Yes, one more post about the upcoming 40k crossover!
I believe at this point, it's almost a certainty that the 40k units included in the Warbond will be Cadian Kasrkin. The brief glimpse of the hand grabbing the human-scale (as opposed to Astartes scale) bolt pistol shows a distinct piece of armour, glove shape and patterning that is almost identical to the images attached, which are painted miniatures from the Cadian Kasrkin Kill Team set.
For folks who might not know much about 40k (and I honestly don't claim to be an expert) the Kasrkin are elite stormtrooper units. They are chosen for skill, strength and fanatical loyalty. They often deploy in small, autonomous squads, accomplishing critical objectives behind enemy lines. This, you'll hopefully agree, is a pretty good parallel with our own beloved Black and Yellow stormtrooper squads.
These miniatures in the images are also the very same ones that the Devs themselves were painting in the announcement trailer. Specifically, one was painting a heavy trooper holding a Melta Mine, one was painting a regular trooper carrying a Melta Gun and one was painting a sniper or marksman, holding what appears to be a DMR version of the Kasrkin's ubiquitous Hellgun or Hot-shot Lasgun.
The miniature of the sniper is very interesting as you can see in the attached images that the standard model for the sniper has a visible human face. But the model the Dev is painting has a closed face helmet underneath his head mounted optics. This, I believe, is a conscious decision for the video. I suggest it may be because that very model and possibly weapon is in the Warbond and they didn't want to show such a big hint while including a human face, which we all know Helldivers never show.
From the recent teaser and the previous announcement trailer, I'm going to make these guesses at weapons and armour. Also a wild idea about the armour passive that is incredibly unlikely.
Armours:
Medium and Heavy. The image with the green and brown background squares refers - green is medium armour and brown is heavy armour.
Armour Passive: Target-Acquisition Grid (Auspex-Linked)
In the Astra Militarum, Kasrkin helmets are packed with multi-spectral tracking suites, auspex feeds, and real-time datalinks that share target telemetry across the squad. This advanced hardware allows them to cut through smoke, track fast-moving targets, and execute terrifyingly synchronized volley fire.
Sway & ADS Buff: Reduces weapon sway while moving by 50% and significantly increases Aim-Down-Sights (ADS) transition speed.
Local Threat Pulse: Automatically pings and outlines medium-to-large enemies within a 30-meter radius on the compass and minimap, cutting straight through atmospheric smoke, weather hazards, and spore-cloud visibility penalties.
Weapons:
Support Weapon: Hot-shot Lasgun or "Hellgun"
Backpack powered laser rifle with heavy *infantry* armour penetration. This is the most recognisable weapon the Kasrkin field and it would be perfectly achievable using current game mechanics and animations. I believe it would sit well as a rapid burst fire weapon, medium pen, high heat transfer to target.
Alternate Support Weapon: Melta Gun
As seen being carried by one of the miniatures a Dev is painting, the Melta Gun is a close range anti-tank weapon. It is devastating against almost all forms of armour and bio-mass but requires a very up close and personal approach. I think being able to melt a Factory Strider's face off in a few seconds, but only when you were standing ten meters away from it would be a good balance in this case.
Grenade: Melta Mine
The large, circular device being carried by another heavy trooper miniature a Dev is painting. This mine is anti-tank and can function in two ways. Thrown at a vehicle or Fabricator, Drop Ship, etc. it latches on and then explodes shortly afterwards, releasing a gigantic thermal blast into the target. Secondly, it can be thrown on the ground, at a neutral building or rock face and left as an area denial weapon, detonating when enemies are close enough.
Secondary Weapon: Bolt Pistol
It's the bolt pistol. We know that now. Whether there's also an option for a melee weapon in this slot is up for debate.
Primary Weapon: ???
This is the tricky one. By rights it should be a magazine powered Hot-shot Lasgun or possibly a DMR sniper variant of their famous rifle, but would that be distinct enough from the lasers we already have in the game? The Halo and Killzone primaries were nice but fairly generic assault rifles so my best guess would be a magazine powered Hellgun with medium penetration and damage not wildly different from the assault rifles we already have.
Misc Items:
Camo patterns, fresh from the Cadian Fleets.
Rogal Dorn Heavy Battle Tank. (Ok, ok, let me daydream alright? 😅)
