Want to know which armies get their codex next? This Warhammer 40k Codex roadmap breaks down dates, rumors, and likely release schedules from 2025 into 2026.
You can only hit refresh on “what 40k codex is next?” so many times before you start seeing the Emperor in your browser cache.
If you want a real-world Warhammer 40k codex roadmap, this is the practical version with confirmed windows when they exist, the rumors that have legs, and the release patterns that usually tip GW’s hand.
We are looking at the 2025 and 2026 Warhammer 40k codex release schedules, focusing on what those dates mean for your faction, your army list, and your hobby backlog.
Warhammer 40k Codex Release Schedule 2025, 2026
Updated on January 23rd, 2026, by Rob Baer with the latest 11th Edition 40k codex release schedule predictions and preview reveals from Games Workshop.
Let’s break down the overall 10th Warhammer 40k codex release schedule for 2025, into 2026 so far, with a quick look at what is on the horizon now. Plus, we discuss release predictions for 11th edition based on the previous releases of the 8th, 9th, and 10th.
Quick Reference: 40k Codex Release Schedule Latest
- “On the Horizon”: Maelstrom, Eye of Terror, and 11th Edition
- January 2026: New 500 Worlds Supplement Ultramarines and Necrons Rules
- December: Grotmas Calendar featured new Space Wolves, Emperor’s Children, Astra Militarum, Chaos Space Marines, Blood Angels, and Aeldari Rules PDFs
- November: Ultramarines (Rules PDF)
- October: Drukhari, Salamanders (Rules PDF), Iron Hands (Rules PDF), White Scars (Rules PDF),
- September: Imperial Knights, Imperial Fists (Rules PDF), Raven Guard (Rules PDF)
Predictions 11th Edition Warhammer 40k Codex Release Schedule 2026
The Logic Behind These Warhammer 40k Codex Placements
- Marines kick the door in, then supplements drip-feed hype. GW loves opening a new edition with Space Marines, then keeping the poster boys “in the conversation” with chapter books and add-ons while the wider range catches up.
- “Balance the buffet” cadence: Imperium, Chaos, then a Xenos anchor. They tend to trade punches between big Imperium and Chaos beats, then drop a Xenos book every few stops to prevent the meta from tipping into one-faction whiplash.
- Big metas happen early, weird stuff floats later. Early books are usually broad, foundational factions that set the tone. Niche or timing-dependent ranges (Agents, Deathwatch, sometimes Drukhari, sometimes GSC) slide around to fill gaps or line up with model waves and campaign arcs.
| Month / Quarter | Faction | Confidence | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Launch (June 2026) | Space Marines | High | Opens the edition. |
| Launch (June 2026) | Orks | High | Rumored Marine vs Orks launch starter setpairing. |
| Q3 2026 | Chaos Space Marines | Medium | Early Chaos anchor. |
| Q3 2026 | Aeldari | High | Early Xenos stabilizer. |
| Q4 2026 | Necrons | Medium | Headline Xenos in mid-cycle spotlight. |
| Q4 2026 | Astra Militarum | Medium | Guard often lands once Marines settle. |
| Q1 2027 | Adepta Sororitas | High | Reliable early-mid Imperial slot. |
| Q1 2027 | Adeptus Mechanicus | Medium | Pairs well with Sisters or Guard beats. |
| Q1 2027 | Dark Angels | Medium | Early supplement to keep Marine interest high. |
| Q2 2027 | Blood Angels | Medium | Classic mid-cycle Marine book. |
| Q2 2027 | Thousand Sons | High | Cults return mid-cycle in most editions. |
| Q2 2027 | Death Guard | Medium | Often follows Thousand Sons. |
| Q3 2027 | Grey Knights | Medium | Specialist book in the mid-late window. |
| Q3 2027 | Leagues of Votann | Medium | Late-cycle Xenos refresh. |
| Q3 2027 | T’au Empire | Medium | Usually later to avoid early shooting skew. |
| Q3 2027 | Genestealer Cults | Low | Can float. Often tied to Nid timing. |
| Q3 2027 | Space Wolves | Medium | Mid-late Marine supplement slot. |
| Q4 2027 | Black Templars | Medium | Late-year Marine supplement slot. |
| Q4 2027 | Deathwatch | Low | Flexible gap-filler depending on model beats. |
| Q4 2027 | Chaos Daemons | Medium | Pairs with Chaos arcs and campaign beats. |
| Q4 2027 | World Eaters | Low | May receive a tune up. Timing variable. |
| Q4 2027 | Emperor’s Children | Medium | Late-cycle headline Chaos book. |
| Q4 2027 to Q1 2028 | Imperial Knights | High | Traditional closer on the Imperium side. |
| Q4 2027 to Q1 2028 | Chaos Knights | High | Closes the Chaos side neatly. |
| Q1 2028 | Tyranids | Medium | If not at launch, lands late to refresh the meta. |
| Q1 2028 | Drukhari | Low | Often held late. Model cadence dependent. |
| Q1 2028 | Imperial Agents | Low | Filler book. Timing highly flexible. |
| Q1 2028 | Adeptus Custodes | Medium | Usually early-mid or mid. Can slide. |
40k Codex Roadmap: How the Last Three Editions Rolled Out
8th Edition 40k (2017–2020)
In 8th edition, GW hit the gas right after the Index books. Space Marines opened the edition with Dark Imperium, then came Chaos Space Marines, Grey Knights, Astra Militarum, and a steady march of Xenos like Craftworld Aeldari, Tyranids, Orks, and Necrons.
