Tons of new Space Marine rules been be revealed already, and players are loving it! Don’t miss all the new rules that’ll help your army keep up in 8th!
Coming from Warhammer Community, Crimson Fists, Black Templars, Imperial Fists, Salamanders, Iron Hands, Ultramarines, White Scars, and Raven Guard are all getting a rules buff to their Chapter Tactics.
Here are some of the key takeaways from the previews, thus far:
Numbers Game
8 chapters will have rules in the new Marine Codex, and 6 of them will have supplements. However, today’s post included chapters we know will have their own book soon. It is unclear at this time if they will feature their overall rules in the SM dex, and then expanded rules in the supplements.
Dorn Has All The Fun
Black Templars and Crimson Fists are confirmed in the Space Marine codex with rules.
That’s right, Pedro Kantor’s famously stoic Chapter now joins their fellow Imperial Fists successors, the Black Templars, as one of the eight featured Chapters in the book, complete with their own tactics…
Pray To The Emperor
Chaplains are rumored to be getting “prayers” just like Chaos’ Dark Apostles. Plus Librarians from Ultras and White Scars are getting two new Psychic Disciplines as well-
Indomitus discipline (Ultramarines) and Stormspeaking discipline (White Scars).
Stalker Bolt Rifle Gets Buffed
Before we jump into the tactics, the Stalker Bold Rifle got a nifty bonus at 2 damage a pop now. Intercessors now have the option of toting around (basically) an autocannon.
Chapter Tactics Affect All Space Marine Units
However, a crucial change to all Chapter Tactics in the codex is that they now apply not merely to Infantry, Bikers, and Dreadnoughts, but to ALL UNITS in a Space Marines Detachment!
We’ve been begging for it for over a year and GW has finally done it! Now, Chapter tactics apply to EVERY Space Marine keyworded unit in your army.
Crimson Fists
Keeping the fluff, Crimson Fists fight better against hordes. But they also got a nice unmodified hit roll of a 6+ counts as an additional hit bonus! It’s like Death to the false everything for Marines!
Imperial Fists
Looking at the Imperial Fists, they still ignore cover and bolt weapons proc an extra hit on a roll of a 6+. If you combine this with the Bolter Drill strat, 6’s explode for two potential hits a pop.
Black Templars
Black Templars just got A LOT more brutal. They still have their reroll failed charges portion of the tactic. However, they now have an army-wide 5+++ FNP vs. mortal wounds.
Ultramarines
Ultramarines are staying the same, still getting the bonus leadership and ability to fall back and shoot. Nothing super special here except any vehicle that ignores penalties to moving and firing can now fall back and shoot “normal” from combat.
White Scars
White Scars lists should be geared with Bikes and all of the melee weapons to get the biggest benefit. They can fall back/advance and still charge. Plus, Biker models ignore Heavy and Assault penalties on their weapons. We might be seeing Biker Outrider detachments of White Scars accompanied by a few Thunder Hammer Assault squads in Vanguard detachments acting like a fast one-two punch combo.
Raven Guard
Now, the -1 to hit roll will be a bit gamier. Units 12″ away will just count as being in cover (which Imperial Fists don’t care about). If the unit isn’t a Vehicle and they’re standing in a terrain feature, THEN the -1 to hit rule procs.
Salamanders
These guys can now reroll a free hit and wound roll for each unit. But they’re also a bit tougher than the other Marines ignoring -1 AP weapons. (Treating them as AP- 0). That’s not too bad considering all of the Autocannons, Assault Cannons, Heavy Bolter spam lists out there.
Iron Hands
The Iron Hands still have their 6+++ FNP. But now overwatch on a 5+ and any units with a degrading damage table now count their stats as double the number of wounds remaining. That means your Leviathan Dreads should always be hitting on a 2+ right up until they’re about to bite the dust.
Keep in mind there is the new shock assault rule that all marines get (even the bad ones) that makes them better in combat too!
Loyalist marines, however, will now get Shock Assualt, And They Shall Know No Fear and Bolter Discipline as one blanket ability called Angels of Death.
Between all of these new Chapter Tactic buffs accompanied with the innate +1 attack on the charge, Space Marines as a whole just got A LOT better. With that said which Chapters seem the most competitive to you?
New Primaris Space Marines Prices & Lineup CONFIRMED!
GW opened up the floodgates for new Space Marines over the weekend. Check out the new release lineup and pricing for all those new Primaris! Read More
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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.
