The Raven Guard codex is an unofficial supplement for use with the 5th edition of Warhammer 40,000,
to use this supplement you must possess a copy of the Space Marine Codex.
Both are registered trademarks of Games Workshop and are referenced without permission or challenge. This supplement is in no way endorsed by Games Workshop Limited.
FORCES OF THE RAVEN GUARD
This section of the document denotes differencesbetween Codex: Raven Guard and Codex: Space
Marines, as well as any Special Rules the Raven
Guard utilise. As the Raven Guard are by far the champions of shadowy warfare and the lightning attack, this codex is designed to show their skill in bringing the Light of the Emperor to the enemy from the shadows behind them.
Often accused of being cowardly and dishonorable combatants, such persons of note
- Sergeant Telion of the Ultramarines, for instance - begrudgingly admit the Raven Guards’ superiority in stealth and in the art of the lightning war, to which their doctrine attests:
“From the darkness we strike; fast and lethal, and by the time our foes can
react... darkness there and nothing more.”
RAVEN GUARD SpECiAl RUlES
Listed below are the army-wide special rules. Additional rules may apply only to certain units, and are specified on that units’ page. Please take note that not all Space Marine units are in this Codex, and thus must be referred to in the Codex: Space Marines book. This codex is meant to be a side-along set of additions and changes, not a stand-alone codex.
AND THEy SHAll kNOw NO FEAR
See Codex: Space Marines, Page 51.
COmbAT SqUADS
See Codex: Space Marines, page 51.
GUERRillA TACTiCS
The marines of the Raven Guard epitomize the art of war known as Guerrilla Warfare. All marines in a Raven Guard army replace Combat Tactics with the Hit and Run Universal Special Rule, as seen in the Warhammer 40,000 Core Rulebook.
FlESH OVER STEEl
The Raven Guard are known for their subtlety and ability to move unnoticed. As such, they often eschew the use of heavy armour. All Land Raiders, Thunderfire Cannons, Whirlwinds, Vindicators, and Ironclad Dreadnoughts are limited to 0-1 choice in a Raven Guard army.
RAVEN’S FliGHT
For every Tactical Squad or Scout Squad in your army, you may take one Assault Squad as a Troops Choice.
TACTiCAl iNSERTiON
The Astartes of the Raven Guard chapter have honed their skills of entering battle from the air to an art form. All Jump Infantry and Land Speeder units entering play via Deep Strike roll only one dice for scatter.
Master of the shadows
CHAPTER MASTER OF THE RAVEN GUARD
[fluff]
[/fluff]
WARGEAR:
Iron Halo, Frag and Krak Grenades, Power Armour.
The Talon of Corax: The Chapter Master of the Raven
Guard is rumored to wield the last intact Talon of Corax, its’ mate being lost during the Massacre of Istvaan V. This is a master crafted Strength 6 Lightning Claw.
Executioner’s Lament: This plasma pistol is a relic,
whose mythical crafter was the Primarch Ferrus Manus, who gave it to Corax to signify their brotherhood; supposedly it was with this weapon that Corax himself granted the Emperor’s Mercy to the mutated Astartes wrought by his attempt to bolster the 19th Legions’ forces during the Horus Heresy. This Master-Crafted plasma pistol has integrated cooling systems, and does not suffer from the Gets Hot! rule.
SPECIAL RULES
And They Shall Know No Fear, Special Character, Guerrilla Tactics.
Victorus Aut Mortis: Master of Shadows grants the
Fearless USR to all squads within 12” of himself.
Nevermore: The Master of the Shadows always strikes
where it is most advantageous to take down an enemy force. He has Preferred Enemy against all Enemy HQ choices.
Avatar of the Night: Such is the skill and speed of the
Master of the Shadows that he moves with preternatural agility. On any wound inflicted (even one causing Instant Death or after a failed save), roll a d6. On a roll of 4+, the Master of the Shadows ignores the wound.
WS BS S T W I A Ld Sv Master of the Shadows 6 5 4 4 3 5 5 10 3+
AAjz SolAri
CAPTAIN OF THE RAVEN GUARD 2
ndCOMPANY
The 2nd Captain of the Raven Guard is a marine apart; often touted erratic and undisciplined, his prowess in battle has often seen victory where none could be seen. However, his urge to gamble with fate has seen disaster strike in the stead of a sure victory.
WARGEAR:
Pair of Master-Crafted Lightning Claws, Jump Pack, Iron Halo, Frag and Krak Grenades, Power Armour, Bolt Pistol.
SPECIAL RULES
And They Shall Know No Fear, Independent Character.
Talons of Fate: These Lightning Talons have an extra
2d6 attacks that are rolled at the beginning of the assault phase.
