Warhammer 40k Codex release dates

The next Warhammer 40k codex army book to release will be Codex Astra Militarum, which is coming as part of the Death Korps of Krieg army set on January 25. Aeldari and Emperor’s Children will follow it early in the year. This guide tracks every Warhammer 40k 10th edition codex release date revealed as of the Las Vegas Open preview on January 16.

If you’re new to Games Workshop’s premier sci-fi miniature wargame, our expert guides to the Warhammer 40k factions will help you get oriented in this huge sci-fi world – there’s more than just Space Marine chapters.

For now, though, let’s run through the latest official codex rulebooks – some already released, some scheduled, and others as yet mired in mystery. You can click the links below to find the info you need:

• Confirmed 10th edition codex release dates
• Which 10th edition codexes are coming next?
• Which armies got free PDF expansions in 2024?
• How do I redeem Warhammer 40k codex codes?
• What are Warhammer 40k codexes?

Confirmed 10th edition codex release dates

Of the at least 22 10th edition codexes we expect to arrive over the (roughly) three years of the edition, 13 have been released and one more is imminent. There was also a re-release of Index Deathwatch, after it was deprecated by Codex Imperial Agents. Here’s a table showing all the codexes released or confirmed so far:

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

Codex Astra Militarum release date

A limited edition version of Codex Astra Militarum will first be available as part of the Death Korps of Krieg Army set, which goes up for pre-order on January 11 and should be on sale on January 25 . Games Workshop hasn’t revealed when the codex will be sold separately.

Warhammer 40k codex roadmap

Games Workshop revealed a new Warhammer 40k 10th edition codex roadmap at the Las Vegas Open on January 16 2025. Astra Militarum, Aeldari, and Emperor’s Children will be the next three 10th edition codexes to release.

After that, the World Eaters, Death Guard, and Thousand Sons will also receive codexes, in what is sure to be a very chaotic Spring and Summer. Even though they don’t appear on the roadmap, Games Workshop revealed back in 2024 that the Imperial Knights would receive an updated codex this year.

The four other factions on the roadmap aren’t named, but are easy to identify: the Grey Knights, Salamanders, Black Templars, and Chaos Knights. Of those, the Salamanders are the most surprising, as they last had a standalone codex supplement during Warhammer 40k 8th edition.

10th edition Aeldari codex release date

The Aeldari codex release date has not yet been confirmed by Games Workshop, but we know it’s coming in early 2025. As loads of new Aeldari models have been revealed already, they’re likely to get their Codex after the Astra Militarum and before the Emperor’s Children, perhaps in February or March.

Emperor’s Children codex release date

The Emperor’s Children codex will first be available as part of the Emperor’s Children army boxed set, coming in early 2025. We don’t know when exactly this will be available, but Games Workshop’s most recent roadmap suggests it will release close to Codex Aeldari – presumably after it, since the Aeldari were previewed first.

The surprise release of Codex Imperial Agents in 2024, which collected the rules for Inquisitors, Rogue Traders, Imperial Assassins, and the Deathwatch, seems to bode well for further new (or resurrected) factions to be added to the tabletop game – we’ll keep praying to the Emperor of Mankind…

Will Chaos Daemons have a standalone Warhammer 40k codex?

When Games Workshop previewed the Emperor’s Children army at the Las Vegas Open, it revealed that their new codex would contain full rules for daemons of Slaanesh. As the Emperor’s Children codex will be followed by the World Eaters, Death Guard, and Thousand Sons, it’s reasonable to assume that those books will also contain rules for their respective daemons.

This arrangement, with daemons and mortal followers of a specific god in one army list, is similar to how chaos forces are organised in Warhammer Age of Sigmar armies – and Age of Sigmar does not have a standalone battletome for Chaos Daemons as a whole.

Over winter 2024, Games Workshop released four free detachments for different Chaos Daemon forces connected to specific Chaos gods. This is rather a lot of content, and it is the kind of material we would normally expect to appear in a standalone Chaos Daemon codex.

Taken altogether, there is no proof that the Chaos Daemons codex will be deprecated this edition. But it is not unreasonable speculation.

Which armies have free PDF expansions?

In December 2024, Games Workshop released one new, free, one-off expansion PDF for each army as part of its ‘Grotmas Calendar’ promotion.

Each PDF adds a full Warhammer 40k detachment, complete with detachment rule, four Enhancements, and six Stratagems, to offer a new way to play each faction. These detachments are available to use in games alongside the ones provided in your faction’s codex (or Index, if you don’t have one yet).

You can download the detachment PDFs below:

• Death Guard – Flyblown Host
• Dark Angels – Lion’s Blade Task Force
• Tyranids – Warrior Bioform Onslaught
• Thousand Sons – Hexwarp Thrallband
• Adeptus Mechanicus – Haloscreed Battle Clade
• Necrons – Starshatter Arsenal
• Adeptus Custodes – Solar Spearhead
• Chaos Knights – Iconoclast Fiefdom
• Imperial Knights – Questor Forgepact
• Grey Knights – Warpbane Task Force
• World Eaters – Vessels of Wrath
• Black Templars – Wrathful Procession
• T’au Empire – Auxiliary Cadre
• Blood Angels – Angelic Inheritors
• Adepta Sororitas – Champions of Faith
• Space Wolves – Champions of Fenris
• Genestealer Cults – Final Day
• Leagues of Votann – Hearthband
• Chaos Daemons – Plague Legion
• Chaos Daemons – Scintillating Legion
• Chaos Daemons – Blood Legion
• Chaos Daemons – Legion of Excess
• Astra Militarum – Bridgehead Strike
• Orks – Taktikal Brigade
• Drukhari – Reaper’s Wager
• Aeldari – Armored Warhost
• Chaos Space Marines – Creations of Bile
• Space Marines – Librarius Conclave
• Imperial Agents – Veiled Blade Elimination Force
• Deathwatch – updated Index

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.

What are Warhammer 40k codex books?

Codexes are the traditional home for the rules for each Warhammer 40k faction, though Warhammer 40k 10th edition launched with a full set of free ‘Index’ rules for each army.

As Codexes are released, they supercede the Index, updating rules and points, and adding new Warhammer 40k detachments that give you alternative ways to build your army that will reward you with new abilities, enhancements, and 40k Stratagems.

We also have a rundown of the best Warhammer 40k starter set for your needs, too. You’ll find lots more at our Warhammer 40k homepage.