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Hi, haven't played for a long while. I have the original kill team book, and elite expansion, but I'm pretty sure there's a new edition.

Is it worth getting, and what exactly do I need to have? Thanks.

You are correct, there is a new version, from a couple of years ago. Look at the logo to tell old and new apart.
There are a few starter boxes, with pairs of teams and some scenery. All of the boxes have the rules in them. They're your best bet to get started.

https://warhammer40000.com/kill-team/

There is a core rule book.
The starter sets have the core rules, and rules to use the contents of the box.
The Compendium lists the various teams.
There is an annual, as WD had some updates, such as Harlequins.

As for models, you can use lots of the 40k models you might already have.
The Kill Team model boxes are very nice versions of existing 40k squads, but with alt loadouts. The Guard Veterans box can be used as a standard Serg and Lasgunners squad, but have parts to make some of the models to be a medic, demolitions expert, sniper, etc.

It will be the old rules if you have the Elites book too.

You now take “units” of models in little groups, instead of individually grabbing all different models.
So like Death Guard is two selections.
(Selections being 2 Plague Marines, 8 Poxwalkers. So you could pick 2x2 PM, and then you also get a leader one. Or 1x2 PM and 1x8 Pox, then one marine leader).
All varies per faction but you can’t just take one of this and one of that anymore.

Marines also all gained another model at some point in an errata.

Getting the starter box from a reputable discounter store is the best way to start IMHO. You need the core book, models, tac ops cards and a set of cardboard tokens to play the game, these all come in the starter and is a much more cost effective solution than buying the book, cards and tokens separately.

Also, since you've missed most of this edition, might be worth pointing out that current Kill Team (also known as KT21), is divided up into seasons, each lasting for a year. The game is currently in it's second season. This season concentrates on space battles, all using a modular space ship board as the playing field. For "open air" battles, look into KT21 season 1 - Octarius, Chalnath, Nachmund, Moroch, these were the names of Kill Team campaign boxes of season 1. Season 1 more or less ended with the release of Kill Team Annual 2022, which added more missions, a fun "last stand" playmode, and introduced 6 new factions to the game (4 factions released in WD mags and two old teams from KT Rogue Trader of last edition).

The "product format" of KT21 season, seems to be, based on previous releases:
• Every season starts with a launch box, which has core rules, 2 brand new killteam kits, and a brand new terrain set
• The 3 following campaign boxes use recycled terrain, 1 brand new killteam kit & 1 existing kit with upgrade sprue. No core rules
• Every box in a season comes with a campaign book, which introduces two new factions to play with, and new missions using the exact terrain that comes with each box
• As there is 4 boxes per season, 8 new factions are introduced to the game per season as a baseline. 4 factions are also known to have been released via White Dwarf issues during season 1, but it is unclear if this will continue during season 2.

You might also hear talk about Kill Team Compedium. That book is not really a KT21 faction book, it's a "get you by" product, similar to 40K 8th edition indexes, it will become invalidated as new faction rules keep getting added to the game. This is why I don't really consider the Compendium to be an "official" KT21 product, it's more like a kludge you can use for mixing 40K and KT21 together in Campaigns and such. In fact, I never bought it, and never will, it's an abomination.

The season launch box is always the best value box out of the four in any given season, as it includes not only core rules, but also 2 new teams and a brand new terrain set. Last season's launch box was Kill Team: Octarius, this season's box was Kill Team: Into the Dark

Second season is a bit of a bore, I'm personally much more into season 1 meself

Thank you for the thorough replies. Very helpful

Let's say I'm not interested in any of the teams in the big boxes, I have my own terrain, a board, dice etc.

I buy a box with the Kill team I like.

What else do I need?

Are the rules for my team and their accessories (cards? tokens?) in their box?

Are the general rules online in a printable format? I checked on BGG and was surprised not to find a file to download.

Anything else that is obligatory to start playing ?

Thanks in advance!

You need 2 books, Core Rules and the book for your Kill Team (the standalone box with the models just has the models, so either the Compendium, the Annual or one of the box-books) as well as the cards
the measurement tools and tokens are handy but you can make your own or use something you already have

there are no digital rules for KT

Thanks again!

Hmm, I was thinking of playing the Gellerpox kill team and I tried to find their cards to buy them alongside the models, but couldn't. Are they in the book (which one? any of the ones kodos mentions?) and I have to copy and print them myself?

Gellarpox rules are in the annual.

You don't need separate tac ops cards for each faction as the basic deck has placeholders (a card that says "Faction Tac Ops 1" etc) and then the rules for this are with the rest of the team rules. The basic deck comes in the starter boxes or as a separate product, but the cards are also in the core rules so you can make your own.

There have been issues of White Dwarf with physical copies of faction-specific tac ops cards, but not for Gellarpox, and they're just print-outs of what's in the book on card stock.

Awesome , that makes it clear thanks!

They should really make this stuff downloadable, though.

Absolute minimum for playing KT21: Core book & tokens. The tac ops cards are nice to have but also listed in the core book, so you can get by without them in a pinch. Besides this you need the datasheets for your faction.

