The new Codex: Imperial Knights shakes up the battle plans of these towering feudal war machines in ways both familiar and thrilling.
Knights have always been about stomping forward, chainswords swinging, and imposing your will on the battlefield. Yet, this release introduces new flexibility and imagination, making each engagement feel like an epic story unfolding. From customizable Oaths to game-changing Enhancements, this codex rewards strategy, timing, and a love for dramatic heroics. For long-time players, it’s a chance to explore familiar units with entirely new tactical depth.
Unlike previous iterations, Oaths in this codex let you select your Deed and Quality separately, giving you more control and flavor. Deeds range from laying low a chosen tyrant to controlling objectives or tallying enemy kills beyond expectations. Qualities enhance your Knight’s battlefield impact, such as granting rerolls to Hit and Wound rolls, boosting mobility and charges, or improving Leadership and Objective Control. If you randomly determine your Oath, fulfilling it rewards a full three Command Points, adding a layer of strategic risk and reward that keeps the game exciting.
Questoris Companions and the Power of Continuous Oaths
For those who crave repeated heroics, the Questoris Companions Detachment is a game-changer. These Knights swear multiple Oaths throughout a match, stacking Qualities as you fulfill each Deed. The system ensures that as one heroic quest ends, another immediately begins, creating a relentless cycle of battlefield dominance. Strategic timing is key because every fulfilled Oath extends Qualities to all models with the Code Chivalric ability.
Meanwhile, the one-use Enhancements tied to these Oaths, like the Pennant of Silvered Fury and Herald of Triumph, let you turn ordinary attacks into devastating waves of sustained damage or induce fear with a booming war horn. For example, an 18-attack sweep from a Knight Gallant can suddenly become a guaranteed massacre when paired with the Pennant.
Stratagems further complement this aggressive playstyle. Hero’s Tread secures objectives confidently, while Moment of Glory and Unstoppable Warrior ensure your Titans surge through enemy lines regardless of battlefield setbacks.
These tools allow players to punish opponents who underestimate the speed and impact of an empowered Imperial Knight. Whether consolidating or falling back, your Knights remain a constant, imposing threat.
Dauntless Defenders: Holding Ground Like True Guardians
Not all Knights are questing adventurers. The Gate Warden Lance Detachment caters to those who prefer immovable defense, drawing literal lines of dominance across the battlefield. Defensive lines allow units to ignore Hit modifiers and gain sustained hits, turning them into unstoppable bastions.
Enhancements like Vengeful Tread let you slam through foes for mortal wounds, while Acquisitor-at-Arms boosts Objective Control for accompanying Armigers.
Stratagems like Lancebreaker, Drive Them Out!, and Titanic Bombardment reinforce defensive play, ensuring any enemy foolish enough to approach is punished with brutal efficiency. Players who enjoy a methodical, control-oriented approach will find these options incredibly satisfying.
Valourstrike and Spearhead-at-Arms: Flexibility Across the Board
Other detachments like Valourstrike and Spearhead-at-Arms expand tactical options further. Valourstrike swaps the old Noble Lance Feel No Pain for re-rolls on Advances and gun assaults while advancing. Spearhead-at-Arms provides a battlefield full of noble squires, letting Bondsman abilities affect multiple models. This gives players smaller units with meaningful battlefield presence, encouraging creativity in deployment and synergies across the army.
Closing Thoughts
Codex: Imperial Knights delivers a masterclass in flexibility, strategy, and thematic play. Whether you prefer questing for glory, holding your line like an unyielding guardian, or managing a battlefield of noble squires, this codex ensures your Knights feel heroic, versatile, and impactful. The combination of Oaths, Enhancements, and Stratagems creates a game that rewards both narrative flair and tactical mastery. Pre-ordering this weekend guarantees you a chance to test these new systems firsthand, and Crusade campaigns will only deepen your attachment to each pilot. For old veterans and new players alike, these towering machines are more thrilling than ever, and every battle promises cinematic levels of fun.
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