Part of our Leagues of Votann hub: every Leagues of Votann guide, lore page and painting tutorial in one place. Browse all 1000-point army lists.
The Kin don’t do glorious last stands. They do business. The Leagues of Votann are stubborn, heavily armoured space dwarves who treat war as a hostile takeover: seize the valuable ground, hold it and make the enemy pay for every inch. At 1,000 points (an Incursion game) you’ll field a compact, elite force of roughly 30 to 45 models, backed by some very good guns.
The playstyle is easy to pick up. Your infantry is tough, your shooting is accurate, and your army rule rewards you for fighting over objectives.
New to the faction? Our Leagues of Votann army guide covers the background and every unit. For the faction’s surprising history, read what happened to the Squats.
A quick note on rules and points
Leagues of Votann don’t have an 11th Edition codex yet. They’re using their existing 10th Edition codex rules, with the 11th Edition core rules on top, until their new book arrives. Games Workshop has said there won’t be any more codexes until 2027. Our codex release order tracker shows the current schedule.
Every points value below is approximate. 11th Edition points change with each Munitorum Field Manual and balance update, so check the Warhammer 40,000 app before you play.
How 1,000-point games work in 11th Edition
At 1,000 points you get 2 Detachment Points to spend on detachments, rather than picking a single detachment. Each detachment costs 1 to 3 DP depending on how much of your army it affects. Our detachment points explainer shows how to spend them.
Hearthband costs 3 DP, but you can still take it at 1,000 points, because the core rules let you take a 3 DP detachment as your only detachment in a 1,000-point Incursion game. Every list below uses a 2 DP detachment, but Hearthband is a legal swap.
Two other 11th Edition points suit the Votann:
- Cover is -1 to Hit against ranged attacks for Infantry in terrain. Tough Hearthkyn in a ruin are a nightmare to shift.
- Objectives are terrain pieces. An army that’s built to take and hold ground loves this.
The full list is in our 11th Edition rules changes guide.
Your army rule: Prioritised Efficiency
Votann units switch between two abilities depending on how many Yield Points (YP) you have. You build YP mainly by controlling objectives. Under 7 YP your units have Hostile Acquisition, which gives them +1 to Hit against enemies near objectives and lets them re-roll Advance and Charge rolls. At 7 YP or more they switch to Fortify Takeover, which gives them +1 to Hit while they stand on objectives you control and makes them harder to wound.
List 1: Needgaârd Starter (beginner)
This list is built around the current Combat Patrol box, which gives you an Einhyr Champion, five Einhyr Hearthguard, three Brôkhyr Thunderkyn and ten Hearthkyn Warriors. On top of that you add a second Hearthkyn squad, more Thunderkyn, some fast units and a Sagitaur.
Army composition
- Einhyr Champion — ~65 pts
- Kâhl — ~65 pts
- Brôkhyr Iron-master — ~70 pts
- 5x Einhyr Hearthguard — ~130 pts
- 10x Hearthkyn Warriors — ~90 pts
- 10x Hearthkyn Warriors — ~90 pts
- 3x Brôkhyr Thunderkyn — ~80 pts
- 3x Brôkhyr Thunderkyn — ~80 pts
- 3x Hernkyn Pioneers — ~85 pts
- Sagitaur — ~85 pts
- 2x Kapricus Defenders (one unit) — ~150 pts
Detachment: Needgaârd Oathband (2 DP)
Approximate total: ~990 pts
Unit roles
Einhyr Champion: a melee leader. Attach the Champion to the Hearthguard.
Kâhl: your Warlord. Attach the Kâhl to one Hearthkyn squad and push it towards the central objective.
Brôkhyr Iron-master: an engineer who can repair your vehicles and exoframes. Attach the Iron-master to a Thunderkyn unit and keep it near the Sagitaur.
5x Einhyr Hearthguard: elite heavy infantry with plasma guns and concussion gauntlets.
2x 10 Hearthkyn Warriors: your core. They’re tough, they shoot well and they hold objectives. The Sagitaur’s rules let you split one squad in half at the start of the battle, so five ride in the Sagitaur and five hold your home objective.
