Recent representations of Catachan Jungle Fighters

[MechaMan]

The recently announced Owlcat rpg Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy features a veteran guardsman from Catachan as a companion. It shares a design language with recent miniatures and artwork of Catachan’s that GW have released. I think it makes a Catachan release, whether a kill team or a complete refresh even more likely and gives us some clues as to what they would look like. I thought I’d post a compilation of recent visual representations of Catachan’s in anticipation of their possible refresh. 
 

 

I can’t think of another time where recent artwork has portrayed a regiment in a consistent fashion that diverges from the existing miniatures (presence of Cadian flak etc). I think the consistency between the art and exclusive/limited miniature releases anticipates what the refresh will look like, when it comes. I, for one, am excited. 

[Inquisitor_Lensoven]

We can’t take video game characters too seriously.

 

iirc gravis class in SM2 can take weapons that aren’t available in the codex.(but who knows maybe 11th we’ll PC gravis marines.)

[MechaMan]

I mean we first saw assault primaris through the space marine 2 trailer. I think my point was more that in the art he’s shown wearing exactly the same flak armour as the colonel and the plasma gunner. I would say when we get new Catachan’s, and I’m pretty confident it’s a matter of when, not if, they’ll look like the recent art - and I can’t think of a time where a range refresh has been so extensively represented before the full miniature range has been released. 

[Inquisitor_Lensoven]

3 hours ago, MechaMan said:

I mean we first saw assault primaris through the space marine 2 trailer. I think my point was more that in the art he’s shown wearing exactly the same flak armour as the colonel and the plasma gunner. I would say when we get new Catachan’s, and I’m pretty confident it’s a matter of when, not if, they’ll look like the recent art - and I can’t think of a time where a range refresh has been so extensively represented before the full miniature range has been released. 

I mean the art is fairly varied and not quite as uniform as you make it out to be.

each book cover you shared has 3 guardsmen 2 of which are just wearing tank tops and maybe a generic cargo vest.

sgt ripper likewise doesn’t have a flak vest either.

 

so maybe we see a mix like what we see in the pictures you shared, or maybe it’ll be one style or the other, or possibly even a third style.

[MechaMan]

2 hours ago, Inquisitor_Lensoven said:

I mean the art is fairly varied and not quite as uniform as you make it out to be.

each book cover you shared has 3 guardsmen 2 of which are just wearing tank tops and maybe a generic cargo vest.

sgt ripper likewise doesn’t have a flak vest either.

 

so maybe we see a mix like what we see in the pictures you shared, or maybe it’ll be one style or the other, or possibly even a third style.

Yeah I’m not suggesting they will all have flak armour. Maybe I am articulating myself poorly. 
 

To my eyes, there is a shared design language/style/aesthetic in recent art and models that feels cohesive to me, and also distinct from the old plastic/metal models and the attendant/related art from that era. 
 

I feel like when we get the new Catachan’s they will share this style, rather than being another reimagining. I think the art and the two miniatures, in terms of scale aesthetic etc give us a preview of what the new models will look like. 
 

And I think that differs from say Death Korps, where we only saw the range refresh aesthetic (new masks etc) in art after the models were released. The same goes for the cadians, the space marine 2 guardsmen look like old plastic cadians, we did not get a preview of the new knee pads, helmets, shoulder pads etc in art/games. 
 

while Catachan’s differ in not exactly being uniform, I imagine the new kits will have things like flak armour, more women, knee pads, etc etc - I.e., they’ll be consistent with this aesthetic/style/visual representation. 
 

it wouldn’t surprise me if the range refresh, at least in some form - I.e., one kit - is already finished, or at least designed. And the artists got the books/game designers have seen the designs, or maybe even finished models. 

[Inquisitor_Lensoven]

On 5/24/2025 at 5:47 PM, MechaMan said:

Yeah I’m not suggesting they will all have flak armour. Maybe I am articulating myself poorly. 
 

To my eyes, there is a shared design language/style/aesthetic in recent art and models that feels cohesive to me, and also distinct from the old plastic/metal models and the attendant/related art from that era. 
 

I feel like when we get the new Catachan’s they will share this style, rather than being another reimagining. I think the art and the two miniatures, in terms of scale aesthetic etc give us a preview of what the new models will look like. 
 

And I think that differs from say Death Korps, where we only saw the range refresh aesthetic (new masks etc) in art after the models were released. The same goes for the cadians, the space marine 2 guardsmen look like old plastic cadians, we did not get a preview of the new knee pads, helmets, shoulder pads etc in art/games. 
 

while Catachan’s differ in not exactly being uniform, I imagine the new kits will have things like flak armour, more women, knee pads, etc etc - I.e., they’ll be consistent with this aesthetic/style/visual representation. 
 

it wouldn’t surprise me if the range refresh, at least in some form - I.e., one kit - is already finished, or at least designed. And the artists got the books/game designers have seen the designs, or maybe even finished models. 

