Charge the field with the Black Templars and our guide to their 10th Edition Warhammer 40k codex, PDF, how-to-play strategies, index changes, and rules review!
The Black Templars rules just stormed into 10th Edition Warhammer 40k with fresh detachment rules, sharper melee tricks, and more focused unit design. If your idea of battlefield justice involves righteous fury, chainswords, and a burning hatred for psykers, this is your crusade.
We’ve trimmed the fat and broken down what’s changed and what still crushes heretics under armored boots.
How to Play Black Templars in 10th Edition
Updated on December 5th, 2025, by Rob Baer with the latest 10th edition​ Warhammer 40k Black Templars codex rules and information.
So, what changed from the Black Templars index to the codex? They’ve traded out complexity for clean structure and punchy detachment options that reward decisive plays and relentless pressure. The new book leans into their iconic traits: zeal, aggression, and character-led fury, without dragging along too much extra rules baggage.
They grabbed their Templar Vows and said goodbye to psykers and a few classic units. But what’s left is a hard-hitting, thematic force that feels tight, tuned, and ready to purge.
Just a heads-up, this book goes hand in hand with the main Space Marine codex, so make sure to check out those tactics, right here too!
How They Play in 10th Edition
The new Black Templars codex play like a pressure cooker: once they’re in, the lid’s flying off. You’ll push forward with high-threat melee units, backed by characters that supercharge the fight.
You’re not trading shots at range. You’re charging out of Land Raiders, testing Battle-shock, and daring the enemy to hold their ground.
Each detachment plays into a specific style:
- Godhammer Assault Force hits hard from transports, punishing enemies with charges and Battle-shock.
- Vindication Task Force anchors around Ancients and Crusader Squads, swinging objectives with defensive buffs.
- Companions of Vehemence go full zealot, throwing themselves across the board with re-rolls and brutal follow-ups.
Black Templars aren’t the Space Marines who ask for permission. They roll Advance and Charge, stack lethal buffs, and crash into objectives like it’s a holy mission, because it is.
Black Templars Rules Strengths:
- Melee units that hit hard and hit fast
- Detachments that reward aggressive play
- Strong character synergy with real impact
- Access to Scouts, Advance + Charge, and Fall Back tricks
- Simplified Vow system for army-wide buffs
Black Templars Rules Weaknesses
- No psykers, and no flexibility to ally in any
- Lost access to some heavy support options
- Limited ranged firepower outside a few datasheets
- Certain units trade poorly if not supported
- Positioning mistakes cost you momentum and buffs
If you like leading from the front, picking a Vow, and charging into the enemy with a banner in one hand and a power weapon in the other, this codex is speaking your language. The Black Templars didn’t come to hold the line. They came to break it.
Core Black Templars Rules in the Codex
Black Templars Vows in the Codex
Forget Oath of Moment (although you still have access to it.) Black Templars make promises with power swords. At the start of the battleround, pick one Vow that your entire army follows like it’s gospel. You get:
- Abhor the Witch, Destroy the Witch: Reroll charges into psykers and gain [PRECISION] against them.
- Accept Any Challenge, No Matter the Odds: If you’re stronger than the target, you wound them more easily.
- Suffer Not the Unclean to Live: Fall Back and Charge like a champ. Pile-ins and consolidates don’t care who’s closest.
- Uphold the Honour of the Emperor: Your INFANTRY holds objectives like a grudge and can perform Actions even after advancing.
These vows give your army a clear purpose from the first roll. Pick one and stick to the script; zealotry doesn’t waffle.
Heirs of Sigismund
Black Templars don’t share. If you’re bringing them, it’s them and only them. That means:
- No mixing Chapters.
- No psykers.
- No Oath of Moment.
- No fancy-pants Repulsors or Gladiators.
- Terminators and Sternguard? Gone.
You’re running a true crusade list. Pure, faithful, and angry.
Black Templars Detachments in the 10th Edition Codex
Godhammer Assault Force Black Templars Rules
Charge from transports, smash heads, and make your enemies roll Battle-shock just for looking at you wrong.
- Shock and Awe: Charge after disembarking forces a Battle-shock. Melee gets +1 to Hit after getting out of a ride.
- Stratagems: Charge through models, pop out of Land Raiders into combat, and get -1 Damage with Blessed Hull.
- Enhancements: Get stronger, hit harder, scout forward, and deny cover. Nothing subtle.
This detachment wants your Black Templars face-first in the enemy lines on turn one. You’re either in or you’re wrong.
Vindication Task Force Black Templars Rules
Protect the icons. Honor the fallen. Slap enemies with the Emperor’s standard until they cry.
- Purge and Sanctify: Ancients near objectives make enemies -1 to Wound. Crusader Squads move toward objectives with zeal.
- Stratagems: Revive Ancients, shoot back when they fall, and stack AP or BS bonuses near objectives.
- Enhancements: Deep Strike, charge debuffs, 5++ aura, and rerolls for Ancient abilities.
This one’s built for those who like Black Templars with a bit more grit and a lot more banners.
