Astra Militarum (Imperial Guard) rumors for 11th Edition are heating up with new Catachan clues, possible regiment refreshes, Steel Legion whispers, and Yarrick return hype.
If the 11th Edition rumor mill is even half right, the Astra Militarum might finally get treated like the galaxy-spanning war machine it is, instead of “Cadians plus whatever else GW remembers exists this week.”
The big threads people keep tugging on are pretty clear: a possible new Guard regiment push, Catachans creeping back into the spotlight, Steel Legion whispers tied to an “Armageddon” themed launch, and the one name that turns any Imperial Guard player into a conspiracy theorist with a corkboard: Commissar Yarrick.
Let’s sort the smoke signals from the wishlisting and talk about what you can actually do right now if you want to be ready for a Warhammer 40k 11th Edition shakeup.
The Big Astra Militarum Rumors: A New Regiment Push
Updated on February 5th, 2026, by Rob Baer with the latest rumors
The core rumor is simple and spicy: Astra Militarum could get a fresh regiment push in 11th Edition, meaning something beyond the usual “Cadians everywhere” routine and the recent Death Korps of Krieg spotlight.
Instead of single-character drops, we’re talking about a true regiment push that isn’t just one character model and a token upgrade sprue. When GW commits, you typically see a clear identity: infantry kit, command options, a themed character or two, and enough support to make the range feel like an actual army instead of a nostalgia nod.
Why Catachans Are the Obvious Contender
If you ask ten hobbyists what regiment deserves a real refresh, at least nine of them will say Catachans before you even finish the question. The logic is brutally simple: the core kit is ancient (released in 2001), and it shows.
That’s why the rumor talk keeps circling back to Catachans as the top contender for a new Astra Militarum regiment wave. They also have some easy units to update, core infantry box, heavy weapons teams, and specialist squads. Then, GW dropped a rumor engine that basically confirmed the rumors.
The Rumor Engine power fist: why people are losing their minds
The hot detail is the Rumor Engine power fist, so similar that it stings.
Here’s what’s fueling the fire:
- The power fist looks extremely similar to the limited edition Catachan Colonel from the COVID era.
- The generic Commissar and the DKoK Commissar power fists share the same overall vibe, but the “wings” are slightly different, which makes the Rumor Engine version stand out as its own thing rather than a straight reprint.
- That combination makes hobbyists think we are seeing the first breadcrumb for a broader Catachan refresh, not just “here’s a fist, good luck.”
The Kill Team Angle: Helpful or a Trap?
There’s also chatter about Catachans showing up as a Warhammer 40k Kill Team release. That’s believable, because Kill Team has become GW’s favorite way to test-drive or reintroduce ranges.
But here’s the hobbyist concern: Kill Team sometimes means “one box and goodbye,” and Guard players want more than that.
What you should watch for
If a Catachan Kill Team rumor becomes real, the key question is whether it looks like:
- A standalone squad that never expands, or
- The first kit in a bigger wave that includes a refreshed infantry box, command options, and maybe a character.
Imperial Guard Rumors: Armageddon Means Steel Legion Are Always in the Conversation
If the next edition’s launch branding really leans into Armageddon, Steel Legion instantly becomes the most obvious nostalgia lever GW can pull.
That’s why you’re seeing the “maybe, just maybe” Steel Legion refresh whispers floating around the same conversation as the Armageddon starter set rumor.
The big complication: Steel Legion vs the DKoK problem
Here’s the awkward reality: Steel Legion and Death Korps share a lot of visual DNA. Long coats, gas masks, grim industrial warzone vibes. And when you have just watched GW go big on a modern plastic DKoK refresh, it’s fair to wonder how eager they are to roll straight into another regiment that reads “similar, but different.”
That doesn’t kill the rumor, but it does change the math. If GW wants the next Guard push to pull in newer players and collectors, there’s a strong argument for going with a regiment that has a more distinct silhouette.
That’s why the alternative idea is interesting: something like the Vostroyan Firstborn has a totally different look and could hook people who are not already all-in on trenchcoat Guard. New sculpts with that kind of identity would feel less like “DKoK again” and more like “oh, this is a whole new aesthetic lane.”
Commissar Yarrick Rumors: The Old Man Refuses to Stay Dead
The Yarrick chatter is the kind of rumor that never truly dies because it is too perfect not to repeat. If Armageddon is a launch theme, Yarrick becomes the easiest “hero return” story beat in the book. Plus, GW has left the door open to his return, saying they aren’t sure if he’s dead.
The rumors go like this:
- Narrative teases have people convinced “dead” characters can return (and they never truly even said he was dead).
- Armageddon-style campaign boxes are being floated as a delivery system.
- If GW is going back to Armageddon as a stage, Yarrick showing up alongside it feels inevitable.
What These Rumors Could Mean for Warhammer 40k 11th Edition Imperial Guard Players
If these 11th Edition Imperial Guard rumors are pointing in the right direction, the Astra Militarum might be heading into one of the most fun hobby windows it has had in years: new regiment identity, potential Catachan updates, Armageddon nostalgia, and a possible Yarrick comeback.
Even if none of it lands exactly how people are predicting, this is the right time to build smart:
- Invest in universal Guard units and tanks.
- Keep infantry flexible.
Because when the 11th Edition starter set and any new Astra Militarum releases finally get revealed, the players who planned for options are the ones who pivot fastest and still end up with an army that looks like it belonged on the table all along.
See all the latest 11th Edition Rumors Here
What do you think we’ll see for the Guard in 11th Edition?
