7
SV
3+
W
6
LD
6+
OC
2
M
14"
T
7
SV
4+
W
7
LD
6+
OC
1
M
14"
T
7
SV
3+
W
6
LD
6+
OC
2
M
14"
T
7
SV
3+
W
6
LD
6+
OC
2
M
6"
T
4
SV
3+
W
4
LD
6+
OC
1
M
6"
T
4
SV
3+
W
4
LD
6+
OC
1
M
5"
T
5
SV
2+
W
5
LD
6+
OC
1
M
12"
T
4
SV
3+
W
4
LD
6+
OC
1
M
6"
T
4
SV
3+
W
4
LD
6+
OC
1
M
6"
T
4
SV
3+
W
4
LD
6+
OC
1
M
6"
T
4
SV
3+
W
4
LD
6+
OC
1
M
6"
T
4
SV
3+
W
4
LD
6+
OC
1
M
6"
T
6
SV
2+
W
6
LD
6+
OC
1
VICTRIX HONOUR GUARD
M
6"
T
4
SV
2+
W
3
LD
6+
OC
1
M
12"
T
5
SV
3+
W
4
LD
6+
OC
2
INVADER ATV
M
12"
T
5
SV
3+
W
8
LD
6+
OC
2
M
6"
T
4
SV
2+
W
5
LD
6+
OC
1
M
10"
T
10
SV
3+
W
11
LD
6+
OC
3
M
10"
T
10
SV
3+
W
11
LD
6+
OC
3
M
6"
T
4
SV
3+
W
4
LD
6+
OC
1
M
6"
T
4
SV
3+
W
4
LD
6+
OC
1
M
6"
T
4
SV
3+
W
5
LD
6+
OC
1
M
6"
T
4
SV
3+
W
4
LD
5+
OC
1
M
6"
T
4
SV
3+
W
4
LD
6+
OC
1
M
6"
T
4
SV
3+
W
4
LD
6+
OC
1
M
6"
T
4
SV
3+
W
4
LD
6+
OC
1
M
6"
T
4
SV
2+
W
4
LD
6+
OC
1
M
6"
T
4
SV
3+
W
2
LD
6+
OC
1
M
12"
T
9
SV
3+
W
10
LD
6+
OC
2
M
8"
T
10
SV
2+
W
12
LD
6+
OC
4
M
6"
T
4
SV
3+
W
2
LD
6+
OC
1
M
5"
T
5
SV
2+
W
3
LD
6+
OC
1
M
10"
T
12
SV
3+
W
16
LD
6+
OC
5
M
10"
T
12
SV
3+
W
16
LD
6+
OC
5
M
12"
T
9
SV
3+
W
10
LD
6+
OC
2
M
8"
T
9
SV
2+
W
10
LD
5+
OC
4
M
12"
T
5
SV
4+
W
3
LD
6+
OC
2
M
6"
T
4
SV
4+
W
2
LD
6+
OC
1
M
6"
T
4
SV
4+
W
2
LD
6+
OC
1
M
6"
T
4
SV
2+
W
3
LD
6+
OC
1
M
6"
T
4
SV
4+
W
3
LD
6+
OC
1
M
6"
T
4
SV
3+
W
2
LD
6+
OC
1
M
9"
T
11
SV
3+
W
11
LD
6+
OC
3
M
6"
T
4
SV
3+
W
2
LD
6+
OC
1
M
14"
T
9
SV
3+
W
11
LD
6+
OC
3
M
14"
T
9
SV
3+
W
11
LD
6+
OC
3
M
14"
T
9
SV
3+
W
11
LD
6+
OC
3
M
20+"
T
9
SV
3+
W
10
LD
6+
OC
0
M
20+"
T
10
SV
3+
W
14
LD
6+
OC
0
M
20+"
T
8
SV
3+
W
10
LD
6+
OC
0
M
12"
T
4
SV
3+
W
2
LD
6+
OC
1
M
6"
T
4
SV
3+
W
2
LD
6+
OC
2
M
6"
T
4
SV
2+
W
3
LD
6+
OC
1
M
5"
T
5
SV
2+
W
3
LD
6+
OC
1
M
5"
T
5
SV
2+
W
3
LD
6+
OC
1
M
3"
T
6
SV
2+
W
6
LD
6+
OC
2
M
20+"
T
12
SV
2+
W
30
LD
6+
OC
0
M
5"
T
6
SV
3+
W
6
LD
6+
OC
1
M
6"
T
4
SV
3+
W
2
LD
6+
OC
1
M
6"
T
4
SV
3+
W
5
LD
6+
OC
1
M
6"
T
4
SV
3+
W
2
LD
6+
OC
1
M
12"
T
4
SV
3+
W
2
LD
6+
OC
1
M
12"
T
5
SV
3+
W
3
LD
6+
OC
2
M
9"
T
11
SV
2+
W
11
LD
6+
OC
3
M
6"
T
4
SV
2+
W
5
LD
6+
OC
1
M
6"
T
4
SV
3+
W
4
LD
6+
OC
1
M
6"
T
4
SV
2+
W
5
LD
6+
OC
1
M
10"
T
10
SV
3+
W
11
LD
6+
OC
3
Rules digest
How This Force Plays
Our own plain-speech digest of how this force's rules hang together — army rule, detachment choice, command-point economy and roster shape. Written by us, not reproduced from the pack; the official PDF is the only authority on exact wording.
Read the official pack PDFHow the army rule shapes play
Every list in this force answers to Xenophase Blade Doctrines, so plan your turns around it rather than treating it as a bonus. There is no secondary doctrine to pick, which keeps the force predictable to learn and unforgiving to misplay. Exact wording lives in the official pack PDF; the summary here is ours.
Choosing a detachment
You commit to one of 1 detachment (Deathwatch - Black Spear Task Force), and that choice locks in both your detachment rule and the 4 enhancements available to your characters. Pick the detachment that matches the units you already own, then buy enhancements last.
Command points and stratagems
There are 6 stratagems on offer, costing between 1 and 1 CP. In a normal game you will bank enough for two or three interventions a turn at most, so decide before deployment which one or two plays you are saving command points for.
Building to a points limit
The roster runs to 134 datasheets. The cheapest entry comes in at 40 points and the most expensive at 840, so a single flagship choice can eat a fifth of a 2,000-point army. Use the list builder to keep the Rule of Three, character limits and your points ceiling honest as you add units.
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