The latest 40k Kill Team edition, Hivestorm, brings fresh rules and new models like Tempestus Scion Aquilons and Vespid Stingwings in the box set.
New Warhammer 40k Kill Team Edition: Hivestorm Launch Box & Release Date
The galaxy’s a big place, and it’s never short on trouble—or the people willing to throw themselves headlong into it. If you’re the kind of player who enjoys watching elite squads go toe-to-toe in abandoned hives while alien tech hums menacingly in the background, then Warhammer 40k’s latest Kill Team set, Hivestorm, has you covered. This time, it’s high-flying Imperials and buzz-happy xenos clashing in a cityscape that’s seen better days. Whether you’re new to the 41st Millennium’s endless warfare or you’ve been wading through bolter fire since the days of metal miniatures, Hivestorm is bringing something fresh to the table.
New Edition of Kill Team: Hivestorm Release Date
According to Games Workshop, this isn’t a complete overhaul, so don’t worry about having to relearn everything. The new edition of Kill Team is more in line with the shift from 8th to 9th Edition 40k – it’s all about tightening up the rules, refining wording, and introducing streamlined mechanics. Expect clarified rules, updated cards, and a rework of most factions that keeps things fresh without tipping the table over.
One of the standout additions is the introduction of solo and co-op modes. Now, instead of always duking it out with your friends, you can team up and tackle challenging AI-driven scenarios. It’s a great way to enjoy the game collaboratively, whether you’re trying to fend off waves of enemies or complete narrative missions together. As for the release date for Kill Team Hivestorm, pre-orders open up in September, with a release date of October 5th, 2024.
New Hivestorm Launch Box
When the skies above Volkus blacken with thrusters and battle cries, it’s clear that something big is about to go down. The latest edition of Warhammer 40,000 Kill Team isn’t just an expansion – it’s a full-throttle, no-holds-barred clash between Imperial elites and xenos outcasts. With its sleek new rules and deadly factions, Hivestorm is both a refreshing start for newcomers and a feast for lore hounds. Let’s break down what makes this release one for the history books of the 41st Millennium. Be sure to check out the value and pricing of this box in our breakdown post here.
New Tempestus Aquilons (Jump Pack Scions) Models:
When the Militarum Tempestus drop in, they don’t come quietly. The Tempestus Aquilons – a new breed of Scions – make a point of entering the battlefield like human thunderbolts. Unlike their more terrestrial kin, these warriors hurtle into the fray on grav-chutes, storming enemy lines with all the subtlety of a chainsword to the face.
Aquilons are handpicked for their no-nonsense attitude and knack for survival in hostile territory. Their weapons? Only the finest the Imperium can muster. From hot-shot lascarbines that can punch through armor like it’s wet paper to plasma carbines that turn enemies into glowing piles of regret, these guys aren’t here to mess around. In close quarters, they wield melta carbines and other short-range terrors, ideal for when you need to disintegrate something – or someone – fast. Here are all the different models in the unit we know of so far:
Tempestus Aquilon Sergeant: Commanding the drop team with grav-chute precision and an array of leadership buffs.
Hot-shot Lascarbine Scions: The bread and butter of the Aquilons, packing upgraded lascarbines with the iconic “hot-shot” punch.
Melta Carbine Specialist: A close-range nightmare, ideal for turning enemy elites into slag.
Plasma Carbine Specialist: High-risk, high-reward firepower, perfect for taking down heavily armored foes.
Demolition Scion: Expert in planting charges and disrupting enemy formations with deadly explosives.
Medic Scion: Keeps your operatives in the fight longer with battlefield triage and medical stims.
And that’s just the tip of the adamantium spear. Their mission on Volkus is nothing short of suicide – infiltrate a hive city overrun with hostile aliens and keep the skies free from xenos corruption. For them, it’s another Tuesday.
New Tau Empire Vespid Stingwings Models
On the other side of this metal-rich deathtrap are the Vespid Stingwings – the T’au Empire’s buzzing, winged vanguard. The Vespid have always been the quiet workhorses of the T’au’s auxiliary forces, and in Hivestorm, they finally take center stage. This time, they’re not just backing up the Fire Warriors – they’re leading the charge.
