Warhammer 40k codex release dates for 11th edition - news and FAQs

Games Workshop has revealed that the first 11th edition Warhammer 40k codex will be for the Orks - and some very intriguing changes are coming for these critical rulebooks. This is Wargamer's complete guide to codexes, updated regularly with all the latest news about codex release dates, plus key FAQs to understand how your old 10th edition codexes work in the new edition.

If you're new to Games Workshop's premier sci-fi miniature wargame, our expert guide to the Warhammer 40k factions will help you get oriented in this huge sci-fi world. And for all the info on the upcoming new version of the game, read our complete rundown on Warhammer 40k 11th Edition.

Upcoming 11th Edition codexes

The Orks will get the first new codex for Warhammer 40k 11th edition. Games Workshop announced that the greenskins had made it to the front of the queue during the Big Summer Preview on June 26, though the firm hasn't yet revealed the release date for the new book. We estimate the end of July or start of August, based on other, known releases.

The Ork codex will form the template for the new edition. One interesting change that GW has annoucned is that the 'dex is going to feature 15 detachments. That's a lot of Warhammer 40k detachments - our best guess is that they'll lean away from the big whole-army detachments of 10th edition, and have many smaller detachments you can build like a schmorgasbord.

The new codex will have "a new 'Collecting' section giving advice for building Ork armies in four distinct archetypes", and will feature "in-depth information about all of the faction's units with the return of bestiary-style lore entries".

A code in the back of the codex will provide access to the rules in the Warhammer 40k app, but this will now include "quarterly drops of rules and lore all the way through the edition… including extra detachments and other rules".

GW has confirmed that 10th edition codexes will remain valid until each faction's new book comes along - as opposed to being replaced with temporary index rules, as we saw at 10th edition's launch in 2023.

Locking rules to codexes remains frustrating. For many fans, a codex's essential game rules, lore, art, and tips makes it worth the $60 price tag. But official balance updates are now so frequent that the printed rules are out of date before anyone can use them - leading many to see codexes as merely a very expensive unlock code to get their army rules from the app, where balance updates are applied live (or at least, something like live).

10th Edition codex release dates

The most recent new Warhammer 40k Codex was Codex: Drukhari, which went up for pre-order on September 27, 2025, and released on October 11.

Of the at least 27 10th edition codexes we expected to arrive over the (roughly) three years of the edition, a whopping 30 factions now have either a codex or an updated index. This includes a re-release of Index Deathwatch - which was briefly deprecated by Codex Imperial Agents - and mid-edition refreshes of both Index Chaos Daemons and Index Imperial Knights.

Here's a table showing when all the 10th edition codexes (and updates) released:

If you're wondering when a particular codex released during 9th edition 40k, check out our guide to 9th edition codexes.

How do I redeem Warhammer 40k codex codes?

You'll find a unique Warhammer 40k codex code in the back of each printed Codex. You can register this code on your MyWarhammer account, which will in turn unlock all the datasheets and Detachments from the Codex in the Warhammer 40k app.

You can then use that data in the Battle Forge army builder. You will be limited to just one army list at a time in the app, unless you also have a Warhammer+ subscription.

Warhammer 40k codexes FAQ

Codexes are bread and butter to long time Warhammer 40,000 fans; we know what they're for, we know how they change the game, and boy oh boy do we know how much they cost.

But if you're new to the hobby, the whole concept of them can be a bit bewildering. The idea of needing another rulebook, on top of the actual rulebook, is tough enough - but buying a new one every three years? It's one of the rougher parts of the 40k hobby, and it bears a bit of explanation. Here's what codexes are, how they work, how to use them, and how they may change in the future.

What is a Warhammer 40k codex?

Alongside the core rules for Warhammer 40k, each army has its own codex where you'll find rules for all its units, the army-wide rules that give it a distinctive character, and other options you can choose from when you construct a list. They also contain artwork, lore, stories, and examples of painted armies.

What do you use the codex for in games?

During a game of Warhammer 40k - especially when you're new to the game or learning a new faction - you'll need to refer to your army's codex frequently to check its rules.

Most importantly, you need to know the stats for each unit, its weapons, and abilities. For example, you'll find yourself double checking how many inches it can move each turn, the range and power of its shooting attacks, or how effective its armor is at preventing damage. Over time, you'll know more and more of those key numbers from memory - but it's important to have the codex on hand to double check, so you don't accidentally cheat!

Codexes are also super important before the game, as they include the different Detachments you can choose for your army. These are army building choices which shape your game plan by applying different army wide buffs, as well as specialized abilities to trigger at crucial moments during the game.

Can I buy a digital or PDF version of my codex?

No, Games Workshop doesn't sell PDF versions of codexes. Since the launch of the official Warhammer 40k app in July 2020, the only official, GW supported way to view a codex's rules in digital form is to buy a copy of the physical book, then redeem its unique code to unlock it inside the app. We've written instructions on doing that - see above.

Prior to 2020, new 40k codex books were available in both printed physical and ebook formats. They were never sold as PDFs, so any codex PDF you encounter online is likely to be an unauthorized pirate copy.

How do Games Workshop's codex release dates work?

During each three year long 'edition' of Warhammer 40k, GW normally releases one new codex for each playable army in the game. Typically, they're released in groups of one or two, once every two months or so.

How and when these codexes are released can vary, depending on how fundamentally the current 'edition' has hanged the game's core rules. Because 10th Edition changed the core rules significantly in 2023, GW completely retired all 9th Edition codexes from the game, and provided a full set of free 'index' rules for each army, for fans to play with until their army's new full codex arrived.

As codexes were released, they superceded the indexes, updating rules and points, and adding new detachments that provided different ways to build an army that complete with with new abilities, enhancements, stratagems.

What about old codexes - can I use those?

As soon as an army's latest Warhammer 40k codex is released, the previous edition's rules are no longer valid in 'Matched Play' games. That means tournaments and organized play in general will always use the most up to date codex rules, and all earlier books are no longer usable.

However, many players enjoy running games of older editions, deliberately using the rules from previous editions' core rules and codexes, to play the game 'as it was then'. Your old codexes might not be tournament legal, but they don't simply disappear!

Got a burning question about your codex? You'll find a friendly and helpful community in the Wargamer Discord. To keep up with the latest news about upcoming codex releases, subscribe to the Wargamer newsletter.