Get the full 40k rules breakdown for Salamanders and see why their new detachment is turning up the heat on the 10th edition battlefield.
Originally published in October 2019. Updated August 21st, 2025, by Rob Baer with the latest Warhammer 40k Salamander rules.
Ready to set your Warhammer 40k battlefields ablaze? New rules are here for the Salamanders as the Forgefather’s Seekers Detachment will torch anything standing between Vulkan He’stan and his relic hunt (luckily, he staying at 100 points).
Packed with flame-soaked rules, brutal enhancements, and some downright nasty stratagems, this detachment is all about reducing the enemy to ash and molten slag.
Here are our thoughts on the latest Salamanders rules for 10th edition Warhammer 40k.
Burn the Galaxy Bright with the Salamanders
From Infernus Marines advancing while still pulling off objectives, to Torrent weapons spewing devastating wounds, Forgefather’s Seekers will have you lighting up the tabletop like a promethium-fueled bonfire.
Here is what we think makes this detachment the hottest thing since Nocturne’s volcanoes. Don’t forget, these rules go hand in hand with the main Space Marine codex, so make sure to check out those right here!
Vulkan’s Quest: The Core Rule of the Seekers
At the heart of the detachment is Vulkan’s Quest, a simple but fiery upgrade to your arsenal:
- All Adeptus Astartes ranged weapons gain the [Assault] ability.
- Attacks made within 12” get +1 Strength.
This rule makes Salamanders’ trademark flamers and meltas brutal up close while letting your bolters punch above their weight. It’s a detachment that thrives when you close the distance and drown your foes in fire. You can only take Salamander units; just keep that in mind.
And with Seeker’s Companions, if Vulkan He’stan himself is leading the way, your Infernus Marines can advance and still perform actions, or shoot while performing one. Translation: objective grabbing without losing that wall of firepower.
Enhancements Forged in Flame
Every detachment needs its heroes, and Forgefather’s Seekers come stacked with thematic upgrades that feel right at home on Nocturne:
- Immolator: Torrent weapons in the bearer’s unit get +1 Attack. Think Aggressors and Infernus squads turning entire battlefields into crematoriums.
- War-Tempered Artifice: +3 Strength to the bearer’s melee weapons. Perfect for smashing faces with relic-hammer levels of force.
- Forged in Battle: Once per turn, turn a hit or save roll into a natural 6 for the bearer’s unit. Vulkan would approve of such craftsmanship.
- Adamantine Mantle: Subtract 1 Damage from all attacks; Torrent and Melta attacks drop to flat 1 Damage. It’s like wearing a fireproof blanket stitched from tank armor.
Stratagems:
The Salamanders’ new playbook is full of lava-hot stratagems that push you into the thick of the fight while punishing anyone dumb enough to get close:
- Armour of Contempt: Worsen enemy AP by 1 against your chosen unit. Classic durability play.
- Crucible of Battle: +1 to wound when targeting the nearest enemy within 6”. Because nothing’s scarier than a Salamander staring you in the face.
- Wrathful Inferno: Infantry fall back and still shoot. No escape from the flames.
- Immolation Protocols: Torrent weapons gain [Devastating Wounds] for a phase. Expect to delete whatever you point them at.
- Burning Vengeance: When a Transport gets shot, its passengers disembark and immediately hose down the offenders. Revenge never smelled so smoky.
- Blazing Earth: Enemy charges against Torrent-armed units are slowed by 2 inches. The floor is literally lava.
Vulkan He’stan Rules:
Every fire needs a spark, and for the Salamanders, that spark is Vulkan He’stan. On the tabletop, he is more than just a cool model with a flaming gauntlet and a giant spear; he is the walking, talking embodiment of Nocturne’s barbecue culture (and an auto-include for this detachment). Luckily, he also stays at 100 points.
His Forgefather ability lets you pick an enemy unit within 24 inches, and suddenly every Salamander with a flamer or melta gun is re-rolling wounds against it. That tank you thought was safe? Not anymore. That squad of Terminators? Toast. Vulkan makes your firepower sting exactly where you want it to.
Then there is his Seeker of the Unfound rule. When he sets foot on the battlefield, he can claim an objective and basically plant a giant glowing “mine” marker on it. As long as he sticks around, he counts as having Objective Control 10, shrugs wounds on a 4+, and suddenly becomes a nightmare to shift. He is the kind of guy who sits on an objective and dares you to do something about it.
Add in his relic weapons, the Gauntlet of the Forge that sprays promethium like a super-soaker from hell and the Spear of Vulkan that slices with Devastating Wounds, and you have a character who is every bit as deadly up close as he is at range.
Pyroclast Assault Force: The Combat Patrol
If smaller battles are more your speed, the Combat Patrol: Salamanders is led by Captain Adrax Agatone, and it’s just as fiery. Adrax brings Drakkis (a relic flamer pistol) and Malleus Noctum (a thunder hammer with attitude). Depending on his loadout, he can either tank enemy objective control or supercharge Torrent weapons with re-rolls.
The patrol itself leans hard into short-range aggression: flame-wielding infantry backed by an Invader ATV. Stratagems like Weather the Storm and Stand Your Ground bulk up your defenses, while a patrol-specific version of Crucible of Battle keeps you advancing and shooting without pause.
Get the new combat patrol rules here.
Final Thoughts From Us
The Forgefather’s Seekers Detachment is Salamanders turned up to 11, relentless close-range pressure, firepower that only gets nastier the closer you get, and tricks that keep your Infernus Marines burning bright while still holding the mission.
Pair that with the Adrax-led Combat Patrol, and you’ve got all the tools to turn your next Warhammer 40k battle into a blazing pyre of victory.
Download the New Detachment Rules Here
Do you like the new Salamanders Detachment? What about the new Vulkan He’stan rules?
