Space Marines and Sons of Behemat could not play more differently, and that contrast makes this Warhammer news update much more interesting.
The new Codex: Space Marines looks massive, polished, and packed with army-building options for almost every flavor of Astartes player. Meanwhile, the Sons of Behemat double down on risky rolls, huge damage, and absurdly oversized violence. Together, these previews deliver a fun Warhammer news roundup with plenty for collectors, competitive players, and narrative gamers to chew on.
Codex: Space Marines Gets Three Books and a Mountain of Army Options
Codex: Space Marines is coming soon, and it arrives in three forms. The standard softback and Special Edition hardback share the same rules content. However, the Limited Edition is built for the full Astartes shrine treatment. Its magnetic front panel lets players swap between six Chapter emblems.
Those icons cover Ultramarines, Raven Guard, Iron Hands, Imperial Fists, Salamanders, and White Scars. Also, the box includes a metal Crux Terminatus, six art prints, and the full Space Marines Command Pack.
Meanwhile, the Special Edition gets gold foil, printed page edges, and a ribbon marker. All three editions contain the same 232 pages inside. Better yet, those pages cover background, organization, unit lore, army rules, and hobby guides.
The rules package is large too, with 15 detachments and 85 datasheets teased. The detachments cover combined arms, assault, tactical, devastator, Terminator, Tacticus, Phobos, Gravis, mounted, ironclad, and vehicle themes. Therefore, this does not feel like one narrow Ultramarines book wearing blue power armour.
Instead, it looks built for players with several flavors of superhuman problem-solvers. Finally, the Captain on Bike, Vanguard Veterans, and Intercessors are tied to the release wave.
Sons of Behemat Turn Battle Traits Into a Push-Your-Luck Stomping Game
The Sons of Behemat update is wonderfully stupid, but there is a real army identity underneath. The new battletome is up for pre-order beside fresh miniatures. Also, its battle traits focus on risk. In the Movement, Charge, Combat, and end-of-turn phases, you choose friendly Big or Little units. Then you roll a D6 and need to equal or beat the number of targets. If that works, each target gets an effect.
Usually, that means reliable chip damage, since targets can roll a D3 and deal mortal damage on a 2+. Also, each phase has utility options, including extra pile-ins, movement tricks, and moving through units or terrain.
The real spectacle comes from building momentum. Gargants can get ready during the turn, but Little units cash that in for Strike-first. Meanwhile, Big units can start prepping “the big one.” At the end of the turn, they can roll any number of dice for one enormous slam. If any die is a 1, nothing happens. Otherwise, the total becomes mortal damage. So, yes, every Gargant player will absolutely roll too many dice.
The book also includes new battle formations, heroic traits, artefacts like the Massive Stuffin’ Sack, and Ma Maegran’s Lore of Behemat.
Finally, Realm-shaking Rampages return with gems like Rancid Flatulence, which caps enemy control scores in combat.
Summary and Final Thoughts
Overall, this warhammer news roundup lands because both updates understand their armies. Space Marines get structure, options, premium presentation, and rules breadth for several collections. Meanwhile, Gargants get swingy power, humor, and massive mortal-wound temptation. That feels exactly right for both factions.
