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Armour

RAW ✔️ Necromunda: Core Rulebook (2023), p272 Unless stated otherwise, a fighter may only be equipped with one type of armour at a time. However, certain types of armour can be combined with others. Where this is the case, the rules will state it.

Core Trading Post​

Ablative overlay​

RAW ✔️ Necromunda Core Rulebook (2023), p272; originates in The Book of Judgement: The Black Market Trading Post
20 Credits - Common

Sometimes, the best way to improve a suit of armour is to add even more armour over the top. An ablative overlay is a layer of armour that can be worn in addition to another suit of armour, or can be worn on its own. It can range from sophisticated gel coatings and reactive plates, to more primitive furs quilted with ballistic cloth and fragments from ruined armour pieces.

The first time a fighter wearing an ablative overlay is required to make a save, their save is 2 better than normal (i.e., a model with a 5+ save would gain a 3+ save). A model without a save gains a 5+ save. The second time they must make a save, it becomes 1 better than normal or 6+ if they did not already have a save.

After the fighter has been hit twice, the ablative overlay is spent and has no further effect on the battle, but is retained by the fighter and may be used again in future battles.

Archaeo-carapace​

RAW ✔️ Necromunda Core Rulebook (2023), p272; originates in The Book of Judgement: The Black Market Trading Post
120 Credits – Rare (12)

An ancient device from the Dark Age of Technology, the Archaeo-carapace is a piston-driven rig that grafts itself to the user. It offers impressive protection, but at the same time slowly begins to take over the wearer, until there is little distinction between them and the machine.

An Archaeo-carapace grants its wearer a 4+ save.

If the wearer suffers a Lasting Injury result of Humiliated, Head Injury, Eye Injury, Hand Injury, Hobbled, Spinal Injury or Enfeebled, instead of suffering the effects of the injury they gain a bionic (see Bionics) appropriate to the location damaged (i.e., if a Head Injury was suffered, they would gain a Cortex-cogitator bionic). These bionics do not increase the fighter's characteristics. Unlike normal bionics, they cannot be damaged or destroyed, and if the fighter suffers an injury to a location already replaced by a bionic then the injury is ignored.

Transformation into a blasphemous cyber-creature is not without its perils, however. Whenever the fighter activates they must roll a D6. If the result is less than the number of bionics they currently have, they gain the Insane condition. If the fighter ever has six or more bionics, they vanish into the underhive never to be seen again – the player must remove the fighter from their gang roster

Armourweave​

RAW ✔️ Necromunda Core Rulebook (2023), p272; originates in The Book of Judgement: The Black Market Trading Post
20 Credits – Illegal (9)

A product of xenos science, the armourweave suit combines psycho-reactive plastics and kinetic bafflers to deaden blows. Armourweave is also practically impossible to tear or cut, meaning even against the most powerful attacks it will offer some measure of protection.

Armourweave grants its wearer a save of 5+. This save cannot be reduced to lower than 6+ by AP or other modifiers, though attacks that do not allow a save will ignore Armourweave as normal.

Carapace​

RAW ✔️ Necromunda Core Rulebook (2023), p272

Carapace armour falls into two broad categories. Light carapace armour offers good protection all over but falls short of covering the wearer from head to toe. Heavy carapace armour is a more complete suit of armour and offers extra protection.

Light: 80 credits – Rare (10) Light carapace armour grants a 4+ save roll.

Heavy: 100 credits – Rare (11) Heavy carapace armour grants a 4+ save roll. This is increased to 3+ against attacks originating within the fighter's vision arc (the 90° arc to their front); check this before the fighter model is placed Prone and is Pinned. If it is not clear if the attacker is within the fighter's front arc, use a Vision Arc template to check – if the centre of the attacker's base is within the arc, use the 3+ save roll. Against attacks with the Blast trait, use the centre of the Blast marker in place of the attacker. If the fighter does not have a facing (for example, if they are prone), use the 4+ save roll. However, due to the extra weight of this armour, the fighter's Initiative is reduced by -1 and their movement by 1" when making a Charge action.

Ceramite shield​

RAW ✔️ Necromunda Core Rulebook (2023), p273; originates in The Book of Judgement: The Black Market Trading Post
40 Credits – Rare (8)

Ceramite shields are made from scavenged armoured plating destined for the military vehicles of the Imperium. As much mobile cover as personal protection, they are lugged into battle by burly gangers who don't mind the weight compared to the benefits the shield affords.

