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 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.
Black Templars in 10th Edition
So what’s going on with the Black Templars now? 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
Black Templars 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.
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
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 Army Rules
Templar Vows
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 Detachment Rules
Godhammer Assault Force
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
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
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.
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.
Where to Get the Black Templars Codex
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If you’re looking for the Black Templars codex PDF, 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.
Major Changes from the Black Templars Index to the Codex
The leap from Index to Codex hits the reset button on Black Templars and turns them into a full-on crusading war machine. Psychic allies? Don’t even think about it.
In their place is a new system built around Vows, fresh detachments, and a rules package that finally feels like it was written for the army instead of just stapled on to vanilla Marines. If you wanted Templars to feel unique, this book actually does the job (and not just copy-pasting the Space Wolves rules).
Refocused Detachments
The Codex brings in three full detachment options, and each one plays to a different flavor of holy violence.
- Godhammer Assault Force is for the players who want to ride hard, disembark fast, and punch first.
- Vindication Task Force digs in and holds ground with Ancients and Crusaders waving banners and daring you to get close.
- Companions of Vehemence is the wild charge, re-rolls to move, swing, and sweep the board with fervor.
Each detachment ditches generic re-roll spam for smart, flavorful rules that reinforce the army’s identity. You’re not just playing Marines with a black paint job anymore; you’re running a full-throttle zeal engine.
Stratagem Overhaul
The Stratagems are finally pulling their weight. Every one of them feels tailored to the Templar mindset, flanking, smashing, pushing forward no matter the cost. There are no filler re-rolls here. You’ve got charges through terrain, fight phase movement, and ways to punish anything that tries to Fall Back or outmaneuver you.
They don’t just help you hit harder, they force the fight to stay on your terms.
Unit Reworks and Wargear Fixes
The datasheets finally reflect the army. Sword Brethren got their groove back with real loadout options. Crusader Squads feel like actual core troops again.
Hearthguard got cleaned up and repointed as a strong anchor unit instead of awkward filler. Characters do real work now, with support abilities that matter and melee profiles that actually swing games.
Wargear is tighter. No more random leftovers from past editions. Loadouts are simple, effective, and reflect what’s in the box. It’s easier to build lists and easier to play the army, while still hitting like a righteous truck.
Why Play Black Templars?
Relentless, Melee-Centric Pressure
This army plays forward. Vows give you all-army buffs. Detachments reward commitment. Your units are built to take ground and punch through.
Whether you’re riding in a Land Raider, walking up the middle, or locking down mid-board with a Crusader Squad, every unit has a role and a reason to fight.
Buffed Units That Hit Hard and Stick Around
With Grimaldus handing out relic auras, Helbrecht boosting attacks and strength, and the Ancient turning every melee trade into a death spiral, you’ve got one of the best support webs in the game. Stack these right, and even your standard squads become a problem the enemy can’t ignore. They are really a fun Space Marine Chapter.
Weaknesses to Watch For
Low Shooting Output
This army isn’t built to win a gunfight. You’ve got Sternguard, maybe a Pyrecannon or two, but if you’re not pushing forward, you’re wasting turns.
Character-Heavy Synergy
Templars lean hard on their leaders. Lose them early and the buffs vanish fast. You’ll want to keep them protected or hit hard enough that it doesn’t matter.
No Psychic Defense
You’ve got “Abhor the Witch” as a Vow, but there’s no Librarian in sight. Against psychic-heavy armies, you’ll need to rely on speed and violence instead of psychic denial.
Black Templars 40k Rules Updates
The latest PDF updates for the Warhammer 40k Black Templars codex 10th edition rules are released in what Games Workshop calls a Balance Dataslate, sometimes along with accompanying points changes as well.
You can see all the latest Balance Dataslate updates here in our post, which breaks down the most recent changes.
Final Thoughts From Us: New Black Templars Codex
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.
