This week’s preview delivers one of the more eclectic and substantial updates to Necromunda and Legions Imperialis we’ve seen in months—anchored by a major Necromunda narrative milestone and reinforced by an avalanche of heavy armour for Legions Imperialis. From an ancient tyrant stepping out of the shadows to entire battle groups marching onto 6mm battlefields, there is a meaningful amount to unpack.
Ozostium Aranthus – Necromunda’s New Apex Predator
Aranthus himself is the standout model of the preview: a towering, unsettling plastic centerpiece that brings a long-teased character fully to life. Although Necromunda is no stranger to big personalities, Aranthus is something different—a pre-Imperial giant with psychic power, martial prowess, and enough narrative weight to reshape the planet’s future.
The miniature sells the concept immediately. The optional chest plate and mask allow you to swing between a domineering tyrant and a grotesque, half-ruined revenant. The included Caryatid-servitor adds character and contrast, driving home the sense of an ancient prince dragging strange, half-mythic things into the underhive with him.
Rules-wise, the double activation mechanic is significant for Necromunda, and his kit pushes him into “mini-boss” territory—appropriate for someone portrayed as a planetary usurper. Anyone running an Aranthian-aligned gang will see him become a defining piece on the table.
Spire of Primus – The Aranthian Succession Finale
Narratively, Spire of Primus closes out one of Necromunda’s longest-running story arcs. The book appears substantial, packing in deep lore, seven narrative scenarios, a campaign system, and rules for Aranthian-aligned gangs and Justicar Courts.
Necromunda campaign groups will appreciate the structure here—especially the Reconquest of Primus campaign, which sets up natural conflict between Aranthus loyalists and the remnants of Helmawr rule. It’s a natural hook for ongoing leagues.
Palanite Justicars and the New Enforcer Upgrades
The Palanite Justicar Delegation fills a gap in the Enforcer ecosystem, adding a higher-tier “noble hunter” detachment that visually and mechanically distinguishes itself from the standard patrol. The kit has a solid mix of heads and weapon options, and the visual identity leans harder into the authoritarian, ceremonial feel of elite enforcers.
The Enforcer Weapons & Upgrades pack is exactly the type of support sprue players have been asking for. With a broad array of arms, accessories, and weapon profiles across two generations of Enforcer kits, it’s effectively a long-term toolkit upgrade.
Ironhead Squats and Underhive Hangers-on
The new Ironhead Squat specialists continue the line’s strong run. The sculpting is crisp, the one-pose nature isn’t a drawback here, and the inclusion of Techmite Autoveyors adds flavor and utility.
The Hangers-on set is excellent for campaign players. These characters have been available before, but the unified plastic kit is a welcome update, and filling out a roster of underhive personalities with consistent sculpting quality is a win.
Legions Imperialis – The Age of Saturnine Steel
If the Necromunda content is narrative-heavy, the Legions Imperialis updates go in the opposite direction: pure hardware, pure scale, and a decisive escalation of what’s available to both Astartes and Solar Auxilia.
Journal Strategia – The Ruin of the Salamanders
A dedicated supplement focused on the Dropsite Massacre immediately sets a grim tone. The book offers new missions, detachments, and background for one of the Heresy’s most catastrophic engagements, framing the newly released Saturnine units in a lore-rich context.
For players, the big draw is the expansion of army-building depth and the introduction of the revitalized Saturnine wargear line.
Saturnine Units – Terminators and Dreadnoughts in Force
The Saturnine Battle Group is monumental—nearly overwhelming in scope. Between eight Dreadnoughts, 12 Terminator bases, command variants, tank support, Araknae platforms, and two Mastodons, it’s less a “set” and more a top-to-bottom army in a box.
The models themselves look excellent at epic scale. The Terminators convey their iconic bulk, and the Dreadnoughts read cleanly even at their reduced size. The Battle Group is clearly targeted at collectors looking to build a Legion quickly and with visual cohesion.
The Saturnine Heavy Assault Cadre is a more accessible entry point, focusing on the star units of the line without the massive transport and support footprint.
Araknae Batteries and Super-heavy Armour
The Araknae platforms are one of the more interesting kits in the preview. Their weapon options—accelerator autocannons, punisher cannons, and frag missile batteries—give real tactical flexibility and lean into the “techno-gothic artillery” aesthetic that distinguishes the Heresy era.
The Falchion and Fellblade twin-tank kits bring long-requested firepower back into production. Both offer meaningful variant builds, and on the table they reinforce Legions Imperialis’ approach to combined-arms engagements.
Combined Arms Battle Groups – A Strong Starting Point
Both Combined Arms boxed sets (Astartes and Solar Auxilia) are impressively curated. These aren’t sampler boxes—they are full foundations for functioning armies, complete with infantry, dreadnoughts, transports, armour, artillery, and air assets.
The Astartes set is particularly dense with named chassis: Leviathans, Deredeos, Kratos tanks, Sicaran squadrons, and a half-dozen Xiphons.
The Solar Auxilia box is equally generous, introducing Ogryns, Rapiers, Tarantulas, heavy transports, Leman Russ variants, and more. For new Legions Imperialis players, these are likely the strongest entry points the game has offered to date.
White Dwarf Issue 519 – Darkwater Spotlight
Finally, White Dwarf's full focus on Warhammer Quest: Darkwater signals just how major that release is intended to be. With designer commentary, painting guides, and a full Battle Report, it’s clear the studio is gearing up for a substantial push.
For hobbyists planning to jump into Darkwater, this issue will likely be the best pre-release deep dive.
Final Verdict
This is a standout announcement for two reasons:
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Necromunda gets a true narrative climax with a fantastic signature model in Ozostium Aranthus and a strong supporting cast of enforcers, squats, and underhive specialists.
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Legions Imperialis receives a rather large content drop—a near-complete expansion of Astartes and Solar Auxilia forces, along with a major lore supplement and several “army-in-a-box” megasets.
For anyone invested in the Heresy or Necromunda, this is a release wave worth paying attention to. It delivers both depth and breadth in equal measure, with standout kits that will anchor collections for years.
