Games Workshop accidentally leaked a preview of Legions Imperialis, the new edition of Epic Warhammer 40k with Adeptus Titanicus models!
The return of epic-scale games is here with Horus Heresy: Legions Imperialis, which brings back Warhammer 40k miniatures on a smaller scale.
GW went through the trouble of actually changing out a preview picture that started all the drama for the new edition of Epic Warhammer 40k that we now know as Legions Imperialis back in March of 2023.
Warhammer 40k Epic Returns As Horus Heresy Legions Imperialis
Here is the latest on Horus Heresy: Legions Imperialis from Warhammer Community.
Warhammer: The Horus Heresy – Legions Imperialis is an all-new game set at the time of the Horus Heresy. While your standard 3,000-point battle of the larger-scale Age of Darkness constitutes a slice of a larger engagement, Legions Imperialis is that battle in full, with dozens of tanks and hundreds of infantry striving for supremacy and advancing to battle between the legs of Knights and Titans. It’s battle on a new scale.
The game deploys in August, with a huge Core Set containing a massive collection of exquisite epic scale miniatures, alongside a rulebook, dice, tokens templates, and measuring sticks.
The launch box arrives in August of 2023, five years after the launch of Adepticus Titanicus, which kicked off the push to this new scale.
There are a whopping 223 miniatures in the box, split between Space Marines, Solar Auxilia, and Titans. That’s 106 Space Marine infantry and walkers, five Space Marine tanks, 104 Solar Auxilia infantry and walkers, six Solar Auxilia tanks, and two Warhound Titans with brand-new plastic weapon options.
This is undoubtedly a massive release, with tons of plastic minis to get us started gaming again at an Epic scale!
There are also two squads of Assault Marines for rapid combat manoeuvres, two units of Support Legionaries with plasma guns and two with missile launchers, all backed up by two bases of five Legion Cataphractii Terminators.
So let’s take a closer look at each of these tiny models that are all scaled with both the Adepticus Titanicus and Aeronautical Imperials line at approximately 1:4 the size of a Warhammer 40k miniature!
It’s honestly insane how good these look while being so tiny, massive credit to the Warhammer team that did the paint job on these display models.
For heavy support, the Legiones Astartes have four pleasingly chunky Contemptor Dreadnoughts with a power fist and either twin-linked lascannons or Kheres assault cannons. You also get two Sicaran battle tanks and three Predators to round out the armoured offering, each with a choice of turret and sponson weapons.
Both tanks come with a choice of cupola options – they can be either closed down or feature a Space Marine driver or gunner, just like the full-sized miniatures!
As the lifeblood of epic, heavy support is a super huge factor when building and playing Epic, so these kits are fantastic additions and will be seen a ton!
The Solar Auxilia are the well-trained and well-equipped defenders of the Emperor’s interests, who overwhelm their foes with superior numbers and an abundance of armour – though notably, many turned traitor along with Horus. They get two bases that can build either a Solar Axuilia Legate Commander or an Auxilia Tactical Command Section, eight bases worth of lasrifle-toting Auxiliaries, four units of Auxiliaries with flamers, four units of Veletarii shock troops, and four bases of ferocious Charonite Ogryns.
While they may not get focused on much, ordinary humans are still in Horus Heresy and 40k, making their inclusion here a welcome sight.
This box introduces a never-before-seen unit for the Solar Auxilia, the Aethon Heavy Sentinel, these walkers patrol ahead of the main body of a force to scout enemies and engage them with multi-lasers and missile launchers.
Four of these accompany four Leman Russ battle tanks and two lumbering Malcador heavy tanks, each with a choice of main battlecannons and hull-mounted weapons. These also come with various cupola options, just like their Space Marine counterparts.
Again, armor is a centerpiece to the hype of playing at an epic scale, so seeing the iconic Lemun Russ or the new Aethon Heavy Sentinels is a huge positive for the game!
