Warhammer 40k detachments guide - updated for 11th edition

Warhammer 40,000 detachments are rules templates for every army in Games Workshop's sci-fi tabletop wargame - here's how they work.

Warhammer 40k detachments - a photograph by Games Workshop of an Astra Militarum column advancing around a pair of Rogal Dorn heavy tanks, both painted green

11th edition builds on the Warhammer 40k detachments system from 10th edition, with some key changes: armies aren't limited to a single detachment each, and your choice of detachments shapes the missions your army faces in organised play games. Read on for a breakdown of how the new system works.

For anyone new to Warhammer 40k, the detachment system is actually pretty simple. Each Warhammer 40k faction has access to several detachments. These provides you with three kinds of bonus:

  • An army-wide special rule.
  • A set of Stratagems you can activate with command points.
  • A choice of Enhancements which you can purchase during list building.

In 10th edition you were limited to just one detachment for your list, and all detachments had a similar structure, with six stratagems and three to four enhancements. That's changed for 11th edition!

Warhammer 40k 11th edition detachments

There are two key differences for detachments in 11th edition 40k. First, you're allowed to take more than one detachment. Detachments each have a cost in Detachment Points (DP), ranging from one point for a detachment with narrow unit focuses, to three points for those that affect your whole army with significant boosts.

You have two detachment points in a 1,000 point Incursion game, and three points in a 2,000 point Strike Force game. Rules as written, this means certain detachments simply can't be used in smaller games. However, Games Workshop has stated on the Warhammer Community website that it intends to update the army building rules so "you can always choose to pick any one, lone detachment, regardless of the mission size, even if it costs more Detachment Points than that game might normally allow" - at time of writing, this hasn't been added to errata or to the Warhammer 40k app.

In addition, many new detachments are labeled with 'tags' - you can't have more than one detachment with a given tag in an army.

Enhancements and Upgrades in 11th edition

With more detachments in play, players will access to more Enhancements - but you are limited to bringing a maximum of two Enhancements in a 1,000 point game, and four in a 2,000 point game.

Some Enhancements are marked as Upgrades. These are available to non-hero units, and you can take up to three of them while only using one slot from your Enhancement limit. You still have to pay the points cost for each unit that gets an Upgrade.

The number of Enhancements and Stratagems is not consistent across Detachments. For example the Space Marines' Librarius Conclave has five Enhancements and no Stratagems.

Force Disposition

The second big change is the force disposition for your army. Each detachment has one of five force dispositions, which reflect its purpose on the battlefield. If your army has more than one detachment, you'll select one disposition for your army - this will be when you submit your army list if you're playing in a tournament, or before you start the game for a casual match.

In Chapter Approved missions packs, your primary mission is determined by comparing your force disposition against your opponent's force disposition. Unless you happen to have the same force disposition, you'll both have different primary missions.

Legal detachments

The main source of detachments for each army is its Codex army book, but GW has also released additional free detachments. You can find the supplemental detachments for each army in its Faction Pack, which is available to download from the Warhammer Community website.

As of January 22, 2026, these are all the currently legal Warhammer 40k detachments:

Adepta Sororitas Detachments

Detachment Disposition DP Preferred units
Chorus of Condemnation Reconnaissance 1 Jump pack troops
Sacred Champions Take and Hold 1 Celestian Sacresants
Sanctified Orators Purge the Foe 1 Characters
Army of Faith Take and Hold 2 Jump pack troops
Bringers of Flame Purge the Foe 3 Short ranged weapons
Champions of Faith Disruption 2 Melee troops
Hallowed Martyrs Priority Assets 3 All
Penitent Host Take and Hold 2 Penitent units

Adeptus Custodes Detachments

Detachment Disposition DP Preferred units
Might of the Moritoi Purge the Foe 1 Walkers
Silent Hunters Reconnaissance 1 Anathema Psykana
Tharanatoi Hammerblow Priority Assets 1 Terminators
Auric Champions Priority Assets 2 Characters
Lions of the Emperor Disruption 2 Terminators and characters
Null Maiden Vigil Reconnaissance 2 Anathema Psykana
Shield Host Purge the Foe 2 All
Solar Spearhead Take and Hold 2 Vehicles and Walkers
Talons of the Emperor Take and Hold 3 Balanc of Custodes and Anathema Psykana

