T’au is a shooting-focused faction — fast movers, heavy ranged firepower, and the ability to disengage and reposition through the Fly keyword and the For the Greater Good rule. The Combat Patrol box is the standard entry point. Here is whether it is worth buying.
What Is in the T’au Empire Combat Patrol Box?
The T’au Empire Combat Patrol contains a selection of core T’au units: a character model (Cadre Fireblade or equivalent), a Fire Warriors squad for objective holding, XV25 Stealth Battlesuits for flanking and disruption, and a Devilfish transport for mobility. This combination covers the essential T’au playstyle — a mobile, shooting-focused force with infantry, stealth assets, and transport capability. Confirm current box contents on the GW website before purchasing.
Is the Savings Worth It?
T’au kits are generally well-priced individually, but the Combat Patrol bundles them at approximately 30–40% below the combined individual retail price. The Devilfish transport is the significant value item in the box — it retails separately at a significant price, and getting it bundled brings the Combat Patrol cost-per-model down considerably.
Who Should Buy It?
- New T’au players: Yes — this is the right starting point. The box gives you the core unit types needed to understand how T’au plays before committing to expensive Battlesuits.
- Kill Team players expanding to 40k: A natural next step if you already play T’au Kill Team. The Fire Warriors and Stealth Suits carry over, and the Combat Patrol adds the game structure for larger games.
- Players who want Battlesuits immediately: The Combat Patrol focuses on infantry and the Devilfish. If your priority is XV8 Crisis Battlesuits or Riptides, supplement with separate kit purchases after getting the Combat Patrol base.
Is T’au a Good Faction for Beginners?
T’au is moderately beginner-friendly. The shooting-focused playstyle is conceptually straightforward — move into range, shoot, repeat. Where it gets complex is in target priority, markerlight stacking, and managing the Sept rule interactions. A player willing to read their rules carefully will find T’au rewarding. A player who wants to pick up and play without much rules study may find the faction has a steeper learning curve than Space Marines or Necrons.
See our Kill Team T’au guide for an overview of T’au operative capabilities — most of the core tactics carry over to 40k at the faction level.
T’au Empire Combat Patrol — Verdict
Worth it: Yes. The T’au Combat Patrol is good value, especially for the Devilfish inclusion. It gives you a playable starting army and natural expansion path. Pair it with our 40k beginner guide for rules context and primer guide before starting your painting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is T’au Empire Combat Patrol good for Kill Team?
The Fire Warriors and XV25 Stealth Battlesuits in the Combat Patrol are both usable in Kill Team — Kill Team T’au uses Fire Warriors as the core operative set. However, Kill Team has its own dedicated product line with pre-built teams. If Kill Team is your primary game, check the Kill Team T’au options first; the Combat Patrol is optimised for 40k game sizes.
How many points is the T’au Combat Patrol?
Designed to hit the 500-point Combat Patrol threshold. Check the current Matched Play Guide PDF for up-to-date values — T’au points have been adjusted several times in 10th Edition balance updates.