Unleash the Emperor’s Children with our guide to their Warhammer 40k codex, how-to-play strategies, index changes, and rules review!
The Warhammer 40k Emperor’s Children codex is here, and it’s louder, deadlier, and flashier than ever in 10th Edition. Whether you’re looking to dominate the tabletop with sonic weaponry or just appreciate the finer things in the grimdark future, this guide breaks down everything you need to know.
From the latest index changes to key rules, must-know strategies, and the PDF details you’ve been hunting for, we’ve got it all covered.
Slaanesh rewards perfection, but that doesn’t mean playing Emperor’s Children is as simple as throwing Noise Marines on the table and hoping for the best. Getting the most out of this faction means understanding their strengths, maximizing key synergies, and knowing when to strike with that signature arrogance.
This guide runs through the tactics that matter, how to wield their signature wargear, and what’s changed in the codex so you can hit the battlefield with style and results.
How To Play Emperor’s Children in Warhammer 40k, Codex Strategies and Rules
Updated on December 9th, 2025, by Rob Baer. This post has been updated with the latest Warhammer 40k codex rules, detachments, and datasheets!
The Emperor’s Children codex 10th edition is all about delivering a symphony of destruction with style. They excel in close combat, striking with precision and speed, and their sonic weaponry can devastate enemies before they even get close. Their unique abilities allow them to advance and charge, ensuring they dictate the flow of battle.
So, what’s included with this update? Six new detachment rules suggest an army that rewards aggressive plays, character duels, and precision strikes. This guide will hit the highlights, break down what’s promising, and, most importantly, also talk about how to make the most of it when the book lands in our latest podcast episode.
However, their obsession with perfection means they can be unforgiving. While they hit hard, they require tactical finesse to maximize their potential. A misstep can lead to their downfall, as they aren’t the most resilient legion.
Strengths:
- High mobility with advance and charge capabilities
- Devastating sonic weaponry
- Strong synergy between units
- Access to powerful stratagems
Weaknesses:
- Moderate durability; not built to withstand prolonged assaults
- Requires precise positioning and timing
- High learning curve; rewards experience and tactical acumen
If you relish the idea of leading a force that combines elegance with lethal efficiency, overwhelming foes with both melee prowess and sonic barrages, the Emperor’s Children rules are your legion of choice.
Major Changes from the Emperor’s Children Index to the Codex 10th Edition
Transitioning from the Emperor’s Children Index to the full 10th Edition Codex brings notable updates:
Reworked Detachments
The codex introduces the “Slaanesh’s Chosen” detachment, which enhances specific units, granting them re-rolls to wound rolls when they become “Favoured.” This mechanic encourages aggressive play to maximize benefits.
Stratagems Overhaul
Stratagems have been refined to align with the Emperor’s Children’s PDF and playstyle, offering powerful options that reward tactical precision and thematic flair.
Unit Profiles and Weapon Adjustments
Several units have received updates to better reflect their roles. For instance, Noise Marines continue to be a versatile choice, balancing both ranged and melee capabilities. Plus, now you can take Fulgrim!
New Emperor’s Children 10th Edition Codex Army Rule
Their new Army Rule, Thrill Seekers, highlights their relentless drive for perfection, letting them shoot and charge even after Advancing or Falling Back, but only if they move on to fresh targets. Overall, Emperor’s Children gets six detachments, each focusing on a different style of war, as this update provides plenty of ways to play the most refined killers in the galaxy.
Reworked Emperor’s Children Detachment Rules
The Emperor’s Children aren’t getting just one detachment: six different options let you tailor your playstyle. Each one leans into a different strength, meaning you can go full speed, focus on duels, or even stack favor-based buffs. Here’s what they bring to the table:
Emperor’s Children Rapid Evisceration Detachment
If you love the idea of your warriors storming out of transports and tearing through enemies before they even know what’s happening, this detachment is for you. Infantry that disembark from transports get to re-roll both hits and wounds, making every charge out of a Rhino or Dreadclaw feel like an execution.
Stratagems here let you pull off some truly nasty tricks: mid-movement disembarks, extra transport shenanigans, and charge re-rolls that keep your momentum rolling. If fast, mechanized aggression is your style, this setup turns your battlefield into a brutal ballet of blades and bolter fire.
Emperor’s Children Peerless Bladesmen Detachment
If you believe a real warrior doesn’t just defeat their opponent but dismantles them in style, this detachment is calling your name. Every charge makes your units more deadly, giving them Lethal Hits and Sustained Hits 1, meaning you’ll be landing more criticals and extra strikes the moment you connect.