Other than the inclusion of women and flak vests it seems more or less the same. I guess more lean fighter body types than the traditional body builder 80s action hero, but otherwise it seems the same to me.

[Morovir]

To be fair re. the flak vests, they've been on Catachan models since the Catachan Command Squad was released in 2009?, so they're not exactly a recent development.

[Inquisitor_Lensoven]

1 hour ago, Morovir said:

To be fair re. the flak vests, they've been on Catachan models since the Catachan Command Squad was released in 2009?, so they're not exactly a recent development.

Yeah I think going forward it will be flak vests for officers, but not for troopers. Help the officers stand out a bit 

 

I think the two biggest changes will be inclusion of female models, and leaner body types.

Edited May 26 by Inquisitor_Lensoven

[MechaMan]

I feel like we're seeing two "patterns" of Flak armour here almost. The "old-Cadian" pattern of Flak armour, included in the 2009 Command Squad, and shown on the  Deathworlder cover - and the new Pattern worn by the Catachan Colonel, Haymar Devos, and the character on the front cover of "Catachan Devil". This pattern might also be worn by the Ghosts. 

[Bonehead]

Hell, they can't be any worse. Right? Please tell me they won't be worse.

[MechaMan]

Haha I feel I did a bad job of framing this post. My most basic point was, I feel like recent art and models give us insight into a range refresh, and it’s rare you get such an embellished insight into a refresh as yet unreleased. 
 

if the new Catachan’s look like the colonel, sgt ripper, the death world and devil art I’ll be very happy. 
 

I also am one of those weird guard collectors who happens to think the metal lieutenants and the plastic final Perry kit are some of the best guard releases we’ve ever had. 

[apologist]

Agreed! The mere fact that Catachans are still being written about, appearing in the background, and popping up in artwork here and there is at least confirmation that someone at GW is carrying a flame for the Jungle Fighters.

 

To your more specific point of whether we'll see a release anytime soon, I don't think there's enough there to hang much hope on. With that said, I think we will eventually see a Catachan release. Will it be a large-scale release, like Cadian or Death Korps? I think it more likely that we'll get Catachan Devils popping up in Kill Team. The KT release model of a one-off niche kit that pulls double duty for both an elite choice and (with different weapon options) a line infantry choice for 40k just seems tailor-made.

[Inquisitor_Lensoven]

On 5/30/2025 at 11:45 AM, apologist said:

Agreed! The mere fact that Catachans are still being written about, appearing in the background, and popping up in artwork here and there is at least confirmation that someone at GW is carrying a flame for the Jungle Fighters.

 

To your more specific point of whether we'll see a release anytime soon, I don't think there's enough there to hang much hope on. With that said, I think we will eventually see a Catachan release. Will it be a large-scale release, like Cadian or Death Korps? I think it more likely that we'll get Catachan Devils popping up in Kill Team. The KT release model of a one-off niche kit that pulls double duty for both an elite choice and (with different weapon options) a line infantry choice for 40k just seems tailor-made.

I’d be willing to bet we get a minor refresh.

new command squad, new battle line squad, new HWS, devils like you said, and maybe (big maybe) a special sentinel.

 

i don’t see them canceling the battle line squad, command squad, or the HWS, and I don’t see them doing a new unit and leaving those units as 30 year old models.

[kabaakaba]

Agreed catachans get new models in near future, but don't think they give them separate sentinel. Current one have all possible options. I thought it would be comsquad, hwt and troopers.

[MechaMan]

It wouldn't surprise me if the release format for the Catachan's vaguely resembled that of the Death Korps. I imagine we'll probably get a Kill Team (probably Catachan Devils) and this will be followed by a wider release of more kits.

 

I decided to re-read the two Catachan Codices from 3rd and 4th edition, just to remind myself what the options used to be.

 

Command Squad

Catachan Devils Squad (the Devils' could carry lasguns or shotguns or autoguns or laspistols/autopistols and close combat weapons - and take flamers, plasma guns, meltaguns, and grenade launchers)

Veteran Assault Teams (lasguns or shotguns or laspistol and close combat weapon - and take flamers, meltaguns, plasma guns, heavy flamers and demolition charges.)

Veteran Snipers (they couldn't move, were set up separately, could ambush and disappear)

Infantry Squads/Heavy Weapon Squads (standard stuff here for the most part)

Ogryn Squads (While you had to refer to Codex: Imperial Guard for the rules, the lore does describe Ogryns native to deathworlds, which could be interesting)

Deathworld Sentinel Squadrons (camo netting, chainsaws etc)

Deathworld Veterans (small squad with lasguns and special weapons)

Booby Traps 

Colonel Iron Hand Straken (Recently Retired)

Sly Marbo

 

Sergeant Harker wasn't introduced until 5th edition, although he did interestingly make an appearance in Warhammer 40,000: Kill Team in 2013. 