Supplements and chapter books kept Marine fans busy while AdMech, Sisters, and the rest of the Imperium filled in. By late 2019, Marines circled back for a big rules refresh, and with the Psychic Awakening supplements, the stage was set for 9th.
Pattern takeaway: new editions usually kick off with Space Marines and a couple of “big tent” books, then Xenos and the rest of the field roll in steadily, with Marine refreshes and event-style supplements landing late to tee up the next edition.
9th Edition Warhammer Codexes (2020–2023)
Ninth was the “stop and start” edition, mostly because COVID messed with cadence, but the sequence still followed GW’s usual instincts. Space Marines and Necrons anchored the opener, then GW worked through a mix of Chaos and hot Xenos releases that kept the meta from camping in one corner for too long.
Once the pipeline really got moving, you saw that mid-edition surge where multiple headliners landed close together, then a late-cycle stack of Chaos and boarding action releases right before tenth showed up to wipe the slate clean.
Cadence lesson: when GW has a new edition to sell, they front-load broad, popular factions, then use mid-cycle headline Xenos and Chaos books to shake the meta, and finish with “spicy” releases and supplements right before the next reset.
10th Edition 40k Codex Books (2023–2025)
Pace and structure returned to the Warhammer 40k Codex release schedule with 10th edition. Tyranids and Space Marines set the tone in Leviathan, then AdMech, Necrons, and Dark Angels landed early in 2024. Spring featured T’au Empire, Custodes, and Orks.
The back half saw Chaos Space Marines, Sororitas, Genestealer Cults, Blood Angels, and Astra Militarum, with Aeldari and Emperor’s Children positioned for late-cycle fireworks.
The 10th looks set to close with Space Marine updates and a final nod to Drukhari before the new lore supplements start dropping, leading into 11th edition.
So, What Does That Predict for the 11th Edition 40k Codex Roadmap?
- Treat the table like a rhythm, not a day planner. The 11th Edition Launch and the first few drops are the real anchors. After that, GW starts playing Tetris with production, campaign books, and model waves.
- Watch the rotation, because GW rarely lets one lane dominate for long. Big Imperium and Chaos books usually trade punches, and a Xenos release shows up every few stops, so the meta does not go full one-note.
- Marine supplements are the hype lever. When GW wants Space Marines in the spotlight without dumping another full codex into the same quarter, a chapter book shows up and does the job.
- Confidence is your “how hard to bet” meter. High is pattern-plus-product logic. Medium is “fits the cycle, could slide.” Low is “this fills a gap if the release train needs padding.”
- Late windows are the squishy ones. Knights often make a tidy closer, and the more flexible factions can get bumped around to plug holes or line up with whatever narrative arc GW is pushing.
10th Edition Roadmap: Warhammer 40k Codex Release Schedule So Far
Here is a brief rundown of how the 10th Edition Warhammer 40k codex release schedule shook out so far
- Imperial Agents was the “surprise spike” moment: big rules drop, shiny new toys, and a reminder that GW will happily swerve the schedule the second it suits them.
- Army boxes keep working like early warning sirens. If your faction gets a boxed push, the rules support usually isn’t far behind.
- PDF supplements turned into the pressure-release valve. Chapters and subfactions can get real updates without eating a full codex slot.
