Let’s take a look at what new Warhammer 40k codex books may be coming next for 9th Edition, by looking back at the release roadmap compared to 8th.
With all kinds of releases for 40k lately, it’s time to start thinking about what could be coming next. Hopefully, this means more people will actually be able to get updated books for 9th Edition 40k. We know the next book will probably be for Orks, but after that, there are some good clues as to what’s coming next.
If you missed this little teaser Sunday, it looks like GW will be ramping up the new codex book hype train this Friday, as they look to get back to that two codex books per month release cycle.
And let’s not forget what’s coming up this week on Warhammer Community. We’ve got a magnificent new miniature to preview on Monday, loads more Kill Team info, and then, come Friday, there’s the trifling matter of a road map for upcoming codexes!
Taking a look back to the start of 8th Edition in 2017 perhaps we can see some pattern in how the 9th Edition codex release lineup will go?
TL;DR The first Xenos codexes releases for 8th Edition were:
- Craftworlds October 2017
- Tyranids November 2017
And the first non-Marine Imperial books were:
- Adeptus Mechanicus September 2017
- Astra Militarum October 2017
Unfortunately for both Craftworlds and Tyranids, they don’t seem too close right now. But, Ad Mech got a book, so they may be trying to follow somewhat of a similar pattern.
8th vs 9th Edition 40k Codex Release Roadmap!
Here’s where we stand right now. The Ork book has sort of been sent out, the Grey Knights and T-Sons are basically here, and there have been Guard and Black Templars previews for months!
Now let’s see how the start of 9th compares with the start of 8th Edition:
8th Edition 40k: Year One
- Space Marines July 2017
- Chaos Space Marines August 2017
- Grey Knights August 2017
- Adeptus Mechanicus September 2017
- Death Guard September 2017
- Astra Militarum October 2017
This is the first six, so it’s very similar to what we have currently for the 9th edition. Roughly looking at it here there are 4 Imperium codexes and 2 Chaos vs 9th edition’s 4 Imperium, 1 Chaos, and 1 Xenos. Relatively similar patterns trading in one Chaos release for a Xenos release.
It just looks like the Astra Militarium book was basically replaced by the Sisters book.
- Craftworlds October 2017
- Tyranids November 2017
- Blood Angels December 2017
- Dark Angels December 2017
- Adeptus Custodes January 2018
- Chaos Daemons January 2018
- Thousand Sons February 2018
- Tau Empire March 2018
- Necrons March 2018
- Drukhari April 2018
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Looking at the list after 10 more releases raising the count to 16 total the ratio of Imperium-to-Chaos-to-Xenos changes a bit. The totals after 16 releases are 7 Imperium, 4 Chaos, and 5 Xenos books respectively. Drukhari jumped the line this time around, but let’s hope some of the really old books like the Craftowrlds and Tyranids get a book soon.
- Harlequins May 2018
- Deathwatch May 2018
- Imperial Knights June 2018
- Space Wolves August 2018
- Orks November 2018
- Genestealer Cults February 2019
Going up to 22 codexes the totals move up to 10 Imperium, 4 Chaos, and 8 Xenos, skewing the balance even moreover to Imperium and Xenos. Granted Xenos has entirely different races comprised in them, while Imperium and Chaos are generally speaking different flavors of the same core faction with a few exceptions like Knights and/or Daemons.
After about 2 years of the new edition, they circled back what I think we can safely say are their big sellers- Marines. But they’ve already hit up a decent amount of Marine supplements, but there are plenty left for them to work on.
- Chaos Space Marines (2nd Edition) March 2019
- Chaos Knights July 2019
- Space Marines (2nd Edition) August 2019
- Ultramarines (Space Marines) August 2019
- White Scars (Space Marines) August 2019
- Iron Hands (Space Marines) September 2019
- Ravenguard (Space Marines) September 2019
- Imperial Fists (Space Marines) October 2019
- Salamanders (Space Marines) October 2019
- Adepta Sororitas November 2019
Finally tallying 32 total Codex/supplement releases we have the full 8th edition lineup in view. The final totals are 17 Imperium, 5 Chaos, and 8 Xenos making a smooth 30 books for the full lineup. However, 6 of the last Imperium additions were just supplements for Space Marines.