Adeptus Mechanicus Detachments

Detachment Disposition DP Preferred units
Cohort Acquisitus Reconnaissance 1 Cavalry, Jump troops, Rangers, Infiltrators
Lords of the Forge Priority Assets 1 Tech-Priests
Luminen Auto-Choir Disruption 1 Electropriests
Cohort Cybernetica Take and Hold 2 Legio Cybernetica, Vehicles
Data-psalm Conclave Disruption 2 Cult Mechanicus
Eradication Cohort Purge the Foe 3 Skitarii
Explorator Maniple Priority Assets 2 Transports
Haloscreed Battle Clade Purge the Foe 3 All
Rad-zone Corps Take and Hold 2 All
Skitarii Hunter Cohort Reconnaissance 2 Skitarii

Aeldari Detachments

Detachment Disposition DP Preferred units
Armoured Warhost Reconnaissance 1 Vehicles
Fateful Performance Disruption 1 Harlequins
Path of the Outcast Reconnaissance 1 Rangers
Twilight Flickers Take and Hold 1 Harlequins
Aspect Host Disruption 3 Aspect Warriors
Corsair Coterie Priority Assets 2 Anhrathe
Devoted of Ynnead Priority Assets 2 Ynnari
Eldritch Raiders Disruption 2 Anhrathe, Rangers, Shroud Runners
Ghosts of the Webway Disruption 2 Harlequins
Guardian Battlehost Take and Hold 2 Guardians
Seer Council Priority Assets 2 Psykers
Serpent's Brood Purge the Foe 2 Harlequins
Spirit Conclave Take and Hold 2 Wraith Constructs
Warhost Purge the Foe 3 All
Windrider Host Disruption 2 Jetbikes

Astra Militarum Detachments

Detachments Disposition DP Preferred units
Abhuman Auxiliaries Take and Hold 1 Abhumans
Bridgehead Strike Priority Assets 1 Tempestus units
Designation Force Reconnaissance 1 Scout Sentinels, light Infantry
Armoured Infantry Take and Hold 2 Tanks, Transports, Infantry
Combined Arms Take and Hold 3 All
Grizzled Company Priority Assets 2 All
Hammer of the Emperor Purge the Foe 2 Tanks
Mechanised Assault Purge the Foe 2 Infantry and Transports
Recon Element Reconnaissance 3 Sentinels, Infantry
Siege Regiment Disruption 2 Infantry, Artillery
Steel Hammer Purge the Foe 2 Titanic, Tanks

Black Templars Detachments

Detachments Disposition DP Preferred units
Marshal's Household Priority Assets 1 Sword Brethren
The Living Miracle Purge the Foe 1 The Emperor's Champion
Wrathful Procession Take and Hold 1 Infantry and Mounted
Companions of Vehemence Purge the Foe 2 Infantry
Godhammer Assault Force Disruption 2 Transports
Vindication Task Force Priority Assets 2 Crusader squad, Ancients

Blood Angels Detachments

Detachment Disposition DP Preferred units
Encarmine Speartip Disruption 1 Sanguinary Guard
Legacy of Grace Priority Assets 1 Characters
Wrath of the Doomed Purge the Foe 1 Death Company
Angelic Ineritors Priority Assets 3 Characters
Liberator Assault Group Take and Hold 3 All
Rage-cursed Onslaught Purge the Foe 3 Death Company
The Angelic Host Disruption 2 Jump Pack troops
The Lost Brethren Purge the Foe 2 Death Company

