GW miniature kits they used to have tons of bits and options for the models inside, except when it comes to Primaris Models- they are shrinking…
There’s been a trend we’ve noticed from the start of 8th Edition and maybe you’ve picked up on it too. It seems like compared to the single-wound Marines, GW has been delicately releasing a new wargear option per Primaris model kit, and not the way we’ve been used to in the past. Check out what we mean.
The Primaris Are Shrinking: Why Less, Is Costing Us More
To lay the groundwork, let’s look at just one example of an old Space Marine kit. Here’s their sprue layout:
Win The Catachan Colonel: Enter Now
Compared to the Primaris, single-wound Marine kits are easily some of the most plentiful terms of wargear. If you go on Battlescribe right now, you’ll find that when you customize a regular Marine body, they’ve got all kinds of wargear at their disposal. You can give any kind of ranged weapon to a Tac Marine Sergeant, any kind of melee weapon to an Assault Squad unit, etc. (sure there are some restrictions per unit, but you get the idea).
Now take a look at the bit richness on the Assault Marine sprue. You’ve got the option for every Marine melee weapon under the sun as well as a sweet selection of ranged gear. Not only that, but you also have the choice of backpacks or jump packs. The key element here is variety for your buck.
Primaris Releases Introduce One Piece of Wargear As a “New Kit”
Starting with Intercessors, their kit hit in the very first part of 8th Edition. They only had access to bolt weapons but later on, we saw that the Sergeant was updated to have one kind of melee wargear ranging from power fists to thunder hammers.
The Intercessor, however, can’t take any kind of plasma or melta weapon as GW released their own kit introducing the Primaris version of those weapons. Hellblasters fill the plasma role.
Meanwhile, the Eradicators inside of Indomitus fill the melta role.
A Word on Characters
For Chaplains, we saw their on-foot version hit with a bolt pistol and crozius arcanum. There was no other wargear outside of that (the regular Marine variant can take a combi weapon as well as a jump pack). Two or three years later, we’ve now got a Primaris Chaplain on Bike coming. The only thing left that we could see is a Primaris Jump Chaplain
Dark Imperium’s Lieutenants
Single kit Lieutenant
Indomitus Lieutenant
For Primaris Lieutenants, they’ve evolved heavily from the Dark Imperium Box Set. They went from a boltgun and power sword inside Dark Imperium to a clam pack release of a power sword, to 9th Edition’s Indomitus as a power sword, storm shield, and volkite charger.
Dark Imperium’s Captain In MK X Plate
Single kit Captain
Indomitus Captain
Another prime example is the Primaris Captains. We saw the Gravis Captain inside Dark Imperium which still has fixed wargear. Then, we saw a “standard” Primaris Captain come out with a power sword and boltgun. Finally, in 9th Edition’s Indomitus, the Captain now has a power sword and storm shield.
Melee & Mobility Still Lacking
Aggressors
Indomitus’ Bladeguard Veterans
Plasma Inceptors
Right now, we’ve only got a solid Primaris melee unit with power fists or power sword/storm shields. For mobility in terms of jump packs, we’ve only got Inceptors (with two wargear types), and Suppressors since the first Primaris and we’re still waiting for some more Primaris Jump Pack models for jump-synergistic combat factions like Blood Angels to make use out of.
Oh, and there are these guys too…
Order The Paintable Primaris Action Figure
After seeing all of this, what do you think about the way GW has handled Primaris releases? Are they taking a single weapon and forming the model around it vs. the other way around? Would you like to see more variety of bits in Primaris kits?
Let us know in the comments of our Facebook Hobby Group, and make sure you enter the latest monthly giveaway for FREE today!
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.
