With the 9th edition Warhammer 40k Codex new releases teased out to 2021, take a look at this roadmap that covers almost four years!
9th Edition is well underway and now so are the codex releases. GW has even confirmed the first six 9th Edition Codexes releases out to 2021. Taking a look back to the start of 8th Edition in 2017 perhaps we can see some pattern in how 9th Editions codex release lineup will go?
TL;DR The first xeno codexes releases for 8th Edition were:
- Craftworlds October 2017
- Tyranids November 2017
And the first non-Marine books were:
- Adeptus Mechanicus September 2017
- Astra Militarum October 2017
8th vs 9th 40k Codex Release Roadmap!
Here’s where we stand right now. Including the release of Necrons and Space Marines, six books to 2021, and what looks to be one Imperial, and one Xenos coming this January.
Although it may seem a little strange that Death Guard is getting a codex before Chaos Space Marines, perhaps it’s due to the relatively recent update last year in psychic awakening,. It could also be because it is a stand-alone codex itself, and does not require a Chaos Space Marine book to function as the loyalist ones do.
Now lets see how the start of 9th compares with the start of 8th Edition:
8th Edition 40k: Year One
- Space Marines July 2017
- Chaos Space Marines August 2017
- Grey Knights August 2017
- Adeptus Mechanicus September 2017
- Death Guard September 2017
- Astra Militarum October 2017
This is the first six, so it’s the same snapshot that we currently have for the 9th edition. Roughly looking at it here there are 4 Imperium codexes and 2 Chaos vs 9th edition’s 4 Imperium, 1 Chaos, and 1 Xenos. Relatively similar patterns trading in one Chaos release for a Xenos release.
- Craftworlds October 2017
- Tyranids November 2017
- Blood Angels December 2017
- Dark Angels December 2017
- Adeptus Custodes January 2018
- Chaos Daemons January 2018
- Thousand Sons February 2018
- Tau Empire March 2018
- Necrons March 2018
- Drukhari April 2018
Looking at the list after 10 more releases raising the count to 16 total the ratio of Imperium-to-Chaos-to-Xenos changes a bit. The totals after 16 releases are 7 Imperium, 4 Chaos, and 5 Xenos books respectively. This likely means that the first full year of 9th may have more Chaos and Xenos releases that Imperium just to catch up to the deficit of the 4-1-1 split going into 2021.
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- Harlequins May 2018
- Deathwatch May 2018
- Imperial Knights June 2018
- Space Wolves August 2018
- Orks November 2018
- Genestealer Cults February 2019
Going up to 22 codexes the totals move up to 10 Imperium, 4 Chaos, and 8 Xenos, skewing the balance even moreover to Imperium and Xenos. Granted Xenos has entirely different races comprised in them, while Imperium and Chaos are generally speaking different flavors of the same core faction with a few exceptions like Knights and/or Daemons.
After about 2 years of the new edition, they circled back what I think we can safely say are their big sellers- Marines.
- Chaos Space Marines (2nd Edition) March 2019
- Chaos Knights July 2019
- Space Marines (2nd Edition) August 2019
- Ultramarines (Space Marines) August 2019
- White Scars (Space Marines) August 2019
- Iron Hands (Space Marines) September 2019
- Ravenguard (Space Marines) September 2019
- Imperial Fists (Space Marines) October 2019
- Salamanders (Space Marines) October 2019
- Adepta Sororitas November 2019
Finally tallying 32 total Codex/supplement releases we have the full 8th edition lineup in view. The final totals are 17 Imperium, 5 Chaos, and 8 Xenos making a smooth 30 books for the full lineup. However, 6 of the last Imperium additions were just supplements for Space Marines.
Hard to believe that was literally a year ago right? Heck, the 9th Edition Space Marines codex was announced less than a full year had passed since the second 8th Edition one had been released.
8th Edition Narrative Expansions
- Imperium Nihilus: Vigilus Defiant (Ultramarines) December 2018
- Imperium Nihilus: Vigilus Ablaze (Black Legion) April 2019
- Psychic Awakening: Phoenix Rising (Craftworlds, Drukhari & Index: Ynnari) October 2019
- Psychic Awakening: Faith & Fury (Chaos Space Marines & Space Marines) November 2019
- Psychic Awakening: Blood of Baal (Blood Angels & Tyranids) December 2019
- Psychic Awakening: Ritual of the Damned (Dark Angels, Grey Knights & Thousand Sons) January 2020
- Psychic Awakening: The Greater Good (Tau, Astra Militarum & Genestealer Cults) February 2020
- Psychic Awakening: Saga of the Beast (Space Wolves & Orks) March 2020
- Psychic Awakening: Engine War (Adeptus Mechanicus, Imperial Knights, Chaos Knights & Chaos Daemons) June 2020
- Psychic Awakening: War of the Spider (Adeptus Custodes, Sisters of Silence, Assassins, Death Guard & Agents of Bile) June 2020
- Psychic Awakening: Pariah (Adepta Sororitas, Necrons & Index: Inquisition) July 2020
The narrative expansions took place over the course of nearly 2 years and offered minor updates and changes to 29 factions and sub-factions, Some of which like Agents of Bile were brand new! These books also served the purpose of accelerating the 40k story forward as it was relatively still during the course of the edition up until this point sans the Vigilus storyline.
What’s Coming Next for 9th Edition?
Although it’s impossible to say for sure, it looks like the most likely releases to come are going to be Xenos and Chaos focused with a sprinkle of Imperium after a time. In the past they tend to lump faction of similar natures together, so a few Xenos together then maybe a chaos faction and a rival faction or something along those lines.
Seeing as Chaos Space Marines are a core faction and haven’t gotten a 9th edition codex, they are probably the safest bet for one of the early 2021 codexes.
What do you think the next releases announced will be? Do you want a particular faction to be updated next? Did you enjoy the narrative expansions at the end of 8th edition?
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About the Author: Andrew Schrank
Andrew Schrank
Job Title: Miniatures & Warhammer Hobby Staff Writer
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About Andrew Schrank: Over the past 15 years, Andrew has played all the games, including tabletop and video games, and immersed himself in the associated lore. Andrew joined the Spikey Bits team in 2018 and covers the Warhammer hobby and tournament scene, along with the latest in tabletop miniatures, each week.
Aspiring diplomat, Lord of Fluff, and Master of Ice Hammer, He loves Star Wars, Chaos Undivided, and Gundam. During his free time, he hunts Platinum trophies on PS5 and reads international news. On weekends, Andrew plays commander and cEDH games, often with unique strategies that push the limits.
He believes each day presents a new opportunity to grow and be challenged.