Chaos Daemons Detachments

Detachment Disposition DP Preferred units
Cavalcade of Chaos Disruption 1 Mounted units
Lords of the Warp Purge the Foe 1 Non-Greater Daemon characters
Warptide Reconnaissance 1 Battleline
Blood Legion Purge the Foe 2 Khorne
Daemonic Incursion Disruption 3 All
Legion of Excess Priority Assets 2 Slaanesh
Plague Legion Take and Hold 2 Nurgle
Scintillating Legion Priority Assets 2 Tzeentch
Shadow Legion Purge the Foe 2 Be'lakor Heretic Astartes

Chaos Knights Detachments

Detachment Disposition DP Preferred units
Bastions of Tyranny Disruption 1 Knight Tyrants
Hunting Warpack Reconnaissance 1 War Dogs
Iconoclast Fiefdom Take and Hold 1 Knights, Damned infantry
Helhunt Lance Disruption 2 Big knights paired with Wardogs
Houndpack Lance Reonnaissance 2 Wardogs
Infernal Lance Purge the Foe 3 All
Lords of Dread Priority Assets 2 All
Traitoris Lance Purge the Foe 2 All

Chaos Space Marines Detachments

Detachment Disposition DP Preferred units
Cabal of Chaos Disruption 1 Psykers
Devotees of Destruction Priority Assets 1 Havocs, Obliterators
Murdertalon Raiders Purge the Foe 1 Jump infantry
Chaos Cult Priority Assets 2 Damned
Creations of Bile Purge the Foe 3 Astartes Infantry, Fabius Bile
Cult of the Arkifane Priority Assets 2 Vasthtorr the Arkifane, Vehicles
Deceptors Disruption 2 Astartes, Cultists
Dread Talons Disruption 2 Fast infantry
Fellhammer Siege-host Take and Hold 2 Ranged troops
Huron's Marauders Disruption 3 Red Corsairs
Nightmare Hunt Disruption 2 Jump infantry, Nemesis Claw
Pactbound Zealots Priority Assets 3 All
Renegade Raiders Reconnaissance 3 Astartes, Transports
Renegade Warband Priority Assets 2 All except Plague Marines, Noise Marines, Berzerkers, Rubric Marines
Soulforged Warpack Purge the Foe 2 Daemon Vehicles
Veterans of the Long War Take and Hold 2 Astartes
Warpstrike Champions Disruption 2 Obliterators, Mutilators, Terminators

Dark Angels Detachments

Detachment Disposition DP Preferred units
Dark Age Arsenal Priority Assets 1 Plasma weapons
Darkflight Pursuit Reconnaissance 1 Ravenwing units that can fly
Interrogation Conclave Purge the Foe 1 Chaplains
Company of Hunters Disruption 2 Mounted
Inner Circle Task Force Priority Assets 2 Deathwing
Lion's Blade Task Force Purge the Foe 2 Balance of Ravenwing and Deathwing
Unforgiven Task Force Take and Hold 2 All
Wrath of the Rock Priority Assets 3 Non-vehicle Deathwing and Ravenwing

Death Guard Detachments

Detachment Disposition DP Preferred units
Paragons of Putrescence Priority Assets 1 Bloat-Drones, Blight-Haulers, Helbrutes
Contagion Engines Purge the Foe 1 Plague Marines
Flyblown Host Reconnaissance 1 Characters
Champions of Contagion Take and Hold 2 Characters
Death Lord's Chosen Priority Assets 2 Terminators
Mortarion's Hammer Purge the Foe 2 Vehicles
Shamblerot Vectorium Disruption 2 Poxwalkers
Tallyband Summoners Disruption 2 Daemons
Virulent Vectorium Take and Hold 3 All

Deathwatch Detachments

Detachment Disposition DP Preferred units
Black Spear Task Force Priority Assets 3 All

Drukhari Detachments

Detachment Disposition DP Preferred units
Exhibition of Slaughter Disruption 1 Wych Cult
Kabalite Agonysts Purge the Foe 1 Blades for Hir, Kabal units
Tools of Torment Take and Hold 1 Cronos, Talos
Covenite Coterie Purge and Hold 2 Haemonculus creations
Kabalite Cartel Disruption 2 Archons and Kabalites
Realspace Raiders Priority Assets 2 All
Reaper's Wager Purge the Foe 3 Balance of Harlequins and Drukhari
Skysplinter Assault Reconnasissance 2 Transports
Spectacle of Spite Purge the Foe 2 Wyches