Originally known for wielding neutron blasters that could vaporize targets faster than you can say “For the Greater Good,” the Vespid have now evolved into versatile skirmishers equipped with cutting-edge tech. Guided by their Strain Leaders and the ever-watchful MV44 Oversight Drones, they can pull off surgical strikes that leave enemy commanders sweating. Here are all the different models in the unit we know of so far:
Strain Leader: The lead Vespid, coordinating the team through the communion helm and connecting with the MV44 Oversight Drone.
Neutron Blaster Stingwings: The traditional role, armed with their iconic neutron blasters, devastating at short range.
Ghost Rig Specialist: Outfitted with stealth tech, rendering them nearly invisible as they infiltrate enemy lines.
Neutron Grenade Launcher Specialist: A deadly ranged option for disrupting clusters of enemies with explosive precision.
Combat Stingwings: Armed with Earth Caste experimental melee weapons for close-quarters combat, combining agility with vicious strikes.
Shas’ui Handler: T’au handler directing the Vespid’s strategies from the backlines, equipped with enhanced communication gear.
What makes the Stingwings particularly nasty is their resilience. They’re experts at operating behind enemy lines for extended periods, making them a nightmare to root out. With ghost rigs that render them nearly invisible and neutron grenade launchers that disintegrate anything they touch, these buzzing assassins are more than just a nuisance – they’re a lethal threat.
New Hivestorm Kill Team Terrain
The world of Volkus is a hellscape of smog-choked hive spires and ancient orbital defenses. One of its most infamous landmarks is the Great Gun of Massif Ballistus – a fortress-sized weapon aimed skyward, ready to rain fiery judgment on any Xenos craft foolish enough to enter orbit. Within this gritty landscape, operatives weave through towering ruins, bombed-out manufactorums, and debris-choked streets, using the environment to outmaneuver their foes.
The verticality of the terrain is where the Aquilons and Stingwings truly shine. Multi-level ruins and tight corridors create a dynamic battleground that rewards both strategic positioning and daring airborne assaults. Whether dropping in from above or swooping between levels, both teams turn Volkus’s chaos into their personal playground.
Kill Team Hivestorm: Upgrades, Accessories, and More Dakka
In Hivestorm, no battle-ready squad is complete without the right kit. From new barricades and booby traps to skull-encrusted range markers, the box set has everything a commander needs to plunge their operatives into the thick of it. The added Approved Operations cards streamline mission prep, while the pop-out token sheets ensure you can keep tabs on everything, even in the heat of battle.
For those who like their games fast and brutal, Hivestorm has introduced fresh rules to keep things snappy, with options for both casual skirmishes and high-stakes tactical encounters. Whether you’re throwing down in a dilapidated hive or a haunted space hulk, the new edition ensures each fight is as tense and cinematic as possible.
Approved Operations Cards
A slick set of Approved Operations cards tags along, packing everything needed for quick and punchy Matched Play Kill Team games into one neat package. This handy bundle is your go-to for Tac Ops, Mission cards, and map keys, plus some nifty guides for setting up six different terrain layouts across Kill Zones Volkus, Gallowdark, and Bheta-Decima
Final Thoughts On the New 40k Kill Team Hivestorm Box
In the grimdark future, it’s rare to find anything as satisfying as watching elite squads clash in ruined hive cities, all while flying high or zipping between crumbling walls. Hivestorm brings a fresh batch of chaos to the table with airborne Aquilons and sting-happy Vespids, giving both the Imperium and the T’au something new to brag about. Whether you’re here for the lore, the tactical depth, or just to see who gets vaporized first, this boxed set offers a perfect mix of strategy, story, and straight-up carnage. So grab your dice, pick your side, and let’s see who claims the skies over Volkus—or what’s left of them.
All the Latest Warhammer Rules & Model Rumors
Are you excited about the new Edition of Warhammer 40k Kill Team, will you be picking up the Hivestorm box?
About the Author: Travis Pasch
Travis Pasch
Job Title: Head Writer & Editor
Socials: @paschbass
About Travis Pasch: Travis has been a Warhammer 40k hobbyist since the 1990s, playing the game since Third Edition. Through extensive traveling, he’s seen a lot of the miniatures hobby from across the world, giving him a unique perspective on the latest gaming topics and trends.
Travis’s brother even owns a commission painting studio, where he’s picked up a lot of good advice and techniques for painting Warhammer and tabletop miniatures over the years, as well. Travis joined the Spikey Bits team in 2019 and has been the lead writer since 2020.
Currently, he’s working on converting all his 40k Adeptus Mechanicus models and becoming a true tech enjoyer, complete with both sad and happy robot noises!
