Warhammer 40,000

Since the release of the most recent edition of Warhammer 40,000, our studio has been hard at work getting every army an awesome codex as soon as possible, and we’re on track to see 10 this year alone! While you can expect many more codexes next year, we know that many gamers are eager for more rules for their army. Enter Chapter Approved:

Chapter Approved contains expanded faction rules for 11 popular groups.

(Sororitas, Deathwatch, Genestealer Cults, Drukhari, Harlequins, Questor Imperialis, Necrons, Orks, Space Wolves, T'au & Thousand Sons)

Each one of these groups will be getting a Warlord Trait, Relic, at least one Stratagem, and in some cases even more. These are designed to add some thematic character to your army and should put you on a more even footing with those armies that have codexes already.

As you’d expect, these Stratagems and Warlord Traits are as useful and characterful as any you’ll find in a codex. The Harlequin’s Prismatic Blur, for example, helps bolster their armour saves as they blitz up the field, and it’s a fantastic way to keep your transports safe.

(1cp for a 3+ Invulnerable Save to until the start of the next turn)

Meanwhile, if you’re looking for a particularly novel Warlord for your army, why not choose an Imperial Knight? Take a super-heavy detachment made purely of Questor Mechanicus or Questor Imperialis units – that’s Imperial Knights and Adeptus Mechanicus Knights to you and me – and one of them can be your warlord, allowing them to take a trait, and perhaps more importantly, the brutal Ravager relic:

(Reaper Chainsword with +6S, AP-3, 6 D & Re-roll 1s to hit)

Orks are known for many things; their robust approach to mechanical engineering, their adoration of violence in all its forms, and of course, DAKKA. Thanks to Chapter Approved, there’s now a Stratagem to help them express their love for shootin’:

(Dakka, Dakka, Dakka: 1CP for an extra shot for every 6+ to hit)

With Blood Angels and Dark Angels both on the way, we haven’t forgotten about the other non-codex compliant Chapter. We’re, of course, talking about the Space Wolves. Thanks to some nifty errata, Space Wolves armies already have access to an array of Primaris units to accompany some old favourites. In Chapter Approved, as well as an array of points changes (more on those soon!), Space Wolves players will be able to take full advantage of a new Stratagem that turns bolt weapons into a deadly close combat deterrents:

(True Grit: 1CP for firing Bolt weapons as Pistol 2)

We’ve only scratched the surface (did you know, for example, that Haemonculus Covens, Wych Cults and Kabals all get a Warlord Trait of their own?), and if you play any of these factions, points changes aside, you’ll want to get your hands on Chapter Approved.

There’s still much, much more – come back tomorrow when we’ll be looking at one of the most anticipated features of the book – changes to matched play…

Chapter Approved brings a series of quality-of-life improvements to matched play. These aren’t radical changes; instead, you’ll find a series of tweaks designed to integrate some of the great feedback we’ve had from both the community and from our dedicated playtesting team, making the matched play field more balanced and – most crucially – more fun than ever before.

Chapter Approved is a particularly exciting opportunity, as it allows the Design Studio to rebalance the game on a yearly basis. This year’s Chapter Approved is, in short, an essential update for all matched play fans.

First, there are a few changes to the core rules of Warhammer 40,000 specific to matched play. We’ve previewed a couple of these, but to remind you: Boots on the Ground means that no Flyers can score points, while Troops in every army now have priority over other non-Troops units when scoring objectives.

Additionally, Command re-rolls can no longer be used to affect Mission dice rolls. These are rolls that are used to determine who gets the first turn, whether the game continues after turn 5, and so on. Understrength units can only be taken in Auxiliary Support Detachments, while the rules on targeting characters have received a very slight change in order to prevent, for want of a better word, shenanigans involving line of sight manipulation.

Of course, the most exciting change is new points for loads of units! Since the release of Warhammer 40,000, the game has evolved considerably, with the release of codexes and points changes therein bringing new units to prominence relative to some of their fellows.

These points changes are designed to make every option feel more viable. Several popular characters, like Saint Celestine, Belisarius Cawl, and Roboute Guilliman, have increased in points, while some oft-overlooked options have received a reduction, making them much more tempting. Plague Marines, for example, now cost fewer points in both the Death Guard and the Chaos Space Marines army – if you’ve been looking for an excuse to pick up this awesome kit, now’s your chance!

