Know No Fear...the Space Marines Arrive: A Review
They are finally here. The Adeptus Astartes are getting their new Codex: Space Marines, and the Angels of Death are bringing some impressive reinforcements along for the ride. From a new Captain on Bike and refreshed Outriders to Vanguard Veterans, updated Intercessors, and standalone releases from Armageddon, this is a substantial wave with plenty to get excited about.
What makes this release particularly appealing is that it reaches beyond a new book and a headline character. Several squads are getting additional options and personality, giving collectors more opportunities to make their Space Marines feel like veterans of their own campaigns rather than another identical formation fresh from the fortress monastery.
We also have something special planned for five lucky customers. Just as we did with Codex: Orks, we will be upgrading five regular Space Marine Codex orders to the Limited Edition Codex at no additional cost. More on that below.
Engines are roaring, jump packs are igniting, and there is plenty to cover. Let’s break it down.
Captain on Bike
A high-speed assault deserves a commander who can keep up, and the new Captain on Bike looks ready to lead from the front.
The kit includes options for a master-crafted power weapon, thunder hammer, or plasma pistol, alongside five heads: two helmeted and three unhelmeted. You can also position the Captain riding into action or resting with his foot planted on the ground.
That posing choice is a particularly nice touch. A commander surveying the battlefield has a different presence from one already charging across it, and having both possibilities makes this feel more adaptable to the character you want to build. Combined with the weapon and head options, there is room to create someone who belongs to your Chapter rather than a fixed personality you are simply painting in different colors.
For bike-focused collectors, this is an obvious model to pay attention to. More importantly, it arrives alongside a refreshed squad to accompany him, making the mounted portion of this release feel like a coordinated reinforcement rather than an isolated addition.
Outrider Squad
The refreshed Outrider Squad brings three riders with more options to distinguish the warriors behind the handlebars.
The sergeant can carry a power sword or thunder hammer, while the kit includes seven unhelmeted heads, three helmeted heads, and additional pouches and accessories to personalize the squad.
These might sound like smaller changes beside an entirely new character, but they are the kinds of additions that matter when you are building an army. Extra heads and equipment help prevent multiple squads from looking interchangeable, while the sergeant’s weapons give the unit a more distinctive leader.
The thunder hammer is an especially appealing option from a modeling standpoint. There is something wonderfully unsubtle about a Space Marine arriving on a powerful motorcycle and deciding that the next step is to hit someone with a hammer.
Paired with the Captain, these Outriders make a strong case for giving the mounted side of your collection some attention.
Vanguard Veteran Squad with Jump Packs
For us, the Vanguard Veterans are one of the early highlights of this wave.
The new five-model kit includes combat shields for every member, with power swords and power axes representing their master-crafted power weapons. The sergeant gets a relic blade, which can alternatively be replaced with a power fist or thunder hammer.
This is exactly the sort of flexibility that suits an elite veteran squad. There is enough shared equipment to give the unit a cohesive appearance, but enough variation to suggest that each warrior has his own preferred way of dealing with the Emperor’s enemies.
The full set of combat shields is particularly welcome. It gives hobbyists the opportunity to lean into the knightly side of Space Marines, creating a squad that looks suitably equipped to descend into the most dangerous fighting on the table.
We are not calling battlefield winners from a release preview. Full rules and points will determine that. As a modeling proposition, though, this is a compelling refresh with plenty of character.
Intercessor Squad
Intercessors might not be the loudest announcement in a wave featuring jump packs and thunder hammers, but this update deserves attention.
The refreshed kit includes 13 different helmets across three armor marks, plus a power sword, power fist, and classic back banner for the sergeant. The emphasis is on a more dynamic and customizable version of the squad.
That is a sensible direction for a core infantry release. These are the kinds of models that help establish the appearance of an army, and additional helmet choices provide more room to shape that appearance around your Chapter.
The back banner is the detail that stands out most to us. It brings a welcome touch of classic Space Marine command presence to the squad, giving the sergeant a stronger visual identity without needing to turn him into an entirely separate character.
This is not necessarily the kit that will dominate the conversation, but it could be one of the most satisfying updates for collectors who enjoy putting as much care into their regular infantry as their centerpiece models.