A fighter with a Ceramite shield adds +2 to their save against attacks originating in their line of sight provided they are Standing, however for the wielder the Move action becomes a (Basic) action rather than a (Simple) action.

A fighter with a Ceramite shield ignores the effects of the Melta trait if an attack originates in their line of sight. A fighter can be equipped with a Ceramite shield in addition to a suit of armour, however a fighter carrying a Ceramite shield reduces the number of weapons they can carry by one.

Flak​

RAW ✔️ Necromunda Core Rulebook (2023), p273

Flak armour is perhaps the most common type seen in the underhive. Made with layers of thick, protective material bonded together, it offers protection against cuts and abrasions without hampering mobility. Certain improved types, however, are only readily available to Lord Helmawr's Enforcers, though versions (sometimes with the blood of fallen Enforcers still on them) do appear on the Black Market.

Flak Armour: 10 credits - Common Flak armour grants a 6+ save roll. Against weapons that use a Blast marker or Flame template, this is increased to a 5+ save roll.

Gutterforged cloak​

RAW ✔️ Necromunda Core Rulebook (2023), p273; originates in The Book of Judgement: The Black Market Trading Post
15 Credits - Common

Made from fragments of ruined armour, a Gutterforged cloak provides protection at a very modest price. Common among badzones settlers, the cloak is also designed to offer some measure of defence against the hazards of the underhive or ash wastes.

A Gutterforged cloak grants its wearer a save of 6+, or a save of 5+ against damage resulting from Underhive Perils or environmental effects.

Hazard suit​

RAW ✔️ Necromunda Core Rulebook (2023), p273
10 Credits – Rare (10)

The ash wastes are a hostile place, their dunes frequently toxic or corrosive, and strong winds whip up regular ash storms capable of blasting any exposed skin raw in minutes. Consequently, those such as ash crust miners and the poor wretches who maintain a hive's outer armoured skin frequently wear heavy suits of rubberised canvas with vulcanised plates that protect them from the dangers of their working environment.

A hazard suit grants a 6+ save roll. Additionally, when a hazard suit is combined with a respirator, the fighter's Toughness is increased by 3 against Gas attacks, rather than the usual 2. Finally, a fighter wearing a hazard suit is immune to the Blaze and Rad-phage traits.

Mantle malifica​

RAW ✔️ Necromunda Core Rulebook (2023), p274; originates in The Book of Judgement: The Black Market Trading Post
75 Credits – Illegal (13)

Constructed from pieces of gore-forged metal, a Mantle Malifica incorporates profane icons and Warp-infused materials to protect its wearer from harm. Unfortunately, wearing such a tainted garment will slowly erode the mind and soul of all but the most strong-willed – or those already insane.

A Mantle Malifica grants its wearer a 5+ save, or an unmodifiable 4+ save against the effects of psychic powers.

Note that this save, if successful, does not cancel the use of a psychic power, it only renders the wearer immune to the power's effects. In the End phase of each round, the wearer must make a Willpower test or gain the Insane condition.

Mesh armour​

RAW ✔️ Necromunda Core Rulebook (2023), p274
15 Credits - Common

Constructed from tiny metal rings linked together, mesh armour offers more protection than flak without sacrificing any of the wearer's mobility. Worn in large quantities however, it can become extremely heavy.

Mesh armour grants a 5+ save roll.

Reflec shroud​

RAW ✔️ Necromunda Core Rulebook (2023), p274; originates in The Book of Judgement: The Black Market Trading Post
30 Credits – Rare (8)

Created from layers of reflective metals, a reflec shroud provides an effective ward against energy weapons.

A reflec shroud grants its wearer a save of 5+.

The wearer also counts the AP of las, plasma and melta weapons as '-' regardless of their actual AP.

Scrap shield​

RAW ✔️ Necromunda Core Rulebook (2023), p274; originates in The Book of Judgement: The Black Market Trading Post
15 Credits - Common

Sometimes, fighters fashion crude shields from bits of barricades or simply panels prised from tunnel walls. These are then painted in gang colours and affixed to other suits of armour, either strapped to an arm or mounted over a shoulder.

A fighter can be equipped with a scrap shield in addition to a suit of armour. The scrap shield offers no protection against ranged attacks, but while Standing and Engaged, the fighter increases their save by 1 against Reaction attacks.

