Rejoice Chaos and Space Marine fans because all the new 40k rules for both Marneus Calgar and Haarken Worldclaimer are here!
Games Workshop has been busy hyping up Vigilus here lately, as two new characters are on the way this week with Marneus being reborn as a Primaris Chapter Master. We have all their new rules now from a book reviewer over the weekend!
Let’s start off with Haarken Worldclaimer and see what he’ll be bringing to the 40k table.
Haarken Worldclaimer
Haarken is essentially a named Raptor. He’s armed with a Jump Pack, his Helspear, a lightning claw, and a Sigil of Corruption for the nifty 4++ invuln save for 115 points!
He’s essentially what you’d expect out of a relatively cheap Raptor HQ. Haarken is still T4 with a 3+ armor save with a WS and BS of 2+. His spear is actually a ranged weapon. It looks like he’ll be slapping people around with his lightning claw. What makes him especially deadly, however, are his rules.
He may be dressed in the colors of the Black Legion, but he is the Lord of the Raptors. ANY Raptor model can reroll hit rolls with their melee weapons within 6″ of him.
He’s also got Herald of the Apocalypse which reduces the enemy’s leadership in an 18″ bubble around him (this will probably only be a -1Ld).
Five attacks are already scary enough. But his Head-Claimer rule lets him become a flurry of attacks late-game. This model is mobile and will be able to jump into a crowd, smack around your enemies cheap characters, and keep going.
All in all, Haarken looks to be a solid, mobile unit that you can snowball into late-game. Now let’s go over Marneus.
Marneus Calgar
What’s odd is that Marneus’ preview didn’t have the symbol for being an HQ…or any symbol for that matter.
He is, however, an HQ and costs 200 points (the same as his previous codex entry) according to his actual datasheet below.
Plus he is BEEFY. sitting at T5 and eight wounds, he’s like a great-value Primarch. don’t forget he halves the damage he suffers.
Marneus Calgar now wears the Armour of Heraclus – a custom suit of Mk X Gravis armour that allows him to move unencumbered, provides him with a 4+ invulnerable save and halves any damage he suffers!
Marneus Calgar is keeping the same stats of his weapons from what they are now and they aren’t half bad. That’ll be six attacks at S8 coming at his enemies.
Marneus Calgar also makes for a fantastic choice of Warlord. Not only will this net you a couple of bonus Command Points from his Master Tactician ability, but his Adept of the Codex Warlord Trait will enable you to replenish your store of Command Points even as you spend them:
So not only does Marneus give you command points, but you can net them back on a 5+. Don’t forget he still is a Chapter Master at the end of the day and lets any friendly Ultramarines reroll fail hit rolls within 6″ of him.
Now check out the boys who have his back:
Looks like the honor guard clocks in at 20 or 26? points from this image, which includes some pretty major wargear. They also appear to not take up a force org slot if you are running them with Marneus, however, if you want to protect Guilliman then they will slot in as Elites.
2+ to tank a wound for either character isn’t too shabby, with 3 wounds and a 2+/3+ save. Pair that with an apothecary, and looks like the boys in blue are more than equipped to hold the line, or advance unbidden at the head of any Imperial army.
So overall, Marneus is most definitely a force to be reckoned with. Haarken will probably be able to cause some serious damage to him late-game but Marneus will still probably come out on top. (Marneus is also more than likely going to be twice Haarken’s points cost so keep that in mind). But I think the thing that may impress most people are the new bodyguard models.
What do you think about the stats of the (new) characters coming to 40k? What are your thoughts on the special detachments? Do you think they’ll have a place in the competitive meta?
Let us know in the comments of our Facebook Hobby Group.
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.
