More 40k Chaos rumors for 2026 say new bundle boxes, primarch models, codex books, and even a Defiler are on the way, along with a Chaos Space Marines refresh for 11th edition.
It’s looking like the Year of Chaos might live up to its name (just not in 2025.) Between whispers of new kits, refreshed models, and some suspicious product page disappearances, Chaos Space Marines could be about to get one of their biggest updates in years.
Chaos looks set to get a refresh in 2026, and if any of these rumors are even half right, Warhammer is about to get very interesting.
Rumored Maelstrom Boxes Bringing More Chaos
Updated January 8th, 2026, by Rob Baer with the latest news and rumors.
Maelstrom book product images look like the Eye of Terror.
In the original leaks, people were talking about Eye of Terror boxes and a campaign… but this “Eye of Terror” name drop is almost certainly just the usual leak telephone game. The leaker sees something campaign-box adjacent, hears a spooky Chaos-flavored label, and runs with it. Plus, most casual 40k fans may not know the difference between the Eye of Terror and the Maelstrom at first glance either.
But with the bigger Maelstrom campaign leaks already out there, this smells way more like a series of Maelstrom boxes to close out tenth, the same way the 500 Worlds boxes are on deck now, and boarding patrons for dropped at the end of 9th edition seeded the runway toward whatever comes next.
And if we’re getting a fresh wave of Maelstrom boxes, Iron Warriors showing up in one of them feels extremely on brand. The Chaos rumor pile keeps stacking in that direction: new Mutilators, a refreshed Defiler kit with multiple head options, plus an Iron Warriors upgrade kit and even whispers of an Iron Warriors Combat Patrol (which again could be a Maelstrom box).
This makes sense as campaign boxes are exactly where GW loves to sneak that kind of rollout in.
On the contents side, the rumor is that these boxes could also tag in Adeptus Mechanicus and Knights, framed around Chaos making a move while the Imperium is stretched thin. The spiciest detail is the format: supposedly vehicle-leaning sets, not big infantry dumps, with two to three vehicles per box.
Which, honestly, fits a Maelstrom end-of-edition run perfectly. Less “starter set,” more “here’s your punchy campaign package, now go make the table shake.”
Lords of the Maelstrom Rumors: Huron’s Big “Welcome Back” Box?
So the big headline rumor is a chunky box called Lords of the Maelstrom, and that plural is doing a lot of heavy lifting. On paper, “Lords” screams versus box, like Red Corsairs vs Eldar Corsairs in one shiny bundle with a discount that lets your wallet breathe for a minute. But here’s the twist: we already know for a fact Huron and his retinue are on the way, and GW absolutely loves slapping a dramatic campaign title on a character-driven release.
If Huron is the centerpiece, “Lords” could just be marketing spice, or it could hint at multiple named characters packed into the same set. Either way, the name feels like it is pointing at a box release, not just a book or a footnote. And if it’s not a straight matchup, the safest money is on Red Corsairs getting top billing with Huron leading from the front, fighting against Prince Yriel.
The rumored extra pieces, like a command squad and a “Hunter” squad, would be the kind of good padding that turns a character drop into a proper launch bundle. Then the Eldar Corsairs can roll in later as a separate wave, because staggered releases are basically GW’s love language.
“Eye of Terror” Battalion Boxes & Knights Rumors
Now we slide into the Eye of Terror talk, and this is where a lot of rumors get messy. It is totally plausible that the person leaking this is mixing up Maelstrom vs Eye of Terror, because people do that constantly, and these are not the same kind of conflict zone. One is a very different beast from the other, and on the galactic map, they are nowhere near each other. So if the boxes feel like they belong to a smaller, piratey narrative, that feels more like Maelstrom to us.
That said, the Imperial Knights battalion rumor is exactly the kind of thing GW would toss into an end-campaign stretch. Knights are pricey, battalion boxes are built to tempt you, and even a “basic” bundle becomes a big deal if it knocks the cost down.
Contents are unclear, but the classic guess is a Questoris and a couple of Armigers. There’s also chatter about a mid-sized Knight chassis between Armiger and Questoris, which feels more like an eleventh edition headline than a late tenth edition surprise, but hey, stranger things have happened.
