GW confirms new 40k Imperial Agents Deathwatch rules, point values, the Space Marine Codex usage, and even some Legends units for the faction.
Update: December 10th, 2024. The new Deathwatch Index rules for Warhammer 40k have been released. Visit our breakdown article on the changes here.
GW Confirms New 40k Deathwatch Rules & Legends Units
Games Workshop, a new Deathwatch supplement was announced, giving the faction its own army rules in Warhammer 40k 10th Edition after the online backlash. Following criticism of the Imperial Agents codex and negative comments about the recent Warhammer TV animation announcement, Games Workshop (GW) confirmed that they are releasing new Deathwatch Rules.
This will allow players to field Deathwatch armies as their own faction once again, rather than simply being an allied force for 10th Edition 40k.
The Codex: Imperial Agents is a blessing for commanders who relish the intricate elements of the Imperial war machine. Packed with specialized units summoned by Inquisitors, this codex is your ultimate guide when investigations demand serious military backup. Inside this complex web of war stands the Deathwatch, ready to hunt down alien threats to the Imperium. However, this is the only way to play the faction, and it looks like a lot of the models are going to Legends.
As the elite warriors of the Ordo Xenos, Deathwatch units often join forces with larger Inquisitorial contingents to tackle xenos influences. Games Workshop said Codex: Imperial Agents deploys the Deathwatch primarily in this context, featuring 40k rules datasheets for the Watch Master, Deathwatch Kill Team, and the formidable Corvus Blackstar transport (it looks like the rest, like Cassisus, etc., will be Legends). Additionally, a dedicated Detachment reinstates their classic, flexible Mission Tactics, ensuring they are a formidable force on the battlefield.
For those wanting to still play the Deathwatch, there’s some decent news: you can indeed field an entire army of these veteran Space Marines for the higher “whole army points cost”. You’ll need a copy of Codex: Space Marines and can utilize any Detachments by picking Deathwatch units through the Assigned Agents army rule in the new 10th edition Codex.
This approach preserves the distinctive flavor of the Deathwatch, characterized by its versatile veterans and aerial transports while granting access to the broader Space Marine arsenal. The codex preview images show Primaris models; more details are still to come, but it does look like this is the only way to play them as a standalone army, with no codex on the horizon.
Deathwatch Units Moving to Legends
The Ordo Xenos and regular Space Marines also benefit from the Deathwatch Legends datasheets in narrative games. These datasheets, including Kill Team Cassius and various adaptable Kill Team variants, possess the Deathwatch keyword, aligning them seamlessly with the Ordo Xenos Detachment. This means that units in the current army will all be in there for Deathwatch and still be usable in friendly games. They don’t say specifically if all the Kill Teams will be included or not, so maybe you can just take one, or you can take things like the Indomitor Kill Team.
Assigned Agents & Points
Assigned Agents allow all Agents of the Imperium units to bolster other factions, expanding strategic possibilities. Imagine deploying a squad of Imperial Navy Breachers alongside an Astra Militarum regiment or reinforcing an Adeptus Mechanicus army with the melee prowess of Grey Knight Terminators.
Even the mighty Imperial Knights can benefit from cost-effective infantry to secure objectives while their titans engage the enemy.
Most Imperial Agents units come with dual points costs: a lower value for a full army selected from the Codex and a higher cost for inclusion in other factions. This dual-pricing strategy reflects their impact in different contexts, offering flexible and balanced gameplay.
The updated Munitorum Field Manual will arrive with the new 40k codex along with detailed new point changes and values, ensuring you have all the information you need to optimize your strategy.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re integrating Deathwatch into your army or strategically deploying various Imperial Agents units, you’ll need the new specialized rules and strategic insights provided in Codex: Imperial Agents.
All the Latest Warhammer Rules & Model Rumors
What do you think about the confirmation from GW on the new 40k rules and way to play Deathwatch?
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!
