If all the Adeptus Custodes rumors we’ve seen so far are true, these are the new rules and models to expect in December!
As with all rumors, take this with as much salt as you need, however, the rumor for the codex itself is pretty solid as they have actually been out for a few months and specifically had everything in there that Black Templars would be receiving as well.
The rules, however, we’re not nearly as sure as. So expect a new Adeptus Custodes codex book, but the 40k rules are definitely rumors for the time being…
New Shadow Throne 40k box Announced
The Genestealer Cults have found their way to the heart of the Imperium, and when such a threat to the Emperor rears its head the elite Adeptus Custodes will stop at nothing to stamp it out.
Now onto the Shadow Throne box set, which contains a total of 25 minis with 2 new characters for each 40k faction. Let’s start with the Genestealer Cults value then go to the Adeptus Custodes.
- Broodcoven $60
- Neophyte Hybrids $44
- Reductus Saboteur $35 (Based on recent characters, might be as high as $40)
Genestealer Cults MSRP: $139-$144
- Allarus Custodians $50
- Witchseeker Squad $49
- Blade Champion $35 (Based on recent characters, might be as high as $40)
Adeptus Custodes MSRP: $134-$139
Overall MSRP: $273-283
Cost of Box: $170
Total Estimated Value: $103-113
So, if you break it down with a friend, you’ll be paying right around $85 a person and getting about $55 in value each. So, honestly, there is solid value inside (but still less than Hexfire, which got $80 in value per person) and the units included are pretty decent judging from their new rules.
If the retail price does go up, it could be a reflection of increasing prices as we have seen with the Warcry Red Harvest and Harrowdeep starter prices creeping up as its rumored raw components like paper and pulp may be affected by supply chain issues now as well.
Is Shadow Throne Worth It?
Assuming the retail price ends up being $170 as we saw above, Shadow Throne is a solid value at release and probably worth it for anyone looking to start either of these armies or bolster existing ones.
While the Genestealer Cults side gets a bit more value, the total overall is a little less than both the recent Hexfire and Piety & Pain battlebox sets.
Plus you can always sell off the side you may not want if you can’t find someone to split it with on Shadow Throne release weekend (that we assume will be early to mid-December now).
But there are also two new models! One for GSC and one for the Custodes, so let’s check those out in more detail.
Custodes Blade Champion
Leading the charge into the Cult’s lair is Aristothes Carvellan, a Blade Champion whose prodigious swordsmanship puts even his fellow Custodes to shame. Blade Champions are a new type of Character for Adeptus Custodes armies, who can switch between three different fighting styles to chop up any opponent, be they a colossal monster, a skilled leader, or a swarm of lesser creatures.
Looks like the rumors were true! Custodes have been itching for some love, and will finally receive it! On the stream, this model was compared to a Lieutenant, so expect to see some abilities to reflect a decent leader.
First up for the Champion we get a peek at his weapon profile.
This phenomenal warrior has mastered three different fighting styles with which he can cut his way through every type of enemy with contemptuous ease. With six Attacks as standard, he can hit a whopping 12 times when using the Hurricanis technique!
The way that this is worded seems to imply you get access to all three options with one weapon loadout! If that’s true, this model will be nigh unstoppable in melee and can easily put a hurting on a variety of target types. Assuming the Blade Champion can get into melee he will be a huge force multiplier.
That’s where his Consummate Swordsman ability kicks in, for his skill with a blade enables him to fend off the attentions of even the deadliest foes.
Even more so, you can feel free to challenge any model in melee thanks to his extremely good defensive ability Consummate Swordsman which makes 1-3 hit rolls auto fail! Not to mention if they actually get a hit through, he gets a +1 bonus to his save in melee.
Another trick up the Blade Champion’s auramite sleeve is his Legacy of Combat ability, which extends the range from which he can make Heroic Interventions and, crucially, allows him to strike first in melee as well.
All that and we didn’t even mention that the Blade Champion has a Leadership characteristic of 11. That’s a statement of adamantium willpower and determination if ever there were one.
Fight first rules are critical to melee-centric models, being able to alpha strike opposing units and prevent as much swing back damage. His additional ability to intervene from further away is a great boost to mobility, allowing him to abuse his CQC defensive buffs more frequently.
Points for Adeptus Custodes Blade Champion
Unlike other members of the Adeptus Custodes, Blade Champions don’t take part in the Blood Games that constantly test the matchless defences of the Emperor’s Palace – their duty is to train relentlessly to perfect their skills as a warrior. The old adage that the best defence is a good offence is exemplified by the Blade Champions, for they protect the Master of Mankind through their ability to defeat any threat, no matter what form it takes.
