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Structure

This page details military structure of Deathwatch forces including Detachments and Formations.

Detachments


Black Spear Strike Force

The Black Spear Strike Force allows you to field the distinctive armies of the Deathwatch on the Warhammer 40,000 battlefield. Whether you wish to represent a Watch Commander crushing xenos hordes on their home worlds, or protecting Imperial planets against alien attack, the choices below offer a great way to pick your army.

The Black Spear Strike Force is a special type of Detachment that can be included in any Battle-forged army. Unlike the Detachments shown in Warhammer 40,000: The Rules, it has a Force Organisation Chart whose slots are a combination of specific Formations and Army List Entries instead of Battlefield Roles. However, it still has compulsory and optional elements, as well as Restrictions and Command Benefits, just like any other Detachment.

Although units cannot normally belong to more than one Detachment, units from a Formation that is part of a Black Spear Strike Force are an exception. They count as part of both their Formation and the Detachment, and have all associated Command Benefits and special rules. If your Warlord is part of a Formation or an Army List Entry that makes up part of a Black Spear Strike Force, that entire Strike Force is your Primary Detachment.

Command
1-3
Core
1+
Auxiliary
1+

WATCH COMMANDER
 • 1 of the following:
  - Watch Master
  - Watch Captain
  - Chaplain
  - Librarian
  - Dreadnought
  - Venerable Dreadnought

KILL TEAM
 • 1 unit of Veterans

 • 1 unit of Veterans
 • 1 unit of Terminators
 • Any number of choices in any combination from the following list:
  - Librarian
  - Vanguard Veterans
  - Bikers

 • 1 Watch Captain, Chaplain or Librarian
 • 1 choice from the following list:
  - 1 unit of Veterans
  - Aquila Kill Team
  - Furor Kill Team
  - Venator Kill Team
  - Dominatus Kill Team
  - Malleus Kill Team
  - Purgatus Kill Team

 • 1 unit of Veterans
 • 1 Librarian
 • 1 unit of Terminators
 • Any number of choices in any combination from the following list:
  - Librarian
  - Vanguard Veterans
  - Bikers

 • 1 Watch Captain
 • 4 choices in any combination from the following list:
  - 1 unit of Veterans
  - Aquila Kill Team
  - Furor Kill Team
  - Venator Kill Team
  - Dominatus Kill Team
  - Malleus Kill Team
  - Purgatus Kill Team
 • 1 unit of Veterans
 • One or more choices in any combination from the following list:
  - Librarian
  - Terminators
  - Vanguard Veterans
  - Bikers

 • 1 unit of Veterans
 • 1 unit of Vanguard Veterans
 • Any number of choices in any combination from the following list:
  - Librarian
  - Terminators
  - Bikers

 • 1 unit of Veterans
 • 1 unit of Bikers
 • Any number of choices in any combination from the following list:
  - Librarian
  - Terminators
  - Vanguard Veterans

 • 1 unit of Veterans
 • 1 unit of Terminators
 • Any number of choices in any combination from the following list:
  - Librarian
  - Vanguard Veterans
  - Bikers

ANCIENT

DROPSHIP
ARMOUR

RESTRICTIONS
This Detachment must include at least one Command choice, one Core choice and one Auxiliary choice. It may include up to two more Command choices and any number of additional Core and Auxiliary choices, in any combination. Only the datasheets listed here can be included in this Detachment. All units in the Detachment must have the Deathwatch Faction.

COMMAND BENEFITS
Flexible Mission Tactics: If your army contains one or more Black Spear Strike Forces, you can change the army’s Mission Tactic one extra time during a mission. Usually this will allow you to change Mission Tactics twice during the game rather than only once, but if your Warlord is a Watch Master or has the Vigilance Incarnate Warlord Trait, you will be able to change Mission Tactics up to three or four times!

Sudden Onslaught: All non-vehicle models in a Black Spear Strike Force have the Deep Strike special rule.

Veteran Master of the Watch: If this Detachment is chosen as your Primary Detachment, you can choose to re-roll the result on the Deathwatch Warlord Traits table.

Deathwatch Kill Team


RESTRICTIONS
All units from this Detachment must have the Deathwatch Faction.

COMMAND BENEFITS
Aquila Doctrine: Non-vehicle models from this Detachment can re-roll any To Wound rolls and armour penetration rolls of 1.