2x 3 Brôkhyr Thunderkyn: heavy support teams with bolt cannons. Park them in cover with a good view of the middle of the board.
3x Hernkyn Pioneers: fast scouts on hover-bikes. Use them to grab a far objective early or harass the enemy’s backline.
Sagitaur: a fast, armed transport for half a Hearthkyn squad.
2x Kapricus Defenders: fast gun platforms with magna-rail cannons. They hunt enemy vehicles and can move again after shooting.
How to play it: Needgaârd Oathband is the all-rounder detachment, built around gaining and spending Yield Points, and it works with every unit in this list. Take the middle with the Hearthguard and one Hearthkyn squad, keep the Thunderkyn shooting from cover, and use the Pioneers, Sagitaur and Defenders to contest the flanks.
List 2: Hearthfyre Gunline (elite)
This list goes heavy on elite infantry and big guns. Ûthar the Destined and an Einhyr Champion each lead a Hearthguard squad, a large Steeljack unit and six Thunderkyn add serious firepower, and one Hearthkyn squad holds your home objective. Every loss hurts, but few armies can out-shoot it.
Army composition
- Ûthar the Destined — ~100 pts
- Einhyr Champion — ~65 pts
- Memnyr Strategist — ~45 pts
- 5x Einhyr Hearthguard — ~130 pts
- 5x Einhyr Hearthguard — ~130 pts
- 6x Ironkin Steeljacks with Heavy Volkanite Disintegrators — ~170 pts
- 6x Brôkhyr Thunderkyn — ~170 pts
- 10x Hearthkyn Warriors — ~90 pts
- Sagitaur — ~85 pts
Detachment: Hearthfyre Arsenal (2 DP)
Approximate total: ~985 pts
Unit roles
Ûthar the Destined: your Warlord and one of the Kin’s greatest heroes. Attach Ûthar to a Hearthguard squad and send it at the most important objective.
Einhyr Champion: leads the second Hearthguard squad.
Memnyr Strategist: a support leader for your Ironkin. Attach the Strategist to the Steeljacks.
2x 5 Einhyr Hearthguard: your elite core, deadly at mid-range and decent in melee.
6x Ironkin Steeljacks: heavily armoured Ironkin warriors with heavy volkanite disintegrators. They shred enemy infantry.
6x Brôkhyr Thunderkyn: your heaviest gun line. Keep them in cover and pour bolt cannon fire into the enemy.
10x Hearthkyn Warriors + Sagitaur: split the squad, with five holding your home objective and five riding the Sagitaur to a flank.
How to play it: Hearthfyre Arsenal is built around your big guns and Ironkin, with Stratagems that boost your heavy weapons. Set up a firing line in cover, let the enemy come to you, and use the Hearthguard to push forward once the enemy is weakened.
If you want to experiment, Hearthguard Covenant is a 1 DP detachment focused on your Hearthguard. You could pair it with another 1 DP detachment, as long as the two can legally be combined. Check that in the app first.
List 3: Brandfast Convoy (themed)
If you like big, armoured vehicles, this is your list. A Hekaton Land Fortress leads two Sagitaurs, two Kapricus Carriers and a Kapricus Defender, and almost every infantry model starts inside a transport. It’s fast enough to reach objectives other Votann armies can’t.
Army composition
- Kâhl — ~65 pts
- Hekaton Land Fortress — ~250 pts
- Sagitaur — ~85 pts
- Sagitaur — ~85 pts
- Kapricus Carrier — ~70 pts
- Kapricus Carrier — ~70 pts
- Kapricus Defenders — ~75 pts
- 10x Hearthkyn Warriors — ~90 pts
- 10x Hearthkyn Warriors — ~90 pts
- 10x Hernkyn Yaegirs — ~90 pts
Detachment: Brandfast Oathband (2 DP)
Approximate total: ~970 pts
Unit roles
Kâhl + 10 Hearthkyn: your Warlord’s squad, riding inside the Hekaton.
Hekaton Land Fortress: your centrepiece, a huge, heavily armed transport.
2x Sagitaur: fast transports. Split the second Hearthkyn squad in half so five Hearthkyn ride in each one.
