The Big Red Book has been updated for the first time! Come check out what’s new in our compete Horus Heresy Red Book review!
The Horus Hersey Red Book contains rules for 13 Legions, it’s a big resource. A lot of people already have this book but I want to go over the changes and why you might want to consider buying it. First off, this is in a smaller, codex size, versus the huge campaign books.
The Horus Heresy Legiones Astartes: Age of Darkness Legions $49.50
It’s got the good-looking graphics and the silver leaf foil. I’m not going to do a deep dive in but I’m going to go over the new things. If you don’t have it, this is an auto-buy IMHO.
30k hobby superstar Garro has compiled this list of new changes to the 13 legions contained in this book.
Emperor’s Children
- All models with the LA rule gain +1 initiative on the charge
- sonic shriekers are now -1WS to enemy models in base contact which aren’t immune to fear. Effects the full length of the combat (not just first round), not just if you charge.
- phoenix terminators are WS5
- phoenix terminator sergeant now have 3 attacks
- the cacophony weapons are heavy2, previously heavy1
Iron Warriors
- iron circle added, elites choice, single unit can be taken as a command squad to perturabo. said unit gains a minor buff of their choice from a list.
- tyrant seige terminator squads now heavy support choices
- iron havocs are BS5
Imperial Fists
- phalanx warder squads ‘shield wall’ rule fixed, now confers +1WS instead of +1I.
- dorn’s chainsaw has ‘unwieldy’ replaced with ‘reaping blow’ (see DG section)
Night Lords
- ‘from the shadows’ confers 5+ cover save, use to be 6+
- ‘talent for murder’ confers +1 to hit and wound, use to be just to wound
- terror squads gain ‘precision strike’
- sevatar has his additional psyker rules from the FAQ added to his profile, also gains precision strike
Iron Hands
- no changes
World eaters
- ‘blood lust’ is now on a 4+ rather than a roll of a 1.
- previous version of ‘incarnate violence’ replaced with may re-roll 1’s to wound on the turn they charge
Ultramarines
- no changes
Death Guard
- may re-roll dangerous terrain tests, regardless of what the terrain is
- instead of forcing successful rolls to wound with poison and fleshbane, DG get FNP(4+) instead
- power scythes lose unwieldy and the ability to replace attack value with number of enemy models in base contact with the following ‘reaping blow’: -1 initiative, if in base contact with more than one model at their initiative step, they gain +1 attack
- grave warden toxin rule replaced with ‘poison(3+)’ on death cloud and grenade launcher
- deathshroud can be taken as a HQ or elites choice, plus as a command squad for a terminator praetor or mortarion.
- mortarion’s scythe is no longer unwieldy, replaced with ‘reaping blow’.
- mortarion’s witch spite only affects malediction powers affecting him or his squad
Sons of Horus
- gain ‘death dealer’ to their legiones astartes rule, +1BS if shooting at an enemy within 12″ with a pistol, rapid fire or assault weapon, doesn’t effect snap fire, overwatch or fury of the legion shots.
- justearins terminators start off at 255pts for 5 men, may still take upto 7 additional men. they now have 2 wounds
- abaddon has precision strike
Word bearers
- rules unchanged from tempest
Salamanders
- no changes found.
Raven Guard
- Mor deythan are 10pts more expensive at base cost (additional men are still same price)
- all dark furies have raven talons by default, no price increase
- dark fury sergeant gains ‘precision strike’
- Kaedes nex gains precision shots
Alpha Legion (or are they?)
- saboteur’s sabotage attack now AP3 against things with a toughness value, and AP2 against vehicles
- saboteur can no longer take a jum pack
- headhunters come with combi-bolters as standard, may upgrade them to combi-weapons for the same cost as terminators can.
- headhunters replace ‘preferred enemy’ with ‘precision shots’
Hopefully, if you’re a Heresy player this helped out some with your legion. Now if you play Dark Angels, Blood Angels, White Scars, Wolves or T-Sons you’ll be waiting awhile for a red book compilation. However the first three legions I just mentioned are currently available in Book VI: Retribution
Changes to the Heresy – New Red Book REVIEW
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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.