Hard to believe that was literally two years ago right? Heck, the 9th Edition Space Marines codex was announced less than a full year had passed since the second 8th Edition one had been released.
8th Edition Narrative Expansions
- Imperium Nihilus: Vigilus Defiant (Ultramarines) December 2018
- Imperium Nihilus: Vigilus Ablaze (Black Legion) April 2019
- Psychic Awakening: Phoenix Rising (Craftworlds, Drukhari & Index: Ynnari) October 2019
- Psychic Awakening: Faith & Fury (Chaos Space Marines & Space Marines) November 2019
- Psychic Awakening: Blood of Baal (Blood Angels & Tyranids) December 2019
- Psychic Awakening: Ritual of the Damned (Dark Angels, Grey Knights & Thousand Sons) January 2020
- Psychic Awakening: The Greater Good (Tau, Astra Militarum & Genestealer Cults) February 2020
- Psychic Awakening: Saga of the Beast (Space Wolves & Orks) March 2020
- Psychic Awakening: Engine War (Adeptus Mechanicus, Imperial Knights, Chaos Knights & Chaos Daemons) June 2020
- Psychic Awakening: War of the Spider (Adeptus Custodes, Sisters of Silence, Assassins, Death Guard & Agents of Bile) June 2020
- Psychic Awakening: Pariah (Adepta Sororitas, Necrons & Index: Inquisition) July 2020
The narrative expansions took place over the course of nearly 2 years and offered minor updates and changes to 29 factions and sub-factions, Some of which like Agents of Bile was brand new! These books also served the purpose of accelerating the 40k story forward as it was relatively still during the course of the edition up until this point sans the Vigilus storyline.
Now, they are releasing the Charadon books alongside the releases. So this is a new way to go about it, instead of waiting until most of the books are out, they are just giving small rules updates along with the new books.
9th Edition Release Schedule so Far
- Necrons October 2020
- Space Marines October 2020
- Deathwatch November 2020
- Space Wolves November 2020
- Blood Angels December 2020
- Dark Angels January 2021
- Death Guard January 2021
- Drukhari March 2021
- Adeptus Mechanicus May 2021
- Adeptus Sororitas June 2021
- Grey Knights August 2021
- Thousand Sons August 2021
- Orks*
Well, if you’re a marine player it’s been a good start. If you’re not, it’s been pretty spotty but the other factions are starting to get some stuff. With a few Xenos and other Imperial factions thrown in there. Orks are kind of released, but since it isn’t fully released yet, we’ll save that for the next section.
- Charadon: Book of Rust January 2021
- Charadon: Book of Fire July 2021
The supplements have had some new Armies of Renown and specific Subfaction rules, but not a crazy amount of rules for anyone army. They generally were released soon after the main codex with more rules.
What Codex Books Are Next For Warhammer 40k:
The next most obvious is Orks. While some people grabbed it with the launch box, it’s not officially out yet, so we expect that either late this month or early next month. After that, Black Templars and Imperial Guard seem the most likely candidates.
They have both received new minis and GW has said Black Templar will be getting a launch box soon, so be ready for those next. After that? It’s hard to say but there are rumors floating around about a new Eldar codex coming out with all three put into a single book, so let’s hope they get the Ork treatment and get a bunch of new minis. After that, Tyranids are long overdue as their codex in 8th came out very early on- let’s hope they seem some love soon.
So with that, let’s look at what is still to come:
- Orks (we know is coming soon)
- Black Templars (we know they are getting a launch box)
- Imperial Guard
- Eldar (maybe with Craftworlds, Ynnari, and Harlequins)
- Chaos Space Marines
- Tyranids
- Tau
- Genestealer Cult
- Adeptus Custodes
- Daemons
- Various Space Marine Chapters
- Imperial Knights
- Chaos Knights
- Inquisition/ Assassins
This isn’t in exact order but could be close.
What codex do you think will be coming next?
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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.
