Today’s pre-order wave feels like someone shook the entire Warhammer toybox.
Space Marine elites are ready to punch holes in reality, Chaos Marauders are pouring out of the north, and the Empire is dragging some classic metals out of retirement. Meanwhile, Black Library is finally stepping into the Scouring with a huge new series opener. Moreover, Middle-earth fans and hobby stream enjoyers also get a slice of the action.
So let us walk through what is actually coming, how it fits into the lore, and why your wallet is already sweating.
Power Fists and Honour Hammers – Space Marine Goodness
The 40k side opens with Ferren Areios, Captain of the Ultramarines Sixth Company, stepping out of the pages of Master of Rites as a Black Library miniature. He carries the thunder hammer Honour and stands as a proper Indomitus era hero personally chosen by Guilliman. Moreover, the model is a limited run for now, with Legends rules coming online soon, so it is very much a “grab it while it exists” situation.
The Ancient in Terminator Armour brings that classic “big banner in bigger armour” look to plastic. He is basically the guy who plants the chapter standard where the fighting is hottest and dares the enemy to do something about it. The kit includes two banner toppers, two right arm options, and four heads, so you can dial him from stoic veteran to raging skull-helmet hero as needed.
The long awaited Terminator Assault Squad is the real brawler pack. Five Assault Terminators in Tactical Dreadnought Armour can be built either with paired lightning claws or with thunder hammer and storm shield. Additionally, there are plenty of heads, tilting plates, accessories, a Teleport Homer, and a packed transfer sheet with hundreds of decals. Consequently, this is the kit you reach for when you want to solve problems by teleporting directly into the middle of them.
White Scars fans are not ignored either. Suboden Khan arrives as a standalone character, riding his grav bike Thunder and leading the First Brotherhood’s Outriders. He carries both a power sword and the glaive Stormtooth, and the kit offers helmeted and bare headed options. Moreover, he fits perfectly into any Chogorian style fast attack heavy force that wants a named hammer to lead the charge.
Chaos From the North and Old World Toys
The Old World section is all about the Marauder Tribes and the burning of Westerland. The Chaos Marauders Army Reinforcement Set gives Warriors of Chaos players a massive injection of plastic bodies. You get 40 new Marauders on foot that can form four units of ten with full command. Moreover, they can be armed with hand weapon and shield, great weapon, or flails, and each body has two head options for variety.
On top of that, ten Marauder Horsemen can be built as two units of five with full command, carrying either spears and shields or flails. Additionally, each group of five has thirteen head options, so you can really sell the idea of distinct tribes within the same horde. The box also throws in two Chaos transfer sheets, each with 246 decals tied to four warbands, so you can pledge yourself to the Bloodied Hound, Carrion Crow, Slithering Serpent, or Fell Raptor.
Arcane Journal: The Razing of Westerland backs the models with narrative and rules. The 48 page softback details Frydaal the Chainmaker’s invasion and the tribes at her side. It introduces new profiles and rules for Marauder Tribes, including Chaotic Traits, Chaotic Cults, Lore of the Shadowlands, and new common magic items as Artefacts of the Shadowlands. Moreover, a Path to Glory style section lets you grow a force from 500 points to a warhost over a campaign, with units gaining experience and abilities. Three historical scenarios round it out. To actually use this material, you will need Ravening Hordes, Arcane Journal: Warriors of Chaos, and Arcane Journal: The War of Settra’s Fury for the Path to Glory rules.
And remember, Frontline Gaming sells gaming products at a discount, every day in their webcart!
