Review: Codex Astra Militarum

    Treadheads and footsloggers rejoice, Games Workshop has released the newest Astra Militarum codex. The new codex has a total of 5 detachments and 63 datasheets. This is slight increase in datasheets from the old count of 61. The 6 datasheets that are being removed below;

Platoon Command Squad

·         Infantry Squad

·         “Iron Hand” Straken

·         Munitorum Servitors

·         Regimental Attaches

·         Sergeant Harker

In return there are 9 new datasheets;

·         Kreig Command Squad

·         Lord Marshal Drier

·         Catachan Command Squad

·         Rogal Tank Commander

·         Kreig Combat Engineers

·         Catachan Heavy Weapons Squad

·         Kreig Heavy Weapons Squad

·         Artillery Team

·         Death Riders

The detachments are flavorful and varied;

·         Combined Arms

·         Siege Regiment

·         Mechanized Assault

·         Hammer of the Emperor

·         Recon Element

    Combined Arms is a re-branding of Combined Regiment. The Born Soldiers rule is the same as before. Siege Regiment add the Artillery Support rule. Artillery Support allows one of three types of support. Creeping Barrage which will slow down units movement by 2” on a 5+. Incendiary Bombardment remove the Benefit of Cover for 1 to 3 units depending on the battle size. Smoke Shells will provide the stealth rule for 1-3 units. Mechanized Assault give an army the Armored Fist rule. This provides a +1 to wound on ranged attacks for any units the turn that they disembark from a transport. For the tank lovers, Hammer of the Emperor will provide some additional mobility as all Squadron units gain a flat 6” advance with Iron Tread. Lastly, Recon Element allows your army to make the most of battlefield cover with Masters of Camouflage. This rule gives all Regiment and Astra Militarum Walkers Benefit of Cover and if the units already has the Benefit of Cover for any other reason, improve the save by 1 to a maximum of 3+. Of these detachments, Combined Arms and Recon Element will probably see some significant use. While, Hammer of the Emperor and  Siege Regiment are much more niche, with very specific applications. Mechanized Assault is by far the weakest detachment and will see little use.

    Most of the existing datasheets have remained the same with a few receiving some improvement. The most notable, in my opinion, is the Death Korps of Kreig. This unit now has the ability allow two models to take a flamer, grenade launcher or a long-las in addition to two other models taking a meltagun, plasma gun or a vox-caster and lasgun. This will allow a 10 man unit to take 4 special weapons, in addition to a Death Korp medi-pack. This can be duplicated in a squad size of 20.

    This codex is a modest upgrade from the Astra Militarum index. The new detachments rules are a bit lackluster. They provide some variety and color, but not much to viable new ways to field an Astra Militarum force. The new detachments lean very heavily on their stratagems. For example, Mechanized Assault has the Move Out stratagem that will allow a unit not in engagement range and within 3” of a Astra Militarum Transport to embark at the end of an opponents turn, for 1 CP. Hammer of the Emperor gains advance and charge with Blazing advance, as well as fall back and shoot with Tactical Withdrawal, each for 1 CP. Crash Through allows your Astra Militarum Vehicles to move through terrain as if it was not there.

    The new codex is a bit of a mixed bag. Most of the existing units have seen little change. The new units are strong and will a place in most armies. The detachments lean heavily on their stratagems to be effective. This codex is nice to have earlier in in 10^th Edition, and feels like many of the others with only a few detachments that are viable on the tabletop.