The ash wastes of Armageddon are the planet’s poisoned, industrial badlands, regions so contaminated by centuries of manufacturing and war that they’re barely fit for human life. They matter because they breed some of the toughest Imperial Guard troops in the sector, and because they’ve been a battleground in every major war for Armageddon.
What the ash wastes actually are
Armageddon is a hive world, and its factories have been churning out war materiel for millennia. All that industry leaves behind by-products, chemical fallout, and ash, and the ash wastes are the parts of the surface where that contamination has made the land hostile.
These aren’t just deserts. They’re toxic, dust-choked regions where the air itself can kill you without proper gear, and where the terrain offers little shelter from either the environment or an enemy.
The Ash Waste Militia
The Armageddon Ash Waste Militia are specialist troops within the Armageddon Imperial Guard Regiments. They’re recruited from, and trained for, the worst landscapes the planet has to offer, which makes them unusually hardy even by Guard standards.
They fought in the Third War for Armageddon, and individual regiments have their own battle honours. The 71st Ash Waste Militia saw action in the Mannheim Gap, while the 99th fought in the Blackfire Death Pits.
- 71st Ash Waste Militia: fought in the Mannheim Gap
- 99th Ash Waste Militia: fought in the Blackfire Death Pits
- Role: specialist troops of the Armageddon Imperial Guard Regiments
Why the wastes matter
Armageddon has been invaded three times, and the ash wastes have been in the thick of it. Their brutal conditions mean any force operating there has to be self-sufficient, resilient, and ready to fight in an environment that’s already trying to kill them.
That’s why the Militia exist as a distinct formation. When a warzone is nothing but ash, poison, and open ground, you want soldiers who grew up in it.
Don’t confuse them with Necromunda
The term “ash wastes” isn’t unique to Armageddon. On Necromunda, the ash wastes are the wastelands between the hive cities, home to the Ash Waste Nomads, and there’s a 2022 Necromunda starter set with that name.
So if you’re reading about ash wastes generally, check which planet you’re on. The Armageddon version is about industrial contamination and the Militia; the Necromunda version is about hive-city outlands and nomad tribes.
Key facts
- The ash wastes of Armageddon are surface regions contaminated by industrial by-products.
- The Armageddon Ash Waste Militia are specialist troops of the Armageddon Imperial Guard Regiments.
- The 71st Ash Waste Militia fought in the Mannheim Gap; the 99th fought in the Blackfire Death Pits.
- The Militia took part in the Third War for Armageddon.
- Necromunda also has ash wastes, but they’re a separate thing: hive-city outlands and nomad territory.
FAQ
What are the ash wastes of Armageddon?
They’re regions of Armageddon’s surface contaminated by industrial by-products, making them some of the least hospitable places on the planet. They’re toxic, ash-covered, and fought over in every major war for Armageddon.
Who are the Armageddon Ash Waste Militia?
They’re specialist troops of the Armageddon Imperial Guard Regiments, trained and equipped to fight in the planet’s worst environments. They took part in the Third War for Armageddon.
Are the ash wastes of Armageddon the same as Necromunda’s ash wastes?
No. Necromunda’s ash wastes are the wastelands between its hive cities and are home to the Ash Waste Nomads. Armageddon’s ash wastes are contaminated industrial zones. Same name, different planet and lore.