The enhancements are all about making your melee units even nastier: more attacks, heroic interventions, and better survivability when things get up close and personal. If your idea of a perfect turn involves running straight into combat and leaving a trail of perfectionist-approved carnage, this is the pick for you.
Emperor’s Children Slaanesh’s Chosen Detachment
If you think the rest of your army is just there to set the stage for your perfectly sculpted, hyper-lethal warlords, this is the detachment for you. Two chosen characters get to re-roll wounds in melee, turning them into absolute wrecking balls when they get stuck in.
Stratagems here double down on making them even better at cutting down enemy leaders, and if they win a fight (which, let’s be honest, they will), you get even more rewards. This is the choice for players who want their Chaos Lords, Daemon Princes, or any other terrifying duelist to be the undisputed center of attention.
Emperor’s Children Carnival of Excess Detachment
This detachment is all about stacking the odds in your favor and making sure every attack counts. If your units are near each other, they get better critical hit chances and ignore hit modifiers, making them incredibly reliable no matter what your opponent is trying to pull.
The enhancements are a mix of movement tricks, battle-shock manipulation, and devastating melee upgrades, giving you plenty of ways to keep the pressure on. If you like an army that plays off of synergy, stacks buffs, and ensures that every moment of combat is as extravagant as possible, this is your kind of show.
Emperor’s Children Mercurial Host Detachment
The fastest always win, and this detachment ensures that’s you. Your entire army gets to re-roll Advance rolls, meaning you’ll be where you need to be faster than your opponent can react. On top of that, the stratagems and enhancements give you extra mobility tricks; better repositioning, mid-fight movement options, and enough speed boosts to make even Aeldari jealous.
If you like playing an army that stays one step ahead, punishes slow opponents, and makes battlefield control an art form, Mercurial Host will have you dancing circles around the enemy.
Emperor’s Children Coterie of the Conceited Detachment
This is for the player who enjoys watching their army gradually build into something completely unstoppable. Your Warlord generates points every turn, and those points unlock increasingly powerful army-wide buffs as the game progresses.
The trick here is patience; play smart early, build up your strength, and then hit your opponent with overwhelming force once you’ve stacked enough advantages. If you’re a strategist who enjoys escalating power, outlasting opponents, and making them regret underestimating you, this detachment delivers some of the biggest late-game payoffs in the Emperor’s Children arsenal.
New Emperor’s Children Datasheet Rules in the Codex PDF
The new Warhammer 40k Emperor’s Children datasheets are here, and they’re bringing some serious shake-ups. Some units have vanished, others got reworked, and a few favorites just became even deadlier (like Daemon Princes).
Missing units? Oh yeah, they’re gone, and it’s raising plenty of questions. Key Chaos staples like Cultists, Helbrutes, and Forgefiends didn’t make the cut, leaving gaps in the lineup. Meanwhile, new synergies and buffs are shifting how this army plays. Read our article on what Datasheet rules have changed, what’s missing, and what it means for the battlefield here.
Noise Marines in the Emperor’s Children Codex Rules
Anyone who’s played Emperor’s Children for a while knows that Noise Marines bring the party, and this update keeps that energy going. Their range may have taken a hit, but the trade-off is worth it. Two Blastmasters per squad means serious firepower (3 shots at S10, -2 AP, and D3 are no joke), and enemies caught in the blast are forced into Leadership tests at -1. Even the humble Sonic Blaster is no joke, now packing Damage 2 and AP -1.
That means these guys remain a solid choice for softening up targets before a melee charge. And let’s be honest, that’s how Slaanesh’s chosen warriors prefer it, facing the enemy head-on, reveling in the chaos.
Flawless Blades in the Emperor’s Children Codex
This unit has a fun little gimmick that fits Slaanesh’s themes perfectly. Make a pact with their daemonic patrons, and suddenly they’re landing Critical Wounds on a 3+. If that sounds bonkers, that’s because it is.
The catch? If they don’t take down a model in the target unit, one of their own dies instead.
It’s a mechanic that rewards aggressive, calculated play. With -3 AP and Damage 2, they should be able to chew through tougher targets. The key will be choosing engagements wisely.
Against heavy armor, their critical hits will shine. Against large squads? It might be a little trickier.
Fulgrim’s Grand Entrance in the Emperor’s Children Codex PDF
This is what people have been waiting for, Fulgrim’s return to the tabletop. And, boy, does he bring some serious power.