Votann Combat Patrol, Malestrom Box Rumors
Next up: a Leagues of Votann Combat Patrol (or more likely a Battalion Box) allegedly tied into the same campaign beat. The pitch is simple and very GW: one new-ish HQ type (we already saw the Cthonian character previewed, and it could be a good time to drop him), a couple of infantry squads, and a mobile unit that makes the box feel fast and punchy on the table.
The rumored lineup is a Strategist, two squads of Iron Kin Steeljacks (six models total), and Hernkyn Pioneers. Translation: “Here’s your leader, here’s your boots on the ground, and here’s the unit that actually makes you want to buy it.” If this lands, it feels like a Combat Patrol (or Battalion Box) designed to be played right away, not one of those boxes where you open it and immediately start shopping for the pieces it forgot.
Chicken Walker & Spider Tank: Adeptus Mechanicus Battalion Box Rumors
The Adeptus Mechanicus battalion rumor is wonderfully straightforward: fewer models, bigger kits, lots of plastic per sprue, and a box that screams “value” if you were going to buy any of this anyway. The alleged contents are a Skorpius Disintegrator, an Ironstrider Ballistarius (the beloved chicken walker), and an Onager Dunecrawler.
If that’s real, it’s a very GW battalion move. One centerpiece vehicle, one fast gun platform, one iconic crawler, and suddenly your pile of shame has a new cybernetic roommate. Also, this is another spot where the campaign-label confusion could be happening. Mechanicus rolling through the Eye of Terror is a different vibe than raiders in the Maelstrom, so if the rumor dump is treating those names interchangeably, don’t expect to see the Eye of Terror join the battleground.
Maelstrom 40k Leaks Show Pirates, Corsairs, and a 10th Edition Endgame
We have seen the leaked pictures, and they paint a pretty loud story: Maelstrom 40k looks like the pirate-themed campaign run that helps wrap up tenth edition and points the narrative straight at eleventh.
The images seem to tie Maelstrom into the 500 Hundred Worlds arc, and we have already seen signs of three books in this run, with one called Maelstrom: Lair of the Tyrant.
Huron Blackheart Revealed, Red Corsairs Not Far Off Now
So yeah, the “new Huron model” rumor is no longer a rumor. Games Workshop has officially revealed Huron Blackheart, finally dragging the Tyrant of Badab out of Finecast purgatory and into the modern era. But the bigger tell is what GW said right alongside the reveal:
That’s not subtle. GW is straight-up promising that more minis are coming with him next year, which locks in the long-running Red Corsairs chatter. This now reads less like “probably” and more like “start clearing shelf space.”
We have already heard rumors of new Red Corsairs lining up in a “Lords of the Maelstrom” box, probably starring Huron Blackheart and his shiny new command squad (this has since been confirmed with Huron revealed and a promised crew). Think Titus, but angrier and with more flaming skulls.
They might also score their own elite hunter unit since every faction seems to be getting one of those flex squads.
Grotmas Reignites Iron Warriors 40k Rumors
A recent Grotmas Chaos short story for day 15 sparked fresh Iron Warriors 40k speculation, with fans tying its prophecy straight to long-running rumors. The big talking points line up cleanly: a new Defiler kit, new Mutilators, and expanded Chaos Space Marines support that finally gives Iron Warriors some real spotlight in 40k.
The Prophecy and the Eye of Terror Connection
The prophecy text name-checks imagery that screams Iron Warriors. Cadia, the Eye of Terror, cursed iron, furnaces, and endless geometry all map cleanly onto Medrengard and siege warfare themes. Lore hounds made the Perturabo connection fast, since he is the only Primarch who could always see the Eye of Terror, no matter where he stood in the galaxy.
Kits, Combat Patrols, and What Comes Next
The kit rumors are where this starts feeling very real. Talk continues around an Iron Warriors upgrade kit rolling straight into a future Combat Patrol, which is exactly how GW likes to quietly rebuild a subfaction without shouting about it. Expect hazard stripes, siege flavor, and enough bits to turn generic Chaos Space Marines into something that actually looks like they belong on Medrengard.
Then there’s the hardware. A new Defiler keeps popping up in the rumor cycle, supposedly a multi-option daemon engine that can slot cleanly into Iron Warriors, Black Legion, or whoever needs more legs and guns. Mutilators are part of that same conversation, with signs pointing toward a proper refresh that leans into brutal, close-range chaos rather than forgotten finecast vibes.