Formations


Aquila Kill Team

FORMATION
 • 1 unit of Veterans
 • One or more choices in any combination from the following list:
  - Librarian
  - Terminators
  - Vanguard Veterans
  - Bikers
RESTRICTIONS
The Formation may not consist of more than ten models (excluding Dedicated Transports).
SPECIAL RULES
Aquila Doctrine: Non-vehicle models from this Formation can re-roll any To Wound rolls and armour penetration rolls of 1.

Kill Team: All of the non-vehicle units in this Formation form a single unit called a Kill Team. This counts as a single unit for all game purposes; it must be deployed as one unit and cannot be broken down into Combat Squads. The Kill Team cannot split up during the battle, even if a model within it has the Independent Character special rule.

Dominatus Kill Team

FORMATION
 • 1 unit of Veterans
 • 1 unit of Vanguard Veterans
 • Any number of choices in any combination from the following list:
  - Librarian
  - Terminators
  - Bikers
RESTRICTIONS
The Formation may not consist of more than ten models (excluding Dedicated Transports), and must include at least two Vanguard Veterans.
SPECIAL RULES
Dominatus Doctrine: Re-roll any failed To Wound rolls and armour penetration rolls for non-vehicle models from this Formation that are targeting a unit with the Elites battlefield role.

Kill Team: All of the non-vehicle units in this Formation form a single unit called a Kill Team. This counts as a single unit for all game purposes; it must be deployed as one unit and cannot be broken down into Combat Squads. The Kill Team cannot split up during the battle, even if a model within it has the Independent Character special rule.

Furor Kill Team

FORMATION
 • 1 unit of Veterans
 • 1 unit of Terminators
 • Any number of choices in any combination from the following list:
  - Librarian
  - Vanguard Veterans
  - Bikers
RESTRICTIONS
The Formation may not consist of more than ten models (excluding Dedicated Transports). At least one Veteran must be armed with either a Deathwatch frag cannon or infernus heavy bolter.
SPECIAL RULES
Furor Doctrine: Re-roll any failed To Wound rolls and armour penetration rolls for non-vehicle models from this Formation that are targeting a unit with the Troops battlefield role.

Kill Team: All of the non-vehicle units in this Formation form a single unit called a Kill Team. This counts as a single unit for all game purposes; it must be deployed as one unit and cannot be broken down into Combat Squads. The Kill Team cannot split up during the battle, even if a model within it has the Independent Character special rule.

Malleus Kill Team

FORMATION
 • 1 unit of Veterans
 • 1 unit of Terminators
 • Any number of choices in any combination from the following list:
  - Librarian
  - Vanguard Veterans
  - Bikers
RESTRICTIONS
The Formation may not consist of more than ten models (excluding Dedicated Transports). At least two models must be armed with thunder hammers or heavy thunder hammers.
SPECIAL RULES
Kill Team: All of the non-vehicle units in this Formation form a single unit called a Kill Team. This counts as a single unit for all game purposes; it must be deployed as one unit and cannot be broken down into Combat Squads. The Kill Team cannot split up during the battle, even if a model within it has the Independent Character special rule.

Malleus Doctrine: Re-roll any failed To Wound rolls and armour penetration rolls for non-vehicle models from this Formation that are targeting a unit with the Heavy Support battlefield role.

Purgatus Kill Team

FORMATION
 • 1 unit of Veterans
 • 1 Librarian
 • 1 unit of Terminators
 • Any number of choices in any combination from the following list:
  - Librarian
  - Vanguard Veterans
  - Bikers
RESTRICTIONS
The Formation may not consist of more than ten models (excluding Dedicated Transports). At least one Veteran must be armed with a stalker pattern boltgun.
SPECIAL RULES
Kill Team: All of the non-vehicle units in this Formation form a single unit called a Kill Team. This counts as a single unit for all game purposes; it must be deployed as one unit and cannot be broken down into Combat Squads. The Kill Team cannot split up during the battle, even if a model within it has the Independent Character special rule.

Purgatus Doctrine: Re-roll any failed To Wound rolls and armour penetration rolls for non-vehicle models from this Formation that are targeting a unit with the HQ battlefield role.

Venator Kill Team

FORMATION
 • 1 unit of Veterans
 • 1 unit of Bikers
 • Any number of choices in any combination from the following list:
  - Librarian
  - Terminators
  - Vanguard Veterans
RESTRICTIONS
The Formation may not consist of more than ten models (excluding Dedicated Transports), and must include at least two Bikers.
SPECIAL RULES
Kill Team: All of the non-vehicle units in this Formation form a single unit called a Kill Team. This counts as a single unit for all game purposes; it must be deployed as one unit and cannot be broken down into Combat Squads. The Kill Team cannot split up during the battle, even if a model within it has the Independent Character special rule.

