The Warmaster’s rebellion kicked off some of the largest battles ever fought, as the unstoppable might of the Emperor’s armies fractured and entire Legions brawled to the death. The sheer size of the most legendary clashes makes representing them in Warhammer: The Horus Heresy a challenge, but now that we have Legions Imperialis? That’s a different story.
That’s right – we’ve picked some of the most well-known battles from across the Horus Heresy, and now we’re seeing how we can recreate them for a new epic scale age.
The Battle of Isstvan III
Arguably the first battle of the Horus Heresy, Isstvan III marked the moment that Warmaster Horus turned on the Emperor and purged his armies of those Space Marines still staunchly loyal to the Master of Mankind. It was a sudden, brutal attack from behind on the forces deployed to suppress the Isstvan rebellion – though the traitors found their former brothers fought tooth and nail against their betrayers.
Here, you’ll just want as many Space Marines units as you can muster, and a battlefield strewn with ruins and wrecked buildings. Be sure to have a Legion Command Squad clash with some Terminators to represent the awesome battle between Garviel Loken and Ezekyle Abaddon – and don’t forget to field a Contemptor Dreadnought painted up in Emperor’s Children colours for the unstoppable Ancient Rylanor.
Read about it in: Galaxy in Flames by Ben Counter
The Battle of Tallarn
The Iron Warriors attacked the world of Tallarn in search of an artefact called the Black Oculus, and after virus-bombing the planet to oblivion, they thought they had scoured it of defenders. What they actually found was squadron after squadron of Imperial tanks that rose from hidden shelters and turned a quick smash-and-grab into a protracted campaign – one the Imperium eventually won.
This battle is a great one to play with the contents of the Legions Imperialis launch box, as it pits Space Marines (paint yours in silver) against a force largely composed of Solar Auxilia and other human troops. For the true Tallarn experience, deploy as many tanks as you can fit on a table and grind them together until they’re all destroyed.
Read about it in: Tallarn by John French
The Drop Site Massacre
The betrayal of the Retribution Fleet sent to bring Horus back in chains ranks as one of the worst atrocities of the age, as the Salamanders, Raven Guard, and Iron Hands Legions were all but destroyed in an act of unthinkable treachery. Their supposed reinforcements from the Iron Warriors, Word Bearers, Night Lords, and Alpha Legion attacked their Loyalist brothers in a bloodbath that claimed the life of one Primarch and untold thousands of loyal Space Marines.
Like Isstvan III, the Drop Site Massacre was fought almost exclusively between the Legiones Astartes, but the lopsided nature gives you great freedom to run asymmetrical scenarios. Start with a Loyalist army surrounded by Traitor troops, and see if they bludgeon through the cordon to their escape – with little more than craters and hillocks for cover.
Read about it in: Fulgrim by Graham McNeill
The Battle of Molech
The Knight world of Molech is famous for the warp gate used by the Emperor – and later Horus – to gain considerable power, which was defended by a considerable Imperial force including the Knights of House Devine. When Horus invaded to claim the portal for himself, House Devine turned against their allies and hundreds of Knights clashed.
Many different forces fought on Molech, with the Sons of Horus and Death Guard arrayed against the Ultramarines, Blood Angels, and scores of Imperial troops. To properly play out the battle though, you’ll need to field plenty of Questoris and Cerastus Knights as supporting units, preferably duelling each other as often as possible – as honour demands.
Read about it in: Vengeful Spirit by Graham McNeill
The Battle of Beta-Garmon
No account of the Horus Heresy would be complete without one of the only battles to rival the Siege of Terra in scale – Beta-Garmon. The campaign for this critical system involved billions of troops and 27 Titan Legions on the Imperial side alone, and is best remembered for the apocalyptic battle that claimed hundreds of god-engines known, rather evocatively, as Titandeath.
It should come as no surprise that Titans are your unit of choice when fighting on the worlds of Beta-Garmon, and if your tabletop doesn’t end up covered in their smoking wreckage, you’re not going hard enough. If your infantry Detachments feel like dust blowing around the feet of your mighty walkers, as tanks and Knights explode turn after turn, then you’ve nailed it.
Read about it in: Titandeath by Guy Haley
Are there any favourite battles you’re itching to recreate with your own Legions Imperialis armies? What more might you need to turn your fledgeling forces into true historical dioramas worthy of the Solemnace Galleries? Keep your eyes peeled and there might just be more from Legions Imperialis cropping up soon on Warhammer Community.