Vashtorr hovering over all of this makes sense. Daemon engines, siege warfare, and Iron Warriors working hand in glove fit the current narrative direction almost too neatly.
Iron Warriors Combat Patrol
The rumor list is straightforward: Warpsmith, ten Legionaries, five Havocs, five Chaos Terminators, plus an Iron Warriors upgrade sprue to glue the vibe on top. As a playable core, that’s genuinely solid, because you’ve got bodies, guns, and terminators ready to stomp.
The problem is the hype ceiling: the rumors don’t mention anything about a new character or Perturabo, so if the “new” part is basically just an upgrade kit, a lot of Iron Warriors players are going to shrug. It’s a good box, but it’s not the big return banner some folks want to march under.
Is Perturabo Returning?
Speaking of Perturabo, a Chaos Primarch return feels plausible, yet timing matters. All signs suggest setup, not payoff. If Perturabo walks back onto the board, it likely lands in 11th edition, but they have dropped Primarchs at the end of editions before.
The groundwork, though, is clearly being poured in our minds.
More Iron Warriors on the way After The WCW Preview?
The Iron Warriors rumors suggest their Combat Patrol is mostly nailed down, but there is still room for a few extra surprises after the WCW previews wrap. Based on the chatter so far, here is the short list of what could still realistically show up for Perturabo’s favorite grumblers.
- A dedicated Warsmith or Legion-specific HQ, something more imposing than the standard Warpsmith and tailored to the siege-master theme.
- A Legion-themed character upgrade frame, adding unique armor plates, bionics, or servo harness bits that push the Iron Warriors look past simple head and shoulder swaps.
- A small daemon-engine support unit, possibly a mini walker or backpack-mounted artillery type piece that reinforces their battlefield identity without needing a full vehicle refresh.
- A set of elite siege specialists, something equivalent to breachers or artificer-heavy infantry that finally gives the Iron Warriors a tabletop unit that matches their lore niche.
- A more robust vehicle upgrade sprue, even if small, adding hazard stripes, iron masks, reinforced plating, or servo chains to existing kits.
If GW really is lining up a Chaos range refresh before 11th Edition lands, the Iron Warriors feel like prime candidates for one more reveal that carries a bit more punch than a simple upgrade sprue.
Perturabo’s “Return:” Reality or Re-Sculpt?
Now, onto the big question: is Perturabo actually returning to 40k, or is this all smoke from the forge? The rumor mill says he’s “emerging from the Eye of Terror,” but not everyone’s convinced it means a full-blown narrative comeback.
However, the latest rumors suggest this won’t happen. So, we wouldn’t put too much stock into him returning. But, there is a small hope, so don’t totally let your dreams be dreams yet.
Some people suspect this could tie into the “Ascended” Primarchs line, the reimagined models for The Horus Heresy, not Warhammer 40k.
Maybe someone saw the Primarch mini, but doesn’t really understand the difference between 40k and HH models. So it is possible they just leaked that he’s coming for 40k, when it’s just HH…
If that’s the case, what some see as a resurrection might just be a glorious new sculpt of Perturabo in his Heresy-era armor. For those who’ve seen the level of detail on recent Horus Heresy releases, that’s hardly a bad thing.
Still, with Perturabo’s name popping up in the Vashtorr storyline and Iron Warriors featuring heavily in Chaos lore, the timing feels suspiciously perfect.
Chaos Refresh Rumors: Primarchs, Box Sets, and Codexes
40k’s New Chaos Rumors Point to a Full Range Shake-Up!
Chaos is apparently lining up a full-on refresh with new kits, revamped Legion boxes, and even some long-forgotten units crawling back into the spotlight. If these drops really do land before 11th Edition, the big question becomes: will they fold into the upcoming 500 Worlds campaign, or will it all be Maelstrom-related?
No one knows yet, but it would make a lot of sense for GW to roll out shiny new toys right before a major narrative push. For now, here are the latest 40k Chaos rumors for each Legion.
New 40k Chaos Rumors: Emperor’s Children
New Chaos rumors for the Emperor’s Children say to expect a very familiar box setup: two Noise Marine squads, twenty Emperor’s Children Legionnaires, and a Demon Prince to tie the whole screaming parade together.