Kaius Konorius
Ultramarines collectors are also getting a new named character in Kaius Konorius, an expert blademaster returning to the stars as Marneus Calgar’s personal champion.
Previously responsible for teaching close-combat skills on Macragge, Konorius has a history stretching back to fighting alongside Calgar and Chaplain Cassius when they were neophytes. The preview presents him as a capable fighter against both enemy Characters and lesser foes, with the additional role of protecting the Leader of his supported unit against Precision attacks.
That background gives him an appealing place within the Chapter. He is not simply another officer with an impressive title, but an experienced warrior whose history connects him to established Ultramarines characters.
The protective element is also an interesting part of his battlefield identity. A personal champion should do more than chase duels, and the ability to defend another leader helps reinforce the purpose behind the title.
For collectors who enjoy building armies around the personalities and relationships within a Chapter, Konorius offers more than another sword-wielding addition to the display cabinet.
Standalone Armageddon Releases
Several Space Marine units from Warhammer 40,000: Armageddon are getting their standalone releases, providing a more targeted way to pick up the models you want.
The Champions of Armageddon set contains the Chaplain with Jump Pack, an Ancient, and three Eradicators with Heavy Bolters. These are their original push-fit versions, which is worth noting for anyone expecting expanded kits with additional build options. These will be a Special Order only item. More info will be on the product page when available.
The Eradicators with Heavy Bolters are also being released separately, giving collectors an option to add more of the squad without buying the accompanying characters.
Rounding out this part of the wave is the Land Speeder, with a choice of onslaught gatling cannon or pyrecannon.
The benefit of these releases is straightforward: more control over how you build your collection. Whether you missed Armageddon or only wanted a particular part of its Space Marine contingent, the standalone boxes offer a more focused route.
The Land Speeder also fits nicely with the wider character of this release. Between it, the bikes, and the jump-pack infantry, there is plenty here for anyone who prefers their Space Marines to arrive with some momentum.
Codex: Space Marines
The miniatures might command the attention, but the new Codex: Space Marines is the book tying this wave together.
At 232 pages, it includes updated datasheets, collecting guides, lore, and an in-depth look inside a Space Marine fortress monastery. That last feature is especially appealing. A Chapter’s identity extends beyond its battlefield formations, and exploring the places where its warriors train, prepare, and preserve their traditions gives the book something to offer beyond its rules.
The regular edition comes as a softback enclosed in a display slipcase. That format is worth noting before ordering, particularly for collectors who have a preference for how their army books are presented.
There are also two premium versions. The Collector’s Edition features an extended, wraparound hardback cover, gold foil details, printed page edges, and a ribbon marker. The Limited Edition set goes further, with six interchangeable metal cover badges representing the more Codex-compliant First Founding Chapters, six art prints, a metal Crux Terminatus, and the full Command Pack: Space Marines. Both premium editions are available while stocks last.
The interchangeable badges are the most interesting feature of the Limited Edition package. They give the presentation a personal touch, allowing the book to reflect your chosen Chapter rather than relying on decorative finishing alone.
The Collector’s Edition and Limited Edition Codex are Games Workshop direct-only releases. They will not be available to purchase or preorder through Wargame Portal or other third-party retailers. Our Codex preorders will be for the regular edition.
However, that does not mean we are leaving our customers entirely out of the fun.
Just as we did with Codex: Orks, five lucky Wargame Portal customers will have their regular Codex: Space Marines upgraded to the Limited Edition Codex at no additional cost! Winners will be drawn at random from eligible customers, and your order will be edited and an e-mail sent to you when it occurs.
These are complimentary upgrades, not a separate edition you can select or purchase from us. Five customers will simply be receiving something extra special for their Chapter’s archives, courtesy of Wargame Portal.
Command Pack: Space Marines and Dice
For players more interested in convenient game references than premium book finishes, the Command Pack is worth a look.
It contains 94 reference cards covering every detachment in the Codex, including detachment rules, enhancements, and stratagems. There are also 24 double-sided tokens for tracking Combat Doctrines, special rules, and secured objectives.
The accompanying dice set contains 16 silver dice with black pips and a stylized Crux Terminatus on the six face. Both the dice and Command Pack are available while stocks last.
