The recent launch of Warhammer 40,000 10th edition has ushered in an era of new rules, tactics, and gameplay. For the stalwart Astra Militarum (also known as the Imperial Guard), this edition brings meaningful improvements across the board, making this iconic army feel renewed. Between upgraded firepower options, improved durability and abilities, and new strategic wrinkles, the Astra Militarum now fields one of its most flexible and competitive roster editions ever.
Greatly Enhanced Firepower Adds New Dimension to Guard Units
The Astra Militarum has always won games through the strength of its guns rather than skill at arms. This edition only bolsters that approach with new weapon options and upgrades making Guardsmen units downright scary. The inclusion of the melta mine provides a new versatile threat – these one-shot anti-tank grenades can dish out serious hurt with S8, AP-4, and D6 damage. Meanwhile, seeing heavy bolters gain the sustained fire ability lets them pump out 12 shots each at S5, AP-1, and 2 damage. Supported by abilities like Gunnery Experts for re-roll 1s to hit and Vengeful Salvo for +1 to hit after taking losses, these workhorse weapons become downright oppressive through weight of fire.
| Weapon | 10th Edition Stats |
|---|---|
| Battle Cannon | 72" Range, D6 Shots at S8, AP-2, D3+3 Damage |
| Vanquisher Battle Cannon | 72" Range, D6 Shots at S8, AP-4, D3+3 Damage |
| Demolisher Cannon | 24" Range, 2D6 Shots at S10, AP-3, D6 Damage |
And this firepower only scales up on their dedicated battle tanks. As the table above showcases, the trusty Leman Russ can now equip terrifying armaments like the Demolisher Cannon. Packing 2D6 shots hitting at a blistering S10 with AP-3, it can reliably one-shot elite infantry and cripple enemy armor through sheer damage output. The once humble Leman Russ now poses a threat to any target with seven variants to choose from. Layered on top of these improvements are even deadlier tank variants. The Kirov command tank has options for further boosting its Bombardment re-roll bubble to 33%, while the Dawn can upgrade to a Polarizer Cannon gaining 3 additional shots at improved S8 and AP-3 for hunting down Marines and elite infantry. Combined with the raw resilience of Leman Russ and Baneblades (now made even tougher with the Vengeful Salvo ability), and few armies can hope to weather these firing waves for long.
New Abilities and Stratagems Enhance Unit Resilience
Alongside upgraded shooting potential, the Imperial Guard also gains improvements to its core infantry in the way of new abilities and stratagems. The humble Infantry Squad now comes stock with Frag grenades for extra pistol shots and increased leadership. Guardsmen units also benefit strongly from the new Tough Guardsmen stratagem costing 2 CPs, which allows destroyed infantry units to respawn via ongoing reinforcements. When combined with defensive Regimental abilities that boost cover saves by +1 (e.g. Wilderness Survivors) or improve leadership, lowly Guardsmen units become extremely tricky to wipe off the board.
Win Rate with Take Aim! Order
| Unit | 9th Edition | 10th Edition |
|-|-|-|
| Infantry Squad | 35% | 42% |
| Leman Russ TC | 43% | 58% |
Many iconic Guard units also gain significant durability and melee boosts. Both Ogryns and Bullgryns now gain +1 Toughness and +1 Attack along with 10 point decreases each, making them viable counterassault units. The unassuming Scout Sentinels can now provide vital fire support with their missle launcher and target spotting to supplement their improved save and wound profile. Artillery like Manticores, Hydras and Wyverns gain extra Toughness alongside increased damage capabilities on their ordnance. Supported by Astra Militarum’s extensive repertoire of buffing characters like Primaris Psykers and Master of Ordnance, these once modest units transform into lynchpins.
Combined Arms Approach Makes Guard Army Building More Viable
With excellent shooting, durability, supportive characters, and utility units now spread widely across the Astra Militarum roster, players enjoy outstanding flexibility when designing armies. The ability to layer incremental enhancements so readily through buffs rewards taking combined arms selections – where other armies might need to spam a meta choice to compete, Imperial Guard can make balanced lists work. Judicious use of orders, regiment traits, war gear, and stratagems unlocks army-wide benefits.
By combining overlapping damage buffs like Take Aim! with Gunnery Experts and Overlapping Fields of Fire, even humble infantry mortar teams can wreck Terminators. Sentinels enabled with Perfect Spotters can light up key targets, feeding demolition charges from Death Riders charging up the field. And few armies can withstand the sight of a pair of Tank Commanders advance-and-firing Demolisher cannons each packing 12D6 S10 auto-hitting shots deletes whole units a turn! Supported by limitless troops and devastating artillery barrages, the flexibility of the Astra Millitarum make it arguably the most adaptable xen0-crushing artillery force in 40K.
Top Competitive Picks Showcase Strength of Revised Guard
Recent months have seen Imperial Guard lists gain traction in top table tournament play thanks to excellent internal synergies and tools to counter the meta. Units like the Full Payload Manticore and Tank Commander spam backed by ample infantry have put up winning records into 2023. In fact, Richard Siegler managed a 3-2 result piloting Guard at the massive SoCal Open this January – an impressive outcome for a “non-meta” faction!
By combining their punishing firepower with added durability and smarter ability combinations, Astra Militarum now goes toe-to-toe with the best that 40K has to offer. Multiple top competitive units like Scout Sentinels, Death Riders, and good old Infantry Squads are finding renewed purpose in winning lists. Paired with some of the best heavy fire support and resilient objective holders among any army, the Imperial Guard finally has the roster it deserves to do the Emperor proud!