16 wounds, poisonous attacks that keep dealing damage, a nasty mix of sweep and strike melee options, and a tail attack for extra spice. Fulgrim sits at 385, which makes him 50 points cheaper than Angron, so expect to see him leading plenty of armies. If that wasn’t enough, he gets to pick one of three bonuses each turn:
- Always fights first
- Forces enemies to stand still if they fail a Leadership test
- Gives enemies -1 to hit him
A Primarch with these options will be a nightmare to handle, especially when combined with the right support. Expect him to be a centerpiece model both visually and in actual gameplay.
Lucius the Eternal in the Emperor’s Children Rules
Lucius continues to be the master of one-on-one fights. His ability to re-roll hits and wounds against characters, monsters, and walkers makes him a real problem for key enemy units. Strength 8, AP -3, and Damage 3? That’s enough to handle most threats.
And if he’s off doing his own thing rather than leading a unit, he gets to fight first. Solo assassin play might just be the way to go. He may not have the sheer destructive power of Fulgrim, but for targeted eliminations, he’s a solid choice.
Kakophonist Support in the Emperor’s Children Codex
This guy can slot into Noise Marines and Terminators, making an already deadly unit even more brutal. Sustained Hits 1 for the whole squad means more shots landing, and mortal wounds on top make them a real headache for opponents.
If Noise Marines felt like they needed just a little more bite, this might be the answer. Expect him to be a staple in a lot of lists.
Tormentors in the Emperor’s Children Codex
Tormentors sneak up on enemies with Infiltrators, ready to rain down bolter fire or bring the pain with plasma and melta options. They don’t just fight; they take objectives and hold them like they own the place, keeping control even when no one’s home.
If they obliterate a unit, they can earn CP just like Infractors, but they do it with a bit more range and a lot more arrogance. Fast, mean, and impossible to ignore, they make sure the battlefield feels very, very small for their enemies.
Infractors Emperor’s Children Codex Rules
Infractors are all about slicing and dicing their way to victory, rolling into battle with Scouts 6” and some nasty Precision weapons. They get extra spicy in melee, rerolling Wound rolls near objectives, making them a real headache for anyone trying to hold ground.
Their leader, the Obsessionist, can swap gear around to suit the mood, and if they wipe out an enemy unit, they might just snag you some extra CP. If you like your warriors unhinged, aggressive, and stylishly violent, these are your go-to troublemakers.
Lord Exultant in the Emperor’s Children Codex
Lord Exultant is the kind of leader who thinks subtlety is for lesser beings, charging into combat with lethal flair. Any unit following him gets Lethal Hits, and once per game, he dials up the carnage with a massive attack boost and extra armor penetration.
He’s got options, too, swap his plasma pistol or spear to match whatever brand of destruction you prefer. Stick him in a squad, and suddenly, they hit harder, fight faster, and look even flashier while doing it.
Slaanesh Daemons Rules in the Emperor’s Children Codex
The units are all about 20-30 points more expensive in the Codex than in the Daemons index. But they do have a ton of synergies with the army in the detachment.
Keeper of Secrets Rules
Daemon Prince Options in the Emperor’s Children Codex 10th Edition
The Daemon Prince of Slaanesh comes in two flavors: a sturdy brawler or a high-speed terror. The ground-based version rocks Toughness 10 and grants Lone Operative to nearby Slaanesh Infantry, making it a solid frontline anchor. The winged variant trades some toughness for 14″ movement, Deep Strike, and the nasty ability to deal up to six mortal wounds when it charges.
Both wield the same Infernal Cannon and Hellforged weapons, letting them slice through enemies with either six high-damage attacks or a sweeping 14-hit flurry. If the grounded one gets taken down in melee before fighting, it can roll a D6 to swing back on a 2+, while the flying version shrugs off damage by reducing incoming melee hits by 1.
Final Thoughts on the Emperor’s Children Codex 10th Edition
The Emperor’s Children codex is shaping up to be one of the most exciting releases in a while. The army has always had style, but now it looks like it will have serious mechanical depth, too.
Between the revamped Noise Marines, Lucius the Eternal, Flawless Blades, Fulgrim’s return, and six diverse detachments, there’s a lot to experiment with.
Where to Get the Emperor’s Children Codex PDF or Physical Book
If you’re looking for the Emperor’s Children PDF codex, Wahapedia is the go-to spot for free reference material, but if you want the full book with lore, art, and all the extras, Games Workshop’s official version is the way to go.
🔗 Related Reads:
- All The New 40k Emperor’s Children Minis!
- Latest Emperor’s Children 40k Rules Balance Dataslate Updates
- Updated Emperor’s Children Points Changes
- Christmas Battleforces
- New Drukhari Combat Patrol Box
- Best Warhammer 40k Army List Builders