2x Kapricus Carrier: flying transports for the Yaegirs. Split the Yaegirs in half so five ride in each Carrier. Their Firing Deck lets the Yaegirs shoot from inside.
2x 10 Hearthkyn Warriors: your objective holders.
10x Hernkyn Yaegirs: fast, scrappy hunters. Use them to grab flank objectives and pick off weakened enemy units.
How to play it: Brandfast Oathband is built around vehicles and the infantry fighting alongside them. Move your transports up together, drop your infantry onto objectives and keep the vehicles close by to support them. The Hekaton is a big target, so park it behind terrain until you’re ready to move it.
General tactics at 1,000 points
Fight around objectives. Your army rule rewards you for attacking units near objectives and for holding objectives yourself. Don’t chase targets across the board.
Use cover. Your infantry is already tough. In terrain, with the -1 to Hit cover rule, Hearthkyn and Hearthguard are very hard to remove.
Stay at mid-range. Votann guns are best at mid-range. Don’t sit so far back that your guns are out of range.
Focus fire. Pick one target, kill it, then move on.
What to buy first
Start with the Leagues of Votann Combat Patrol. The current box gives you an Einhyr Champion, Einhyr Hearthguard, Brôkhyr Thunderkyn and Hearthkyn Warriors, which is the core of List 1. From there:
- Leagues of Votann Combat Patrol — your core.
- Hearthkyn Warriors — more of your best objective holders.
- Sagitaur — a fast, armed transport that two of the lists above use.
- Kâhl — a flexible Warlord who can lead Hearthkyn or Hearthguard.
- Hekaton Land Fortress — if you want to build towards List 3.
Ready to start painting? Our colour scheme ideas guide can help you pick a palette for your League, and the Kharadron Overlords army guide is worth a look if you like the industrial, sky-dwarf look of the Kin.
Common mistakes
- Spreading out too thin. Votann are elite, so you don’t have many units. Keep them close enough to support each other.
- Ignoring the army rule. Your bonuses depend on objectives and Yield Points. Track your YP every turn.
- Leaving the Hekaton in the open. It’s a huge target. Use terrain to block line of sight until it’s ready to move.
- Forgetting the detachment cost. Hearthband is 3 DP, so at 1,000 points it has to be your only detachment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many models are in a 1,000-point Leagues of Votann army?
Usually 30 to 45 models. Infantry-heavy lists sit at the top end, and vehicle-heavy lists sit at the bottom.
Do Leagues of Votann have an 11th Edition codex?
Not yet. They use their existing 10th Edition codex rules with the 11th Edition core rules until their new codex arrives. Games Workshop has said there won’t be any more codexes until 2027.
Is the Leagues of Votann Combat Patrol enough for 1,000 points?
No. It’s a strong core, but you’ll need a few more units, such as more Hearthkyn, a Sagitaur and some Thunderkyn, to reach 1,000 points.
Are Leagues of Votann good for beginners?
Yes. They’re tough, they shoot well and their plan is simple: take objectives and hold them. The main thing to learn is how your Yield Points change your army’s bonuses.
What is the best detachment for a 1,000-point Leagues of Votann list?
Needgaârd Oathband is the best all-rounder for new players. Hearthfyre Arsenal suits a gunline, and Brandfast Oathband is the pick for vehicle-heavy lists. Hearthband costs 3 DP, so at 1,000 points you can take it, but only on its own.
What is the difference between Hearthkyn Warriors and Einhyr Hearthguard?
Hearthkyn Warriors are the Votann’s core infantry, tough and good at shooting, and they’re your main objective holders. Einhyr Hearthguard are elite heavy infantry with plasma guns and concussion gauntlets, deadly at mid-range and decent in melee. Most lists use Hearthkyn to hold ground and Hearthguard, led by an Einhyr Champion or Ûthar, to push into the most important objective.
Related guides
More 1,000-point lists: T’au Empire for another shooting-focused xenos army, and Astra Militarum if you love tanks and gun lines. Browse every faction on our Warhammer 40k army lists hub. For more on the Kin’s origins, read what are Abhumans.