The new 40k Space Marine drop pod stands poised to be the worst release from Games Workshop since Skaventide, here’s our review!
Updated on July 9th, 2025, by Rob Baer with the latest information and links.
Games Workshop relaunched a new Drop Pod model, and it’s kind of a dud. It’s big, it’s bulky, and it’s got all the excitement of a paperweight.
The legs are stuck in the open position, making storage a nightmare. The weapons? Gone. Apparently, the Marines inside needed more safety.
Here’s why this release is shaping up to be the worst since Skaventide, and maybe panned more than the legendary doggo helmet.
Warhammer’s New Drop Pod Missed The Landing Zone
For a piece of gear literally designed to crash onto battlefields, the redesign is ironically the least graceful thing Games Workshop has put out in a while. Long-time players and newcomers alike are squinting at this update, scratching their heads, and wondering: Who asked for this?
It’s Big. Like, Really Big
Let’s start with the most immediate issue: size. The new model takes up a ton of real estate. This thing is massive. While the original had a decent footprint and let you slam it onto the table with dramatic flair, this one looks like it needs its own parking permit.
Good luck fitting it into your army case, even though it’s not actually bigger… The legs are locked in an open position, which means you’re either investing in a custom foam tray the size of a cereal box or carrying it separately like a fragile sculpture. Transporting your minis is already a pain. This just adds insult to injury.
Now let’s talk about the build. One of the joys of the old kit was that it had working doors. You could theatrically pop them open, revealing your Marines like the world’s angriest Jack-in-the-box.
The new version? Mono-pose. That’s right, no opening doors. Just a static hunk of plastic. It’s like buying a sports car with the hood welded shut. Where’s the fun in that?
No Guns, No Glory
And then there’s the firepower, or lack of it. The redesign quietly ditches the weapons. The reasoning, as it turns out, is “marine safety.” Yep. Apparently, the guns were deemed too risky to have inside a cramped metal coffin with your troops.
Realism is great and all, but this is a game where psychic space wizards ride dinosaurs (hello Exodites). Removing the guns feels like solving a problem no one actually had.
GW even introduced new, updated rules for the drop pod model, which basically allow you to disembark from any part of the model that’s not shaded in red in this diagram, yes, even from the dirt piles.
Drop Pod Unboxing & Review
The new Space Marine Drop Pod kit? Hard pass. Games Workshop slapped together a hollow, detail-starved lump of plastic, and called it a “fix,”
The old kit had charm, interior detail, and actual function.
This one resembles hollow-bottomed terrain, pretending to be a model, with dirt piles that confuse measurement, and a footprint that shrinks the impact, along with the doors.
It’s easier to build, sure, but it’s also easier to throw in the trash. Most stores won’t move them unless they appear in hot meta lists, and nobody we know is lining up to swap their old pods for these plastic sadboys.
Other YouTube Reviews
If you’re looking for reviews on YouTube, be sure to watch your favorite presenters talk about the new army set at the links below:
Is it Worth it?
New Drop Pod Pictured On Left
Sorta? Maybe? One bright spot for me is that the kit comes in a two-pack. On paper, that sounds like a decent value as they are priced closer to what they cost back when the pod was first released in 2014.
Another cool thing about this kit is that it’s incredibly easy to assemble, which is a significant improvement over the old one.
If you don’t have any Drop Pods yet or can’t find the older version, this one will suffice. Additionally, it remains relatively economical compared to the original model’s price. However, the new model is literally a shell of its former self.
Where to get Yours
Drop Pod: $80 CAD$100 £50 €65
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Ground Control to Drop Pod: Just Stay Home
It’s a shame, because a new kit should spark excitement. Instead, we’re left with something bulky, less interactive, and weirdly neutered in terms of gameplay. If you’re building a list for narrative play, maybe it works.
But in casual or competitive games? This pod might just stay grounded.
To be blunt, the new Drop Pod is shaping up to be one of the roughest releases since Skaventide, and that’s saying something. If you’re itching for some new hobby work, maybe take a look at terrain or character models instead.
At least those still make sense.
GW’s Latest Warhammer 40k Roadmap
This is such a nothing complaint if I’m being honest. The folding doors added nothing to playability and the single storm bolter or missile launcher or whatever added ZERO value. This way, drop players get better value for their money, an updated kit with less rules confusion, an easier time building and painting, and some nice terrain features to boot. There are so many worthwhile things to complain about in Warhammer, and choosing the one decent deal and slightly consumer friendly decision they’ve made in a long time is not one.