The practical appeal of the Command Pack is having the relevant references and reminders beside the battlefield. Accessories like these are not necessarily the most exciting part of a release, but keeping your information organized can be just as welcome as adding another squad.
The dice take a restrained approach, which suits this broader Space Marine release. They have an appropriately Astartes appearance without being tied to one Chapter’s colors.
Black Library Releases
There is also a substantial reading selection accompanying the miniature releases, from Black Templars and Ultramarines stories to an omnibus exploring the divisions that shaped the elves of the Old World.
Special and Limited Edition novels are available only directly from Games Workshop and will not be offered through Wargame Portal. Our coverage below includes those editions for context, but our focus is on the standard releases.
Helbrecht: Sin of Hope
High Marshal Helbrecht returns in Helbrecht: Sin of Hope by Mike Vincent, continuing his crusade against the Ruinous Powers after glimpsing a future in which the Imperium is renewed.
The novel is being released in standard hardback and a stock-limited Special Edition. The direct-only Special Edition has a separate preorder opening on Wednesday, September 23, at 3 p.m. UK time.
The premise offers an interesting contrast. Helbrecht pursuing another crusade is entirely appropriate, but the promise of a better future gives that crusade a different motivation. The title also invites the question of what pursuing that hope might demand.
For Black Templars readers, that is a stronger hook than simply pointing the High Marshal toward another enemy stronghold. Wargame Portal customers should look to the standard hardback rather than the Games Workshop-exclusive Special Edition.
Master of Rites
Rob Young’s Master of Rites is receiving a paperback release, following Ferren Areios, Captain of the Ultramarines Sixth Company, into the Death Guard-occupied Khorsari Reach.
Lost to the Imperium for more than a decade, the region has become the focus of Areios’s pledge to reclaim its worlds and avenge their slaughtered populations. In doing so, he may be pushed to the limits of his Chapter’s creed.
That tension is the strongest part of the pitch. The Death Guard provide the military threat, but testing an Ultramarines captain against the principles he is sworn to uphold gives the story a more personal conflict.
It is a fitting addition to a release that also introduces another veteran personality from the Chapter.
Dawn of Fire: Crusade of Vengeance
Dawn of Fire: Crusade of Vengeance collects the first three novels in the series: Avenging Son by Guy Haley, The Gate of Bones by Andy Clark, and The Wolftime by Gav Thorpe.
The collection follows the Imperium’s wars across several fronts, from an Imperial fleet confronting a Chaos Slaughter Host to a force advancing toward a shrine world, before turning to the Space Wolves and their response to Guilliman’s call for support.
The appeal here is breadth. Where the other Space Marine novels in this wave focus on individual commanders, this omnibus offers a wider view of the Imperium’s campaigns and the forces drawn into them.
Collecting the opening three novels in one volume also makes this a clear starting point for readers looking to begin the series.
The Sundering
Stepping away from the far future, The Sundering collects Gav Thorpe’s trilogy of Malerion, Shadow King, and Caledor, alongside the novella The Bloody-Handed and the short story The Dark Path.
These stories explore the civil war that divided the elves of Ulthuan and established the enduring hostility between the High Elves and Dark Elves.
It is a different offering from the Space Marine-heavy lineup surrounding it, but a welcome one for readers interested in the tragedies behind Warhammer’s great rivalries.
Rather than beginning with two factions already committed to hating one another, this collection explores how that division happened. That gives it a natural appeal for readers who want the history behind the battles.
Our Take
The strength of this release is that it gives attention to several different parts of a Space Marine collection rather than expecting one new character to carry the entire wave.
The Vanguard Veterans are an early favorite for their shields and weapon options. The Captain and Outriders make a compelling pairing for bike-focused collectors, while the Intercessor refresh brings welcome personality to a core squad. The standalone Armageddon releases round things out by giving customers more choice over which models they add.
There are still questions that a preview cannot answer, particularly around complete rules, points, and how the new Codex will bring everything together. As a miniature release, though, there is plenty here to appreciate.
The Adeptus Astartes are getting their new book, but the real excitement is everything marching, riding, and descending from the skies alongside it. And for five lucky Wargame Portal customers, opening their Codex order will come with a Limited Edition surprise at no extra cost.