Reckless Abandon: As Aajz fights in battle, he fights
with a wild disregard for his surroundings. Oftentimes nearly impaling any battle-brothers reckless enough to follow him, disaster is averted only by his lightning-fast reflexes. On any dice result of ‘1’ rolled in Close Combat causes a wound on a member of his squad. The wound is applied at the owning players’ choice; armor saves and Feel No Pain rolls can be made even if the weapon causing the wound would normally not allow such saves.
WS BS S T W I A Ld Sv Aajz Solari 6 5 5 4 3 5 3 10 3+
SHADOW-CAPTAIN AETHON SHAAN
CAPTAIN OF THE RAVEN GUARD 4
THCOMPANY
[fluff]
[/fluff]
WARGEAR:
Pair of Lightning Claws, Iron Halo, Frag and Krak Grenades, Power Armour, Bolt Pistol.
SPECIAL RULES
And They Shall Know No Fear, Independent Character, Guerrilla Tactics, Infiltrate
Strike from the Shadows: Shadow-Captain Aethon
Shaan and the members of the 4th Company have displayed great prowess infiltrating behind enemy lines. He and a unit attached to him, as well as one non- Troops-choice nominated before deployment, benefit from the Infiltrate Universal Special Rule as detailed in the Warhammer 40,000 Core Rulebook.
WS BS S T W I A Ld Sv Aethon Shaan 6 5 4 4 2 5 3 10 3+
PHANTOM WING
[fluff][/fluff] DECAPITATION:
Aegis Helm: The Aegis Helm grants the wearer +1 to
Initiative during Close Combat, and is included in their statline.
Covert Deployment: May Deep Strike into cover; the
squad may reroll all failed Dangerous Terrain checks.
ASSASSINATION:
Stalker Pattern Boltgun (See: Sergeant Telion, C:SM
page 88)
Deadshot: (See: Sergeant Telion, C:SM page 88) Raven’s Eye: The members of the Assassination Wing
may split fire at separate targets.
Tactical Withdrawal: The Assassination Wing may
make their Movement Phase during the enemy Movement Phase, but may not move during their next Movement Phase.
INCAPACITATION:
Misericorde Dagger: S-X (2+), rending, Poisoned (2+) Blackthorn Flechette: S-X (2+) AP 1, Pistol,
Poisoned (2+)
Cluster Mines (See: Scout Bikes, C:SM page 67) Locator Node: The controlling player may place a
Locator Beacon (following C:SM rules) inside any piece of area terrain after deployment but before infiltrating units are deployed.
Tactical Withdrawal: The Assassination Wing may
make their Movement Phase during the enemy Movement Phase, but may not move during their next Movement Phase.
The Tell-Tale Heart: The controlling player may choose
to remove one player-placed objective or relocate a single player-placed objective 3d6” in a chosen direction, after deployment but before play begins.
• Both the Assassination and Incapacitation squads may take a Land Speeder Storm as their
Dedicated Transport.
• Independent Characters cannot join a Phantom Wing squad. WS BS S T W I A Ld Sv Veteran 5 4 4 4 1 4(5) 2 10 3+ WS BS S T W I A Ld Sv Veteran 4 6 4 4 1 4 2 10 3+ WS BS S T W I A Ld Sv Veteran 4 4 4 4 1 4 2 10 3+
Miscellani
LAND SPEEDER STORM:• Phantom Wing – Assassination and Phantom Wing – Incapacitation squads may take these as Dedicated Transports.
MALLORI WING:
• Rapid Reaction: The Raven Guard use their scouts to infiltrate and gather intelligence before and during battle. If your Raven Guard force has scouts on the table at the beginning of the turn, all reserve rolls gain +1 on the roll; in addition, any deep strike target within 12" of a scout squad reduces its scatter range to 1d6.
