In the fast-paced and tactical world of Kill Team, every decision counts, and the difference between victory and defeat often comes down to how well you use your resources. One of the most impactful elements in the game is the use of Tactical Ploys. These special abilities or strategies can completely shift the flow of a match, giving players a much-needed edge when it matters most. Understanding how to use Tactical Ploys effectively is a key skill for any Kill Team commander, whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a new recruit trying to climb the ranks.
What Are Tactical Ploys?
Tactical Ploys are powerful one-time-use abilities that players can activate during a game of Kill Team. They usually cost Command Points (CP) and offer situational advantages such as rerolls, movement bonuses, protection from attacks, or enhanced offense. These ploys are part of your kill team’s strategic toolkit and are designed to be used at critical moments to outmaneuver, outlast, or outfight your opponent.
Each faction in Kill Team has access to a set of unique Tactical Ploys tailored to its theme and playstyle. Additionally, there are universal ploys available to all factions, providing general-purpose utility. The careful selection and timely use of these ploys can be the deciding factor in tightly contested matches.
Difference Between Strategic and Tactical Ploys
It’s important not to confuse Tactical Ploys with Strategic Ploys. While both are essential to gameplay, they serve different functions:
- Strategic Ploysare activated during the Strategy Phase and typically apply buffs or effects for the entire turning point.
- Tactical Ploysare more reactive and are played at specific moments during an activation or battle. They’re short-lived but impactful.
Why Tactical Ploys Matter
Tactical Ploys provide flexibility and allow you to respond to the evolving dynamics of the battlefield. They can help you turn a disadvantage into an opportunity or secure a critical objective when the odds are against you. Whether you’re trying to survive an onslaught, reposition a unit, or deny your opponent a key move, having the right Tactical Ploy ready can save your game.
Common Situations Where Tactical Ploys Shine
- Reacting to an enemy charging your position.
- Negating a successful enemy hit or critical wound.
- Boosting the effectiveness of a key operatives’ action.
- Disrupting an enemy’s plan with a surprise move.
Because Tactical Ploys are limited by Command Points and timing windows, using them wisely is crucial. Overuse or misusing a ploy at the wrong time can leave you without resources when you need them most.
Examples of Tactical Ploys by Faction
To get a better sense of how Tactical Ploys work in practice, let’s look at a few standout examples from different Kill Team factions.
Veteran Guardsmen Into the Breach
This ploy allows a friendly operative to perform a free Dash after another operative’s action. It’s ideal for repositioning units to capture objectives, escape danger, or chain aggressive maneuvers. Veteran Guardsmen rely on synergy, and this ploy helps maintain pressure while staying mobile.
Kommandos Throat Slittas
A brutal ploy that allows a Kommando operative to perform a Fight action after a Charge, even when the opponent is concealed. This turns sneaky positioning into lethal engagements. For Ork players, using this ploy can create devastating ambushes and wipe out enemies before they react.
Pathfinders Recon Sweep
Perfect for Tau players who favor ranged engagement, this ploy allows operatives to make a free Dash after performing a Shoot action. This hit-and-run tactic enables maintaining distance, grabbing objectives, and avoiding retaliation. The synergy with Markerlights makes it even more deadly.
Legionary Contagion
For Death Guard teams, this ploy spreads debuffs to enemies within range, weakening their attacks or defenses. It’s great for area control and making it harder for opponents to fight back. Nurgle’s gifts come in the form of grinding attrition, and this ploy helps enforce that playstyle.
Universal Tactical Ploys
In addition to faction-specific options, every team has access to some basic Tactical Ploys that can fit nearly any situation. While not flashy, they are incredibly reliable tools to have.
- Re-roll a Dice: Sometimes one roll can change everything. Spending a CP to reroll a key attack or defense dice can tip the balance.
- Change Order: Allows you to shift an operative’s engagement or concealment order outside of the standard rules, potentially saving them from harm or allowing a surprise attack.
- Counter-Offensive: Lets your operative fight back before the enemy finishes their activation, ideal for protecting high-value models.
Learning how to use these universal ploys alongside your faction’s unique abilities creates a layered strategy that can respond to all threats.
Building Your Strategy Around Tactical Ploys
Using Tactical Ploys effectively requires more than just knowing what they do you need to incorporate them into your overall game plan. Before each match, review your ploys and think about how they might interact with your mission objectives and opponent’s likely strategies.
Tips for Effective Use
- Plan Ahead: Don’t spend all your CP early in the game. Save a few for emergencies in later rounds.
- Know the Triggers: Understand exactly when each ploy can be used. Timing is everything.
- Watch Your Opponent: Anticipate their moves and respond with the appropriate ploy. Predicting an enemy’s play lets you disrupt them effectively.
- Combine with Actions: Use ploys to enhance or extend the value of an action such as moving after shooting, or attacking with surprise.
Advanced Strategies and Mind Games
As you gain more experience, you’ll find that ploys are also tools of deception. By holding back or spending CP in non-obvious ways, you can bait your opponent into poor decisions. Likewise, the mere threat of a powerful Tactical Ploy can deter an enemy from advancing or force them into more conservative plays.
For example, if your faction has a well-known counter-charge ploy, your opponent may avoid engaging altogether, giving you control over objectives or board space. Even if you never play the ploy, the psychological impact can change the course of the match.
Mastering Tactical Ploys for Victory
Tactical Ploys are one of the most potent tools in Kill Team, offering precision, flexibility, and surprise. Knowing when and how to use them separates good players from great ones. Whether you’re storming objectives with Kommandos, holding lines with Veteran Guardsmen, or sniping from afar with Pathfinders, Tactical Ploys provide that critical edge when it’s needed most.
To succeed in Kill Team, you must think several moves ahead and Tactical Ploys are your hidden aces, ready to turn the tide when used wisely. By mastering your ploy options and integrating them into your core strategy, you’ll gain greater control over the battlefield and outmaneuver your foes with confidence.