Some special troops use devices that allow them to move at great speed across the battlefield, making them especially good at assaulting enemy troops and outflanking enemy positions. The Space Marines use jump packs, which utilise high powered controlled bursts from turbines to make bounding leaps across the field of battle, jumping over terrain with ease. Other races tend to have their own particular versions, such as Orks (whose Stormboyz use rudimentary screaming jets to close with the enemy) and Eldar, whose Swooping Hawks soar elegantly on light wings supported by gravitic motors. Sometimes the technology will be more exotic, such as that used by Eldar Warp Spiders, who utilise short-ranged teleport devices for a similar effect.

This unit type behaves differently on the battlefield than a normal infantry unit. The exact changes are detailed below, divided between the different phases of the turn sequence.

Jump infantry can move up to 12" in the Movement phase instead of the normal 6" move. This is optional and they can choose to move as normal infantry if they wish. When using jump packs, movement is not reduced for difficult terrain, and jump pack equipped models can move over other models or obstacles freely. However, if they end their move in difficult terrain, they must take a Dangerous Terrain test.

Jump infantry shoot like normal infantry units.

Jump infantry assault 6" like normal infantry. This move is slowed by difficult terrain in the same way as other infantry, because the unit tends to cover the last few yards of a charge on foot.

Jump infantry fall back 3D6", as they will always use their packs. They may, of course, move over any obstructions when falling back, but if they end their move in difficult terrain they will still have to take a Dangerous Terrain test.

Some Jump Infantry are equipped with a special type of jump pack, referred to as a jet pack. The most frequent users of this technology are the Tau. Jet packs are designed to provide stable firing platforms rather than a means of getting into close combat. Jet packs differ from jump packs in the following ways:

In the Movement phase, they only move 6" when using their packs, but are allowed to move 6" in the Assault phase even if they don't assault. This allows them to put more distance between themselves and the enemy.

In the Shooting phase, models with jet packs are allowed to fire rapid fire weapons once at up to maximum range, even if the unit has moved. They are also allowed to declare a charge after firing rapid fire weapons.