The wait is over, the Space Marines have smashed back into action!
If you’re a Marine player, you know that this release ends the five years of praying to the Emperor, while all the other races saw their fortunes raised greatly.
So I had chance to really dig into the new codex over the weekend and talked to a lot of hard core tournament players about their thoughts on it as well.
My first game versus the new marines was also Captain America Ben Mohile’s debut game with them, as he battled my new Xenos build (Pictured w/ Brian Kaeser, right).
Sometimes you just have to push around some models for things to start to fall into place with a new rules set, and let me tell you the Marine book (with its extra pages of rules) is no different.
First things first, the book itself is 188 pages long (which is smaller than the main 40k rulebook), and is written by Robin Cruddace. The last one of course was written by Mat Ward and didn’t seem to be too over the top at all for it’s time.
This incarnation of the Space Marine codex is slightly bigger than a normal book (by about 80 pages) and comes with a MSRP of $58, which doesn’t seem to make sense on a page per dollar basis if you think about the normal ~100 pages for $50…
Either way it’s a great read for all the background of the Space Marines, their specific units, and the infamous Horus Heresy.
The book itself is divided into seven sections (not counting the each chapters individual entries as well); a generic introduction section followed by the “The Origins of the Space Marines” which dives into just how one becomes a Marine for starters. Then the Unit Entries as well as special codex rules are presented in “The Adeptus Astartes”, followed by “The Army of The Space Marines” section where all the wargear is divulged in depth.
Next up is “Defenders of Humanity” again the obligatory painted model showcase to inspire us, and finally “The Emperor’s Sword” which contains specific rules, points costs, and restrictions on fielding a Space Marine army. In the very back of that is the fold out reference section which takes up a respectable three or so pages depending on pictures.
In this new book the fluff is pretty much located in each unit’s entry, and the “Origins of the Space Marines” section at the beginning as well.
That’s it for now, but believe you me, I have tons more to say about just what this book means for the current meta, and the changes that both tournament and casual players may be making to their armies soon!
Get the full skinny, and some full color lovin’ on the new Space Marine Codex by clicking play on my video review below!
And if you’re curious about the contents of all the new Space Marine model kits (like the infamous? Centurions), checkout my video reviews on them as well, for a great look at the new bits and some cool conversion ideas. Happy Modeling! -MBG
About the Author: Rob Baer
Rob Baer
Job Title: Managing Editor
Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
Socials: Rob Baer on Facebook and @catdaddymbg on X
About Rob Baer: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor of Spikey Bits, the leading tabletop gaming news website focused on the hobby side of wargaming and miniatures.
Rob also co-founded and currently hosts the Long War Podcast, which has over 350 episodes and focuses on tabletop miniatures gaming, specializing in Warhammer 40k. and spent six years writing for Bell of Lost Souls.
Every year, along with his co-hosts, he helps host the Long War 40k Doubles Tournament at Adepticon and the Long War 40k Doubles at Las Vegas Open, which attracts over 350 players from around the world.
Rob has won many Warhammer 40k Tournaments over the years, including multiple first-place finishes in Warhammer 40k Grand Tournaments over the years and even winning 1st place at the Adepticon 40k Team Tournament.
With over 30 years of experience in retail and distribution, Rob knows all the products and exactly which ones are the best. As a member of GAMA (Game Manufacturers Association), he advocates for gaming stores and manufacturers in these difficult times, always looking for the next big thing to feature for the miniatures hobby, helping everyone to provide the value consumers want.
While he’s played every edition of Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy (since 5th Edition) and has been hobbying on miniatures since the 1980s, Titans of all sizes will always be his favorite! It’s even rumored that his hobby vault rivals the Solemnance Galleries, containing rulebooks filled with lore from editions long past, ancient packs of black-bordered Magic Cards, and models made of both pewter and resin.