As if that weren’t enough, the box also features two Warhound Titans with a new plastic weapons frame, including ursus claws, a natrix shock lance, a volkite eradicator, a missile pod with a choice of swarmer or shudder missiles, and an incisor pattern melta lance. The box also contains two new lower-profile bases that fit with the urban battlefield aesthetic of the rest of the bases in the box.
Personally, the larger titans like Warhounds are the reasons most hobbyists seem to want to play the Epic scale. We had already seen some of this new smaller-scaled base in March when Games Workshop accidentally published a picture of a Warhound on it.
Regardless, it’s insane seeing the behemoths stride across the field, and it’s easier (and hopefully more affordable) to do so in epic rather than in normal 40k or Horus Heresy!
These miniatures are just the beginning – plenty of additional releases are planned for Legions Imperialis, and eventually most of the armoury for both the Space Marine Legions and the Solar Auxilia will be available. Soon you will be able to create vast armies and conduct war on the scale you’re read about in the Horus Heresy books.
Don’t forget that in the preview stream, GW also mentioned that Aeronautica and Titanicus models are all in the correct scale and will be usable in Legions Imperialis! So if you play those games, getting started in full Epic scale games may be even easier!
Games Workshop Accidentally Previewed a New Edition of Epic Warhammer 40k: (March 14th, 2023)
GW went through the trouble of actually changing out the initial picture that started all the drama for the new edition of Epic Warhammer 40k that we now know as Legions Imperialis.
Let’s start with the picture from Warhammer Community that started it all, then get into some of the rumors.
This was in the initial post, and as you can see right away, the base is a little bit different, but we’ll get to the possibilities.
Then, about an hour later or so, they went back and changed the picture in the post to have the base cropped out. So, why would they go through the trouble of cropping the base out?
There are really two main reasons (to us, at least). First, this is a base for Epic (as it’s textured and thinner like other boxed games) or a third-party base that they didn’t want it in the post.
Let’s start with the less exciting possibility, then get to Epic.
You can see a little gap in the feet and the base, meaning they most likely just put it on the base with some blue-tac so it could be swapped to a familiar-sized Titanicus base. This still supports both theories, but let’s consider the possibility of a third-party base.
GW obviously wouldn’t want something custom in one of their studio pictures, which gives credence to the idea this was not shot in their studio. So, there is a possibility whoever took the photo and uploaded it didn’t think about the base, and when someone from the company saw the post, they had they take it out.
Or it was taken “in-house,” and well, this model was not glued to the base. Perhaps these are product shots for later on when the base may change.
It’s also worth pointing out that this model also appears to be on an “oval” base in this image, and not its standard 80mm round base.
A New Edition of Warhammer 40k EPIC?
Now, let’s talk about a new edition of Epic. First, we’ve heard rumors for a long time, so it wouldn’t be too surprising. Plus, we’re not the only ones thinking this either; some users have also chimed in on the B&C with similar theories.
But since there is a little gap between the feet and the base, it seems like the Warhound is only blutacked on the base, which would make sense if they want to switch between normal bases for AT and lower bases for Epic.
If you don’t remember, Epic had much thinner bases so that the tiny little models could fit on there easier. This is also a case where whoever took the photos could have just not realized the base was made for Epic and just took the photo with the swapped-out base.
However, this is where the plot thickens, so get your Tin-foil hats ready…
Now, stay with us here; look at the preview title for AdeptiCon. SEISMIC Warhammer Preview. Seismic, like Titans walking seismic, or like just big in general? If we had to guess, they might actually be doing a preview about the return of EPIC at AdeptiCon, and not 10th Edition Warhammer 40k.
That could be why they dropped that Terminator/Tyranid teaser over the weekend (odd to drop a teaser for a teaser). This could then mean they are saving the 10th Edition Warhammer 40k reveal for May at Warhammer Fest…
They will need something huge if they don’t show 10th at AdeptiCon because people would RAGE as they everyone seemed to be already expecting something on 10th Edition, so maybe Gagmes Workshop thinks something like Epic will hold people over.