Look, here is the thing. If you want open doors for a dramatic decent from orbit, use the old one or buy third party… If you are happy with a good looking terrain piece then great. If you like to just game and keep the narrative to the minimum, ok cool then you do you.
If you miss having guns inside… We all know how to kitbash, at the very least, to a basic standard. Bish bash bosh, jobs a goodun. I think this guy has a point but also doesn’t at the same time. Yes doors make the experience more emersive and transporting to games easier but all I’m going to say is demon fulgrim. I’ve known people to magnetise the wings for transportation. Personally I hate the drop pods but I love the dread claws but that’s because I’m clearly a traitor (HH) and chaos in 40k… They just look sexy. We are grown men playing with toys. Who cares
I have come back to edit this after reading the article myself… The guns being a hazard is clearly a joke… Yes they have removed them but they made the article light hearted (one thing I love GW for). And the static doors and clearer data sheet is so rules cannot be twisted or misinterpreted, I.e, model foot print. Also the mud and rocks ar modular so with a little know how you could make the doors fold I guess… I guess this article was just hate bait.
Also keep in mind the old drop pod was released when the table size was bigger. This new one has a larger footprint on a smaller table. In all aspects it is a pariah model much like the bunker.
Let’s face facts, it looks like this will make a better terrain feature or a potential controllable objective rather than a playable game piece. Seems like a huge misstep by GW going this route when they had a perfectly acceptable, fully functional, drop pad already in use. It’s not a new design, unless its primaris only, or even an update kit giving us multiple build options. Personally, I’ll stick with the old design and keep running it when and where I can, even if they put it to legends.
Does this guy ever do anything apart from complain about nothing?
Is he wrong, though?
The old plastic kit had doors that moved, this one doesn’t. In that respect it’s a clear downgrade.
It also had weapons, this one doesn’t – that’s more subjective and I don’t really care about that, but it is still a “lost” feature.
So what exactly is the point of this set?
Meh, people who know will get it, people who dont, won’t.
You just hate marines 😛
Biggest fail since Skaventide? You mean the popular launch of AoS’s best launch and edition?? Even I don’t play that system and I know that.
Also, what Space Marine player cares about the drop pod’s guns? They’ve also been crap anyways. A shame about the doors always being open though.
If it was the best launch why are does GW literally give away palettes of the box set to conventions. Its almost like they have been sitting since release and GW can’t ever put things on sale or it devalues the brans, so getting a full price write off for “promos” is the next best thing. Even worse, the boxes go for $100 less than retail on eBay. It sad to see, but Skaventide was a grade A flop for GW.
I mean sure, but theres a difference between the product being bad and bad marketing. I’ve yet to really hear anyone say the skaventide box was bad. Hell, I think its one of the better ways to get into AoS. Business-wise it may still fail, but in terms of a consumer comparison the differences can really matter. If its a flop the way skaventide was you can be saying its a good model just no one’s asking for this. Which isn’t really in line with your complaints that its a downgrade.
Geez. Had already forgotten these were even coming out.
I’m personally not upset at all! Look, here’s the thing. I found the old one a pain to build because of the moving parts.why does it need to move ? It’s a model not an action figure. It’s big on the battlefield, that’s fine too! It could possibly reduce the chance of deep strike near or behind you. No guns? That’s ok, the wolves of fenris do enough damage I personally just want to get them up in my opponents face so these will be great. Also, are you even considering the cover I could provide? I don’t use foam cases. I hate them they damage paint. I use “very useful box” on Amazon with magnetic sheets and they come in different sizes so again non-issue. I will preorder a box because I actually have wanted something new. And I’m excited to get two for the a decent price. $80 USD technically means I’m spending $40 per pod and that if I’m not mistaken is the cheapest Warhammer “vehicle” available. I. Can’t wait to rain down on my enemies and let loose the dogs of war!!!!
I think the storage argument is valid (closed up it’s easier to fit). The doors on the old one were a bit loose, though. If they could have alternated more firmly between open/closed, that would be have been a plus.
If it’s not a pedantic/”whataboutist” argument – would the Rhino kit be better if it did haven’t a separate openable/closable hatch?