Emperor's Children Detachments

Detachment Disposition DP Preferred units
Elegant Brutes Take and Hold 1 Terminators
Frenzied Host Disruption 1 Battleline
Spectacle of Slaughter Purge the Foe 1 Flawless Blades
Carnival of Excess Priority Assets 2 Daemons
Coterie of the Conceited Purge the Foe 3 All
Court of the Phoenician Purge the Foe 2 Fulgrim
Mercurial Host Reconnaissance 2 All
Peerless Bladesmen Priority Assets 2 All (melee focus)
Rapid Evisceration Disruption 2 Transports
Slaanesh's Chosen Purge the Foe 2 All

Genestealer Cults Detachments

Detachments Disposition DP Preferred units
Heroes of the Uprising Purge the Foe 1 Kelermorph, Locus, Reductus Saboteur, Santcus
Purestrain Broodswarm Priority Assets 1 Purestrain Genestealers
Xenocult Masses Disruption 1 Neophyte Hybrids
Biosanctic Broodsurge Take and Hold 2 Aberrants, Genestealers, Biophagus
Brood Brothers Auxillia Take and Hold 2 Astra Militarum
Final Day Purge the Foe 2 Balance of Genestealer Cults and Tyranid Vanguard Organisms
Host of Ascension Take and Hold 3 All
Outlander Claw Reconnaissance 2 Vehicles, Bikes
Xenocreed Congregation Priority Assets 2 Basic infantry and characters

Grey Knights Detachments

Detachment Disposition DP Preferred units
Argent Assault Purge the Foe 1 Paladin squads
Fires of Purgation Disruption 1 Purgation squads
Immaterial Interdiction Priority Assets 1 Interceptor Squads
Augurium Task Force Reconnaissance 2 All
Banishers Disruption 2 All (melee focus)
Brotherhood Strike Purge the Foe 2 All
Hallowed Conclave Take and Hold 2 Terminators
Sanctic Spearhead Priority Assets 2 Dreadknights and vehicles
Warpbane Task Force Purge the Foe 3 Purifier Squads

Imperial Agents Detachments

Detachment Disposition DP Preferred units
Imperialis Fleet Disruption 3
Ordo Hereticus, Purgation Force Priority Assets 3 Arbites, Inquisitors, Inquisitorial Agents, Ordo Hereticus
Ordo Malleus, Daemon Hunters Reconnaissance 3 Inquisitors, Inquisitorial Agents, Ordo Malleus
Ordo Xenos, Alien Hunters Purge the Foe 3 Deathwatch
Veiled Blade Elimination Force Purge the Foe 3 Assassins

Imperial Knights Detachments

Detachment Disposition DP Preferred units
Dominus Foebreakers Purge the Foe 1 Knights Dominus
Questor Forgepact Disruption 1 Knights supported by Ad Mech
Throne-bonded Outriders Recon 1 Armigers
Freeblade Company Purge the Foe 3 All
Gate Warden Lance Priority Assets 2 All (ranged)
Questoris Companions Take and Hold 3 All
Spearhead-at-arms Reconnaissance 2 Armigers
Valourstrike Lance Purge the Foe 2 All

Leagues of Votann Detachments

Detachment Disposition DP Preferred units
Armoured Trailblazers Disruption 1 Sagitaurs
Farseekers Reconnaissance 1 Hernkyn
Hearthguard Covenant Priority Assets 1 Kâhls, Einhyr
Brandfast Oathband Take and Hold 2 Transports
Dêlve Assault Shift Purge the Foe 2 Beserks, Earthshakers
Hearthband Priority Assets 3 Kâhls, Hearthguard
Hearthfyre Arsenal Priority Assets 2 Memnyr, Steeljacks
Mercenary Oathband Take and Hold 2 All
Needgaârd Oathband Purge the Foe 2 All
Persecution Prospect Disruption 2 Hernkyn