At 110 points, we’ll have to see the full statline, but based on what we’ve seen so far he should be pretty strong! Especially when you consider everything in Custodes is so high costed, 110 doesn’t seem too bad.
New Adeptus Custodes Weapon Rules
Unfortunately, it looks like some of these rumors may be a bit off, as actual previews for new Adeptus Custodes rules put the weapon profiles at D2
To maximise the consistency of the Custodian Guard, the melee profiles of their guardian spears and sentinel blades have been adjusted, with both weapons swapping D3 Damage for a flat Damage of 2.
They also both provide their wielder with an additional point of Strength – that’s a whopping Strength 7 with a guardian spear – so they can easily fell anything they face on the battlefield.
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At a minimum of S6, you will be wounding a ton of armies on 2’s and will even be wounding some vehicles on 4’s. Then, going to flat 2 Damage instead of D3 just makes a ton of sense, it speeds the game up and gives you the average of the dice roll. With AP -3, and the other upgrades, they should be able to whip up on all kinds of armies!
What’s more, the ranged profile of the sentinel blade has been improved to match the damage output of the guardian spears – after all, they fire the same masterwork ammunition.
D2 and -1Ap isn’t too bad when you consider the fact it’s pistol 2, meaning it can be fired into combat. Also, they mention in the article that every Custodes will have a Leadership of 11. They are going full Spinal Tap on this one!
Adeptus Custodes Martial Ka’tahs Rules
Think of it as an á la carte menu of devastation. You pick three martial ka’tahs at the start of the battle, each containing two stances, and perform those ka’tahs in order.
They show us a bunch of options, but it feels very similar to how the Ad Mech rules work. With advancing the rules throughout the game depending on what you need.
Here are some, but not all, of the new selections
Calistus is the perfect opener, a light aperitif with notes of sustained gunfire. You can choose to get up-close and personal by boosting your Advance rolls or to lay a withering barrage as you approach. These may be performed in either order, so you could soften up your foes before advancing to secure the kill or vice versa.
These are two interesting ones if you need a bunch of movement to either secure objectives or to just get to your opponent!
When fighting hordes of infantry, Dacatarai is a tasty choice. The first stance allows your Custodian Guard to effortlessly manage the ebb and flow of hordes, preventing them being overwhelmed by swarms. The second stance lets you go on the offensive, allowing you to trade that extra pip of damage Custodes are set to get* for more attacks – perfect for clearing out swathes of puny foes.
If you’re fighting hordes with low wounds, this is going to destroy factions. The first stance is so insanely powerful against a horde army. Basically, you force them to a single inch of consolidation or pile, making it super hard for them to get all those models to attack. Then getting more attacks is always nice as long as they don’t have lots of wounds.
Mop up your foes with the Kaptaris Stance, which lets your Custodes parry and deflect attacks or lock units into combat, preventing them from falling back. Ideal for maintaining the upper hand by controlling the battlefield.
This stance basically turns your Custodes into Dark Eldar Wyches. It looks like they win ties, but this could really change the tide of a battle and keep your units safe from return fire.
Guardian Captain-Commander Adeptus Custodes Rules
A Captain-Commander, however, can make nearby units even stronger by eliminating the need to choose from the two stances of a particular ka’tah.
Being able to use rules like this on both a character like a Shield-Captain, and Adeptus Custodes core unit make this possibly quite strong. We’ll have to see how the other characters can really benefit from this.
This might not seem like a huge deal at first, but it’s the most expensive points upgrade – and for good reason. Each martial ka’tah forces you to choose between two fantastic stances, often with similar but differing bonuses. Take Salvus, for example. Using Master of the Stances, you can get both of these effects at once.
Shooting twice and adding 4″ to the range is pretty sweet. Then with the rules above, you’ll be able to take advantage of both for a character like an Adeptus Custodes Shield-Captain, and a core unit.
Allarus Captain-Commander
The heavy armour of the Allarus Terminators requires a different fighting style, favouring powerful blows that take advantage of their enhanced strength, with the full confidence that their wargear will keep them safe no matter the odds.
Being able to intervene or pile in any direction will let them get to whoever you want and with the extra move, you’ll be able to pull off some cheeky maneuvers.
Of course, Allarus Terminators are incredibly difficult to take down, especially when you give them this upgrade.
You’ll want him to take at least one wound to get the extra attack, then if he gets close to death, you’ll be gaining two attacks which for a Captain-Commander is super strong.
