Warhammer 40k - Unit Review Library 170 - Astra Militarum, Basilisk

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"See that enemy Hive city over there? I don't want to!"

Hello everyone! Zak Ludick here from Cape Town, South Africa and this is a Warhammer 40k - The Great Unit Review Wheel! post!

Now known as the Unit Review Library!

What is it all about? It is not there to just give a stat. It is there to give MY review of the unit!

Also this has become quite the Challenge! With so many units to review in the game the consensus in the hobby community is that I will not have enough time to review all of the Datasheets before the new edition of Warhammer 40,000 came out.

I should have started when 10th edition launched!
496 days since the start of 10th Edition.
This is Review #170, I am 326 reviews behind! (Lowest I have been is 314 behind)

January 2025 we are expecting Astra Militarum and Aeldari codexes as explained Here, so time to focus on THOSE Datasheets!

Astra Militarum, Basilisk

10th Edition Index

With the capability to slamming ordanance down at a range of 4 battlefields(the size used for a normal 2000pts game) away, the Basilisk is the iconic ARTILLERY piece of the Imperial Guard!

This weapon makes me excited! I have two Chimeras I need to convert into 2 of these babies... for Eternal Carnage!

Let's check those stats...

Stats

Movement 10"
Toughness 9
Save 3+(armor/invul/Feel No Pain)
Wounds 11
Ld 7+
OC 3

Weapons

Earthshaker cannon

240" Range, D6+3 Shots, Hitting on 4+, S8, AP-2 and 2 Damage each.
Blast (+1 Attack per 5 enemy models rounding down)
Indirect Fire (This weapon can shoot at something it can't see, but at -1 to Hit)
Heavy (If this model remained stationary, this weapon shoots with a +1 to Hit)

The Indirect Fire rules states you cannot Hit on better than a 4+. So deploy, stand still and hit on 4+ all the time. 4+, +1, -1 = 4+ to Hit

Heavy Bolter

36" Range, 3 Shots, Hitting on 4+. S5, AP-1 and 2 Damage each.
Sustained Hits 1 (On a 6 ti hit, gain an attitional Hit)

OR

Heavy Flamer

12" Range, D6 Shots, Hitting on Auto, S5, AP-1 and 1 Damage each.
Torrent (Auto Hits, just roll for the number of attacks and then roll to Wound)
Ignores Cover (Targets do not get Benefit of Cover against this atttack)

Hunter Killer Missile

48" Range, 1 Shot, Hitting on 4+, S14, AP-3 and D6 Damage each.
One Shot (You can only fire this weapon once in the game)

Melee:

Armoured Tracks

3 Attacks, Hitting on 4+. S6, AP0 and 1 Damage each.

Abilities

Earthshaker Rounds

When hitting an Infantry unit with the Earthshaker gun,
one unit hit this way is at -2 Movement, _2 to Advance and -2 to Charge rolls.

This is a great at limiting the enemy movement, especially in key locations where the enemy's next movement really matters.

Even more devastating when you use it on Heavy Infantry units that are slow! Terminators and Gravis troops are M5, so M3 after being HIT, they don't need to take damage to be shaken.

Even fast and flighty Aeldary at M7 become M5 and this might ruin his plans!

Thoughts

I love this weapon of the Emperor! I would field at least one in a 2000pts game, I think it is valuable to control the enemy movement. Other than that... Eternal Carnage... you know how many I want.... hahaha.

That makes 16 Astra Militarum, Datasheets Reviewed putting them on 17.98% Cmpleted. The total Completed is 16.18% Complete! Can I review them all?!

Thank you for reading!

Warhammer Review Library

Army Rule and Detachment Rule Reviews

FactionDetachmentReview Number
Agents of the ImperiumArmy Rule #2
Astra MilitarumArmy Rule #1
Astra MilitarumCombined RegimentDetachment Rule #1
Space MarinesArmy Rule #3


Datasheet Review list (Alphabetical)

