Warhammer 40,000: Armageddon Box Set Unleashes Angels of Death and Ork Hordes

Key facts

• The box set is titled Warhammer 40,000: Armageddon.
• It includes new Space Marine and Ork miniatures, with 20 Ork Boyz and 10 Gretchin.
• Space Marine Captains can be equipped with a relic shield and master-crafted power sword.
• Ork Warboss carries a kustom shoota and kustom choppa, and inspires Boyz in melee.
• The set features campaign banners with 'Armageddon' sculpted on them.
• Multiple Space Marine Chapters are fighting on Armageddon, including Ultramarines, Space Wolves, White Scars, and Salamanders.
• Ork Weirdboyz have psychic abilities 'Eadbanger' and 'Da Jump'.
• The box set is part of the #New40k launch.

Operation Imperator: The Space Marine Forces

The Warhammer 40,000: Armageddon box set, a centerpiece of the #New40k launch, brings a host of new Space Marine miniatures to the battlefields of the Armageddon system. Among the most prominent is the Captain, a veteran warrior equipped with a relic shield and a master-crafted power sword, designed to scythe through Ork hordes. The miniature offers a choice of three heads: bare, a Mk X helmet with a crest, or a classic Mk VII helmet, nodding to the iconic cover of the 2nd edition box set. Alongside the Captain, the box includes Librarians—Codiciers and Epistolaries—who wield force staves and harness Warp energies to defend against heretics and xenos. Their armour is inscribed with blessed wards and arcane inscriptions, similar to their Terminator brethren. Chaplains, armed with croziuses and jump packs, lead angelic charges, inspiring units like the Vanguard Veterans to fight harder. The Vanguard Veterans are elite jump pack-equipped specialists, armed with master-crafted power weapons, and bear the Crux Terminatus on their right shoulder pad and the Operation Imperator campaign badge on their left vambrace. The presence of a relic banner, carried by Ancients, spurs the Space Marines to fight even harder, preventing any retreat. The banner itself features the word 'Armageddon' sculpted on it, with a large flat area for Chapter or Company transfers.

The Green Tide: Ork Forces and Their Leaders

The Ork half of the box set is led by the Warboss, the biggest and strongest Ork, armed with a kustom shoota and a kustom choppa. His rampages in melee inspire the rest of the Boyz to fight harder. The Warboss sports a back banner and hazard stripes on the cable powering his choppa. Second in command is the Bigboss, wielding a two-handed big choppa and accompanied by a Squig, always eager to prove himself on the battlefield. The Waaagh! banner, carried by a Nob, is crucial for riling up the Orks and sending them headlong into the enemy. The banner pole features Orky details, with a blank space for clan glyphs. The box also includes a Painboy with a Grot orderly carrying a bone saw, and a Weirdboy who channels the power of the Waaagh! with psychic abilities like 'Eadbanger' and 'Da Jump'. The Weirdboy's head may explode if his powers fail, much to the amusement of the Boyz.

Core Troops: Intercessors and Boyz

The bulk of the Space Marine force consists of Intercessors, now equipped in Mk X Tacticus power armour that blends new and old components. The rigours of war mean many suits have been repaired with scavenged pauldrons, freshly minted breastplates, or ancient helmets. In contrast, the Ork Boyz, 20 of which are included, have learned to be more kunnin' and brutal, now carrying both a shoota and a slugga. The Boss Nob can choose between a kombi-rokkit or a kombi-shoota, and the Boyz have interchangeable heads for customization. The box also includes 10 Gretchin, each with two build options, allowing players to customize their thievin' scavengers. These small creatures can gang up to mug unsuspecting Space Marines.

Campaign Context: The Battle for Armageddon

The Armageddon campaign brings together multiple Space Marine Chapters, including the Ultramarines, Space Wolves, White Scars, and Salamanders, each fighting against the Ork menace. The campaign banners carried by the Ancients are specific to Armageddon, with the word 'Armageddon' sculpted on them, and can be customized with Chapter transfers. The box set's cover art and some paint schemes nod to the classic 2nd edition box set, linking the new release to Warhammer 40,000's history.

Design and Customization Options

Both the Space Marine and Ork miniatures offer extensive customization. Space Marine Captains and Librarians have multiple head options, allowing players to choose between bare heads or helmets. The Vanguard Veterans bear distinct shoulder pads and vambrace badges. Ork Boyz have interchangeable heads, and the Waaagh! banner provides a blank space for clan glyphs. The Gretchin also have two build options each, ensuring that no two mobs look exactly alike.

Implications for the Warhammer 40,000 Hobby

The Armageddon box set represents a significant update to classic kits, with new sculpts that emphasize brutality and detail. The inclusion of campaign-specific banners and nods to previous editions ties the new release to the game's rich lore. For players, the box offers a complete starting force for both Space Marines and Orks, with enough units to begin playing games of Warhammer 40,000. The box set is expected to be a cornerstone of the #New40k launch, drawing both new and returning players to the hobby.

The bottom line

• The Warhammer 40,000: Armageddon box set includes new Space Marine and Ork miniatures, with updated designs and customization options.
• Space Marine Captains, Librarians, Chaplains, and Vanguard Veterans are key units, while Orks feature a Warboss, Bigboss, Painboy, and Weirdboy.
• The box contains 20 Ork Boyz and 10 Gretchin, alongside Intercessors and other Space Marine units.
• Campaign banners with 'Armageddon' sculpted on them allow for Chapter-specific customization.
• Multiple Space Marine Chapters, including Ultramarines and Space Wolves, are involved in the Armageddon campaign.
• The box set ties into the #New40k launch and offers a complete starting force for two armies.