New for 10th and 11th Edition, here’s the 2025 Warhammer 40k Codex roadmap release date schedule and predictions for the latest faction updates.
Games Workshop revealed the official 2025 Warhammer 40k codex release schedule, outlining new updates and models across the 10th edition codex roadmap for all major factions heading into 11th and beyond.
Here is what is on the horizon for the nearly 30 factions in 2025, heading into 11th edition, which is shaping up to be another blockbuster release for the Warhammer Community.
Warhammer 40k Codex Release Schedule: 2025, 2026
Updated on October 31th, 2025, 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 Edition release schedule so far, but first, a quick look at what is on the horizon now and our release predictions for the 11th edition based on 8th, 9th, and 10th.
Quick Reference: 2025 40k Codex Release Schedule
- June: Chaos Knights
- August: Grey Knights, Black Templars, Salamanders (Rules PDF), Leagues of Votann
- September: Imperial Knights, Imperial Fists (Rules PDF), Raven Guard (Rules PDF)
- October: Drukhari
- “On the Horizon”: White Scars, Iron Hands, Space Marine Reboot (Rumored), CSM Reboot (Rumored), and end-of-edition narrative campaign supplements like Psychic Awakening or Boarding Actions.
11th Edition Codex Release Schedule Predictions 2026
We think Space Marines will open 11th, and likely refresh it again at the end of 2028. Chaos and Imperium codex releases should trade punches to keep “balance”, and Xenos anchor every few stops so the meta doesn’t stall.
| 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 Releases: How the Last Three Editions Rolled Out
8th Edition 40k (2017–2020)
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.
9th Edition Warhammer Codexes (2020–2023)
COVID slowed the cadence, but the checklist still got long. The opener paired Space Marines with Necrons, then the carousel swung through Death Guard, Drukhari, AdMech, Adepta Sororitas, Orks, and Grey Knights. 2022 turned the heat up with Custodes, T’au Empire, Aeldari, Tyranids, and both Knights books.
The tail end brought Chaos Space Marines, Daemons, Leagues of Votann, Astra Militarum, World Eaters, and Boarding Action supplements right before 10th rolled in.
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 11th Edition 40k Codex Roadmap?
- Launch pairing: Space Marines plus Orks. That rumor tracks with GW’s habit of big, brawly openers and keeps the box on-brand for new players.
- Early swing: Chaos Space Marines to spice the meta, then Aeldari to steady things. Either Necrons or Tyranids takes the first marquee Xenos slot after launch.
- Imperium wave: Astra Militarum, Adeptus Mechanicus, and Adepta Sororitas follow in the first year. Marine supplements thread through the middle: Dark Angels, Blood Angels, Space Wolves, Black Templars, and Deathwatch as needed to keep the poster boys busy without flooding any single quarter.
- Chaos cluster: Thousand Sons and Death Guard pair up mid edition, with Chaos Daemons nearby. Emperor’s Children step in as a headline late-cycle book, while World Eaters get a tidy tune up if the schedule allows.
- Xenos balance: Leagues of Votann and Genestealer Cults occupy late midgame slots. T’au Empire arrives once the shooting skew won’t break the curve. Drukhari drift toward the tail again if kit timing is light.
- Closers: Imperial Knights and Chaos Knights finish the cycle. Imperial Agents slide in anywhere to fill gaps.
10th Edition Roadmap: Warhammer 40k Codex Release Schedule
Looking back on last summer, Codex Imperial Agents was released in August of 2024. No one suspected that Games Workshop would reveal new 40k Inquisition rules, character models, and three new battleforces all at once.
They were followed by the Blood Angels Army box and a separate codex release. Then, Deathwatch even got their rules updated via a new index in December 2024 for Grotmas!
First out of the gate in 2025 was Astra Miltarium, followed by Aeldari, and Emperor’s Children with Chaos Daemons. Then, the remainder of the Chaos legions (Thousand Sons, World Eaters, and Death Guard) plus Chaos Knights were released, heading into Summer.