FactionUnitReview Number
Adeptus CustodesProsecutors#1
Adeptus CustodesKnight-Centura#54
Adeptus CustodesShield-Captain#61
Adeptus CustodesShield-Captain in Allarus Terminator Armor#70
Adeptus CustodesTrajann Valoris#40
Adeptus MechanicusArchaeopter Fusilave#13
Adeptus MechanicusArchaeopter Stratoraptor#14
Adeptus MechanicusArchaeopter Transvector#15
Adeptus MechanicusBelisarius Cawl#53
Adeptus MechanicusCorpuscarii Electro-Priests#97
Adeptus MechanicusOnager Dunecrawler#110
Adeptus MechanicusSerberys Raiders#55
Adeptus MechanicusSerberys Sulphurhounds#56
Adeptus MechanicusTechnoarcheologist#104
AeldariAsurmen#155
AeldariDark Reapers#165
AeldariGuardian Defenders#64
AeldariHemlock Wraithfighter#161
AeldariKarandras#153
AeldariMaugan Ra#87
AeldariNight Spinner#65
AeldariRangers#149
AeldariShadowseer#80
AeldariShining Spears#147
AeldariShroud Runners#151
AeldariSkyweavers#157
AeldariSolitaire#167
AeldariSpiritseer#169
AeldariThe Visarch#159
AeldariPrince Yriel#92
Astra MilitarumAegis Defence Line#146
Astra MilitarumArmoured Sentinels#148
Astra MilitarumAttilan Rough Riders#154
Astra MilitarumBaneblade#156
Astra MilitarumBanehammer#160
Astra MilitarumBanesword#166
Astra MilitarumCadian Castellan#158
Astra MilitarumField Ordnance Battery#162
Astra MilitarumKasrkin#60
Astra MilitarumOgryn Bodyguard#150
Astra Militarum Ogryn Squad#152
Astra MilitarumRatling Snipers#164
Astra MilitarumTank Commander#90
Astra MilitarumWyvern#81
Astra MilitarumValkyrie#168
Black TemplarsBlack Templars Gladiator#102
Black TemplarsHigh Marshall Helbrecht#38
Black TemplarsMarshall#46
Black TemplarsThe Emperor's Champion#63
Blood AngelsAstorath#131
Blood AngelsBaal Predator#2
Blood AngelsBrother Corbulo#132
Blood AngelsCaptain Tycho#133
Blood AngelsChief Librarian Mephiston#134
Blood AngelsCommander Dante#135
Blood AngelsDeath Company Dreadnought#136
Blood AngelsDeath Company Intercessors#137
Blood AngelsDeath Company Marines#138
Blood AngelsDeath Company Marines with Jump Packs#139
Blood AngelsFurioso Dreadnought#140
Blood AngelsGabriel Seth#66
Blood AngelsLemartes#32
Blood AngelsLibrarian Dreadnought#141
Blood AngelsSanguinary Guard#93
Blood AngelsSanguinary Priest#142
Blood AngelsSanguinary Priest with Jump#143
Blood AngelsThe Sanguinor#144
Blood AngelsTycho the Lost#145
Chaos DaemonsBeasts of Nurgle#98
Chaos DaemonsDaemonettes#29
Chaos DaemonsLord of Change#75
Chaos DaemonsNurglings#82
Chaos KnightsKnight Abominant#94
Chaos KnightsWar Dog Brigands#30
Chaos KnightsWar Dog Executioners#31
Chaos KnightsWar Dog Huntsman#77
Chaos Space MarinesAbbadon the Despoiler#50
Chaos Space MarinesHaarken Worldclaimer#41
Chaos Space MarinesKhorne Lord of Skulls#37
Dark AngelsAsmodai#16
Dark AngelsAzrael#17
Dark AngelsBelial#4
Dark AngelsDeathwing Knights#20
Dark AngelsDeathwing Terminator Squad#99
Dark AngelsLazarus#62
Dark AngelsLand Speeder Vengeance#101
Death GuardBiologus Putrifier#5
Death GuardBlightlord Terminators#10
Death GuardChaos Lord#36
Death GuardLord of Contagion#52
Death GuardTallyman#39
Death GuardMalignant Plaguecaster#71
DeathwatchCorvus Blackstar#72
DeathwatchDeathwatch Veterans#114
DeathwatchWatch Captain Artemis#122
DeathwatchWatch Master#124
DrukhariGrotesques#45
DrukhariHaemonculus#8
DrukhariRaider#35
DrukhariScourges#7
Genestealer CultsAberants#47
Genestealer CultsHybrid Metamorphs#58
Genestealer CultsReductus Saboteur#33
Grey KnightsBrother Captain#25
Grey KnightsGrand Master#48
Grey KnightsStrike Squad#51
Imperial AgentsCallidus Assassin#9
Imperial AgentsCulexus Assassin#69
Imperial AgentsEversor Assassin#105
Imperial AgentsExaction Squad#111
Imperial AgentsImperial Navy Breachers#113
Imperial AgentsInquisitor#115
Imperial AgentsInquisitor Coteaz#117
Imperial AgentsInquisitor Greyfax#121
Imperial AgentsInquisitorial Henchmen#123
Imperial AgentsLord Inquisitor Kyria Draxus#126
Imperial AgentsRogue Trader Entourage#127
Imperial AgentsSubductor Squad#128
Imperial AgentsVigilant Squad#26
Imperial AgentsVindicare Assassin#129
Imperial AgentsVoidsmen-at-Arms#130
Imperial KnightsCanis Rex#76
Imperial KnightsArmiger Helverin#22
Imperial KnightsArmiger Warglaive#43
Imperial KnightsKnight Castellan#83
Leagues of VotannBrôkhyr Iron-master#27
Leagues of VotannBrôkhyr Thunderkyn#78
Leagues of VotannCthonian Beserks#86
Leagues of VotannSagitaur#3
Leagues of VotannÛthar the Destined#44
NecronsObelisk#11
OrksBattlewagon#34
OrksHunta Rig#28
OrksZodgrod Wortsnagga#89
Space MarinesKayvaan Shrike#23
Space MarinesMarneus Calgar#42
Space MarinesRazorback#21
Space MarinesVanguard Veteran Squad with Jump Packs#103
Space WolvesArjac Rockfist#68
Space WolvesFenrisian Wolves#91
Space WolvesWolf Guard#74
T'au EmpireBreacher Team#88
T'au EmpireDarkstrider#12
T'au EmpireKroot Carnivore Squad#19
T'au EmpirePathfinder Team#79
T'au EmpirePiranhas#107
T'au EmpireRazorshark Strike Fighter#95
T'au EmpireStealth Battlesuits#67
Thousand SonsAhriman#108
Thousand SonsAhriman on Disc of Tzeentch#109
Thousand SonsExalted Sorcerer#59
Thousand SonsMagnus the Red#49
TyranidsBarbgaunts#6
TyranidsLictor#106
TyranidsRaveners#96
TyranidsScreamer Killer#24
World EatersLord Invocatus#100
World EatersWorld Eaters Chaos Spawn#18
World EatersWorld Eaters Daemon Prince#85