Companions of Vehemence Detachment Rules
You wanted speed and rage? You got it. These guys Advance, Charge, and re-roll both while screaming “FOR SIGISMUND.”
- Righteous Fervour: Re-roll Advance and Charge rolls for everyone.
- Stratagems: Pile-in six inches, move on your opponent’s turn, and force Battle-shock on anything dumb enough to charge you.
- Enhancements: +1 AP in melee, free re-rolls to Hit, Scouts 6″, and you can still perform Actions after moving.
This detachment turns every Chaplain and Judiciar into a one-man blender. You charge, they die, and you do it again next turn.
10th Edition​ Warhammer 40k Black Templars Codex Datasheet Rules:
Let’s break down the units that put the “zeal” in zealotry and give the Black Templars their righteous edge.
Emperor’s Champion
One job. Do it well. The Emperor’s Champion exists to delete Characters and psykers like a divine eraser. He charges far, has [Precision], and Devastating Wounds if he’s going after his favorite targets.
Once per phase, he shrugs off a melee wound entirely. Toss him into anything with a name tag and watch it evaporate. Only one per army, which is fair.
Marshal
He doesn’t scream. He doesn’t need to. The Marshal makes his unit crit on 5s, swings harder the more enemies surround him, and looks great doing it.
Throw him into Crusader Squads or Sword Brethren, and the squad hits cleaner while he picks up bonus attacks. No wild rules, just solid battlefield control with a firm handshake and a power weapon.
High Marshal Helbrecht
Helbrecht walks in with relic weapons, a grudge, and a playbook full of stat boosts. He buffs Strength and Attacks for his unit, hands out mortal wounds to anything nearby on a 2+, and swings a sword that hits like a drop pod full of rage.
Great for pushing a brick of Sword Brethren into the enemy lines. He’s not subtle. He’s not cheap. But he gets the job done with style.
Chaplain Grimaldus & Cenobyte Servitors
Grimaldus doesn’t preach. He bellows. He gives his unit full hit rerolls in melee, hands out one of three relic auras (+1 Advance/Charge, +1 Toughness, or +1 AP in melee), and brings three relic-carrying servitors along for the ride.
Oh, and the whole unit gets Feel No Pain 5+. Stick him with Crusaders or Hearthguard and watch the entire unit glow with holy purpose and zero chill.
Crusade Ancient
Wave the flag. Watch things die. The Crusade Ancient makes his unit hit back on a 4+ when they die in melee, and after his first kill, he becomes OC 6. Works best with Sword Brethren, where the enemy really regrets every casualty. He’s not just a support piece; he’s the morale anchor and revenge specialist rolled into one.
Execrator
This guy brings the fire. Literally. The Execrator grants Advance and Charge to his unit, forces Battle-shock tests when he kills something, and looks mean doing it.
Chaplains already come with attitude, but this one leans into it with offensive pressure. Pair him with units that want to get stuck in early and often. If the enemy has the nerve to survive, they’ll be testing their nerve to stay.
Sword Brethren Squad
Elite melee unit with options and attitude. Give them thunder hammers, twin claws, or pyre pistols; whatever fits the flavor. They’ve got a unique trick: when enemy units Fall Back, they get to make a Normal Move.
That’s hit-and-pursue, Templar style. Pair them with Helbrecht or an Ancient, and they become the gold standard for objective pressure with a bad attitude.
Crusader Squad
These battle brothers bring Initiates and Neophytes into one righteous bundle. They’re your go-to for cheap (for Black Templars) OC and solid melee presence. Their Sword Brother leader comes baked in with a power weapon and big plans.
Take casualties in the enemy Shooting phase, and they get to make a free move toward the closest enemy unit. That’s right; kill one, and they get closer to the prize. Efficient, thematic, and annoyingly persistent.
Sternguard Veteran Squad
They shoot. They shoot well. And they don’t waste time on fluff. Sternguard Veterans reroll 1s to Wound against the closest target, and they come packing pyrecannons, combi-weapons, and bolters that actually threaten.
Need to clean up the mid-board or finish off wounded units? They’ve got it covered. They won’t win a glory duel, but they’ll empty the board fast enough to make room for someone who will.
That’s the core lineup. You’ve got your blades, your buffs, your banners, and your backline. Everything’s built to keep the pressure on from turn one. The enemy doesn’t get breathing room; they get a crusade.
Final Thoughts on the Black Templars Codex 10th Edition
The new Black Templars codex finally gives the army its own voice, and it’s loud, angry, and swinging a chainsword (just what the God Emperor needs now). With tailored detachments, smarter unit roles, and character-driven synergy, you’ve got every tool you need to pressure the board and punch through the enemy.
Forget standing still. Pick your Vow, load your transport, and charge like you mean it.
Where to Get the Black Templars Codex PDF or Physical Book
If you’re looking for the Black Templars PDF codex, Wahapedia is the go-to spot for free reference material, but if you want the full book with lore, art, and all the extras, Games Workshop’s official version is the way to go.
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- Latest Black Templars 40k Rules Balance Dataslate Updates
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