For missions, you either need one of the Campaign books or the new Critical Ops card pack

Question here rather than starting a new thread (having a catch all post for Kill Team tactics questions would be goodmaybe).

Ok, I’m doing a Melee based Kill Team for Tyranids.
I have 8 Hormagaunts and 3 Warriors.
But the question is, how to equip the Warriors?
Should they be full melee each (and if so, what options ideally?), or perhaps one/each having a melee and a gun?

And for the swarm as I have 4 extra termagants to build, if I did a half ranged what guns do you think would be good?

Just looking for something to compete in a game, not necessarily be a amazing list.

I would be very wary of going full melee with the whole team, so if you are running Hormagaunts then the Warriors should pack at least some guns as well. KT favors putting some hurt on targets down range and finishing the job with decisive assaults. Warriors are pretty good in melee even without committing to it fully, so it's a bit wasteful to not carry some guns with most of them.

Maybe a gun and a melee each then?
I haven’t started on these yet, so can do any combo for all 3.

The swarm I could go 4 and 4 for variance.
(I have 12 models, enough for 8 hormagaunts, and can do a maximum of 6 shooting.
It’s 2 spinefists, 2 fleshborer, 2 devourer I have. )

From what I see close combat in this game can easily end up with both combatants suffering a lot of damage. If your Tyranids suffer some ranged damage on their way in, but the enemy doesn't, they may well get killed in close combats they themselves have initated.

On the other hand, if the enemy has already suffered some damage an assault of a close combat specialist may be decisive and one-sided.

I do often run an entire genestealer team. a 4 armed one-ish trick pony, but surprising the first time you face it!

The warriors would definitely bring a bit of Firepower then.
Definitely one gun on each.
Or I suppose one with two ccw, one with a mix, one with two shooty options. Something like that I guess could work.

Perhaps 4 melee and 4 shooty gaunts is the way to go after all then for those.

From what I've heard, nids like a well rounded roster, from which to pick ideal blends of CC and shootyness depending on the opponent.

Haven't played nids myself so YMMV

I haven’t seen any of the new KT let alone the space hulk themed ones.
But my regular plans for most games would be more shooting focused really.

I’m not sure about what guns are good for the Nids, or what these profiles really mean with all of its changes yet.

Warriors weapon choices is what I’m trying to figure out at the moment.
Lash Whip; Bone Sword on one, has to be done.
Maybe a Venom Cannon on one too.
Just because those are cool. They may be rubbish but look fantastic.

Biggest problem with Nids is they are one of the very very few teams where you can't get everything you want in your 20 man roster. So you actually have some decisions to make. Do you want all elites? So 10 'stealers and all the nid warrior options? O do you want the horde? 8 gaunts, 5 stealers, 7 Nids, but now you can't field all stealers.

When my small, regular group used to play wh40k, we played 2vs2 games almost exclusively - after all, if a couple of friends meet, it doesn't feel right to go to separate rooms and tables

I know KT supports this way of playing the game, even with some official rules in the rulebook. Any opinion on how well they work? 2vs2 Wh40k never felt any different from regular 1vs1 affairs, but maybe KT does (for example the unlimited ranges on double-sized boards may be too much?).

If ranges are a problem, you're not using enough terrain

From what I've heard of others who've played multiplayer games, they are fine. Adding players adds variables and makes the game slightly swingier as a result, so your mileage may vary on whether that's fun or annoying.

Hey guys - a couple of wargaming buddies and I are thinking of giving this game a go. Just trying to catch up on the latest things needed (this thread was extremely useful, thanks to everyone who posted!)

Looking at the new rules, does the mini rulebook from the Octarius set include all of the game rules, or do I need to buy the full hardback one?

 Pacific wrote:
Hey guys - a couple of wargaming buddies and I are thinking of giving this game a go. Just trying to catch up on the latest things needed (this thread was extremely useful, thanks to everyone who posted!)

Looking at the new rules, does the mini rulebook from the Octarius set include all of the game rules, or do I need to buy the full hardback one?

Hey,
get in, the water is fine! The Core book in Octarius is the exact same rulebook as the one sold separately. There are no hardback rulebooks for KT21 as far as I know.

If you are jumping in now, you will need the latest erratas (faq section) & balance updates (downloads section) from WHC in addition to the core rules and datasheets for your teams. The matched play rules have slightly changed in the new Critical Operations card pack, but you only use the updated rules if you have the new cards, without the new cards you play as instructed in the core rulebook.

I hope you like KT21! From what I have read about your likes/dislikes towards classic GW games, I think you might dig it. Alternate activation feels good and makes the game constantly engaging to play. I recommend playing without tac ops and ploys for your first game, just to get the hang of basic game mechanics before piling on too much "cognitive load". The order of activations of your operatives will be a totally new dimension for you to have fun with; in classic IGOUGO GW games, this aspect isn't nearly as critical as in KT21.