- And once the late-cycle vibe kicks in, it’s basically “wrap this up and tee up the next thing.” When campaign beats and lore supplements start ramping, that’s GW rotating the spotlight toward the next edition launch.
2025 Warhammer 40k Codex Release Schedule:
Here are the confirmed codex dates and rules drops so far for 10th edition, laid out faction by faction. Use this as your quick “what landed when” Warhammer Codex Roadmap reference before you start making buy or list decisions.
Don’t forget that you can access all these new 40k rules on both the Warhammer App and Wahapedia.
Warhammer 40k Codex Release Dates by Faction
Upcoming 10th Edition Codex Roadmap
What matters here is not the lore hype, it’s what these supplements do to the calendar. Once GW pivots into campaign books, it usually means fewer full codex beats and more “bridge content” that carries the game into the next edition.
If we are heading into a late-cycle supplement run, expect codex timing to get shaped by narrative releases and model waves, not by neat faction rotation.
- The end of the 10th Edition Supplements Series: (think Arks of Omen or Psychic Awakening), we already saw the 500 worlds book for Titus, next up is The Maelstrom, followed by The Eye of Terror in late spring
Impact of 9th Edition on 10th Edition Codex Books and Rules
Before you go digging out that ninth edition book and trying to make it “basically work,” here’s the quick reality check. Tenth edition was a hard reset, so codex timing matters because it decides when your faction moves from Index training wheels to the full rules kit.
This mini-FAQ keeps it simple so you know what is legal, what actually matters, and what to expect when eleventh eventually shows up.
- Do ninth edition codexes still work in tenth? No. Tenth edition reset the rules baseline, so your ninth book is basically lore and art now.
- What do you use instead? Your faction’s Index or current codex, plus the latest digital updates like FAQs and balance changes.
- What happens in eleventh? Expect the same kind of clean reset when the new edition lands.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is a Warhammer 40k codex?
A: A codex is your faction’s full rules package for the current edition, and it is the moment your army usually “levels up” from Index basics into its real toolset. That’s why release timing matters, because it can change how your army plays, what is efficient, and what you should be building next.
Q: Do you need a codex to play Warhammer 40k?
A: Not strictly. You can run games with just the free rules and datasheets GW puts out, but a codex gives you the full toolbox of faction rules, stratagems, relics, and lore. If you want the complete experience, the codex is the way to go.
Q: Do I need a new Codex if I have an Index?
Short answer: Yes.
Long answer: The Indexes were an awesome (and free!) starting point for players, packed with basic rules to get armies rolling when 10th Edition launched. However, as each Codex is released, it replaces the Index for that faction.
Codexes bring out each faction’s personality with new abilities, lore, and a sharper edge in the rules department. Think of the Indexes as a sampler platter and the Codex as the full banquet. If you’re serious about wielding your faction’s full tactical might, the Codex is where it’s at.
Q: How were Codexes updated in 10th Edition?
A: Games Workshop has a clever system in place. Each Codex release is tailored to match the streamlined mechanics of 10th Edition, focusing on simplification without losing depth. Once a Codex is out, it’s also backed by digital updates, like Balance Dataslates, FAQs, and Faction Packs, ensuring players stay current without scrambling for entirely new books every few months.
Plus, with the My Warhammer app, digital codes found in the back of the Codexes mean players get updates directly in their app, no hunting required.
Q: How Do You Redeem Warhammer 40k Codex Codes?
A: Use the code printed in the codex inside the Warhammer 40k app under the redeem option, tied to your My Warhammer account. Codes are one-use, so do not share them.
There are also plenty of free third-party army builders (like Battlescribe or New Recruit) and the awesome Wahapedia 10th Edition reference guide, you can use as well to make army lists too.
Final Thoughts From Us On The Warhammer 40k Codex Release Schedule
GW’s Warhammer 40k codex release schedules always look neat and tidy on paper, right up until a campaign book drops or an army box shows up, and the whole timeline does a sharp left turn. Use the roadmap to plan your hobby and your buys, just don’t get emotionally attached to any single month.
Two moves you can make right now to get ready for 11th edition:
- If your faction is high confidence early, start building and painting the evergreen staples first, and skip the panic-buying on niche tech until the codex is actually in hand.
- If your faction is low confidence or probably late, keep rolling with your Index and put your money into flexible, always-useful units and transports. Those survive rules shake-ups way better than cute one-trick combos.
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Are you excited about the 10th Edition Warhammer 40k Codex Roadmap for 2026 and the 40k Games Workshop release schedule?
