Wow. Don’t miss everything you need to know about all the spicy new Space Marine rules, and new model options for Warhammer 40k.
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. But beyond that, we’ll also be able to make our own custom Chapters with unique Chapter Tactics as well! Plus exciting new units are coming with even more exciting new rules!
Here are some of the key takeaways from the previews, thus far including the new custom chapter rules!
Numbers Game
8 chapters will have rules in the new Marine Codex, and 6 of them will have supplements. However, the previews have 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).
Weapon Buffs for Days
Before we jump into the tactics, the Stalker Bolt Rifle got a nifty bonus at 2 damage a pop now. Intercessors now have the option of toting around (basically) an autocannon.
The new Incursors are also armed with paired combat blades:
Exploding attacks are always good, even if they are on “scouts”. Plus now with the new Assault Doctrine, you can get -1 AP on your CCW as well. NEAT!
Eliminators just got stupid good. Are you ready for this?
These deadly marksmen can now target enemy Characters with all three of their bolt sniper rifles’ ammo types (executioner, hyperfrag and mortis rounds), and their ammo profiles have been ramped up – for starters, they’re now all Strength 5!
So add strength to these profiles for all your purging needs. That mortis round is looking even spicier than before at exploding S5 shots that can shoot down hiding characters and units alike.
Plus the highly-anticipated Las Fusil seems to be no joke either. Shame on all of you that made fun of this “lasgun”.
The Sergeant of the squad now can act like the Devastator sergeant in some regards and give the unit +1 to hit AND wound which is just a huge force multiplier against mid-level targets now.
Chapter Tactics & Doctrines 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.
Plus Codex Space Marine and Custom Chapters (again sans GK, DA, BA, and SW) can now all benefit from the newly re-introduced Doctrines!
Doctrines are rules that every Codex SM Chapter has free access to. They always start off having the Devastator Doctrine. But as the game progresses, you’ll be able to switch to which doctrine best suits your situation.
Now, it doesn’t just apply to them, but to all of the Chapters (and any successor Chapters you’ve created) that use the rules from Codex: Space Marines.
At the start of any of your turns (after the first), you can choose to change from the Devastator Doctrine to the Tactical Doctrine, and again on a later turn, from the Tactical Doctrine to the Assault Doctrine. Once you’ve changed doctrines, you can’t go back – your Space Marines are already committed –but your current doctrine will remain active for the remainder of the battle unless changed.
Those were the major points that affect the majority of Codex (and in some cases non-codex) Space Marine units. Below are the links to our extensive breakdowns on the latest previews, and what they could mean for YOUR Astartes army.
Space Marines Get Spicy New Doctrine Rules!
More new spicy rules are here for the Space marines. On top of new units, they are also getting more amazing army-wide benefits that players will love! Read More
SM Vehicles Are Great Again: Invictor & Impulsor Rules
Don’t miss the new rules previews for the brand new Space Marine Primaris Impulsor and Invictus Warsuit! These look like they will be super fun! Read More
GW Reveals New Primaris Rules: Incursors, Eliminators & Infiltrators
It’s a new Primaris rules tidal wave! Don’t miss all the new previews for the Primaris Incursors, Eliminators & Infiltrators squads! Read More
This Is The Best New Chapter Space Marine Tactic
There may be a new Chapter Tactic Sherriff in town for Space Marines. One of the new customizable Chapter selections rocks! Read More
GW Announces Customizable Space Marine Chapter Rules
If Chapter Tactics weren’t enough for you, players will also be able to create their very own Space Marine Chapters with rules in 40k! Read More
New Enhanced Chapter Tactics Space Marine Rules
Wow, where have these rules been all our lives? Space Marine players are getting enhanced chapter tactic rules that’ll help your army keep up! Read More
New Primaris Vehicles, Infantry & Characters REVEALED
It’s raining new models! Don’t miss all the new Space Marine Primaris models that were just revealed by Games Workshop at their latest preview. Read More
GW Announces 7 New Space Marine Codex Books!
It’s happening! The rumors of new Space Marine codex books were true, as 7 new supplements are on the way from Games Workshop soon! Read More
New Primaris Space Marines Prices & Lineup
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
What do you think about these rules? Does this change everything for your Codex SM force?
Let us know in the comments of our Facebook Hobby Group, and sign up to get your free hobby updates newsletter each morning as well!
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.
