The next Codex: Space Marines is almost ready for release, and with it comes a vast array of new rules for your Angels of Death. In particular, six new Detachments join the Gladius Task Force, adding opportunities for characterful thematic forces specialising in vanguard troops, lightning assaults, and close-range firepower.
But first, a major update – the Oath of Moment army rule is changing. You still select one unit each turn to be your target, but now you only reroll Hit rolls against them, instead of Hits and Wounds. This will mean Space Marine players need to choose their target more carefully, though there are new and updated skills across the faction that bring more opportunities to re-roll Wound rolls.*
The Warhammer Studio has even shot a video to run through what else is in the book.
Let’s look at some of the new Detachments in closer detail –starting with the 1st Company Task Force.
This Detachment gives you a great opportunity to get the most out of the shiny new Terminators and Sternguard Veterans coming out alongside the Codex, as well as units of Bladeguard Veterans and Vanguard Veterans. Their unique rule – Extremis-level Threat – lets them single out a target for certain destruction once per game, and lasts across both your and your opponent’s turn.
Three of the four Enhancements – like Iron Resolve, which gives characters the Feel No Pain 5+ ability – allow a model to extend his own boost to an entire squad once per game. Their experience keeps them cool under pressure, and enemy charges find their attacks blunted by their Legendary Fortitude.
The remaining Detachments can be used by Space Marines of any Chapter, but play into traits commonly associated with the six First Founding Chapters who most closely follow the Codex Astartes. So if you want to mount a heavy static defence in the mode of the Imperial Fists, you are not obliged to paint your troops yellow. Even Carcharodons have to dig in sometimes!
Likewise, the Salamanders may be famous for their flame-and-melta firepower, but the Firestorm Assault Force offers opportunities for all kinds of close-range gunnery.
Their Detachment rule, Close-range Eradication, grants the Assault keyword to all weapons, letting units Advance without losing their ability to shoot. Once they get close enough, that extra pip of Strength puts many weapons over critical thresholds for damage.
Your Eradicators will love how their Strength 10 melta rifles do a much better job of boring holes in Toughness 10 tanks, while Infernus Marines do an even better job of barbecuing Tyranids and Orks with Strength 6 pyreblasters.
While you’re that close, you might also like to crack a few heads with boosted melee weapons on your fightiest character, and the War-tempered Artifice Enhancement provides. Who doesn’t love power swords that hit as hard as a power fist?
This Detachment is also great for any Chapter that likes to move quickly or smash vehicles in close combat. White Scars in particular get a lot of mileage from the Assault ability on their Outriders and Invader ATVs, letting them position for future charges without losing vital firepower, while Iron Hands armies packing plenty of Dreadnoughts can reap the benefit of boosted Strength even while locked in close combat thanks to the Big Guns Never Tire rule.
Lastly (for today) we return to the old faithful Gladius Task Force, a familiar Detachment for all who’ve deployed their Space Marines in the new edition so far.
Returning to the fold with the same Enhancements, Stratagems, and Combat Doctrines Detachment ability you know and love, the Gladius Task Force remains an adaptable, take-all-comers army which supports any kind of unit. The Armour of Contempt Stratagem is now found across all seven Space Marine Detachments – it’s the Space Marines signature.
We’ll be taking a look at more of the Detachments available in Codex: Space Marines later, so keep your auspexes trained on Warhammer Community for the next raft of reveals.
* Wound re-rolls were previously hard to find outside of Oath of Moment.