It’s raining new Horus Heresy rules rumors as tons of new image leaks showing the Liber Astartes with the new HH logo and rules are here.
Before we go any further, we want to say, take all of this with some salt. They seem extremely solid but they are rumors, so this means they could change or might not be 100% right. So, don’t get too worried just yet if you aren’t a fan.
With that said, there are a lot of rumors we’ve seen before, so let’s check those out first then get into the new stuff.
Here’s the most up-to-date list of new Horus Heresy Rules & Product Leaks. Click on the gallery above to see new Horus Heresy models and rules rumors!
The First Horus Heresy Rumors We Saw
These come from Bolter and Chainsword, and they were leaked from a playtester on the new edition. Here’s a summary of what they had to say:
1.Heresy 2.0 this year
2.Plastic starter set to be released with it or after it.
3. A lot of plastic kits are coming/already been made
4. No more black books
5. Rules still old 7th Ed just cleaned up and someone new things added.
6. Dreads have wounds.
7. Big focus on heresy again to be in line with AoS/40k
So these are all the big supposed things happening and were spurred on by a comment by Anuj Malhotra, saying to hang in there and great things are coming.
Is 2.0 coming in 2022 now? We think yes and that it could very well be the Black Friday release this year! We went more in-depth into whether these could all be true and what supports the rumors here. The biggest thing to look at here is the rules, as that claim will be disputed in the next rumors.
Possible Horus Heresy Starter Set Box
Thanks to the following exclusive image submitted by a Spikey Bits reader from this summer, we now have more to go off and a better idea of everything in the set. If these are right, this could be a gigantic starter.
Also just to note, these are all going to be priced in plastic.
- 40 Mark III Space Marines $200 ($50 for 10)
- 10 Cataphractii Terminators $130 ($65 for 5)
- Contemptor Dreadnought $60 (based on the existing kit)
- Characters $50 (based on the Space Marine Characters pack)
- Spartan $100 (drop from resin based on the Repulsor Executioner price)
- Rulebook and other potential accessories (note the absence of any templates…)
Total MSRP: $540
Total Values: if it’s priced in box at $200: $340 / at $300: $240
Whatever the price comes out to be, even at $300 this could really have the value-packed in there. Especially if the price of the Spartan doesn’t drop as we would expect.
If they do price this at the $200 mark, it could really bring new players into the game, especially if the rules are coming updated along with it.
New Horus Heresy 2.0 Rules Rumors
These new Horus Heresy rumors come from Reddit, and are obviously rumors but we have some actual pictures as well next.
So, there’s a lot to go through here. Some really big things though, first, Dreads appear to have wounds (which we thought). Next, Plasma is taking a hit, which is a big change but we’ll see how it all turns out.
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Next, the reactions might be a really fun mechanic as you won’t have to wait around as long while you get beat on by the enemy. We’ll have to see what the Legion-specific ones are but it could be a really fun interaction.
Then, if the psychic phase goes away, we’ll have to see how armies like Thousand Sons actually work. Will they be totally gutted? Also, with all these changes, there would have to be an index of sorts or many of the legions might not even be playable on day one.
Contemptor Dreadnought
As we said, the Dreads will now have wounds and everything that goes along with it. We know there will still be templates and such, so this feels like a combo between 7th and 8th.
Plus, we don’t know exactly how soon this will drop, but with all of this, we hope very soon.
Legion Predator Squadron
Here, though they keep the armor, meaning not all vehicles will be going to the new style, just the dreads. So, again, this really points to a combo between the two new rule sets and not really bringing it totally on board with something like 8th.
Note the watermark of Phase 3 Playtest which again is either legit or a clever rouse…
Disembark Rules
These look to be directly taken from the book and show how you can disembark from transports like the Mastadon. It looks like you’ll have two inches from the hull and not the weapons.
The image appears legit as these look to be the same models from last summer’s leaks.
So while it’s not a ton about the new starter set, it’s nice to at least see something from it!
Don’t forget GW unveiled a new logo for the Horus Heresy in Ka’Bandha’s teaser video:
Perhaps this will adorn the cover of a new Horus Heresy plastic starter set box or rulebook?
Liber Astartes & More New Horus Heresy 2.0 Rules Leaks
Speaking of that new logo above, look at all the new images that were just spotted on the 30k Reddit.
Seems like the red books may be getting replaced with this new style-book, the first apparently dubbed the Liber Astartes.
There were nearly 20 new pages from the Phase 3 playtest rulebook leaked, which you can view at the gallery below. We will cover some of our favorite new rules rumors below in detail.
New Horus Heresy Rules: Reactions
These new rules seem to be a more encompassing style of Overwatch that looks to keep games more engaging no matter what may happen during either player’s turn.
