New Kroot Trail Shaper Model Unveiled

ByZach Birch February 12, 2024

2024 is quickly shaping up (no pun intended) to be the year of the Kroot, with the carnivorous xenos mercenaries getting a ton of new Warhammer 40K models. This includes the upcoming Kroot Hunting Pack, the new convention-exclusive Kroot “Hunter Strikes” model, and even a pack of five ferocious new Kroot Hounds. The in-game stats and abilities of these updated warriors will also be include in the upcoming Codex: T’au Empire sourcebook.

Now, Games Workshop has unveiled yet another new model in the form of a new Kroot Trail Shaper model. So just what can fans expect to see from this trail blazing hunter? Below we break out all the details.

A fully painted Kroot Trail Shaper model from Games Workshop.

What is a Kroot Trail Shaper?

As a species, the Kroot are incredibly skilled at moving stealthily through even the most difficult terrain. It’s this reputation for guerilla warfare that’s allowed them to flourish as trusted mercenaries of the technologically advanced T’au Empire.

Much of this knowledge of stealth and wilderness survival is passed down genetically, with Kroot warriors literally devouring their enemies and absorbing their knowledge and expertise at a cellular level. Yet even among the Kroot there are those warriors who are renowned for their skill in survival and reconnaissance.

Concept art for the Warhammer 40K Kroot Trail Shaper warrior.

These elite hunter are known as Trail Shapers, and are used primarily to scout out enemy positions, identify advantageous terrain and locate potential infiltration routes. Trail Shapers then pass this information on to War Shapers, the Kroot leaders responsible for directing troops into battle.

Notably, Trail Shapers have a similar level of armament to other warriors of their Kindred (the term they use to describe the closely-knit clans the operate in). Each Trail Shapers tends to prefer a standard Kroot rifle for ranged attacks and a variety of blades for close quarters melee engagements (not to mention quickly slicing off meat from fallen foes). This light equipment helps them move unhindered through forests and jungles while also outmaneuvering potential enemy units.

What is the Datasheet for the Kroot Trail Shaper?

While Games Workshop has not yet made the full Trail Shaper datasheet available, they have revealed a number of new abilities that showcase the model’s stealth and speed.

Trail Finding: Once per turn, when an enemy unit ends a Normal, Advance or Fall Back move within 9″ of this model’s units, if this models’ unit is not within Engagement Range of one or more enemy units, it can make a Normal move of up to D6″.
Kroot Ambush: After both players have deployed their armies and determined who has the first turn, you can redeploy this model’s unit and one other friendly Kroot unit. When doing so, any of those units can be placed into Strategic Reserves, regardless of how many units are already in Strategic Reserves.

How much Are the new Kroot Trail Shapers?

Games Workshop has not yet officially revealed the price for the new Kroot Trial Shaper, but the model will likely have an MSRP of $25-$30 USD, if you purchase it directly from the Games Workshop website. This is comparable to the Kroot Shaper which was made available for Warhammer 40K 9th edition and retailed for around $21 USD at that time.

As always, prices may vary if you buy the model from your local game store or from Amazon (where discounts and sales may allow you to pick him up for a bit cheaper, with most third-party retailers offering at least 10-15% discounts).

When Will the Kroot trail Shaper Model Be Released?

Games Workshop has not yet confirmed the official release date of the new Kroot Trail Shaper, saying only that it will be available later on this year. It’s likely we’ll learn more at AdeptiCon, which is taking place from March 20th to 24th in Schaumburg, Illinois.

Final Thoughts

It’s great to see that Games Workshop is continuing to release so many new Kroot models in such a short period of time, and there’s already a ton of potential to build an entire large point army (although it would be even more amazing to see GW release a potential Combat Patrol, as well).

We’ll be keeping a close eye on this story in the days ahead and will update this page with new information on the model as it’s available. In the meantime, below is also a video from Games Workshop that showcases the new Kroot Trail Shaper in action.

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Zachary Birch lives in Medford, Massachusetts and has been a dedicated war gamer for over 15 years, playing pretty much ever system under the sun. Orks remain his favorite Warhammer 40K army (because nothing beats stomping gits into the ground). He also enjoys playing video games, reading, playing the guitar and shouting “WAAAGH!” at inappropriate times.

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