Give the People What They Want:
What GW may have done by dropping the 10th Edition teaser already is that people now know 10th is coming… sometime. Now if they dont do a 10th preview at Adepticon, people might think, oh well, they didn’t show 10th; at least we still know it’s coming…
The return of a game like EPIC would also fill a new release slot, perhaps before June. Because let’s face it, besides AoS, and whatever they make for Lion, and the reboxes of Wrath of the Soul Forge King… not a whole lot is happening.
Don’t forget too, GW showed the new Death Guard at AdeptiCon in 2017 before they even said the word Primaris or talked about 8th edition 40k as well…
Sadly both 8th and 9th were revealed at Warhammer Fest in May of those years… So, maybe Epic will come at AdeptiCon, and 10th Edition will have to wait till later on in 2023 a bit…
Well, if that isn’t enough speculation for you, let’s look at the previous rumors we’ve seen for EPIC!
RUMORS: 10th Edition 40k Rules Reset & Epic Returns
The latest Chapter Master Valrak rumors on YouTube, and B&C (edited for grammar) seem to indicate not only the return of 10th Edition 40k that pretty much everyone suspects but also provide a few scant details about Epic.
10th is apparently coming next year, and they will be resetting it, everything going back to indexes as we got with 8th Edition. Take it with all the salt you can consume.
Also, EPIC is coming back for the Horus Heresy.
On the Epic 40k side of things, it seems like releases have slowed for both Adeptus Titanicus and Aeronautica Imperialis, so perhaps re-releasing Epic (small-scale games of 40k) would be a great way for Games Workshop to recycle these models in the new 1/4 scale to be used together with perhaps some unseen similarly scaled 40k models.
Here’s a great look at the differences in scale from the old 1990s Epic scale, the new AI, and the current 40k sizes. The plastic AI Thunderhawk is a perfect 4″ long, exactly 1/4 the size of the Forge World one! The same goes for the Titans in Adeptus Titianicus compared to Warhammer 40k.
So the stage may be set for TWO new versions of Warhammer 40k (or perhaps Horus Heresy/Titanicus), and regardless of which of these systems you want more, these are spicy rumors for sure.
All the Latest Warhammer Rules & Model Rumors
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About the Author: Rob Baer
Rob Baer
Job Title: Managing Editor
Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
Socials: Rob Baer on Facebook and @catdaddymbg on X
About Rob Baer: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor of Spikey Bits, the leading tabletop gaming news website focused on the hobby side of wargaming and miniatures.
Rob also co-founded and currently hosts the Long War Podcast, which has over 350 episodes and focuses on tabletop miniatures gaming, specializing in Warhammer 40k. and spent six years writing for Bell of Lost Souls.
Every year, along with his co-hosts, he helps host the Long War 40k Doubles Tournament at Adepticon and the Long War 40k Doubles at Las Vegas Open, which attracts over 350 players from around the world.
Rob has won many Warhammer 40k Tournaments over the years, including multiple first-place finishes in Warhammer 40k Grand Tournaments over the years and even winning 1st place at the Adepticon 40k Team Tournament.
With over 30 years of experience in retail and distribution, Rob knows all the products and exactly which ones are the best. As a member of GAMA (Game Manufacturers Association), he advocates for gaming stores and manufacturers in these difficult times, always looking for the next big thing to feature for the miniatures hobby, helping everyone to provide the value consumers want.
While he’s played every edition of Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy (since 5th Edition) and has been hobbying on miniatures since the 1980s, Titans of all sizes will always be his favorite! It’s even rumored that his hobby vault rivals the Solemnance Galleries, containing rulebooks filled with lore from editions long past, ancient packs of black-bordered Magic Cards, and models made of both pewter and resin.
