So you’ve built your dream Legion, painted your Contemptors, and memorized every quote from Know No Fear.
Now it’s time to take the fight to the tabletop – and the new edition of Warhammer: The Horus Heresy has revamped how missions work in a way that’s tight, tactical, and packed with narrative punch.
In a recent deep-dive from the Warhammer Community team, we got a full look at how the new mission structure is going to shake things up. Whether you’re a crusty veteran of Isstvan or a fresh Centurion finding your footing, this is info you’ll want locked and loaded before your next drop pod lands.
Four Turns, One Objective: Play It Tight, Score It Hard
The first big change? Games now last four Battle Turns, not five or six like before. This shorter length means every decision matters and tempo is everything. Because of this, the mission is chosen earlier – right after you agree on the points limit. That gives players the chance to tailor their army builds to the actual mission. Smart, right?
As usual, victory comes down to Victory Points (VP). Each mission has a Primary Objective, typically involving the control of Objective Markers worth 1 to 3 VP. Players score during the Victory Sub-Phase, and unit positioning now has more weight than ever.
Tactical Strength, Line Units, and Holding Ground
Capturing objectives is simple on paper: get a model within 3″ of a marker and outnumber the enemy. But there’s a twist – Tactical Strength now matters more than just bodies.
This is where the Line (X) Special Rule comes into play. Troops like Tactical Squads and Lasrifle Sections not only gain extra Tactical Strength, but they also score bonus VP when holding objectives. A Tactical Squad with Line (2), for instance, can turn a 1 VP objective into 3 VP instantly, just by standing there and doing their job. That’s huge. Suddenly, your humble Troops are more than just speed bumps – they’re your primary scoring tools.
Line units are essential for defensive play or anchoring territory. They’re less flashy than Terminators but far more crucial when you’re aiming to win rather than just kill.
Secondary Objectives: More Ways to Win (or Lose)
Each mission also comes with four Secondary Objectives:
- Last Man Standing – Have more non-Routing units than your opponent at game’s end.
- Slay the Warlord – Take out those pesky High Command types.
- Giant Killer – Bag a Primarch or Lord of War.
- First Strike – Wipe a unit on your first player turn.
However, the VP rewards vary by mission. For example, Heart of Battle offers 3 VP across all secondaries, but Crucible of War gives 4 VP just for landing that early First Strike. Choosing when to push, when to hold, and when to sacrifice now depends heavily on mission type.
Vanguard and Expendable: New Rules, New Tricks
Two new rules deserve special mention. Vanguard (X) gives bonus VP when units with it (think Assault and Terminator Squads) destroy enemies holding objectives. However, it caps their own scoring at just one VP per objective. That makes them hit-and-run specialists, not territory holders.
Meanwhile, Expendable (X) does what it says on the tin – it reduces the VP awarded for killing the unit. Even if a mission offers 4 VP for First Strike, killing an Expendable (3) unit like a Tarantula Battery will still only net you 1 VP. This is a sly way to deny your opponent easy points, especially in the early game.
Final Thoughts – Get Tactical, Not Just Theatrical
The updated mission structure for The Horus Heresy emphasizes tight planning, meaningful choices, and the importance of Line units. Every turn counts, and objective control is no longer just about planting a flag – it’s about stacking your strengths and denying your opponent opportunities.
Whether you’re running a full Pride of the Legion list or a lean Solar Auxilia force, these new mechanics reward tactical finesse over brute force. So don’t sleep on your humble Troops. They might just be the ones who carry you to victory while your Terminators are off decapitating Warlords.
Next week’s spotlight promises an in-depth look at how each faction plays in this new structure, so keep your vox-beads tuned in. Until then, grab your Line units, read your objectives twice, and remember: in the Age of Darkness, the side that thinks ahead wins.
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