Trooper Andrej Valatok is the improbably lucky Storm Trooper from the Helsreach novel who survives the siege, gets promoted to Captain, and then has to prove he’s still alive after being declared dead. He’s a fan favourite because he brings humour and heart to one of the grimmest war zones in 40k.
Who is Trooper Andrej?
Andrej Valatok served as a Storm Trooper in the 703rd Steel Legion Storm Trooper Division under Captain Insa Rashevska during the Third War for Armageddon. He first appears guarding outpost D-16 West in the wastelands of Armageddon Secundus.
After Reclusiarch Grimaldus discovered the Ordinatus Armageddon beneath the outpost, Andrej’s unit was redeployed to Hive Helsreach to help defend the city from an ork horde.
The siege of Helsreach
When Helsreach faced a second invasion from the Tempest Ocean, Andrej was among the Storm Troopers overseeing emergency militia units in the docks. Separated from the main defenders, he and his militia made their way to the Temple of the Emperor Ascendant.
There they linked up with Grimaldus and his remaining Black Templars. The temple collapsed during the final battle, but Andrej survived with only minor injuries, one of the few pulled from the rubble.
After Helsreach: promotion and paperwork
In the aftermath, Andrej was promoted to Captain in the Armageddon Steel Legion. He later fought in the second siege of Mannheim Gap and survived again.
But he was recorded in the rolls of the dead, which meant he couldn’t collect his pay. Cyneric brought him to the Eternal Crusader to complain to Grimaldus, who wasn’t sympathetic. The ship then started moving out of orbit while Andrej was still aboard, and it’s unclear whether he made it to a shuttle in time.
Why Andrej matters
Andrej is the human face of Helsreach. While Space Marines get the glory, he shows what ordinary Guardsmen endure and how luck (or the Emperor’s favour) can keep someone alive through impossible odds.
His scenes with Grimaldus are some of the funniest in Black Library fiction. He invites his squad to his wedding before a battle, promises to stay quiet so he won’t steal Grimaldus’s thunder after being rescued, and later demands Grimaldus cross his name off a memorial. That mix of courage and cheek makes him memorable.
- Storm Trooper of the 703rd Steel Legion Storm Trooper Division.
- Served under Captain Insa Rashevska in the Third War for Armageddon.
- Survived the collapse of the Temple of the Emperor Ascendant.
- Promoted to Captain after the siege of Helsreach.
- Declared dead after Mannheim Gap, leading to a bureaucratic mix-up.
Key facts
- Full name: Andrej Valatok.
- Unit: 703rd Steel Legion Storm Trooper Division.
- Commander: Captain Insa Rashevska.
- Key battles: Helsreach, Mannheim Gap.
- Final rank: Captain in the Armageddon Steel Legion.
- Status: Alive after Mannheim Gap, but officially listed as dead.
FAQ
Does Trooper Andrej die in Helsreach?
No. He’s buried in the rubble when the Temple of the Emperor Ascendant collapses, but he survives with only minor injuries.
What happens to Andrej after Helsreach?
He’s promoted to Captain in the Armageddon Steel Legion and fights in the second siege of Mannheim Gap, where he survives but is mistakenly listed as dead.
Why is Andrej called ‘Born Lucky’?
It’s a fan nickname from TV Tropes, referring to his habit of surviving situations that kill almost everyone else.