The Horus Heresy gets new Combat Force starter sets for Astartes, Mechanicum, and Solar Auxilia; GW brings the Combat Patrol format to the Age of Darkness.
This post was updated on August 21st, 2025, by Rob Baer with the latest links to all the combat force contents, pricing, and values.
Just when you thought your backlog was safe (and let’s be honest, it’s probably pretty big if you bought the Saturnine box), here come the new Horus Heresy Combat Forces.
These boxes are basically the Age of Darkness equivalent of Warhammer 40k Combat Patrols, giving each faction a handy starter bundle that hits right at the sweet spot of affordability, variety, and raw tabletop punch.
If you’re looking to expand your Legion, Mechanicum forge-world nightmares, or Solar Auxilia ranks, these sets might be the ticket. Here’s why!
Horus Heresy Combat Forces vs. Warhammer 40k Combat Patrols
So what’s the play here? Games Workshop knows that Combat Patrols in 40k have been a huge hit. They give each faction a quick-entry force that’s affordable, playable, and expandable. Now we’re seeing the same formula applied to Horus Heresy.
Expect these boxes to land at the same or around, $170 price point as 40k Combat Patrols. They generally save you between $50-$70 compared to buying everything separately, and it opens the door for GW to slowly release a Combat Force for every Horus Heresy faction and probably every Chapter.
Want a Thousand Sons or Dark Angels box down the line? Don’t be surprised when it happens.
Legiones Astartes Combat Force
Space Marines. Loyalist or Traitor, these guys are the backbone of the Horus Heresy. The Legiones Astartes Combat Force leans into that identity with a box that feels like a ready-made starter core for any Legion.
Inside you’ll get:
- 20 Legionaries in MkVI power armor: These can all be built as Tactical Marines with bolters, or you can split half off into a Heavy Support Squad packing missile launchers or heavy bolters.
- Two Tactical Marine accessory sprues: Perfect for Sergeants, vexillas, and vox units to keep your squads in line.
- A Deimos Pattern Rhino: Because your Marines need a ride.
- A Leviathan Dreadnought: Let’s be real, this is the headliner.
To polish it all off, you get 293 infantry transfers and two vehicle transfer sheets to mark your force with Legion colors. Be sure to check out our review breakdown on the savings and value inside here.
Mechanicum Combat Force
For those who prefer to replace squishy mortals with terrifying machines, the Mechanicum Combat Force is tailor-made. This set leans hard into cybernetic and automata units, giving you a mini army of mechanical nightmares.
Here’s what’s inside:
- Six Thallax: Jetpack-wearing cyborgs armed with lightning guns.
- Two Castellax Battle-Automata: Mid-sized robots with shock chargers and custom weapon loadouts.
- Thanatar Cavas Siege-Automata: The big boy. Armed with a Hellex plasma mortar and twin mauler bolt cannon, this is a walking artillery platform that doubles as a centerpiece model.
To round it out, you get four transfer sheets stuffed with over 1,800 Mechanicum decals. Because nothing says “I worship technology” like drowning your robots in logos.
Be sure to check out our review breakdown on the savings and value in our article here.
Solar Auxilia Combat Force
If you’d rather champion humanity’s most heroic underdogs, the Solar Auxilia Combat Force is your jam. These guys may not have gene-seed or cybernetic upgrades, but they bring sheer numbers and a toolbox of support units that make them a serious threat.
The box includes:
- 20 Solar Auxiliaries with lasrifles: Each model comes loaded with options like bayonets, grenades, and sergeant upgrades.
- A Tactical Command Section: An Auxilia Captain and four Companions, with weapon swaps and upgrades galore.
- Hermes Sentinels: Light scout walkers with options for grenade launchers, multilasers, flamers, or volkite calivers.
- A Leman Russ Strike Tank: The classic tank, kitted out for the Heresy.
With two infantry transfer sheets and two vehicle sheets tossed in, your Auxilia will be rolling out in style.
Check out our review breakdown on the savings and value inside right here.
Final Thoughts From Us
With Legiones Astartes, Mechanicum, and Solar Auxilia covered right out of the gate, GW is laying down a foundation that mirrors what worked so well in Warhammer 40k.
Whether you’re fielding gene-forged Marines, robotic nightmares, or plucky human soldiers, these sets pack value, flexibility, and a taste of each faction’s flavor. And if history repeats itself, this is just the beginning…
See All The 40k Combat Patrols Here!
I’m not much for the Mk. VI but that box would make very nice in a 40k army. Now they do the same for the other Mk armors then they could actually, but slowly win back some players. As of right now, it’s a pass for me. Drop the prices greatly for older models everyone already has.
These are all really solid boxes, i could see myself getting 2 or 3 of the Mechanicum force. Unfortunately, they killed the entire game with the new edition so, printing and community errata’d 2.0 it is.