These new Combat Force boxes are a clean launchpad for the Age of Darkness. Each bundle mixes bread-and-butter troops with serious hitters.
However, choosing your first upgrades can feel overwhelming. This guide breaks down smart next steps for each faction. Consequently, you can expand with purpose and hit the table faster.
Legiones Astartes, Then What
The Astartes box gives you twenty MkVI Marines with heavy bolters and missile launchers. You also get a Rhino and a Leviathan Dreadnought for brutal presence. This core pivots into gunlines, mech lists, or jump assault builds. Therefore, your first buys should amplify flexibility and command slots.
Centurions unlock two Auxiliary Detachments thanks to Officer of the Line two. Moreover, they buff mental characteristics for the unit they join, which resists Tactical Statuses.
A Predator Battle Tank adds a cheap armor sponge with tailored firepower. You can run magna-melta for close kills, or quad lascannons for reach. Alternatively, volkite or flamestorm clears infantry with style.
Finally, an Assault Squad brings jump packs and a twelve inch move. Their Vanguard two scores for shoving enemies off objectives. Consequently, they pair perfectly with your long-range base.
Mechanicum, Hard Shell, Sharp Teeth
This box drops a durable core of Thallax, Castellax, and a towering Thanatar Cavas. The list skews to resilient bodies with long-range punch. However, it still wants speed and board control.
A Krios Battle Tank covers lanes with lightning cannon or irradiation blaster. Alternatively, build a Venator for fast flanking and a vicious pulsar-fusil shot.
Tech-thralls fill the anvil role that robots cannot. They are cheap bodies that hold ground and soak fire. Their Expendable two rule limits points bled when they die. Consequently, objectives feel safer behind your automata wall.
Ursarax mirror Thallax mobility but tilt hard into melee. They pin high strength gun units that threaten your core. Moreover, their jet packs let them choose fights and tie key targets.
Solar Auxilia, Steel Wall With Hot Rods
This set bundles a twenty model Lasrifle Section and a Line Command Section. You also get two Hermes Sentinels and a Leman Russ Strike Tank. The mix already covers screens, orders, scouting, and armor. Therefore, your upgrades should sharpen elite presence and finishing power.
Veletaris Storm Sections swing above rate with volkite chargers. They anchor lines and actually trade with Marines. If you prefer aggression, swap to storm axes and ride a Dracosan.
A second Leman Russ is pure value and options. The Assault kit adds demolisher, executioner plasma, or volkite macro-saker. Consequently, you tailor the pair for roles your battle cannons miss.
The Malcador Infernus is a glorious panic button. Its inferno cannon melts Marines and clears stubborn infantry. Moreover, it compensates when lasrifles stall into power armor.
Summary
Each Combat Force lands a real army spine on day one. The Astartes springboard into command, tanks, and jump pressure. Moreover, the Mechanicum adds lane control, board holders, and melee missiles. The Solar Auxilia upgrade into elite shock, flexible armor, and flame dominance. Consequently, your first expansions feel purposeful rather than random. All three boxes go up for pre-order tomorrow alongside the Fellblade and the next Journal Tactica. Therefore, lock your path, secure the kits, and plan your first campaign night. The Age of Darkness rewards decisive lists, and your upgrades will carry the day.
And remember, Frontline Gaming sells gaming products at a discount, every day in their webcart!
