Warhammer 40k is getting a tenth edition

When Rick Priestley and his crew created Warhammer 40,000 back in 1987, they probably had no idea what a massive success their brainchild would become. The 40k universe started as the younger sibling of 1983's Warhammer Fantasy Battle and eventually managed to overshadow it. Assembling, painting, and pushing miniatures across the table entertains millions of fans worldwide. This year, after 36 years, Games Workshop is introducing the landmark tenth edition, arriving this summer.

It looked like the Tyranid army was defeated for good. But that was a huge mistake! Now comes Leviathan, the largest hive fleet in history, ravaging one planet after another. They have evolved and are stronger than before. The Imperium must unite against this threat. It is high time for the Terminators and the legendary Primarch Lion El’Johnson to return and kick some Tyranid butt!

In the name of simplification

Every edition of Warhammer brought more rules, new codexes, and models. It reached a point where players often had to lug around several books, spending more time flipping through rules and arguing than actually playing. The tenth edition is set to change all that.

The rules are being simplified and unified, with a new system of keywords and datasheets. The system of universal core rules is also making a comeback. The result? Everything you need for each unit will fit on a single double-page spread. And most importantly, the rules and datasheets will be available online for free! You can safely recycle most of your ninth edition books now…

A new format

Getting into Warhammer isn't exactly a problem, but the complex army-building rules and piles of codexes could still scare off new players. The tenth edition introduces the Combat Patrol format. It works similarly to pre-constructed Commander decks in Magic: The Gathering. Just grab a ready-made box with a balanced army and everything you need to play.

With a Combat Patrol box, you can be sure you'll have a fair game against another CP box. The format features even more streamlined rules, but it's easy to expand your army into a full-scale force later. This is definitely a welcome change that will easily bring new victims into the hobby.

New models

The tenth edition of Warhammer 40k will, of course, bring a range of new models. The previously overlooked Tyranids are getting an expansion. New releases are also coming for the Space Marines, with everything revolving around the return of Lion El’Johnson. All previous models will be fully compatible with the new edition; just download the updated datasheets.

The tenth edition brings a lot of new features. We welcome the move toward simpler rules and online accessibility. It's a great opportunity for newcomers to start this time-consuming hobby. You'll find all the new releases in our wargaming section.

author Karel Krajča