With Codex: Chaos Knights rumbling toward shelves this weekend, Games Workshop has quietly pushed out some key updates for their loyalist counterparts.
While the Imperium’s towering war machines haven’t received their full Codex treatment just yet, Index: Imperial Knights has been refreshed to keep pace with the shifting meta.
Let’s break down what’s changed, what it means, and what players can expect in the coming weeks.
Lower Points, Higher Wounds… Mostly
First and foremost, the Munitorum Field Manual has dropped the points cost for nearly all of the big-frame Imperial Knights. This is great news for loyalist players looking to squeeze in an extra armiger or give their Crusader a little more breathing room in list-building.
That’s not all, though. A number of the larger Knights have also seen increases to their Wounds values, giving them more staying power on the battlefield. However, their Toughness has dropped slightly, typically by one point. This tweak brings Imperial Knights more in line with the newly reworked Chaos Knights profiles and suggests that GW is aiming for parity between the two towering factions – at least until both have proper codexes in circulation.
It’s a minor adjustment on paper, but in a game where high-Strength weapons are everywhere, that small drop in Toughness may be noticeable. Still, the added Wounds will help compensate, especially in longer engagements or when facing attrition-heavy lists.
Codex Incoming – But Not Just Yet
For those eager to get their hands on shiny new relics, stratagems, and full detachment rules, the wait isn’t over yet. Codex: Imperial Knights is still a little ways off. According to the official post, the noble households are “still looking for the keys” to their new Knight Defenders – a tongue-in-cheek way of saying “not this month.”
That said, the balance tweaks we’re seeing now are almost certainly groundwork for that upcoming release. If the Chaos Knight Codex is any indication, expect big mechanical changes, new detachments, and a full range of narrative options when the loyalist version lands.
Where to Grab the Updates
If you run Knights and want to stay current, head over to the Warhammer Community Downloads page and grab the latest version of Index: Imperial Knights and the Munitorum Field Manual. Even if you’re not changing much in your list, those point drops could let you bring more guns or an extra body – and in a game of inches, that counts.
Final Word
While this isn’t the full Codex loyalist Knight players have been waiting for, it’s a welcome sign of life. Lower points and more Wounds is a buff worth noting, especially as Chaos Knights get their time in the spotlight. Keep your datasheets handy, your objectives locked down, and your ion shields primed – the full thunderous return of the Imperium’s heaviest hitters is on the horizon.
Stay tuned, and we’ll keep you updated the moment those lances roll out.
And remember, Frontline Gaming sells gaming products at a discount, every day in their webcart!