HONOUR GUARD, COMMAND SQUAD:
HQ
MASTER OF THE SHADOWS
……… 225pts
page 04
SHADOW-CAPTAIN AAJZ SOLARI
……….. 200pts
page 05
SHADOW-CAPTAIN AETHON SHAAN
….….. 150pts
page 06
WS BS S T W I A Ld SvMaster of the Shadows 6 5 4 4 3 5 5 10 3+
Unit Composition: • 1 (Unique) Unit Type: • Jump Infantry Wargear: • Power Armour • Iron Halo • Frag and Krak Grenades • Jump Pack • Talon of Corax •Executioner’s Lament Special Rules:
• And They Shall Know No Fear
• Special Character • Guerrilla Tactics • Victorus Aut Mortis
WS BS S T W I A Ld Sv Aajz Solari 6 5 5 4 3 5 4 10 3+ Unit Composition: • 1 (Unique) Unit Type: • Jump Infantry Wargear: • Power Armour • Iron Halo • Master-Crafted Lightning Claws • Frag and Krak Grenades • Bolt Pistol
Special Rules:
• And They Shall Know No Fear • Independent Character • Guerrilla Tactics • Reckless Abandon WS BS S T W I A Ld Sv Aethon Shaan 6 5 4 4 2 5 5 10 3+ Unit Composition: • 1 (Unique) Unit Type: • Infantry Wargear: • Power Armour • Iron Halo • Pair of Lightning Claws
• Frag and Krak Grenades • Bolt Pistol
Special Rules:
• And They Shall Know No Fear • Independent Character • Guerrilla Tactics • Strike From the Shadows
HQ
SHADOW-CAPTAIN KAYVAAN SHRIKE
……… 195pts
page 130 (C:SM)
SHADOW-CAPTAIN KORVYDAE
………200pts
page 112 (IA8)
RAPTORS CHAPTER MASTER LIAS ISSODON
... 210pts
page 169 (IA9)
Space Marine Chaplain...
See Codex: Space Marines page 133
Options:• Replace Power Armour with Artificer Armour… 15pts.
Space Marine Librarian...
See Codex: Space Marines page 133
Options:• Replace Power Armour with Artificer Armour… 15pts.
WS BS S T W I A Ld Sv Korvydae 6 4 4 4 3 5 3 10 2+ WS BS S T W I A Ld Sv Kayvaan Shrike 6 5 4 4 3 5 3 10 3+ WS BS S T W I A Ld Sv Lias Issodon 5 6 4 4 3 5 3 10 3+
ELITE
PHANTOM WING:
DECAPITATION ……… 300pts
(0-1)
page 07
ASSASSINATION……… 310pts
(0-1)
page 07
INCAPACITATION……… 305pts
(0-1)
page 07
Unit Composition: • 5 Veterans Unit Type: • Jump Infantry Wargear: • Power Armour • Pair of Lightning Claws• Frag and Krak Grenades • Jump Pack • Aegis Helm
Special Rules:
• And They Shall Know No Fear • Guerrilla Tactics • Stealth • Covert Deployment WS BS S T W I A Ld Sv Veteran 5 4 4 4 1 4(5) 2 10 3+ Unit Composition: • 5 Veterans Unit Type: • Infantry Wargear: • Power Armour • Stalker Pattern Boltgun
• Frag and Krak Grenades • Camo Cloaks
Special Rules:
• And They Shall Know No Fear • Guerrilla Tactics • Deadshot • Ravens’ Eye • Tactical Withdrawal WS BS S T W I A Ld Sv Veteran 4 6 4 4 1 4 2 10 3+ Dedicated Transport
• Land Speeder Storm
Unit Composition: • 5 Veterans Unit Type: • Infantry Wargear: • Power Armour • Miserichorde • Blackthorn Flechette • Frag and Krak Grenades • Camo Cloaks • Locator Node • Cluster Mines
Special Rules:
• And They Shall Know No Fear • Guerrilla Tactics • The Tell-tale Heart • Tactical Withdrawal
WS BS S T W I A Ld Sv Veteran 4 4 4 4 1 4 2 10 3+
Dedicated Transport
ELITE
Terminator Squad...
See Codex: Space Marines page 136
Assault Terminator Squad...
See Codex: Space Marines page 136
Venerable Dreadnought...
See Codex: Space Marines page 137
Dreadnought...
See Codex: Space Marines page 137
Ironclad Dreadnought (0-1)...
See Codex: Space Marines page 137
TrOOPs
TALON WING
………..
see Tactical Squad
page 134 C:SM
MALLORI WING
………
See Scout Squad
page 134 C:SM
DEDIcATED TrANsPOrT:
RHINO...
See Codex: Space Marines page 135
RAZORBACK...
See Codex: Space Marines page 135
DROP POD...
See Codex: Space Marines page 135
WS BS S T W I A Ld SvSpace Marine Sergeant 4 4 4 4 1 4 2 9 3+ Space Marine 4 4 4 4 1 4 1(2) 8 3+ WS BS S T W I A Ld Sv Scout Sergeant 4 4 4 4 1 4 2 9 4+ Scout 3 3 4 4 1 4 1 8 4+ Special Rules: • Rapid Reaction Wargear: • Chainsword
FAsT ATTAcK
FALCON WING
………
See Assault Squad
Page 139 C:SM
Land Speeder Squadron...
See Codex: Space Marines page 139
Space Marine Bike Squad...
See Codex: Space Marines page 140
Attack Bike Squad...