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The first page is the general rules for what reactions are, and the page above details different types of these new reaction rules.
Horus Heresy Armor Values Rules
Anyone that was worried about armor values going away after seeing the Dreadnought rules leak, can breathe a sigh of relief as it looks like Vehicles, in general, are going to function similar to how they did in the past.
Well sort of…
From this leak, however, it seems like Weapons may function a bit differently on vehicles now.
Dont Tell the Emperor, but there’s Psykers (still/again)
Looks like Psychic Powers are still a thing in the new edition, and this section seems to expand and clarify more on that.
Primarchs In Horus Heresy
Part of the early rumors were that Primarchs were losing Lord of War status among other things. These new leaks seem to confirm changes to the mightiest of all save the Emperor and Horus.
To Hit & Wound Charts:
Another throwback to 7th Edition, the to hit and wound charts appear to still be in Horus Heresy.
New Horus Heresy 2.0 Legion Rules Rumors
These new Horus Heresy rumors come from the B&C, which look to be a transcription of a Valrak video that has since been unlisted on YouTube (perhaps it was a live stream?).
According to these, it looks like each Legion will have a new “warlord trait” similar to the current 40k rules set, along with a Legion rules trait, and a new specific reaction they can perform as well.
Dark Angels Horus Heresy Legion Rules Rumors:
- New Legion Trait: every unit unless specified on their unit entry can select a single Hexagrammaton Wing which will confer a specific bonus – e.g Firewing = +1 to wound against units containing a model with the Independent Character special rule
- Unique Reaction “Angels of Death”: when a charge is declared against a unit with the Legiones Astartes: Dark Angels special rule that unit must take a Leadership test – if passed the unit being charged gains the Fearless & Fear special rules, if failed it gains Stubborn & Fear instead
- Warlord Trait 1: All Dark Angels units in the detachment gain +1 Ld while in line of sight of the Warlord, and the Warlord can take an additional reaction in a specific phase dependant upon which Hexagrammaton Wing they have selected
- Warlord Trait 2: Select a single faction (e.g Legiones Astartes), once per battle for a single turn the Warlord and any unit they have joined can increased either their WS or BS when targetting units which belong to the selected faction – the Warlord can also take an additional reaction during the Assault phase
- Unique Consul (+30 points): may select an Order of the Hekatonystika option for free, increases WS to 6 & Ld to 10, must take a Terranic Greatsword
White Scars Horus Heresy Legion Rules Rumors:
- New Legion Trait: every unit with the Legiones Astartes: White Scars special rule increases their movement characteristic by 1”, and whenever rolling to decide first player/ seize the initiative, a White Scars playermay roll two dice and discard the lowest
- Unique Reaction: when an enemy unit moves within 12” of a unit with the Legiones Astartes: White Scars special rule, all friendly units within 12” inches of the enemy unit may immediately make a normal move (jump infantry can choose to activate their jump packs as part of this) – all units which do so cannot run this turn
- Warlord Trait 1 (Loyalist only): this model & any unit they join are Stubborn, if this model is slain every Legiones Astartes: White Scars unit within Line of Sight gains the Fearless special rule for the remainder of the battle – may also make an additional reaction during the assault phase
- Warlord Trait 2: this model & any unit their join ignore all difficult terrain rules & gain a +4 (invulnerable?) save against wounds inflicted by dangerous terrain – gain an additional reaction during the movement phase
- Warlord Trait 3 (Traitors Only): when this army includes a Sons of Horus allied detachment, the Warlord & any unit they join automatically pass any morale or pinning tests they are required to make
- Chogorian Brotherhood Rite Alterations: Bikes & Jetbikes gain the Line special rule & the detachment may not take any Heavy Support or Fortification choices unless they have the Fly keyword
- Sagyar Mazan Rite Alterations: Ebon Keshig may only be taken as troop choices in this detachment and all such units gain the Fearless special rule during the assault phase
- Stormseer Consul (+45 points): gains the Psyker & Adamantium Will special rules, may take a Psychic Hood for +20 points, gains access to two new White Scars psychic powers
Space Wolves Horus Heresy Legion Rules Rumors
- New Legion Trait: any Legiones Astartes: Space Wolves unit which chooses to Run may still make a shooting attack in the shooting phase (resolved as Snap Shots) and may still declare a Charge in the assault phase – any such units which cannot Run (e.g Cataphractii terminators) instead gain +1 WS on any turn in which they Charge, even if it is a Disordered Charge
