The Aeldari have always been an artistic people, managing to find time for heartbreaking works of high culture between constant extinction-level galactic crises. Accordingly, their history in Warhammer 40,000 is littered with amazing artwork, and Codex: Aeldari – which you can pre-order from Saturday – features plenty of it among its 200 packed pages.
Sightings of the colossal colony ships known as craftworlds are rare, and we get an incredible up-close look at their graceful spires and domes within the first few pages.
This calls back to the iconic John Blanche illustration, which has inspired much of the Aeldari architecture we’ve seen in the years since. Just as the new Guardian miniatures hew close to their predecessors’ designs, later depictions of the craftworlds all pay homage to the original.
The cover of the codex is a work of beauty, showing an Autarch descending on graceful wings while his warriors charge into battle. A Saim-Hann Autarch headed by Striking Scorpions may seem familiar to Aeldari veterans, who no doubt remember the codex cover from all the way back in Warhammer 40,000’s fifth edition.
With a revitalised Avatar of Khaine returning to melt Titans to slag, this classic depiction was a shoo-in for the new codex. It’s one of the best looks into the heart of a craftworld ever, showing the Avatar’s emergence upon the sacrifice of the Young King, flanked by statues of the almighty Phoenix Lords.
No foe is as hated by the Aeldari as Slaanesh, who thirsts for their souls above all others. Accordingly, the Avatar has tussled with Keepers of Secrets many times since the fall, and one such battle reaches its blazing climax in this incredible new vignette.
Want to see how this exact fight would play out on the tabletop? We’ll have answers for you later this week when the Avatar goes toe to toe with some of the 41st Millennium’s heaviest hitters, alongside even more reveals as we rapidly approach Codex: Aeldari’s upcoming pre-order period.
There’s still some more to see before you get your hands on the codex, so stay in the loop by signing up for the Warhammer Community newsletter.
