INTRODUCTION
If you’ve always been fascinated by games that challenge your strategy and tactics, have an interest in the Warhammer 40K universe, or simply love assembling and painting miniatures, then you’ve landed at the right place! Let’s explore the exciting world of “Kill Team” – a fast-paced, highly tactical miniature wargame set in the grim dark future of Warhammer 40K. This guide is a beginner-friendly approach that will steadily lead your curiosity into the battlefield to command your squad of elite specialists. It’s fun, thrilling, and of course, worth trying for anyone with an interest in tabletop war games.
WHAT IS KILL TEAM?
Kill Team is essentially a skirmish game based on the larger Warhammer 40,000 universe. Think of it as Warhammer 40,000 but on a smaller, more personal scale. Herein, instead of controlling large armies, you control a small squad of warriors, each with unique abilities and upgrades. Each team is a ‘kill team’ – a specialized group made for carrying out high-risk missions behind enemy lines. There’s a rich lore-filled backstory, elevating it from a simple board game to a captivating narrative strategy game. Think of it like chess, but the pieces have jetpacks, laser guns and the ability to manipulate time and space!
HOW KILL TEAM WORKS / GETTING STARTED
Getting into Kill Team is quite simple. First, you choose a faction. This can be a group of Space Marines, Orks, Necrons, Tau or any of the numerous available factions in the 40K universe. Each faction not only presents unique strategic gameplay but also involves different aesthetics and lore which adds depth to the overall experience.
Each player’s turn in the game is broken into following phases: the Initiative Phase, Movement Phase, Psychic Phase, Shooting Phase, Fight Phase, and the Morale Phase. Each phase encourages strategy and forethought, especially when handling units, making attacks and holding objectives. Units have statistics for movement, weapon skill, ballistic skill, strength, toughness, wounds, attacks, leadership, and save, which affect the dice rolls.
WHAT YOU NEED TO PLAY KILL TEAM
To start playing Kill Team, you will need a few things: the Kill Team core manual, a squad of miniatures of your chosen faction, a ruler or tape measure for movement, six-sided dice (also known as D6s), and a surface to play on with several pieces of terrain. The Kill Team Starter Set is recommended for beginners as it contains everything you need to start playing, including two kill teams, a rulebook, dice, ruler and terrain.
TIPS FOR ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS
1. Start with the Starter Set: It gives you guidance, terrain, teams, and a rulebook. Everything you need in a neat package.
2. Understand your Kill Team: Warhammer 40K is lore-rich. Understanding the history and hierarchy of your team can greatly enhance your experience.
3. Plan your strategy: Kill Team is a game that awards thoughtful maneuvering and tactical accomplishing of objectives, rather than simple combative brutality.
4. Try out different factions: Each faction plays differently and offers unique strategic opportunities.
5. Ask the community: Along with resources, the Kill Team community is generally very helpful and can give you specific advice or explanations.
HELPFUL RESOURCES
For additional help, Warhammer’s official website, Wahapedia, and 1d4chan have detailed pages about the rules, tactics, and lore of Kill Team. YouTube channels like Tabletop Titans, MiniWarGaming, and Guerrilla Miniature Games provide comprehensive guides and battle reports which are extremely helpful. There is also an active community on Reddit (/r/killteam) ready to answer your questions.
GLOSSARY: KILL TEAM TERMS EXPLAINED
1. Faction: Different groups involved in the war.
2. Tactics: Special abilities that can be used by factions.
3. Morale: A measure of a unit’s willingness to fight.
4. Pinned: When a model cannot move or attack.
5. Initiative: Determines who goes first in a turn.
NEXT STEPS: WHERE TO GO FROM HERE
Once you’ve understood the basics of Kill Team, try playing a few games. Local hobby shops often host Kill Team games and events. You can also start building and painting your own kill team. As you get more involved in the game, consider expanding your kill team with additional models for more variety. Remember, conquering the battlefield with your Kill Team is a journey that gets more interesting and fun as you progress. Happy gaming!
