The newest Astartes models are here, come see the Assault Squad and fantastic chapter upgrade sprues up close!
Out now are the new Assault Squad, and Chapter Upgrade kits for Ultramarines, Blood Angels, Space Wolves, and Dark Angels respectively. These new kits are the tip of the Space Marine spear as we’ll see the new Devastators, HQ models, and more in just a few weeks.
The Assault Squad box set contains all the parts you need to make either troops with Jump Packs or on foot. Plus the ‘flying’ versions come with sweet terrain feature bits to make them look more dynamic on the table top.
Here’s the highlights via Games Workshop
Weapons… these guys are armed to the teeth. Included in the box:
Five Space Marine Bolt Pistols;
Five Space Marine Chainswords ;
Three Plasma Pistols ;
Two Space Marine Flamers ;
One Space Marine Grav Pistol ;
One Space Marine Heavy Chainsword (Eviscerator) ;
One each of Power Fist, Power Sword, Power Axe, Lightning Claw and Thunder Hammer;
One Space Marine Combat Shield;
One Melta Bomb.
The squad can truly be assembled to reflect your play style and aesthetic choices with this massive variety – and you’ll have a huge surplus of weapons to add to your existing Space Marine collection. Includes five Citadel 32mm Round Bases.
Pros:
- Two Sets of bodies makes two different sets of figures.
- Weapons can be used for a variety of conversions / figures
- ‘Terrain Bits’ make dynamic poses easy.
- With an extra set of arms and legs you can make a second set of figures.
Cons:
- the new kit is perhaps too similar to existing figures.
Each kit comes with abbreviated rules in the instructions as well!
The new five model box set retails for $41 US and once again it doesn’t seem like a bad deal honestly.
As far as the clam pack chapter upgrades go, we haven’t seen something like this before, but its a sweet idea. Each one comes with a ton of sweet bits to give you the feel of the chapter you are trying to make, and come with TEN 3D sculpted shoulder pads to boot.
These help you easily represent the pride of the Ultramarines, angst of the Dark Angels, etc all in one great up-sellable clampack.
Would anyone else love to see 3D sculpted Squad and tactical marking pads (like the ‘troop arrow’ etc) in the future?
Get shocking close to the Space Marines in my first look video review below.
If you love our videos, why not click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to our channel?
About the Author: Rob Baer
Rob Baer
Job Title: Managing Editor
Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
Socials: Rob Baer on Facebook and @catdaddymbg on X
About Rob Baer: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor of Spikey Bits, the leading tabletop gaming news website focused on the hobby side of wargaming and miniatures.
Rob also co-founded and currently hosts the Long War Podcast, which has over 350 episodes and focuses on tabletop miniatures gaming, specializing in Warhammer 40k. and spent six years writing for Bell of Lost Souls.
Every year, along with his co-hosts, he helps host the Long War 40k Doubles Tournament at Adepticon and the Long War 40k Doubles at Las Vegas Open, which attracts over 350 players from around the world.
Rob has won many Warhammer 40k Tournaments over the years, including multiple first-place finishes in Warhammer 40k Grand Tournaments over the years and even winning 1st place at the Adepticon 40k Team Tournament.
With over 30 years of experience in retail and distribution, Rob knows all the products and exactly which ones are the best. As a member of GAMA (Game Manufacturers Association), he advocates for gaming stores and manufacturers in these difficult times, always looking for the next big thing to feature for the miniatures hobby, helping everyone to provide the value consumers want.
While he’s played every edition of Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy (since 5th Edition) and has been hobbying on miniatures since the 1980s, Titans of all sizes will always be his favorite! It’s even rumored that his hobby vault rivals the Solemnance Galleries, containing rulebooks filled with lore from editions long past, ancient packs of black-bordered Magic Cards, and models made of both pewter and resin.