As the temperatures rose, we got the new Space Wolves, Black Templars, Grey Knights, Leagues of Votann, and Salamanders.
Now Imperial Knights, Raven Guard, and Imperial Fists are dropping as we head into fall.
Currently, all that’s left for the Space Marines, besides a rumored 2.0 codex, are new models and PDF supplements for White Scars and Iron Hands.
Leaked from the shadows is the new Drukhari codex. And now we await and any sort of campaign or supplement series GW rolls out to lead up to the release of 11th edition in the summer of 2026.
2025 Warhammer 40k Codex Release Schedule:
The updated 2025 Warhammer Codex Roadmap for 10th Edition is like a gift that keeps on giving. While dates can sometimes shift, Games Workshop has provided a flexible timeline to help you plan your next big army overhaul.
Here are the key release dates to mark on your calendar for all the upcoming new 10th Edition Warhammer 40k codex books. 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
Here’s the scoop on which factions still need their 10th Edition Warhammer 40k codex books compared to the 9th edition, along with what’s coming up next from the new release roadmap.
- Space Marine Supplements: It looks like the new First Founding Space Marine chapters are getting PDF rules updates with the release of their characters and Combat Patrols.
- Space Marine 2.0 Codex (with new units like the Drop Pod)
- A new Campaign Supplement Series (Like Arks of Omen or Psychic Awakening) leading up to the 11th Edition release is still Unconfirmed.
Impact of 9th Edition on 10th Edition Codexes and Rules
The Warhammer 40k release date was July 2023. When 10th Edition launched, it effectively put the 9th Edition Codexes out to pasture. The transition to 10th Edition brought such a sweeping change that Games Workshop decided to let 9th Edition books retire peacefully rather than patch them up. So, while you may still love those beautifully illustrated 9th Edition Codexes, they’re no longer valid for 10th Edition play.
That said, they’re still worth keeping around for the lore and artwork! But on the battlefield, only the 10th Edition Indexes or Codexes will keep you in the game.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is a Warhammer 40k codex?
A: A codex is your army’s playbook. It’s packed with rules, unit datasheets, stratagems, and background lore that shape how your faction fights on the table. Think of it as both the instruction manual and hype guide for your chosen army.
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 are 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 and FAQs, 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: On the back page of every codex, there is a code that will grant you online access to the rules and the army builder function within the Warhammer 40k app. You will need to have a My Warhammer account to redeem the code. Once you have that setup, you can go into the Warhammer 40k app and type in the code that comes on the back page of the codex.
Once you have entered the code, you will then be able to access the rules within the 40k App, which will be automatically updated when GW updates the rules, and you can also use the army builder in the app to make your army lists. The code can only be used once, so don’t share it!
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 lists for your Warhammer 40k games.
Final Thoughts From Us On The 40k Codex Books
Warhammer 40k’s 10th edition release schedule 2025 is showing no signs of slowing down. From the arrival of Astra Militarum, Imperial Knights, and Aeldari to the highly anticipated standalone Codex for the Emperor’s Children, the rest of the year is still packed with potential game-changers.
Each 10th edition 40k codex brings new mechanics and balance changes to the Warhammer codex roadmap, contributing to the evolving meta in 2025. Plus, with Games Workshop’s commitment to balancing and updating, we’re all set for another year of epic skirmishes, strategic battles, and, yes, a little Chaos.
Click the links below to find out more about Warhammer 40,000 and the tabletop game!
- Latest Warhammer 40k Rumors
- New models 40k release schedule
- Horus Heresy New Release Roadmap
- Warhammer 40k 10th Edition Balance Dataslate Updates
- Lore & Faction Guides
- 2025 Warhammer 40k Codex Roadmap
- Warhammer 40k Combat Patrol Box Set Guide: Pricing & Values
- Best Warhammer 40k Armies
- Exclusive Warhammer Miniatures
- 40k Base Sizes Resource Guide
Latest New Release Roadmap For Warhammer
Are you excited about the 10th Edition Warhammer 40k Codex Roadmap and the 2025 40k Games Workshop release schedule?
