Skitarii in the Heresy era are not just disposable cyborgs. Instead, they are elite relic hunters with rules to match.
So with pre orders landing this Saturday, it is finally time to see their tabletop teeth. Moreover, Journal Tactica: Skitarii: The Steel Hand of Mars puts real mechanics behind the hype. As a result, you can start planning how they slot into your army right now.
The Core Statline: Durable Like Marines, But With Different Tricks
First off, the average Battle Pilgrym is surprisingly chunky. They sit at Toughness 4 with 2 Wounds and a 4+ save, so they shrug basic boltguns and lasrifles better than you would expect. Even better, they also pack a 6+ invulnerable save, which means you always have that tiny lottery ticket chance to ignore a truly nasty hit. Meanwhile, they stay mobile because Fast (2) gives them extra kick on a Rush move, so they can get angles and board space without crawling.
Their main gun is the voltlock arquebus, and although it is short ranged by boltgun standards, it hits with real attitude. Since it is volkite, it brings Deflagrate, which can generate extra hits once damage starts landing. Consequently, big units scale hard here, because up to 16 bodies means more chances to let Deflagrate snowball. They are not cracking power armour like a dedicated Terminator blender, yet they can still meaningfully hurt a Space Marine unit. Also, anyone wandering around with a 5+ save should be sweating immediately.
Four Faction Traits: Build Your Pilgryms for Objectives, Loyalty, or Violence
Where things get spicy is adaptability. When you build a detachment with Battle Pilgryms, you pick one of four Faction Traits, and each one meaningfully changes their job.
Acquisitor gives Line (1), so they can sit on objectives and actually count for something. Meanwhile, Expurgator hands out Vanguard (3), so they can push up and bully early board control instead. Because those two are so mission focused, Skitarii start looking like a premium allied detachment for Space Marines, Solar Auxilia, or Mechanicum players who want reliable scoring.
Then you have the allegiance locked picks. Loyalists can take Vindictor, which boosts the punch of their Deflagrate by one, so their volkite damage gets nastier once it starts connecting. Traitors can take Scourger, which adds an extra inch to Set up Moves when they go for a charge, so they get that extra bit of threat extension. And yes, it gets funnier when you remember the voltlock arquebus has a big bayonet, so the unit is not helpless up close.
Marshal Elect and the Bonus Update: The Conclave Keeps Moving
The coolest tech priest nonsense here is the Marshal Elect Reaction. Once per battle, when your Battle Pilgrym Marshal drops to 0 Wounds, you can spend 1 point of your Reaction allotment and promote an Ordinator in a friendly Skitarii unit. Then in the End Phase, that chosen model gains the Command subtype, plus +1 Weapon Skill, +1 Attacks, and +1 Leadership. Additionally, you can upgrade one of their melee weapons with Icon of Authority, which helps keep the chain of command functional.
This is such a flavorful bit of design. Instead of your army face planting when the boss dies, you keep momentum and stay scary. Honestly, Space Marines would love this kind of battlefield promotion system.
Finally, the Journal Tactica also includes an updated unit profile for the Myrmidon Destructor Host. The changes are mostly bookkeeping around weapon options, yet the point is clarity and having the newest version ready. So if those big lads tempt you, you can grab the PDF and keep your rules clean.
Summary
This update lays out exactly why Heresy era Skitarii Battle Pilgryms are a legit threat: they are tough at T4 with 2 Wounds, they are quick thanks to Fast (2), and their volkite style voltlock arquebuses with Deflagrate can stack damage fast in big units. Moreover, their four Faction Traits let you tailor them into objective holders with Line, forward bullies with Vanguard, or allegiance flavored monsters with either stronger Deflagrate for Loyalists or nastier Set up Move pressure for Traitors. Meanwhile, Marshal Elect is a standout rule that lets the conclave promote an Ordinator when the Marshal dies, keeping command online and even boosting WS, Attacks, and Leadership. Add in the handy Myrmidon Destructor Host update, and it feels like the game is clearly setting Skitarii up as more than just background cyborgs, so if you want a force that plays like cold logic wrapped in violence, Saturday is going to be very tempting.
And remember, Frontline Gaming sells gaming products at a discount, every day in their webcart!
