The new Warhammer 40k 10th Edition Deathwatch updated index (no codex yet) is here, from Stratagems, Datasheets, and army rules; here is our review guide on how to play them.
Updated August 27th, 2025, by Rob Baer with the latest FAQ information and the latest Grotmas Calendar Coverage.
The Deathwatch are back on the hunt, bringing their Kill Teams, exotic wargear, and xenos-slaying tricks to the table. If your vision of Warhammer 40k includes elite Space Marines wielding specialized ammo and dropping from orbit to surgically cut out the heart of the enemy alien threats, the Deathwatch index is what you’ve been waiting for.
The Deathwatch rules lean hard into flexibility (still an updated index, not a codex yet). They punish poor positioning, exploit battlefield gaps, and always keep opponents second-guessing. Let’s break down how to play Deathwatch in 10th Edition, covering their army rules, detachment options, enhancements, stratagems, and standout units.
Deathwatch in 10th Edition
The Deathwatch thrives on adaptability. They aren’t about overwhelming firepower or drowning the board in bodies. Instead, they combine elite Marines from different Space Marine Chapters with custom weapon loadouts, teleport tricks, and specialized ammunition that shifts to fit the mission at hand.
Playing them well means knowing when to apply the right ammo, when to redeploy, and when to hit like a hammer. The Warhammer 40k Deathwatch Index 10th Edition doubles down on this identity with powerful Kill Teams and mission-driven buffs.
Strengths of the Deathwatch Index/Codex
- Flexible Kill Team builds with unique weapon rules.
- Ammo Stratagems that let you adapt to any target.
- Mission Tactics that provide strong army-wide buffs.
- Characters that offer meaningful support and utility.
- Elite units with access to both ranged and melee punch.
Weaknesses of the Deathwatch Index/Codex
- Fewer unit options than standard Battle Brothers.
- Lose access to several common Space Marine choices (bikes, scouts, speeders).
- Low model count makes trading costly (especially since they don’t have a codex Space Marines).
- Require strong tactical awareness to maximize their rules.
Core Army Rule: Kill Teams
The heart of the Deathwatch army is the Kill Team rule. When a unit mixes different models with different Toughness values, you use the majority value to determine wounds. If there’s a tie, you use the highest. This means your opponents can’t just pick off the weak link and exploit it.
Kill Teams also follow normal transport rules, so you’ll be packing them into a Corvus Blackstar or other rides depending on the mission.
Detachment Rule: Black Spear Task Force
The Black Spear Task Force is the main detachment for the Warhammer 40k Deathwatch Index 10th Edition. It comes with restrictions and some powerful tactical buffs:
- Must be Adeptus Astartes: Deathwatch.
- No Agents of the Imperium except Kill Team Cassius.
- Restricted from fielding common Marine units like Assault Squads, Bikes, Speeders, Scouts, and Terminator Assault Squads.
Mission Tactics
At the start of your Command phase, you can pick one of three Mission Tactics (each once per game):
- Furor Tactics: Sustained Hits 1.
- Malleus Tactics: Lethal Hits.
- Purgatus Tactics: Critical Hits gain Precision.
These buffs apply to all Adeptus Astartes units in your army, giving you a powerful way to adjust strategy mid-game.
Enhancements
The Deathwatch units get some flavorful relic-style upgrades:
- Thief of Secrets: Supercharges melee weapons, granting +1 Strength, AP, and Damage. If the bearer wipes a unit in melee, the bonus jumps to +2 for the rest of the game.
- Osseus Key: Watch Master/Techmarine only. Targets an enemy Vehicle in the shooting phase, potentially forcing a Leadership test. If failed, that vehicle suffers -1 to Hit.
- Beacon Angelis: Grants Deep Strike to the bearer’s unit and allows free Rapid Ingress.
- Tome of Ectoclades: Watch Master or Captain only. Once per battle, it lets you pick an extra Oath of Moment target. Your army can re-roll Hits against either target.
Stratagems
Ammo is king for Deathwatch, and their Stratagems reflect that:
- Dragonfire Rounds (1CP): Grant Assault and Ignores Cover.
- Hellfire Rounds (1CP): Grant Anti-Infantry 2+ and Anti-Monster 5+.
- Kraken Rounds (1CP): Improve AP by 1 and add 6” to Range.