Thanks a lot Tauist - really appreciated! I had been looking at some cheap starter rulebooks from the Octarius set, so good to know they have complete rules, and are not a cut down version of the game.

On your comments yes I have had a look at some games in action and definitely agree. Aside from the small model count, I like the I-go, You-go turn sequence, and the attack and defence dice cancelling each other out which seems to have been lifted straight from Infinity - a game which I love. It also will hopefully add some more depth and variation to the unit interactions, something I thought was missing from Warcry.

Thanks for the tips on not using the Tac Ops first too, we will definitely take it easy to start with. We're planning on doing a 'heresy-era' spin, with a friend doing 'survivors of the Eisenstein' (Death Guard loyalists), I am planning some Phobos team conversions (make them look like Shattered legion Raven Guard survivors) against Orks and another faction not decided on yet. Really looking forward to giving it a go!

My next question! And think I already know the answer to this one unfortunately..

Trying to get hold of the rules for the Phobos and Ork Kommandoes - do I need to buy each book for the rules? Moloch for the marines and the Octarius expansion for Orks. So £60 on books before I have even fired a shot in anger, I have been away from modern GW games for a bit and had forgotten what they are like

And it doesn't look like PDF/legal downloads for these either, which would normally be my go to. It feels like I am trying to watch a film in the 00s again and you were forced between a £15 DVD from HMV or a trip to Blockbuster. I have found an online site, of questionable legality, which I don't want to use but..

 Pacific wrote:
My next question! And think I already know the answer to this one unfortunately..

Trying to get hold of the rules for the Phobos and Ork Kommandoes - do I need to buy each book for the rules? Moloch for the marines and the Octarius expansion for Orks. So £60 on books before I have even fired a shot in anger, I have been away from modern GW games for a bit and had forgotten what they are like

And it doesn't look like PDF/legal downloads for these either, which would normally be my go to. It feels like I am trying to watch a film in the 00s again and you were forced between a £15 DVD from HMV or a trip to Blockbuster. I have found an online site, of questionable legality, which I don't want to use but..

Everyone and their dog uses WP, as it collates the rules in one single place and formats them better than GW does. No shame in that, especially since it's the relevant rules texts rather than full product scans.

But yes, if you want the rules on printed paper the team rules come two in a book, ie. playing multiple teams requires a steady acquisition of said books. Phobos are in Moroch, Kommandoes in Octarius.

 Pacific wrote:
Thanks a lot Tauist - really appreciated! I had been looking at some cheap starter rulebooks from the Octarius set, so good to know they have complete rules, and are not a cut down version of the game.

On your comments yes I have had a look at some games in action and definitely agree. Aside from the small model count, I like the I-go, You-go turn sequence, and the attack and defence dice cancelling each other out which seems to have been lifted straight from Infinity - a game which I love. It also will hopefully add some more depth and variation to the unit interactions, something I thought was missing from Warcry.

Thanks for the tips on not using the Tac Ops first too, we will definitely take it easy to start with. We're planning on doing a 'heresy-era' spin, with a friend doing 'survivors of the Eisenstein' (Death Guard loyalists), I am planning some Phobos team conversions (make them look like Shattered legion Raven Guard survivors) against Orks and another faction not decided on yet. Really looking forward to giving it a go!

If you want to play Heresy in KT21, look no further than this site:
https://ossifiedsite.wordpress.com/

unofficial KT21 rules for all the legions and then some. All free!

Speaking of the datasheets etc, battlescribe et al is always an option. The majority of the bespoke killteams are awkwardly spread out across 7 books, all costing about 35€. It's pretty crazy, but it is what it is. Stingy flockers also take screenshots of the sheets from youtube video reviews, which isn't 100% legal either, but I will be damned before I visit a site with an .ru suffix (yall know the site Im talking about) with the war going on. Call me idealist or whatever - I have all the KT21 physical books already so GW has theirs. I just dislike physical books in general.

Thanks guys. Tauist, yes I completely get where you are coming from with that.

Have kind of had a group consensus that we might go with One Page Rules which solves the problem (at least money wise, as it's free or $5 for the expanded rules). Our previous Necromunda campaign crashed and burned because there was just so much going on with the rule detail and it became overwhelming- I was fine as I played Necromunda as a kid and the rules around short fire distances are ingrained on my brain, but some of the other guys in the group struggled. Having spent some time looking at the rules and watching vids it looks like it might be the same (perhaps to a slightly lesser extent) for Killteam. I think maybe if you live and breathe the game and play every week it's fine, but only coming together every 4-6 weeks when everyone has family stuff on and we can only grab 2 hours to play it doesn't work. Personally I like the look of the KT rules and am OK with some bloat, but the OPR system looks at least like we will get some games played and it won't be just me stood flipping through a rulebook telling everyone what to do. One other thing I randomly like is that it includes Mantic Deadzone factions - we're going to sub in some of the Deadzone Veermyn and use them as a 'Hrud'-type faction, which the Legions can take on around the 30k era.

Will let you know how I get on with it! In the meantime have some Phobos marines to order and start converting..