Venator Doctrine: Re-roll any failed To Wound rolls and armour penetration rolls for non-vehicle models from this Formation that are targeting a unit with the Fast Attack battlefield role.

Watch Company

FORMATION
 • 1 Watch Captain
 • 4 choices in any combination from the following list:
  - 1 unit of Veterans
  - Aquila Kill Team
  - Furor Kill Team
  - Venator Kill Team
  - Dominatus Kill Team
  - Malleus Kill Team
  - Purgatus Kill Team
RESTRICTIONS
None.
SPECIAL RULES
Decapitation Doctrine: Re-roll any failed To Wound rolls and armour penetration rolls for attacks made by non-vehicle models from this Formation that target an enemy unit that includes a Warlord, a Psyker or an Independent Character.

Strategium Command Team

FORMATION
 • 1 Watch Captain, Chaplain or Librarian
 • 1 choice from the following list:
  - 1 unit of Veterans
  - Aquila Kill Team
  - Furor Kill Team
  - Venator Kill Team
  - Dominatus Kill Team
  - Malleus Kill Team
  - Purgatus Kill Team
RESTRICTIONS
None.
SPECIAL RULES
Fight to the Last Breath: If a Strategium Command Team is led by a Watch Captain, all non-vehicle models in this Formation have the Feel No Pain (6+) special rule as long as he has not been removed as a casualty.

Pure of Spirit, Strong of Soul: If a Strategium Command Team is led by a Librarian, all non-vehicle models in this Formation have the Stubborn and Adamantium Will special rules as long as he has not been removed as a casualty. Note that other Librarians in this Formation (e.g. those included as part of any Kill Teams) do not confer this special rule – only the Librarian that leads it.

Suffer Not the Alien to Live: If a Strategium Command Team is led by a Chaplain, all non-vehicle models in this Formation have the Furious Charge special rule as long as he has not been removed as a casualty.

Corvus Dropship Wing

FORMATION
 • 3 Corvus Blackstars
RESTRICTIONS
None.
SPECIAL RULES
Burning Skies Doctrine: When models from this Formation target an enemy Flyer or Flying Monstrous Creature with an attack, re-roll any failed armour penetration or To Wound rolls.

Watchblade Taskforce

FORMATION
 • 1 Deathwatch Watch Master
 • 3 units of Deathwatch Veterans
 • 1 unit of Deathwatch Terminators
 • 1 unit of Deathwatch Bikers
 • 1 Deathwatch Razorback
RESTRICTIONS
None.
SPECIAL RULES
Ceasless Assault: As long as the Watch Master of this Formation is on the battlefield, units in this Formation have the Hit & Run special rule. In addition, if two or more units from this Formation are locked in combat with the same enemy unit, they automatically pass the Initiative test to disengage.

Watch Force Artemis

RESTRICTIONS
None.
SPECIAL RULES
Aquila Doctrine: Models from this Formation can re-roll any To Wound rolls and armour penetration rolls of 1.

Fight as One, to the Last Breath: All Infantry units from Watch Force Artemis have the Feel No Pain (6+) special rule whilst they are within 6" of Watch Captain Artemis. In addition, Watch Sergeant Crull’s Hatred special rule and Brother Galatael’s Precision Strikes special rules apply to any other units from Watch Force Artemis that are within 6" of them.

Kill Team: You can choose to deploy Squad Crull and Squad Galatael as a single unit called a Kill Team. This counts as a single unit for all game purposes. The Kill Team cannot split up during the battle, even if a model within it has the Independent Character special rule.

Kill Team Cassius

RESTRICTIONS
None.
SPECIAL RULES
Aquila Doctrine: Models from this Formation can re-roll any To Wound rolls and armour penetration rolls of 1.

Kill Team: All of the units in this Formation form a single unit called a Kill Team. This is a single unit for all game purposes; it must be deployed as one unit and cannot split apart during the battle, even if a model within it has the Independent Character special rule.

Indomitus Kill Team

FORMATION
 • 1 Watch Captain
 • 1 unit of Veterans (1 Watch Sergeant and 9 Veterans)
 • 1 Venerable Dreadnought
RESTRICTIONS
None.
SPECIAL RULES
Indomitus Doctrine: Re-roll any failed To Wound rolls and armour penetration rolls for models from this Formation that are either controlling an Objective Marker or are targeting an enemy unit that is controlling an Objective Marker.

Kill Team: The Watch Captain and Veterans form a single unit. This must be deployed as one unit and cannot split up during the battle.