- Unique Reaction: once per battle if any enemy model starts it’s movement within 12” of at least one Legiones Astartes: Space Wolves unit, a single such unit can make a move equal to or less than it’s highest Initiative value in inches & then make a charge against the triggering unit (charge is resolved immediately, assault continues as normal in the assault phase)
- Warlord Trait 1: this warlord gains an additional wound at the end of an assault phase in which they inflict at least one unsaved wound on an enemy model – can’t bring the warlord above their starting wounds value, instead conferring +1 Str on melee attacks until the end of the turn if triggered before the model has lost any wounds – can also make an additional reaction during the assault phase
- Warlord Trait 2 “The Howl of Morkai”: once per battle, all friendly Legiones Astartes: Space Wolves models gain +1 Str if they successfully charge an enemy unit that turn – may also carry out an additional Reaction during the movement phase
- Warlord Trait 3: the Warlord & any unit they join gain Preferred Enemy (Independent Characters) as well as a 4+ Feel No Pain save while locked in a combat against any Independent Character – may also carry out an additional Reaction during the movement phase
- Jarl Praetor Upgrade (+10 points): gains Counterattack, may also be given the Skirmish subtype at no additional cost
- Pack Thane Consul (+10 points): gains Counterattack, may also be given the Skirmish subtype at no additional cost, cannot take a Bike/ Jetbike
- Speaker of the Dead Consul (+65 points): consul & any unit they join gain the Hatred (Everything!) & Stubborn special rules, consul also gains a master-crafted power maul
- Caster of Runes Consul (+45 points): gains the Psyker subtype, must select one of 4 psychic disciplines, may take a psychic hood for +20 points
- “Grey Stalker” Unit (may just be Grey Slayer Alterations): unit with Relentless, Counterattack & Heart of the Legion special rules, chainswords & bolt pistols (any may take bolters/ swap chainswords for power weapons), one in 5 can take a special weapon
Imperial Fists Horus Heresy Legion Rules Rumors:
- New Legion Trait: all Legiones Astartes: Imperial Fists models gain +1 to hit with all Auto or Bolt weapons when conducting a shooting attack (including during reactions)
- Unique Reaction: when an enemy unit moves within 10” or (and?) within line of sight of an Imperial Fists unit, may immediately declare a Charge with said unit as if it was the owning player’s assault phase – charge distance is d6 + unit’s lowest unmodified Initiative value in inches (rules like Hammer of Wrath & charge bonuses do apply), if successful the ongoing combat is resolved as normal during the assault phase, if failed no surge move is made
- Warlord Trait 1 “Solar Marshal” (Loyalist only): warlord & any unit they join gain +1 WS when locked in combat with any Traitor allegiance unit – may also make an additional reaction in any of their opponent’s phases
- Warlord Trait 2: when within 6” of an Objective/ while within their own Deployment Zone, the Warlord & any unit they join may auto-pass any Morale & Pinning tests they are required to make – may also make an additional reaction during the assault phase
- Warlord Trait 3: warlord & any unit they join may re-roll To Hit rolls of 1 while they are within an area of terrain which is conferring them a cover save/ embarked within a Fortification – may also make an additional reaction during the shooting phase
- Stone Gauntlet Rite Alterations: Phalanx Warders gain the Line and Heart of the Legion special rules, models with Boarding Shields in unit coherency with at least 2 other models also equipped with Boarding Shields may re-roll all failed Invulnerable saves against shooting attacks/ attacks made during the Fight Sub-Phase (re-rolls cannot be made if the unit has made a Run/ Charge/ Sweeping Advance move)
- Illiastus Pattern Assault Cannon Alterations: now Assault 4 rather than Heavy, Malfunction now confers the Gets Hot! rule to any shooting attacks made with the weapon as part of a Reaction
- Castellan Consul (+20 points): model gains the Fire Support special rule & the Heavy unit sub-type, can take either a master-crafted heavy bolter or autocannon – can increase the number of attack rolls made by a heavy weapon by 1 (that they’re equipped with? by a unit they’ve joined? idk) when making a shooting attack – any Legion Heavy Support squad they join gains the Line sub-type
Either way, new rules and even just one new Horus Heresy starter box set at the bare minimum would be a great thing to see. Here are all the latest rumors on the upcoming rules updates and new models for the Horus Heresy system.
Here’s the most up-to-date list of new Horus Heresy Rules & Product Leaks. Click on the gallery above to see new Horus Heresy models and rules rumors!
- 4 New Plastic Horus Heresy Starter Box Sets
- All the Horus Heresy New Models & Rules
- Horus Heresy Legion Rules
- Horus Heresy Weapon & Unit Rules
All the Newest GW Model & Rules Previews
Are you excited about the latest on the Horus Heresy Plastic Starter Set Launch Box and rules leaks/rumors?
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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.