It is basically the Fulgrim-era box, just replacing the Primarch with a punchy stand-in who still appreciates loud music and dramatic posing.
Thousand Sons: Chaos Rumors
New 40k Chaos rumors for a big new Thousand Sons box set are said to include a Mutalith Vortex Beast, Exalted Sorcerers, an Infernal Master, and a ten-man Rubric Terminator squad.
Chaos 40k Rumors For World Eaters
The World Eaters bundle box on the horizon leans right into the blood-soaked aesthetic. These new Chaos 40k rumors say to look for berserkers, bloodletters, and the usual Khorne-approved tools inside.
Mutilators
One of the biggest curveballs in the chaos rumor pile is the Mutilators. A brand new kit will supposedly ship as a trio, which tracks perfectly with GW’s habit of packaging elite infantry in threes.
Red Corsairs (Now Confirmed)
The pirates of the 41st Millennium were mentioned again in the latest Chaos rumors, with a refresh that includes a new Huron model, a command squad, and a hunter-style unit. This was more or less all confirmed by GW at this point.
Khorne: Red Plastic Apocalypse
A World Eaters and Daemons combo box is supposedly on the way, stuffed with juggernauts, bloodletters, executioners, and enough chain weapons to make Angron proud. This lines up with talk about a Khorne Kill Team picking a fight with the Grey Knights, complete with new models on both sides.
Alpha Legion: Sneaky Boys Get Some Love
Rumor has it that Solomon Akurra is getting a brand-new sculpt, hinting that the Alpha Legion might be the next warband to get spotlight time. If Night Lords got their moment, it is only fair that the galaxy’s biggest gaslighters get theirs.
More 40k Chaos Rumors Point to a New Defiler?
Converted Defiler by Rob Baer
Chaos rumors also mention that the Iron Warriors may also be getting a major upgrade kit. Still, the real eye-opener is that the “big iron reveal” is not Perturabo after all. Instead, it might be a redesigned Defiler stomping back onto the table.
The word is that a brand new spider tank kit is on the way with multiple build paths baked in. You can kit it out as a full-shooting monster with options like lascannons and a big chest cannon, or swing the other direction with a melee-heavy setup that leans into claws and close-quarters brutality.
The clever bit, according to the whispers, is the optional Legion flavor. The kit is rumored to include themed heads and details for groups like the Thousand Sons and Emperor’s Children, so you can match your Defiler to your chosen warband right out of the box.
If this new Chaos rumor lands the way it sounds, this could be the big centerpiece model everyone has been waiting for.
Chaos Rumors: Bikes and the Next 40k Edition
Another long-standing Chaos rumor making a comeback is that the CSM Bikes are getting redesigned, though reportedly not until the next edition of Warhammer 40k. With 11th Edition shaping up for 2026, that timeline lines up with GW’s usual approach: let the starter set breathe, then roll out fresh kits to maintain buzz.
New Chaos Bikes would also complete a long-overdue update cycle, bringing them up to the same visual standard as newer kits like the Chosen and Possessed.
Chaos Rumors Say Dark Mechanicum Is Finally Happening?
LI Dark Mechanicum
These Chaos rumors are huge and say to look for a whole new 40k faction drop. Not a one-off, not a detachment, a full-blown new army, Dark Mechanicum. These heretek-cyber-ghouls have been teased for years, especially with Vashtorr creeping into the lore and the Legions Imperialis release teasing models.
If the rumors hold, this release could be on the scale of the Leagues of Votann, meaning you’re looking at a solid launch box, multiple units, and enough lore to fill a codex. Start clearing shelf space and maybe your bank account.
Final Thoughts: New 40k Chaos Rumors For 2026
Between a vanishing Legionaries kit, Huron Blakheart hype, and Iron Warriors whispers, it’s hard not to feel like these 40k Chaos rumors are on to something big. Whether it’s a new plastic wave, campaign tie-ins, or a full faction spotlight, the writing’s on the wall, and it’s painted in blood and brass.
If you’ve been thinking about starting a Chaos Space Marines army or expanding an existing one, it might be time to wait just a bit longer. The Long War may finally be getting some long-overdue reinforcements.
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