- Armour of Contempt (1CP): Worsen AP of incoming attacks by 1.
This mix of tricks makes Deathwatch feel like they’re constantly pulling something new out of the ammo locker.
Key Units in the Deathwatch Index
Spectrus Deathwatch Kill Team
- Fast infiltrators with Infiltrators and Scouts 6”.
- Can redeploy into Strategic Reserves if more than 6” away at the end of the opponent’s turn.
- Wargear like the Helix Gauntlet (Feel No Pain 6+) and Infiltrator Comms Array (potential CP refund) adds utility.
Indomitor Kill Team
- Tough Gravis Marines with T6, W3.
- Doctrine boosts Strength by +2 for ranged attacks against the closest target or melee attacks after a Charge.
- Excellent mid-range firepower and brawler durability.
Talonstrike Kill Team
- Deep Striking jump pack unit with high mobility.
- On deployment, all weapons gain +1 AP, and melee weapons get Lance.
- Perfect for aggressive plays and backline disruption.
Corvus Blackstar
- T10, W14, makes it hard to bring down
- Blackstar Cluster Launcher deals mortal wounds to units it flies over.
- Auspex Array grants Ignores Cover, while Infernum Halo-launcher adds Smoke.
Deathwatch Terminator Squad
- Classic deep-strike veterans with Storm Shields and heavy firepower.
- Terminator Assault lets them re-roll Charges and force Battle-shock on units they engage.
- Teleport Homer allows precise Rapid Ingress plays.
- Loaded with plasma cannons, cyclone missile launchers, heavy flamers, and melee hammers/claws.
Deathwatch Veterans
- Death to the Alien: Re-roll Hit rolls of 1, or all Hits against non-Imperium/Chaos targets.
- Astartes Shields grant a 4++ save.
- Can pack bolters, combi-weapons, frag cannons, infernus heavy bolters, stalker-pattern boltguns, or exotic melee weapons.
Watch Captain Artemis
- Hellfire Extremis: D6 shots at 12”, anti-infantry, ignores cover.
- Tactical Instinct: Grants Lethal Hits to his unit.
- Unstoppable Champion: On a 2+, stands back up after being destroyed, with 1 wound.
- Melee weapon hits hard with WS2+, S5, AP-2, D2.
Watch Master
- The big boss of the Deathwatch.
- 2+/4++ with Vigil Spear that can shoot or fight.
- Strategic Knowledge: His unit can shoot and charge after Advancing or Falling Back.
- Watch Master: Once per round, reduce CP cost of a Stratagem by 1.
- Melee Vigil Spear packs S6, AP-2, D3 with Lance.
How to Play Deathwatch in 10th Edition
The Deathwatch Grotmas index rewards players who think two steps ahead. Your ammo Stratagems let you fine-tune damage output, while your Mission Tactics provide army-wide flexibility. Kill Teams bring mixed weapons that can adapt to the enemy, and your leaders provide critical buffs.
Want to outmaneuver an opponent? Pull units into Reserves with teleport tricks.
Need to shred hordes? Call in Hellfire Rounds. Big monster in your face? Switch to Malleus Tactics for Lethal Hits.
This is an army that thrives on tactical problem-solving, and when piloted well, it feels like you always have the right answer in your pocket.
Where to Get the Deathwatch Index
Download the Full index from GW here.
If you’re looking for the Deathwatch Index 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.
Latest Deathwatch 40k Rules Updates
The latest PDF updates for the Warhammer 40k Deathwatch Index 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 on the Deathwatch Index
The Warhammer 40k Deathwatch Index 10th Edition cements their role as the galaxy’s premier xenos-hunters. Their rules give them ammo flexibility, mission-driven power boosts, and Kill Teams that can handle nearly any opponent.
If you’re looking for a force that rewards clever play, has some of the coolest unit customization in 40k, and leans hard into the elite special-ops fantasy, then the Deathwatch rules are worth your time.
Whether it’s teleporting Kill Teams, plasma-heavy Terminators, or a Corvus Blackstar full of Veterans, the Deathwatch always delivers precision and style. They’re not the easiest army to master, but once you do, they’ll make you feel like the galaxy’s deadliest hunter.
See All the New 40k Detachment Rules Here