Exclusive & Trading Post Appendices​

Armoured bodyglove​

RAW ✔️ House of Artifice, p116
Van Saar only

The fighters of House Van Saar are somewhat protected from the effects of their own rad weapons by their armour and are therefore immune to the effects of the Rad-phage Weapon Trait (i.e., they will not suffer the additional Flesh Wound) unless otherwise noted.

In addition, if a fighter is wearing an armoured bodyglove, their save roll is improved by 1. For example, if they are wearing flak armour and an armoured bodyglove, they would have a 5+ save, which would be increased to 4+ against Blasts. If a fighter does not already have a save roll, an armoured bodyglove grants a 6+ save.

Unlike other types of armour, an armoured bodyglove may be combined with other types of armour. It may not, however, be combined with an armoured undersuit.

Exo-suit​

RAW ✔️ Halls of the Ancients, p117
Ironhead Squat Prospectors only

The exo-suit was designed by the Ironhead Squats to protect Squats from the myriad environmental dangers miners face when deep underground clearing out a promising seam of materials or chems.

A fighter wearing an exo-suit has a 5+ armour save and is not affected by the Blaze or Rad-phage weapon traits.

Furnace plates​

RAW ✔️ House of Chains, p151
Goliath and Slave Ogryn gangs only

Furnace plates grant a 6+ save roll. This is increased to a 5+ save roll against attacks originating within the fighter's vision arc (the 90° arc to their front); check this before the fighter model is placed Prone and is Pinned. If it is not clear if the attacker is within the fighter's Front arc, use a Vision Arc template to check – if the centre of the attacker's base is within the arc, use the 5+ save roll. Against attacks with the Blast trait, use the centre of the Blast marker in place of the attacker. If the fighter does not have a facing (for example, if they are Prone), use the 6+ save roll.

Hardened flak armour​

RAW ✔️ The Book of Judgement, p114
Palanite Enforcers & Badzone Enforcers only
The Book of Ruin: Trading Post Appendix only, 20 Credits – Rare (10)

Flak armour grants a 6+ save roll. Against weapons that use a Blast marker or Flame template, this is increased to a 5+ save roll. Additionally, when an enemy fighter makes a ranged attack against a fighter wearing hardened flak armour, the Armour Penetration of the weapon used is decreased by 1, to a minimum of 1.

Layered flak armour​

RAW ✔️ Bastions of Law, p116
Palanite Enforcers & Badzone Enforcers only
The Book of Ruin: Trading Post Appendix only, 20 Credits – Rare (8)

Layered flak armour grants a 5+ save roll. Against weapons that use a Blast marker or Flame template, this is increased to a 4+ save roll.

Hardened layered flak armour​

RAW ✔️ Bastions of Law, p116
Palanite Enforcers & Badzone Enforcers only
The Book of Ruin: Trading Post Appendix only, 35 Credits – Rare (11)

Hardened layered flak armour grants a 5+ save roll. Against weapons that use a Blast marker or Flame template, this is increased to a 4+ save roll. Additionally, when an enemy fighter makes a ranged attack against a fighter wearing hardened layered flak armour, the Armour Penetration of the weapon used is decreased by 1, to a minimum of 1.

Incombustible hauberk​

RAW ✔️ House of Faith, p124
Redemptionists only

Woven from flame retardant materials, the robes worn by many Redemptionists offer a degree of protection against the flames of their holy wrath, fuelling the belief of many that these fanatics are indeed protected from cleansing fire by the Emperor's blessing. When a fighter wearing an incombustible hauberk is hit by a weapon with the Blaze trait, roll a D6. On a 5+, they do not become subject to the Blaze condition. Additionally, a fighter wearing an incombustible hauberk that has become subject to the Blaze condition may add 1 to the dice roll when attempting to put the fire out. An incombustible hauberk can be used with other types of armour.

Plate mail​

RAW ✔️ Source: The Book of Ruin
Corpse Grinder Cults only Plate mail grants a 6+ save roll. This is increased to a 5+ save roll against attacks originating within the fighter's vision arc (the 90° arc to their front); check this before the fighter model is placed Prone and is Pinned. If it is not clear if the attacker is within the fighter's front arc, use a Vision Arc template to check – if the centre of the attacker's base is within the arc, use the 5+ save roll. Against attacks with the Blast trait, plate mail always grants a 5+ save roll.