See Codex: Space Marines page 140
Land Speeder Storm...
See Codex: Space Marines page 141
Scout Bike Squad...
See Codex: Space Marines page 141
Options:Changes:
From:
• Power Weapon or Lighting Claw • Thunder Hammer or pair of Lightning Claws
To:
• Pair of Lightning Claws ….. 20pts • Power Weapon … 15pts •Thunder Hammer … 30pts
For every 5 models in the squad, one marine may replace their current weapons with:
• Pair of Lightning Claws ….. 20pts WS BS S T W I A Ld Sv
Assault Sergeant 4 4 4 4 1 4 2 9 3+ Assault Marine 4 4 4 4 1 4 1 8 3+
HEAVY sUPPOrT
Devastator Squad...
See Codex: Space Marines page 142
Thunderfire Cannon (0-1)...
See Codex: Space Marines page 142
Land Raider (0-1)...
See Codex: Space Marines page 142
Land Raider Crusader (0-1)...
See Codex: Space Marines page 142
Land Raider Redeemer (0-1)...
See Codex: Space Marines page 143
Predator...
See Codex: Space Marines page 143
Whirlwind (0-1)...
See Codex: Space Marines page 143
Vindicator (0-1)...
See Codex: Space Marines page 143
Acknowledgments
This codex started about a year ago as a fun project for me to work on, having loved the background and ideas behind the Raven Guard. In fact, they were one of the reasons I started playing Warhammer 40K! I thought that GW had something good going when they made the Raven Guard – Chapter Approved; I was disappointed that the only way for me to play them was to field Kayvaan Shrike, or to do the unthinkable and play them with the Blood Angels Codex – UGH! HERESY!!! Anyone who calls my Chapter the Black Blood Angels should die in a fire! Heh, heh, just kidding. But seriously. Don’t call them that. Just… Just… Don’t.My utmost gratitude goes out to many people. First, Chase Wiswesser, also known as Chase of Deep Strike Radio and CiaphasCain across the vast oceans of the internet; when he saw my first version of the Codex and took me under his wing to properly give it the love it deserved. Since then he has introduced me to his awesome podcast (Deep Strike Radio) and their forums (www.thecustodes.com). He was, and is the first person I turned to during the design and playtesting of this Codex. In fact, the Phantom Wing unit was entirely his idea. He has also been the voice of reason for leaving out
approximately 90% of the changes that DIDN’T make it into this Codex. Thanks for sticking through the long haul, my friend!
Second, many, many thanks to Jim Vidlak, also known as Big Jim of the Galaxy in Flames blog, Co-Host of Deep Strike Radio, and general Internet Celebrity. Thank you for your limitless patience with me during the initial development and re-design stages, the formatting, and all my quirks and questions over these many months. I fear more will develop as time passes!
And third, my deepest gratitude goes out to Aerion-the-Wise of www.deviantart.com for allowing me to
use his work, entitled “CORVUS” as the cover image for this Codex. I love the piece, thank you very much! I would also like to thank Games Workshop for creating the extremely fun and engaging game known wide and far as Warhammer 40,000 and the universe it takes place in. Without them, this Raven Guard Codex would not exist! So, if any of you happen to have a time machine, please stay away from Games Workshop!
Additionally, I would like to thank the writers of the Black Library, specifically Aaron Dembski-Bowden for writing Cadian Blood, Graham McNeill for writing Chapter’s Due, Gav Thorpe for writing Raven’s Flight and Deliverance Lost, as well as George Mann for writing Helion Rain.
I would also like to thank my regular gaming buddies Austin, Dylan, Reuben, and Zaid for allowing me to playtest the original rules, as well as the rehaul that eventually led to this version of the rules.
Additionally, thanks to Slaine69 and CaptVovan from www.deviantart.com for allowing me to use their Raven Guard images in this and future releases of the Raven Guard codex. TYVM, both of you!
My thanks go out to Gen.Ahab, Hexeter, Otoshigo, Rancor709, Redemptor, and Sladie of The Custodes for helping me balance and mathhammer changes and design new things in general. I would also like to thank Kapelan, ElfSpeaker, and Sneaky Pete from The Codex Project Forums for helping in the process as well.
And lastly, my thanks go out to YOU, the one using these rules and reading these words. Thank you! Sincerely,
Christopher “Bladebaka” Creason
Legal Disclaimer
The Raven Guard codex is an unofficial supplement for use with the 5th edition of Warhammer 40,000, to use this supplement you must possess a copy of the Space Marine Codex. Both are registered trademarks of Games Workshop and are referenced without permission or challenge. This supplement is completely unofficial and in no way endorsed by Games Workshop Limited.
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