The new Warhammer 40k Deathwatch codex 10th edition is here, featuring Stratagems, Datasheets, and army rules. Here is our review guide on how to play them from this index version.
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’s 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 until a full codex book is released.
Why Play Deathwatch in Warhammer 40k
Updated October 27th, 2025, by Rob Baer with the latest FAQ information, new Kill Team Tomb World rules, and the latest Deathwatch rules.
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.
New Deathwatch 40k Rules From Tomb World
The Deathwatch are suiting up for another mission, this time diving headfirst into the Necron-infested Tomb World box. Packed with two veteran Kill Teams, the Fortis and Decimus, this set drops you right into the thick of xenos-purging glory. Here are their new Deathwatch Warhammer 40k rules!
Fortis Kill Team
The Fortis Kill Team is your jack-of-all-trades strike force, ready to light up anything that twitches. They bring a mix of bolt rifles, plasma, and rockets that can cook anything from Orks to Overlords, all while getting nastier the more damage you do.
Their Fortis Doctrine rewards finishing what you start, hit bonuses when enemies are weakened, and even better buffs when they’re on their last legs. It’s Deathwatch efficiency at its finest: clean, clinical, and just a little smug about it.
Decimus Kill Team
If the Fortis are the scalpel, the Decimus Kill Team is the power fist; blunt, loud, and devastatingly effective. They roll up with Gravis armor, frag cannons, and an attitude that says, “We hunt aliens for breakfast.”
Their Death to the Alien rule lets them re-roll hits against anything non-human, making them terrifyingly consistent. Toss in an Astartes Shield for a 4+ invuln, and you’ve got a unit that can punch through the enemy line and laugh while doing it.
Strengths of the Deathwatch Codex / Index
- 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
- 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.
Warhammer 40k Deathwatch Codex 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 codex 10th Edition doubles down on this identity with powerful, adaptable Kill Team variants and mission-driven buffs.
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.
40k Deathwatch Codex 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 40k Deathwatch codex buffs apply to all Adeptus Astartes units in your army, giving you a powerful way to adjust strategy mid-game.
Deathwatch Codex 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 40k Deathwatch Codex
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.
Where to Get the 40k Deathwatch Codex Index Download
Download the Full index from GW here.
If you’re looking for the Warhammer 40k Deathwatch Codex 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.
Final Thoughts on the 40k Deathwatch Codex
The Warhammer 40k Deathwatch codex 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.
They’re not the easiest army to master, but once you do, they’ll make you feel like the galaxy’s deadliest hunter.
🔗 Related Reads:
- All The New 40k Deathwatch Minis!
- New Faction Pack Changes & FAQS
- Latest 40k Deathwatch Rules Balance Dataslate Updates
- Deathwatch Points Updates
- New Deathwatch Combat Patrol Box
Download the Deathwatch 40k Codex Here
What do you think about the new Deathwatch Warhammer 40k index rules from the first Grotmas Calendar?
