The Ratling snipers are the Astra Militarum’s small-statured abhuman marksmen. They’re not front-line troops, but their knack for stealth and shooting makes them deadly specialists.
Who the Ratlings are
Ratlings are a strain of abhuman, officially classified as Homo sapiens minimus. They’re short, nimble, and famously hedonistic, with a love of food, drink, and a good time that Imperial propaganda twists into laziness.
They call themselves Halflings. Other Imperials call them runtlings, stunties, or worse. They’re tolerated rather than trusted.
- Small and light: easy to conceal, hard to hit
- Dexterous: steady hands for fine trigger work
- Keen-eyed: natural marksmen
- Stealthy: can infiltrate and pick off targets
Why they make good snipers
Their small size and light weight let them move quietly and find firing positions a normal guardsman couldn’t use. Their natural dexterity and sharp eyes make them excellent shots.
In the Guard, Ratlings serve as snipers in the Militarum Auxilla. They’re rarely frontline infantry because they lack physical strength and discipline, but as marksmen they’re prized.
Where they come from
Ratlings supposedly evolved on agri-worlds with easy living and little danger. Imperial sources claim generations of inbreeding and soft conditions stunted them, though that’s propaganda as much as fact.
Those homeworlds are mostly lost or stripped bare now. Ratlings have spread across the Imperium, finding work where nimble fingers beat brute strength.
Ratlings in the wider Imperium
Off the battlefield, Ratlings often work as spacecraft cabin crew, runarounds, or manufactorum labour in tight spaces. Their cooking is genuinely renowned.
They’re social and cheerful, if a bit lacking in decorum. That mix of charm and skill keeps them employed, even among people who look down on abhumans.
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Classification | Homo sapiens minimus (abhuman) |
| Common role | Sniper in the Militarum Auxilla |
| Key traits | Small, dexterous, stealthy, sharp-eyed |
| Other work | Cabin crew, manufactorum labour, cooks |
Notable Ratlings
A few Ratlings have earned names that echo beyond their regiments. Forde Klapp is one such sniper, known for his steady aim and the words he lives by.
There’s also the legendary marksman known only as ‘the Ghost of Ornsworld’, though details of his deeds are as much tall tale as fact.
- Forde Klapp: veteran sniper, quoted as saying, ‘Settle your sights on the target. Take a breath, hold, squeeze. One dead Ork.’
Known Ratling Units
Ratlings don’t usually form large formations. Instead, they’re attached to larger regiments as specialist sniper teams.
The most famous is the Ornsworld Sharpshooters, a unit raised from the Ratling homeworld before its loss. Others include the 17th Kaledon Rifles, which maintains a permanent Ratling sniper detachment.
- Ornsworld Sharpshooters: elite sniper unit, now scattered across the Imperium
- 17th Kaledon Rifles: includes a dedicated Ratling sniper platoon
Ratling Kill Team members
In the Kill Team game, Ratlings appear as specialized operatives. They bring stealth and precision to any kill team, often working alongside other abhumans or elite Guardsmen.
Their small size lets them slip through gaps and set up firing lanes that larger operatives can’t use.
- Ratling Sniper: the standard operative, armed with a sniper rifle and stealth abilities
- Ratling Spotter: supports the sniper, calls out targets, and watches for counter-snipers
Shipboard ‘rat roads’ and the Imperial Navy
Ratlings serve on Imperial Navy ships as chefs, runarounds, and in other odd jobs. They use the crawl spaces between walls and decks for travel, which they call ‘rat roads’.
These passages let them reach almost anywhere, from the slave-pens to the Captain’s quarters. They navigate by instinct, memory, and their senses, distinguishing decks by sound, smell, and temperature.
Bosuns and officers punish anyone caught using the rat roads, but that doesn’t stop Ratlings from using them to spy or move unseen.
Ratling black market and thievery
Ratlings have a knack for acquiring extra supplies and trading them with other soldiers. It’s a common sight in the Astra Militarum.
This thievery isn’t just greed. It’s a survival tactic. They supplement cut rations, bribe sympathetic officers, and build goodwill to protect themselves from abuse.
Commanders often turn a blind eye because Ratlings bring real value to a regiment.
Physiology: bare feet and silent movement
The soft, loamy soil of their homeworlds supposedly made footwear unnecessary. As a result, Ratlings have large, hairy, toughened feet.
They move silently across most terrain. When they need speed, they run on their toes, which adds to their stealthy reputation.
Their dexterity extends to their toes, too. A bitten-off toenail can become an impromptu tool for fishing wires or cutting them when splicing electronics.
Key facts
- Ratlings are abhumans classified as Homo sapiens minimus.
- They serve as snipers in the Militarum Auxilla, not as regular infantry.
- Their small stature, dexterity, and keen eyesight make them ideal marksmen.
- They’re known for hedonism, cooking, and a lack of social decorum.
- Their original agri-worlds are lost or destroyed.
- They use ship crawl spaces called ‘rat roads’ to move unseen.
FAQ
What are Ratling snipers in Warhammer 40k?
They’re abhuman specialists in the Astra Militarum, used as marksmen and infiltrators. Their small size and dexterity make them natural snipers.
Are Ratlings good in combat?
As snipers, yes. They’re poor frontline troops because they’re physically weak and undisciplined, but their shooting and stealth are excellent.
What’s another name for Ratlings?
They’re also called runtlings, stunties, or maggots by others, and Halflings among themselves.