Welcome to the fallen age of the 41st Millennium, where the battles of the Horus Heresy have become legendary tales of the past. In this era, the Imperium’s forces are shattered, and much of the advanced technology of that time has been lost. However, a few Chapters still possess revered war machines from the Age of Darkness. Although these relics are exceedingly rare, they no longer form the backbone of armies in the Era Indomitus.
Previously, numerous war machines from the Horus Heresy received rules for Warhammer 40,000. In the new edition, these units will make a comeback as “Legends of the Horus Heresy.” While still usable in your games, these models will be separate from the core Warhammer 40,000 miniatures range, which will dominate competitive tournament battlefields.
The Warhammer Design Studio has taken the initiative to create free datasheets specifically for the Legends of the Horus Heresy models, including the highly sought-after Chaos Kratos. These rules are intended for use in various game settings, such as home games, stores, gaming clubs, narrative campaigns, and matched play games. Space Marines and Chaos Space Marines can both utilize the same datasheet, although Chaos Space Marines will receive an additional army rule card indicating the necessary keyword substitutions.
The only limitation of these datasheets is that they cannot be used in competitive environments, particularly official Warhammer 40,000 tournaments. It is important to note that these rules will not receive updates or balance adjustments as the edition progresses and the meta shifts.
Achieving balance is of utmost importance to many players, as well as to us. Competitive events, especially, require careful consideration of balance. With the expanding Warhammer: The Horus Heresy range, Space Marines armies in Warhammer 40,000 have gained even more options, leading to difficulties in balancing the ever-increasing selection of miniatures for competitive games.
The introduction of Legends of the Horus Heresy rules ensures that collectors who possess these models can still enjoy using them, while providing a balanced and dynamic gaming experience for those seeking competitive play. Additionally, these rules make it easier for newer players attending their first event to understand the permissible units and their corresponding rules.
While specific rules for Horus Heresy-era models like the Land Raider Proteus, etc. may not be available, players are encouraged to utilize the appropriate Warhammer 40,000 datasheet to represent these units in their games.
Exceptions to the Rule:
Exceptions exist, particularly for the war machines of Knight Households and Titan Legions, which have endured for 10,000 years. These models will continue to receive supported rules for Warhammer 40,000 in a downloadable Imperial Armour Index. This ensures ongoing balance updates and usability in competitive settings. For example, the forthcoming plastic Cerastus Knight Lancer will be accessible to both loyal Imperial Knights and Chaos Knights.
The Adeptus Custodes:
Another exceptional case is the Adeptus Custodes, whose advanced machinery, such as the Caladius Grav-tanks and Aquilon Terminator armor, has remained pristine for thousands of years. These elite warriors have not experienced the same degradation as the Space Marines, making their units exempt from significant changes.
Legends of the Horus Heresy Units:
The upcoming Legends of the Horus Heresy rules will cover a wide range of units, including Leviathan, Contemptor, and Deredeo Dreadnoughts, various tanks like Kratos, Sicaran, Spartan, Cerberus, and Typhon, as well as Land Raider variants, Xiphon Interceptors, Fire Raptors, Storm Eagles, Storm Birds, Legion Support Weapons, Fellblades, Falcions, Mastodons, Javelins, Dreadnoughts, Deathstorm Drop Pods, Secutarii Hoplites, Peltasts, Terrax-pattern Termites, Decimators, Greater Blight Drones, Blood Slaughterers, Greater Brass Scorpions, Kytan Ravagers, Kharybdis Assault Claw, and Dreadclaw Drop Pods.
Imperial Armour Units:
The Imperial Armour units that also exist in the Horus Heresy will be allowed for use in matched and narrative play, including competitive events. This includes Adeptus Custodes units and Imperial Knights.
Future Updates:
Moving forward, new units added to Warhammer: The Horus Heresy will only receive Warhammer 40,000 rules if they are considered relatively common in the 41st Millennium.
Availability of Datasheets:
The Legends of the Horus Heresy datasheets will be available for download in June, along with Imperial Armour datasheets, ready for use in the exciting #New40k.
Conclusion:
With the return of Legends of the Horus Heresy models in Warhammer 40,000, players can relive epic battles from the past while enjoying a balanced and engaging gaming experience. Collectors and newcomers alike will find their place in the diverse and evolving world of Warhammer 40,000.
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