Legends Datasheet Review list

FactionUnitReview Number
DeathwatchDeathwatch Terminator Squad#112
DeathwatchFortis Kill Team#116
DeathwatchIndomitor Kill Team#118
DeathwatchKill Team Cassius#120
DeathwatchProteus Killteam#57
DeathwatchSpectrus Kill Team#73
DeathwatchVeteran Bike Squad#84
Imperial AgentsInquisitor Eisenhorn#119
Imperial AgentsInquisitor Karamazov#125

Thank you for reading!

** Images in this post are from the Warhammer app, or Warhammer.com or otherwise referenced.

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Cheers!
@zakludick

Hive South Africa



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9 comments
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Much as I appreciate the idea of an armored division of Lehman Russ tanks, a list built on a backbone of Basilisks would be devastating to any elite army. Back it up with heavy weapon teams and enough infantry to screen attackers and it's nothing to sneer at.

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I love that idea.

Stand back and Fire!

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I've always been a big fan of artillery, although in reality, it's a noisy, dirty, hard work kind of job. Hauling a 6Pdr over a stuck gate at a re-enactment a few years ago was hard work, but compensated for by being able to drive chocolate-box-soldier Foot Guards away with the sponge end of a ramrod dripping wet and black from powder-slime 😁

Here's a question on the Basilisks; does the pinning effect stack ? If you've got a battery of them and hit the same unit more than once, can you bring them to a total halt ?

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That is a great question! I had a look at it and it looks as though modifiers are cumulative and that Movement can be reduced to a maximum of 1"! 😱😱😱😱

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