Looks Like Games Workshop Is Making References To New Kroot Models

Though they are by no means the good guys in Warhammer 40,000, the T’au Empire may actually be one of the less evil factions. Their life under T’au control sounds as miserable as that of an Imperial serf because they are subject to harsh totalitarian rule with an even tougher caste structure. And that’s not even counting all the plasma weapons and railguns.

The way the T’au people handle extraterrestrial races is one particularly terrible facet of their way of existence. The empire exchanges its cutting-edge armaments and technology for unwavering allegiance, particularly in the military sphere. Like the Vespids, a race of winged insectoids that fight with the T’au despite fundamental ideological differences, there is a darker aspect to the T’au’s treatment of its auxiliaries.

Notwithstanding the claims of mind control, Vespids are frequently overlooked in favor of the Kroot, T’au’s most recognizable ally. The phrase “Kroot Carnivores” refers to a group of bipedal, featherless birds known as “kroots” that canonically adopt characteristics of other species by consuming their flesh. Nevertheless, they lacklusterly display on the board, and their rules hardly capture the essence of their rich history.


Because of this, Kroot has developed a cult-like following in Warhammer. Though not as much as Squats, 40k’s perspective on dwarfs, it is still more than certain well-known factions. You can field four units on the table at the moment, or six if you include the specialty games. The Kroot Carnivores, spearheaded by Shapers and supported by gun-wielding Krootox and Hounds, are the regular fighters and the core of the group. There are still not many options, even though Kill Team brought several experts to the fight and Forgeworld created a Knarloc, a massive beaked creature that appears to be connected to the Kroot.

If rumors are to be believed, however, Games Workshop might be hinting at a range refresh for the Kroot. The latest Rumor Engine image has fans in a frenzy since it obviously depicts a Kroot Gun barrel.

As a result of searching various teasers for indications of carnivorous life—I can speak for myself because I am one of those die-hard Kroot nerds—they ended up looking more like the Pepe Silvia meme from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia than any futuristic general. A portion of the discovered evidence is intriguing, though not totally proof.




Though I’m still not sure about the pouch and letters, the quill-filled cloak is a fantastic location. The hand features the classic two-finger, two-thumb Kroot grip, but because of the armor and scales, it reminds me more of a Blood Bowl Ogre or something. Fans are still pointing to leaks from five years ago that mention a standalone Kroot codex and are at least hoping for a range update.

The Kroot versions that are in use now are 22 years old; they were first introduced together with the T’au army. When I discovered during my research for this piece that Shapers were just £4 and they were priced at £15 for 15 models, I wanted to burst into a pool of tears and inflation. However, they’re long overdue for an update, and I can only image the excitement about some new plastic featuring dynamic stances and lots of customization possibilities. To be honest, the original Farstalkers haven’t aged too badly, but the more recent models are executed in a way that is more fascinating and varied.

Though it’s improbable, I’d love to see a full Kroot release, replete with plastic Knarlocs, additional weapon possibilities, a ton of updated units, and their own codex. Fans of Kroot are hoping for much more, but at the very least, I envision a plastic Shaper and Krootox in the near future.