40K: Kill Team Starter Sets We’re Hoping To See
As you might have heard, Kill Team is coming–we’ve seen what some of the starter sets will look like. But we’re chomping at the bit to see other factions get their start(er sets).
Let me start by saying I’m excited for the Kill Team release. The game promises to include the tight kind of tacti-cool game play that you get when you mash 40K rules/lore with Shadespire type gameplay–and if you haven’t played Shadespire, then you’re missing out on one of the tightest, most competitive but fun rules GW has produced. All of which means the game looks amazing.
But what’s really got us attempting to harvest souls to sell to Tzeentch for some early copies are the Starter Boxes. You might have seen these previewed earlier this week (and if you haven’t, don’t worry you’re about to see them previewed again), featuring Space Wolves and Orks. But that got us thinking–what would other starter boxes look like?
First let’s look at what’s out there.
Looks like the Space Wolves–who are also the starter set for any Astartes get five dudes. Pretty straightforward, five marines and some sector mechanicus spires. Interestingly enough this is a Reivers kill team–so those are Primaris there, which I suppose makes sense for a starting Kill Team. The Orks, similarly, get five boyz–though I wouldn’t have pegged five boyz as the equivalent of five Primaris Reivers. To each their own, I suppose, though I am curious as to how they balance things.
Assuming that’s the case, and that a five-man squad is enough to get you going, makes me wonder if they’re all going to come out to the same points cost in the end, or if that Ork box will require some supplements to get up to speed with the Primaris one. Either way–we have a jumping off point: five models, a handful of terrain, some tokens, datacards, tactic cards, and lore. With this in mind, here’s what we’re hoping to see in other factions.
Tau
If I had to guess, I’d say you’ll either see five Breachers, because you can balance out the range of a Pulse Rifle with the close-up assault power of a shotgun. Or alternately it’ll be five Pathfinders, possibly one with a special weapon. Either way, throw in some of the Tau drone port style terrain and you’ve got yourself a Kill Team. And a potentially stealthy one at that.
Necrons
This is almost certainly going to be a group of Warriors–maaaybe five Immortals, but that one is boring. Pick your flavor of Gauss weapons and then go–Kill Teams are meant to have a fair amount of autonomy, though they aren’t necessarily the most elite of elites. Which is probably why we won’t see a box of Lychguard, even though taking five of them as a base Kill Team would be an utter blast–it’d shake things up in an interesting way. Throw in some tomb(world) stones–probably some repurposed tomb spider kits, and you’re ready to go.
Astra Militarum
Much as I’m sure the average Astra Militarum member would love their Kill Team to be a Leman Russ, it’s almost certainly going to be some Tempestus Scions–because otherwise a box of five normal infantry seems like a recipe for five dead Guard. Though, it’s entirely possible they could be members of the Loyal 32.
Craftworld Aeldar
There’s no way this box isn’t five Rangers and some wraithstones, or maybe half a Webway Gate.
Tyranids
This one is pretty exciting because it’s difficult to figure out. It’s either a smattering of Genestealers or, if Adam has his way, a bunch of ‘gants. Coupled with some tyranic terrain–which is what we’d love to see. Some spores, or alien bio-mass spewers. The possibilities are both limitless and disgusting.
Imperial Knights
Bear with us on this one–we’ve figured out how to do an Imperial Knights box–just take the missing Canis Rex kit, and you have everything you need. Sir Hekhtur is a perfect Kill Team model, and his Knight is gorgeous piece of terrain. You could even have a mission where Hekhtur must try and reach his Knight–if the enemy fails to stop him, you automatically win. Because he’s in a Knight.
What would you put in a faction’s Kill Team box? Maybe just two legs belonging to an Armiger?