That’s not all. Chapter Approved also contains updated points for the Imperial Armour indexes. We know people love using their Forge World models in Warhammer 40,000 – after all, they’re awesome. Certain units, however, were crowding out other options and, as such, some have seen an increase, while others are now much more viable options. Among the most significant changes is to Malefic Lords; these masters of malevolent magics are now 80 points – still a very competitive HQ choice for any aspiring Chaos champion, but less open to abuse by less scrupulous players. On the other hand, certain units, such as the Sicaran Venator, have seen enormous points discounts (we’re talking in the neighbourhood of 100 or more!), meaning there are all sorts of new tactical possibilities out there for cunning generals.

Whatever army you play, there’s a good chance that Chapter Approved is going to make matched play better than ever, whether it’s balancing the armies you’ll face or helping provide you with new options for your own lists.

It’s been an incredible year for Warhammer, and we want to make sure that 2017 goes out with a bang. December is absolutely jam-packed with new releases for a range of armies, from returning legends to rising champions in renowned Chapters and an eagerly anticipated Death Guard Daemon Engine.

We kicked off 2017 with the release of several heroes of the Imperium – and this December the Indomitus Crusade is reinforced by two of the First Founding Chapters, both of which will be spearheaded by a unique Primaris Space Marine Lieutenant.

Both of these guys are designed to blend the new Primaris aesthetic with the classic design motifs of their Chapter, and each will be a great way to tie the new and old elements of your army together. These guys will be released alongside their respective codexes, which will both be out before the year is over.

Talking of Primaris Space Marines, adding these enhanced warriors to your Chapter (Blood Angels, Dark Angels or otherwise) is about to get a lot easier thanks to some new Easy to Build kits. If you’re a fan of flamers (and who isn’t?), the Easy to Build Primaris Aggressors are for you, while the 12 piece – that’s right, only 12 – Redemptor Dreadnought allows you to get some heavy armour on the tabletop in no time.

All of these heroes (at least, if you believe the Imperial propaganda) pale in comparison to this hero of the Astra Militarum. We’re very happy to confirm that Sly Marbo is back.

It’s not all Imperial reinforcements though.

Grandfather Nurgle will be providing for his children this Christmas as well. Isn’t he generous? New Easy to Build reinforcements are on the way for the Death Guard – and yes, the Myphitic Blight-hauler is among them! This little guy possesses the same grotesque, whimsical charm as the rest of Nurgle’s children, combined with some terrifying firepower. It will be joined by a boxed set featuring three new Blightlord Terminators and a new Lord of Contagion wielding a manreaper – perfect for adding some disgusting diversity to the elite of your Death Guard army.

All these kits cost less than their fully customisable alternatives, meaning they’re a great way to build an army on a budget, too.

Meanwhile, in the Mortal Realms, the Stormcast Eternals are receiving a new Lord-Celestant, featuring (for the first time) a bare head and a shield. If you’re looking to field an elite army with lots of commanders, or just want to make your leaders a little more durable against shooting, this guy is for you.

Even this month’s White Dwarf is jam-packed – inside, you’ll find loads of content (and some free cards for your games) to keep you busy this holiday season.

Warhammer Quest fans are particularly well-served by this month’s White Dwarf, with the beginnings of a whole new adventure in Shadows over Hammerhal to get stuck into using the 12 free cards as well as new rules for mercenary allies. Combined with the new Chaos Adversary Cards, it’s a great time to return to Hammerhal…

There’s also a surprise update incoming for Space Hulk! If you’ve been fortunate enough to get your hands on a copy of this legendary game, you’ll soon be able to use your Genestealer Cults miniatures, providing brand new tactical challenges.

If you like battle reports, this White Dwarf is packed with content for you, containing four of them. From The Battle for Erebor in Middle-earth, to the Everwinter Curse in the Mortal Realms, to no less than two conflicts in the 41st Millennium; the Raid on Khott’s Folly takes us further into the depths of the new Necromunda, while the Assault on Urdek offers a look at the Planetstrike rules from the new Chapter Approved. These reports are all packed with drama, action and maybe a couple of tricks for you to try out in your next game.

Meanwhile, there’s plenty for painters of any skill level, with tips on getting your Blood Angels and Dark Angels tabletop-ready, as well as a showcase of some of the best models from this year’s Golden Demon Classic.

As if Christmas wasn’t exciting enough! You can pre-order your White Dwarf tomorrow, while the rest of these releases will be on their way throughout December. Make sure you come back to Warhammer Community on Saturday for a closer look at these releases and even more reveals – there’s one, in particular, you won’t want to miss.