The new edition of Warhammer: The Horus Heresy is just about to drop, and if the Saturnine boxed set is anything to go by, it’s shaping up to be one of the best entry points into the Age of Darkness yet. Let’s dig into what’s coming and see what’s worth getting excited about — and what you might want to keep an eye on if you’re planning your next muster.
The Saturnine Boxed Set: A Big Start for a Big Betrayal
First up, Saturnine sets the tone with a huge helping of miniatures, rules, and gaming extras. You get 50 new miniatures right out of the gate, including classic MkII Crusade-pattern Legionaries, a Praetor and Centurion, some hefty Saturnine Terminators, and a massive Dreadnought. There’s even an Araknae Quad-Accelerator Platform, plus weapon bits for turning Legionaries into Veterans — a nice touch for expanding your options right in the box.
For players new and old, having the full Age of Darkness Rulebook included is a solid move — all 352 pages of it — alongside an intro guide, reference sheets, dice, templates, and a huge Salamanders/Iron Warriors transfer sheet. The fact that Saturnine will replace the current Age of Darkness starter set means it’s not just a one-off, but the new standard moving forward.
The Rules and Liber Army Books: Plenty to Chew On
It’s not just plastic that’s coming — the new Age of Darkness Rulebook will be available separately too, perfect for anyone who wants a portable copy (or who’s still swimming in unpainted Marines).
To actually play, you’ll also need the new Liber army books. These split the main factions into Loyalists and Traitors, plus there’s coverage for the Mechanicum, Solar Auxilia, and the Knight Houses. These look to be hefty volumes with the updated unit profiles, points, and Detachments we’ve come to expect — so whether you’re sticking to your old Legion or plotting to start a new one, you’ll have plenty of reading to do.
Back to Isstvan and a New MkII Tactical Squad
There’s more for narrative and collectors, too. Journal Tactica: The Isstvan V Dropsite Massacre – Part One goes deeper into one of the Heresy’s most brutal betrayals, with new perspectives, three fresh units for Legions to field, and a Legendary Mission that lets you see if your forces could survive the Urgall Depression.
The new MkII Tactical Squad kit is also worth mentioning — 20 multi-part Marines in that classic Crusade-era plate, with lots of weapon options and compatibility with all your bits box goodies. These will likely become a staple for anyone looking to expand or update their core infantry.
Maps, Lore, and more!
If you’re a lore buff, the Carta Galactica: The Imperium of Man might be an appealing pick. A galactic map for the Age of Darkness, packed with faction hotspots and battle zones, it doubles as décor for your hobby space and a nice piece of reference material.
And speaking of maps, the Vengeful Spirit Map gives us a detailed look inside Horus’ flagship — this one is especially neat, being printed on cotton and wrapped in a faux-leather cover. It’s a premium collector’s piece that’s bound to appeal to die-hard Heresy fans.
Final Thoughts: A Promising Start — With a Few Unknowns
All told, this launch looks like a strong next step for the Heresy line — a solid starter, robust new rules, narrative expansions, and plenty for collectors. One thing to note: it’s not yet clear if the Carta Galactica map will be available to third-party retailers, so if that’s on your wishlist, stay tuned — we’ll update you as soon as we know. These items tend to only be sold directly, so you may want to check at the source during the pre-order launch window.
Whether you’re a veteran Son of Horus or just now considering painting your first MkII Legionary, there’s a lot to look forward to. Now all that’s left is to see who breaks the seals on their Saturnine box first.
