Rejoice for it is officially the year of the Xenos for Warhammer 40k. Check out the list of what was revealed at LVO and from GW on the three new Xenos Codex books for 2018!
Games Workshop’s Studio Preview from LVO revealed some great things coming this year for 40k and AoS. Take a look at some of the upcoming releases they’ve discussed!
Be sure to check out Warhammer Community for more information regarding the LVO Studio Preview!
Warhammer 40k
The Drukhari, T’au Empire and Necrons are some of the most fascinating factions in Warhammer 40,000, and their new codexes realise them in rich detail, not just in background but in how they play. From exciting new mechanics to subtle tweaks, you’ll find these codexes each fun to battle with or against.
Codices! According to Games Workshop, all codex books should be “done in less than a year”. As previewed above next three codex releases will be Drukhari, T’au Empire, and Necrons. Drukhari Codex will include rules for Cults, Covens, and Cabals.
Dark Eldar will be the first codex to be released of the three, look for more previews starting very shortly (probably to line up with the new AoS Daughters of Khaine releases). No Asdrubael Vect model will be coming yet, unfortunately.
The new T’au book will focus more on the septs and not their allies like the Kroot and Vespid etc.They will be releases second of the three Codex books show above.
Crypteks are an iconic element of Necron lore; where other factions use warp-craft or magic to accomplish their goals, Crypteks help the Necrons accomplish their lofty aims of galactic reconquest through pure SCIENCE. This particular Cryptek is the first ever to be cast in plastic and features what looks like some new wargear.
Necrons are getting a shiny new Cryptek model, as well as mobility boosts, and the new Cryptek spotted above will be plastic, too! The Dynasties will be included and work like other codex abilities currently that must have all the same keywords in all detachments to function. One of their features will be a +1 to AP mechanic to help punch armor more consistently.Overall expect to see BIG changes to the faction from their index incarnation.
Last, but certainly not least, a smaller possible dreadknight sized Knight Armiger was previewed.
Smaller than their cousins and crewed by aspiring nobles, low-born commoners with a knack for war, or even the bastard children of Barons and High Kings, Armigers hunt and fight at the flanks of their larger kin. Knight Armigers will open up new tactical possibilities for Imperial Knights players, like a medieval lord hunting with his hounds, benefiting from a wider range of army build
Overall it looks like this will be the year of the Xenos and Imperial Knights, as out of the remaining eleven 40k factions, they will have rules supplements first in 2018 and the rest “will be done the year”.
From the order of things previewed one could conclude that these next three codex books. along with the Imperial Knights, could take us right to the end of spring, release-wise, with Orks rumored to be on the way this summer already.
What do you think of the two new models they previewed at LVO? Are you down for some Xenos loving?
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About the Author: Rob Baer
Rob Baer
Job Title: Managing Editor
Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
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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.
