For a science-fiction setting that spans an entire galaxy, there aren’t many proper aliens in Warhammer 40,000. T’au, Aeldari, Drukhari, and Leagues of Votann are all technically alien, but in that boring humanoid form that makes them feel basically human, like Mister Spock or three toddlers in a trenchcoat. I consider Daemons to be infernal abominations, more unholy than alien, which leaves just Tyranids and Orks as the only real aliens in 40K.

That’s around ten percent of 40K armies that are proper aliens – and that’s when you count all Space Marines as one force, which Games Workshop clearly wants us to. We need more. And while Kroot don’t contribute to these numbers, being a part of the T’au Codex, a bigger presence in said Codex is a good thing.

If you count the mechsuit fishmen & co as ‘proper aliens’, the number of 40K races being aliens rises to a whopping 14 percent.

Games Workshop revealed five new Kroot units at the Las Vegas Open this weekend, just as I predicted. Granted, I wasn’t the only one, but I published my thoughts on the internet and I want approval for that. But gee-dubs hinted that another five Kroot units are on their way, so I’m going to test my prediction chops with another round of extravagant guesses.

But first, a brief look at the reveals:

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The Kroot Carnivores (that’s regular infantry) are needed – the old models are more ancient than a Tech Priest’s Omnissian Axe – but not too exciting. There’s a new weapon, the tanglebomb launcher, and a baby hound that seems mandatory with every new release now, but it’s mostly just updated sculpts. Fine by me. The two Shapers, a War Shaper and Flesh Shaper respectively, are cool characters with a few weapon options, but the meat of the release comes from the Krootox.

The new Krootox Riders look perfectly grumpy, and are built like brick outhouses. They’re finally suitable models for the hulking beasts of T’au lore, complete with two weapon options this time around (repeater cannon or tanglecannon), but they’ve also been slightly overshadowed by the brand new Krootox Rampagers.

The Krootox Rampagers might be the best models revealed at the entire Las Vegas Open. It’s either them or the Mordheimian Saviours of Cinderfall. These models are full of motion and energy, charging at their foes with beaked anger. Their riders are swiping with axes and machetes, firing pistols into the air, and otherwise doing their best to look menacing. They succeed. These models are fantastic, and make me excited to see the second half of the army. But what’s coming? We have a few hints.

The first is the Rumour Engine silhouette that started all this speculation. The image showed a Kroot riding a creature, but it doesn’t look like any of the Krootox revealed. In fact, it looks positively reptilian. I’m still certain that it’s a Kroot model, and I suspect it will be a mounted character on a bespoke mount genetically modified just for its royal highness. I’ll go out on a limb and say this will be a named character to differentiate it from the Shapers, and give the Kroot a Farsight equivalent.

Next up are Kroot Hounds. The speedy doggos got new plastic sculpts for the Kroot’s Kill Team, the Farstalker Kinband (who I hope retain their datasheet in the new Codex), so I expect a separate release for these including a few new poses.

Now we’re getting into wild guess territory, but we still don’t have an army centrepiece. That will be a Greater Knarloc. I’m thinking a howdah filled with Kroot gunners, or maybe just a big gun balanced precariously on its back like a fowl Hammerhead.

While winged Kroot have been mentioned in the lore, and the cannibals could feasibly evolve into just about anything if they put their minds to it, I don’t see a flying unit. They would step on too many Vespidian toes. Instead, for the last new unit, regular Greater Knarlocs are an option, or potentially a ranged unit to act as a foil to the Krootox Rampagers, but that seems like a lot of mounted infantry for one release.

I wonder if we’ll get a transport, some kind of makeshift skiff to get your Carnivores into combat. It’s a long shot, as it doesn’t really fit the vibe of the animalistic aliens that we’re currently getting, but I haven’t got many better ideas. This last spot is really up for grabs, but whether we get a flyer, mounted gunner, or transport, I’ll be happy. These Kroot designs are some of the best 40K units Games Workshop has cooked up in years, and I’m glad that aliens are finally taking their rightful place at the centre of the 41st millennium.

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