 

There were also converted Catachan Rough Riders that used Dark Elf Cold One's as mounts. 

 

So lots to chose from! From the army options they used to have, which ones do you think we might see kits for?

 

To my mind the Catachan Devils Squads and Veteran/Veteran Assault Squads could both be worked with to develop something quite unique in the guard range. We could have a nice close combat oriented unit with demolition charges, they could use the Deathworld Veterans to reintroduce Special Weapon Squads (in effect), and use the Red Devils to reintroduce Veteran Squads (in effect) - with shotguns/autoguns.

 

Booby traps would be really cool, as would sniper squads, and I also think the idea of Deathworld Ogryns or Catachan Cold One Riders is pretty cool!

Edited June 1 by MechaMan

[Inquisitor_Lensoven]

16 hours ago, kabaakaba said:

Agreed catachans get new models in near future, but don't think they give them separate sentinel. Current one have all possible options. I thought it would be comsquad, hwt and troopers.

Cadians and krieg both got command, battleline, elite infantry, HWS, artillery, generic HQ, epic hero.

i don’t see any reason Catachans wouldn’t get that same treatment.

 

however artillery doesn’t quite fit the Catachan vibe, so I could see a unique sentinel. They could make a new option, just like they gave KHWS 2 special options, so what makes you think Catachans couldn’t get a special sentinel kit with new weapons options?

[Teetengee]

It may be that they test catachans with kill team, and seeing how that goes, develop a more full list out from that. Not sure their turnaround though.

[kabaakaba]

i think cadians and krieg is more iconic in comparison to catachans. there is a good chance we don't get them. krieg release don't make tha hype wave like any SM releases. 

[Inquisitor_Lensoven]

16 minutes ago, kabaakaba said:

i think cadians and krieg is more iconic in comparison to catachans. there is a good chance we don't get them. krieg release don't make tha hype wave like any SM releases. 

I strongly disagree that kreig is more iconic than Catachan…until recently you couldn’t even find kreig models on their main website.

[MechaMan]

Catachan’s graced the cover of the first imperial guard codex back in 1995, they were the first infantry regiment released in plastic (in 1999, I believe), they’ve had not one but two codex supplements, at one stage they had the most special characters of any imperial guard regiment (Straken, Marbo and Harker - maybe Nork Deddog too?).
 

Iconicity seems an indeterminate metric, but they’re an integral part of Astra Militarum history. 

Edited June 2 by MechaMan

[kabaakaba]

@Inquisitor_Lensoven may be it's a local community thing, but I seen a lot of krieg back in 5th - 7th when I played and almost no catachans. Even vostrayans and elysians were seen frequently. And yes no units on gw site but forgeworld. 

14 minutes ago, MechaMan said:

Catachan’s graced the cover of the first imperial guard codex back in 1995, they were the first infantry regiment released in plastic (in 1999, I believe), they’ve had not one but two codex supplements, at one stage they had the most special characters of any imperial guard regiment (Straken, Marbo and Harker - maybe Nork Deddog too?).
 

Iconicity seems an indeterminate metric, but they’re an integral part of Astra Militarum history. 

Yes that's right but where all this now? GW don't sell things that don't sells.  And again I can only judge by local community. 

I'm personally don't feel like catachans fit into 40k. Just don't like this "Johny they're in a trees" , overmusculine, 90th Rambo vibe. This all is IMHO and no offense.

The Emperor Protects!

[MechaMan]

I mean they’ve kept the Catachan’s going, whilst removing the metal regiments. They’re releasing books about them. Most importantly there have been two limited release miniatures, that are a different scale, have been refreshed etc. 

The Catachan infantry squad might be the oldest plastic kit in 40K now that the warp spiders have been updated, and they’re showing their age. The basilisk came out a little earlier, but it’s a mongrel kit with elements of the later chimera. 
 

Old stuff doesn’t sell etc etc. But recently GW have shown an abiding interest in returning to old miniatures and re-releasing them. I’d be very surprised if we didn’t get at least a kill team. 

[Inquisitor_Lensoven]

14 hours ago, kabaakaba said:

@Inquisitor_Lensoven may be it's a local community thing, but I seen a lot of krieg back in 5th - 7th when I played and almost no catachans. Even vostrayans and elysians were seen frequently. And yes no units on gw site but forgeworld. 

Yes that's right but where all this now? GW don't sell things that don't sells.  And again I can only judge by local community. 

I'm personally don't feel like catachans fit into 40k. Just don't like this "Johny they're in a trees" , overmusculine, 90th Rambo vibe. This all is IMHO and no offense.

The Emperor Protects!

I still to this day have yet to see a single kreig mini in person on a table.

[Emperor Ming]

After gw nuked all the kreig stuff on release day, I haven't seen a single kreig unit either

 

Most of its fell into the meh or dire

[Inquisitor_Lensoven]

I’d love to see the Catachans get their own supplement again. I think they could do it.