Get the latest on which 40k Kill Teams are being phased out, who’s getting updated rules, and what Legends status means for the new edition.
Kill Teams Going to Legends in the New Edition: What’s Changing and Who’s Staying
In the Kill Team, change is as inevitable as a bolter round to the chest. With a new edition on the horizon, some squads are sharpening their chainswords while others are hanging up their armor for good. It’s time to catch up on who’s making it to the frontlines and who’s getting shipped off to Legends. Spoiler alert: a lot of familiar faces are about to join the Emperor’s greatest hits collection.
If you’ve been keeping tabs on rumors and updates, this shift shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise. Let’s break down what’s happening and what it means for you and your kill team, whether you’re an inquisitive newbie or an old hand who can name all the Primarchs.
Which Kill Teams Are Getting Updated Rules in the New Edition?
The big news is that almost every kill team from boxed sets, starting with Kill Team: Octarius (hello, Veteran Guardsmen!) right up to Kill Team: Termination (with the Hernkyn Yaegirs making their mark), is getting a rules overhaul. Along with shiny new physical datacards to make your life easier, these teams are still very much in the fight.
In a universe where squads of hardened soldiers, xenos mercenaries, and gene-spliced horrors clash in grim environments, knowing your team’s capabilities is half the battle. Updated rules ensure your fighters are armed with the latest tactics and wargear to face whatever the galaxy throws at them. For anyone who invested in these teams, the future looks bright (well, as bright as it gets in the 41st Millennium).
Compendium Teams: The Big Change in the New Kill Team Edition
Now let’s talk about the elephant—or should I say Primaris Marine—in the room: the Compendium teams. The grim truth is that the core teams from the 2021 Compendium are officially being phased out.
The teams affected are a who’s who of classic Warhammer factions: Imperial Guard, Forge World’s Mechanicum, Talons of the Emperor, Death Guard, Chaos Daemons, Craftworld Aeldari, and so on. These teams had their time in the spotlight, but in the cutthroat underbelly of Kill Team, only the strong—or perhaps the newly printed—survive.
Here are all the teams:
- Space Marines (Primaris)
- Grey Knights
- Imperial Guard
- Forge World
- Ecclesiarchy
- Talons of the Emperor
- Traitor Space Marines
- Death Guard
- Thousand Sons
- Chaos Daemons
- Craftworld
- Dark Eldar
- Troupe
- Greenskins
- Tomb Worlds
- Hunter Cadre
- Cadre Mercenaries
- Hive Fleet
- Brood Coven
This shift ties back to what many suspected: if your team was built from the Compendium and isn’t part of a boxed set, it’s taking an early retirement.
The Classified List (40k Kill Team’s Version of Legends) – Officially Ready for Action
Now let’s talk shop – what does it mean for your team to be Classified? Think of it like getting your certification to be the deadliest force at Warhammer events. If your squad’s on the list, it’s primed for high-stakes action at major tournaments like the US Opens or the World Championships of Warhammer. But once their season’s up, they leave the Classified roster and basically go to Legends.
Let’s say you’re a Kommando aficionado. This scrappy Ork kill team will remain Classified throughout the first season. When the season closes, the box and the official tournament eligibility get the boot. But don’t worry; your green-skinned hooligans are far from obsolete. You can still bring them to your local club nights and friendly games or even deploy them as NPOs (Non-Player Operatives). Those sneaky gits will keep receiving updates throughout the edition – just don’t expect them to pop up at high-end competitive events after they exit the Classified list.
Legends Status: What It Means for Kill Teams
In Warhammer terms, moving to Legends status is basically the game’s way of saying, “You’re no longer part of the main narrative.” You can still field these teams in casual games, and they may pop up in some campaigns, but for all intents and purposes, they’re legacy content. The competitive scene, which thrives on the razor’s edge of balance and innovation, will likely see these teams fading into the mists of nostalgia.
If you’re attached to your Compendium kill teams, this might sting a bit. But with change comes new opportunities—maybe it’s time to put aside the tried-and-true for some of the fresh factions with fully supported rules and models. You can read the official announcement and complete lineup here.
The Kill Teams Staying Digital: What’s in Store for 2022 Annual Teams?
One group of fighters escaping the Legends culling is the teams from the Kill Team Annual 2022. The Elucidean Starstriders and Gellerpox Infected are getting updated rules, too, albeit in digital form only. These eclectic forces represent some of the more niche corners of the 40k universe, and it’s good to see them sticking around, even if they’re not getting physical rulebooks.
For anyone who loves the esoteric horror of the Gellerpox or the rogue trader swagger of the Starstriders, this is a small but important victory. While digital-only rules aren’t everyone’s favorite, it beats being consigned to the dusty vaults of forgotten content.
What’s Next for Kill Team Players? Preparing for the New Edition
So, where does all this leave you as a player? If you’re running one of the affected Compendium teams, it might be time to start considering a new squad. With each new edition, Warhammer expands its roster of factions, lore, and gameplay possibilities. While Legends status may feel like a swan song, it also marks the start of fresh stories for new teams.
For anyone sticking with supported squads, now’s the time to hone your tactics and get ready for the updated rules. The galaxy is vast, brutal, and filled with opportunities for cunning strategies and heroic last stands. Just be sure to keep those updated datacards close—after all, knowing your enemy is the first step toward victory.
Final Thoughts
So, there you have it: a mix of triumph and tragedy as some Kill Teams get a shiny rules update while others fade into the dusty annals of Legends. Whether you’re mourning your Compendium team’s retirement or gearing up for the latest boxed set brawlers, the galaxy keeps spinning, and the fighting never stops. In true Warhammer fashion, change isn’t just a constant—it’s a battlefield. As always, whether you’re fighting for the Imperium, Chaos, or just because you like a good scrap, the Kill Team skirmishes ahead promise plenty of glorious victories, bitter losses, and more than a few questionable dice rolls. After all, in the grim darkness of the far future, there’s always another war to win—or at least a solid excuse to buy more minis.
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What do you think about the Kill Temas moving to Legends in the new edition?
About the Author: Travis Pasch
Travis Pasch
Job Title: Head Writer & Editor
Socials: @paschbass
About Travis Pasch: Travis has been a Warhammer 40k hobbyist since the 1990s, playing the game since Third Edition. Through extensive traveling, he’s seen a lot of the miniatures hobby from across the world, giving him a unique perspective on the latest gaming topics and trends.
Travis’s brother even owns a commission painting studio, where he’s picked up a lot of good advice and techniques for painting Warhammer and tabletop miniatures over the years, as well. Travis joined the Spikey Bits team in 2019 and has been the lead writer since 2020.
Currently, he’s working on converting all his 40k Adeptus Mechanicus models and becoming a true tech enjoyer, complete with both sad and happy robot noises!