Vertus Captain-Commander
The Fierce Conqueror ability makes your mounted leader a unit-eraser unto himself, delivering eight Strength 7, -3 AP, Damage 2 attacks to a massive threat bubble given his base 14″ Movement.
You’ll want to get him stuck in with at least 6 models, as you’ll be getting 8 attacks hitting on 2’s, with super high strength and serious damage!
If you know you’ll be up against tough targets, consider choosing Tip of the Spear to ensure each strike inflicts grievous damage.
Re-rolling all your ones in combat is seriously strong, especially considering you already hit on 2’s. So overall these new Shield-Captain rules for the Adeptus Custodes look strong, but we’ll know more for sure when we have all the rules to review at once!
New Sisters of Silence Knight-Centura 40k Rules Revealed!
GW revealed that you can actually run an entire army (more likely a detachment) of just Sisters of Silence. That’s honestly pretty cool because now they have HQ, Troops, Elite, and Fast Attack choices. So while they will be in the Adeptus Custodes codex book, they still are getting a decent number of rules.
Warhammer Community published a decent amount of new 40k rules for the Knight-Centura and more about the Sisters of Silence in the book. Let’s jump into them!
Sisters of Silence Knight-Centura Rules Revealed!
Along with new Crusade rules, Warlord Traits, and Relics, the codex also introduces several new units, including the Knight-Centura… With Prosecutors as Troops, Vigilators as Elites, and Witchseekers as a Fast Attack option in the new codex, the Knight-Centura means that you can take a whole Detachment (or even an entire army) as Sisters of Silence.
While this isn’t a rule for the Knight-Centura, it’s almost more important! Who wouldn’t want to see an entire army of them?
These experienced warriors are the leaders of the Sisters of Silence cadres and guardians of their traditions. With an encyclopedic knowledge of the witch and the sorcerer, they can easily take out any rogue psykers they hunt down.
Her statline is pretty decent with a high move and a good amount of wounds. Her low strength is made up for by her weapon and we expect her to grab a ton of special rules as well.
Auras are always a plus and hey, who doesn’t like re-rolling wounds? Nothing too game-changing but pretty nice.
If the Warlord of your army is either an Adeptus Custodes or Sisters of Silence character, then your Knight-Centura can take one of the new relics from the Adeptus Custodes codex. If you want to absolutely obliterate your enemies in combat, replace her executioner greatblade with a Raptor Blade.
This would make her S6 with -4AP and 2 Damage. Not too shabby! Meaning she’s hitting on 2’s and wounding most things on 3’s or 2’s.
They also revealed a single rule for Aleya.
Aleya Rules
Fans of The Regent’s Shadow and The Emperor’s Legion from Black Library’s Watchers of the Throne series can also lead their army with Aleya, who can now be taken as an independent HQ choice without her buddy Valerian for the first time. Her Tenacious Spirit ensures that she’ll be able to cut down the enemies of the God-Emperor with her blade, Somnus.
Being able to take her on her own is really cool and might actually get some people to play her. This rule is pretty strong as always fighting first is a plus, then if you die without attacking, you still get to swing back! It can make for some really fun moments…
Adeptus Custodes Rules Rumors
Next up are the rumored rules we’ve seen. Let’s take a look at the actual rules rumor from Reddit.
With so many other armies moving up in wounds, it makes sense they would give the buff to Custodes as well. The rumors say they are getting a new Lieutenant, so we’re not sure about the other new character rumors here, so we’ll see about that.
Adding army-wide heroic intervention could be a really cool idea, but they would need more if they tone down all their Stratagems. Bumping up the damage on weapons to D3 is seriously nice, especially bumping the Misericordia up to D2. It will make taking them basically an auto-include unless they go way up in points as well.
All the Newest GW Model Rumors & Previews
Are you excited about the new box? What do you think about the rules?
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About the Author: Travis Pasch
Travis Pasch
Job Title: Head Writer & Editor
Socials: @paschbass
About Travis Pasch: Travis has been a Warhammer 40k hobbyist since the 1990s, playing the game since Third Edition. Through extensive traveling, he’s seen a lot of the miniatures hobby from across the world, giving him a unique perspective on the latest gaming topics and trends.
Travis’s brother even owns a commission painting studio, where he’s picked up a lot of good advice and techniques for painting Warhammer and tabletop miniatures over the years, as well. Travis joined the Spikey Bits team in 2019 and has been the lead writer since 2020.
Currently, he’s working on converting all his 40k Adeptus Mechanicus models and becoming a true tech enjoyer, complete with both sad and happy robot noises!
