The Horus Heresy Christmas Box Legiones Astartes: Vanguard Assault Battle Group, is here, and if you’re thinking about buying the battleforce, we break down the models, value, and who it’s for.
Thirty Mark VI Legionaries in one box is a lot of beakies to clip off the sprue, and honestly, that’s exactly why someone would buy this. GW revealed it on Warhammer Community next to the Heavy Assault Battle Group, and the Vanguard Assault box stacks infantry, armor, and a Contemptor into one box, which is a lot more than the last Horus Heresy Battle Group gave us.
So we’re going to break down what’s actually inside the Legiones Astartes: Vanguard Assault Battle Group, what it costs, when pre-orders may land, and whether the savings hold up once you add up the kits yourself (spoiler: they do).
- What’s in the Legiones Astartes: Vanguard Assault Battle Group: 20 Mark VI Tactical Squad Legionaries, 10 Mark VI Assault Squad Legionaries, one Legion Praetor with Power Sword, one Contemptor Dreadnought, one Deimos Pattern Rhino, and one Deimos Pattern Predator Battle Tank.
- The value is real: the kits add up to $414.75 at current US prices, so the $255 box saves you about $160 (39%).
- Tabletop take: 34 miniatures, enough Legionaries to hold objectives, a ride for half of them, a tank for fire support, and a Dread plus Assault Squad for the close-up work.
- Pricing: $255 (USA), $300 (Canada), $435 (Australia), £160 (UK), €206 (EU).
- Release Date: Nov 27th, 2026 with a $255 price tag.
Vanguard Assault Battle Group Contents Review
Legiones Astartes: Vanguard Assault Battle Group Release Date & Retail Price:
- Release Date: November 27th, 2026, with pre-orders starting on November 14th, 2026. (verified in GW’s Nov 2nd, 2026 Email to Retailers)
- Horus Heresy Christmas Boxes & Battle Groups Retail Price (MSRP/RRP): $255 (USD). Regional pricing is listed below.
So at $255, the Vanguard Assault Battle Group saves about $160 (39%) compared with $414.75 in separate kits, which beats the Siege Assault Battle Group savings.
Legiones Astartes: Vanguard Assault Battle Group Contents:
- 20x Mark VI Tactical Squad Legionaries
- 10x Mark VI Assault Squad Legionaries
- 1x Legion Praetor with Power Sword
- 1x Contemptor Dreadnought
- 1x Deimos Pattern Rhino
- 1x Deimos Pattern Predator Battle Tank
Legiones Astartes: Vanguard Assault Battle Group Values & Pricing
GW says this is a rapid-deployment force, and for once the marketing line lines up with what’s in the box. A Praetor leads a 20-strong Mark VI Tactical Squad, half of them pile into the Rhino to go grab the far objective, and the Predator sits back and shoots anything that gets in their way.
Then, for anyone who’d rather get stuck in, the Assault Squad brings the close-combat punch and the Contemptor stomps up the middle. Put it all together, and you’ve got a force that has an answer for pretty much whatever your opponent drops on the other side of the table.
That’s a pretty different theme from the Siege Assault Battle Group, which leaned hard on Terminators and a Leviathan. And if you want to see how these HH boxes have stacked up over time, our first look at the original Legiones Astartes Battle Group is a good place to start.
Christmas Battle Group: Legiones Astartes: Vanguard Assault Battle Group List Price: $255 (USA), $300 (Canada), $435 (Australia), £160 (UK), €206 (EU)
| Models | Unit Name | Value |
| 20 | MKVI Tactical Squad | $94 |
| 10 | Legion MKVI Assault Squad | $76 |
| 1 | Legion Praetor with Power Sword | $37.25 |
| 1 | Contemptor Dreadnought | $67.50 |
| 1 | Deimos Pattern Rhino | $58 |
| 1 | Deimos Pattern Predator Battle Tank | $82 |
| Vanguard Assault Battle Group Box | ||
| Total MSRP: | $414.75 | |
| Savings Versus $255 Box Price: | $159.75 (39%) | |
Is This Horus Heresy Christmas Box Worth It?
Well, you’re saving almost $160 with the Vanguard Assault Battle Group, and that’s a big number for a Christmas box. Plus, the savings are spread across six real kits, so every dollar of it is plastic you’ll actually put on the table.
Honestly, the model count is what sells it. Thirty Legionaries gets you most of the way to a Legion’s core troops, and adding a Rhino, a Predator, a Contemptor, and a Praetor means you’re not starting from a pile of troops and nothing else.
Sure, if you already own a stack of Mark VI, the value drops fast, since the infantry is $170 of that $414.75. But even if you’d pass on one of the smaller kits, the math still comes out ahead of buying everything separately. So unless your shelf is already drowning in beakies, this is an easy box to say yes to.
How Many Points Is This?
We would guess the Legiones Astartes: Vanguard Assault Battle Group points are somewhere around 870, based on base unit costs with no wargear upgrades.
What to Buy Next?
If you want the Vanguard Assault Battle Group to grow into a full Legion army, start with a second Deimos Pattern Rhino ($58) so the other half of that Tactical Squad isn’t walking across the board while their buddies ride.
After that, the Special Weapons Upgrade Set and Heavy Weapons Upgrade Sets ($50 each) are worth a look, because 20 Tactical Legionaries with nothing but boltguns gets old fast. A MKVI Legion Command Squad ($55) is a good add too, so your Praetor isn’t the only one in the box with a bit of swagger.
Finally, add more armor or another Dreadnought depending on how your Legion likes to fight.
Final Thoughts on the Legiones Astartes: Vanguard Assault Battle Group
Honestly, this is the kind of Christmas box we’d point a new Heresy player at first. It’s got 34 models, real savings, and a mix of units that work together on the table right out of the box.
So if you want one, keep an eye on Black Friday and pick a retailer to order it from before it drops. And if you’re already deep into Mark VI plate, the Heavy Assault Battle Group revealed alongside it might be the box that fits your army better.
Where To Buy Your Legiones Astartes: Vanguard Assault Battle Group
Legiones Astartes: Vanguard Assault Battle Group: $255 (USA), $300 (Canada), $435 (Australia), £160 (UK), €206 (EU)
Want a discount and fewer out-of-stock headaches? Hit our Warhammer retailer guide and grab the best option for your region. Links are below.
🔗 Related Reads:
- New Horus Heresy Siege Assault Battle Group Box Review
- GW Reveals 2 New Battle Groups for Horus Heresy
- New Horus Heresy Astartes Battle Group First Look
- Horus Heresy Special Weapons Packs Unveiled
- 2026 Christmas Box Battleforce Coverage
- 2025 Christmas Battleforce Box Sets Review
