Warhammer 40K 10th Edition and Leviathan box set preview

GameCentral takes a chainblade to the new Warhammer 40k 10th edition rules and the game’s most important new release for years.

Warhammer has become so popular in recent years that this month the Royal Mail is releasing a stamp set celebrating the 40th anniversary of the tabletop franchise. Featuring stunning old and new artwork, sending missives into the grimdark future has never looked so good. The stamp set also just happens to coincide with the new 10th edition rules for Warhammer 40,000 and a big new box set of miniatures called Leviathan, which is available for pre-order on June 10 and hits shelves on June 26.

With a host of improvements and fresh additions, Warhammer 40,000 10th Edition is an attempt to cement the franchise as the ultimate sci-fi tabletop war game. As such, Leviathan features a new campaign narrative, 66 mission cards, and, most importantly, an army of 25 iconic Space Marine miniatures and 47 Tyranids – all you need to instantly transport yourself straight to the heart of this iconic meat grinder of a universe.

The Leviathan box set features pre-balanced armies with some very nicely crafted miniatures and terrain, with Games Workshop seemingly having spared no expense. The attention to detail in the sculpts is astonishing, perfectly capturing the grim and gritty essence of the Warhammer 40,000 universe. From towering Space Marine Dreadnoughts (mechs, basically) to swarms of impressively monstrous alien Tyranids, these miniatures are amongst the best ever seen for a starter set.

The 10th Edition introduces a refined rules system, with a massive rulebook that runs to a massive 330 pages, with some stunning illustrations. Despite being such a weighty tome, the core mechanics have been streamlined, with more intuitive rules for movement, combat, and weapons. This fine-tuning allows for smoother gameplay, with previously confusing special abilities trimmed back to increase focus and clarity.

‘The main reason to buy this box is it contains all the key elements of the new edition! It’s got two forces of fantastic miniatures as well as all the rules you need to play the new edition of 40K, whether you like to play amazing narrative storytelling campaigns or prefer a more head-to-head gaming experience,’ Warhammer 40,000 studio manager Stu Black told us.

‘The Leviathan box contains two full combat patrols, so players can get playing straight away. If they want to play bigger matched play games [most players gravitate to 2,000 points games, which is roughly 50-100 models a side] then Leviathan gets them about halfway to doing that.’

What’s most appealing, for those wanting to dip a toe into the franchise, but who were previously put off by the game’s complexity, is a game mode called Combat Patrol, which is a very simple skirmish that does away with any anxiety over army lists and acts as an excellent learning experience for new players. The Leviathan launch box itself contains enough miniatures to assemble two full Combat Patrols.

The deep and complex lore, and wide variety of factions, is where a lot of Warhammer 40,000’s appeal lies, and the 10th Edition continues this tradition by bolstering the existing factions with exciting additions and updates, such as the Titan war machines, who can now support Imperium units much more easily through the Titanicus Support rule.

Whether you’re commanding the fanatical Space Marines, leading the hordes of Chaos, or harnessing the psychic might of the Eldar, each faction continues to feel distinct and offers a unique playstyle, with the new Detachment rules determining how your army performs.

The new Codex includes expanded lore sections, with each faction having a compelling backstory and intertwining story arcs that add layers of intrigue to the battles fought on the tabletop. The campaign systems introduced in this edition also allow you to forge your own narratives, creating a sense of immersion, agency, and investment in your (very expensive) armies.

One of the enduring strengths of Warhammer 40,000 is its passionate and dedicated community, who populate every gaming café in the country, from Bad Moon Cafe in South London to Firestorm Games in Cardiff. Games Workshop is keen to support this knowledgeable and dedicated community with a wealth of resources, including organised play events, painting workshops, and online community events to foster fiercely competitive camaraderie.

The 9th Edition was the most popular version of Warhammer 40,000 ever, and led to the current explosion in popularity, and the 10th Edition is looking to build on that. It’s set to be a milestone in the franchise’s history and is the product of years of refinement and dedication from not just Games workshop but the Warhammer community as a whole.

As Warhammer gains ever more mainstream acceptance this is a big step towards it becoming a true household name. The Leviathan boxed set won’t be cheap, and it’ll probably be difficult to get hold of at first, but it’s the most exciting new Warhammer 40,000 release in years.