Orks Detachments

Detachment Disposition DP Preferred units
More Dakka! Purge the Foe 1 Ranged infantry
Rollin' Deff Priority Assets 1 Battlewagons, Hunta Rigs, Kill Rigs
Taktikal Brigade Disruption 1 Stormboyz, Boyz, Kommandos
Blitz Brigade Reconnaissance 2 Transport
Bully Boyz Purge the Foe 2 Warboss, Nobz, Meganobz
Da Big Hunt Purge the Foe 2 Beastsnaggas
Dread Mob Purge the Foe 2 Walkers
Freebooter Krew Take and Hold 2 Infantry, Mounted, Walker, Flash Gitz
Green Tide Take and Hold 2 Boyz
Kult of Speed Disruption 2 Speed Freeks
Speedwaaagh! Reconnaissance 2 Speed Freeks
War Horde Take and Hold 3 All

Necrons Detachments

Detachment Disposition DP Preferred units
Hand of the Dynasty Take and Hold 1 Immortals, Warriors
Skyshroud Spearhead Reconnaissance 1 Mounted units
The Phaeron's Armoury Priority Assets 1 Monoliths, Tesseract Vaults
Annihilation Legion Purge the Foe 2 Destroyer Cult, Flayed Ones
Awakened Dynasty Take and Hold 3 Units led by Characters
Canoptek Court Take and Hold 3 Canoptek, Cryptek
Cryptek Conclave Priority Assets 2 Crypteks
Cursed Legion Purge the Foe 2 Destroyers
Hypercrypt Legion Reconnaissance 2 Monoliths
Obeisance Phalanx Disruption 2 Overlord, Lychguard, Triarch
Pantheon of Woe Purge the Foe 2 C'tan
Starshatter Arsenal Priority Assets 3 Vehicles and Mounted

Space Marines Detachments

Detachment Disposition DP Preferred units
Fulguris Task Force Disruption 1 Land Speeders
Librarius Conclave Reconnaissance 1 Psykers
Subversion Assets Reconnaissance 1 Scout Squads, Phobos
1st Company Task Force Priority Assets 2 Terminators and Veterans
Anvil Siege Force Take and Hold 2 Units with Heavy weapons
Armoured Speartip Take and Hold 3 Heavy transports
Bastion Task Force Take and Hold 2 Battleline units
Blade of Ultramar Priority Assets 3 Ultramarines, all
Ceramite Sentinels Take and Hold 3 Infantry - themed around being in terrain
Emperor's Shield Priority Assets 2 Imperial Fists, Terminators, Veterans
Firestorm Assault Force Purge the Foe 2 Units with Torrent weapons
Forgefather's Seekers Purge the Foe 2 Salamanders, Short ranged guns
Gladius Task Force Priority Assets 3 All
Hammer of Avernii Priority Assets 2 Iron Hands, Terminators, Veterans, Dreadnoughts
Headhunter Task Force Priority Assets 2 Tanks
Ironstorm Spearhead Purge the Foe 2 Vehicles and Walkers
Orbital Assault Force Take and Hold 2 Drop pods
Reclamation Force Take and Hold 2 Ultramarines, melee infantry
Shadowmark Talon Disruption 2 Ravenguard, Phobos, Scouts
Spearpoint Task Force Disruption 2 White Scars, Mounted, Land Speeders, Aircraft
Stormlance Task Force Disruption 3 Mounted, some vehicles
Vanguard Spearhead Reconnaissance 2 Phobos and Scouts

Space Wolves Detachments

Detachment Disposition DP Preferred units
Champions of Fenris Purge the Foe 1 Characters
Legends of Saga and Song Take and Hold 1 Terminators
Veterans of the Fang Disruption 1 Grey Hunters
Saga of the Beastslayer Purge the Foe 2 All
Saga of the Bold Priority Assets 2 Characters
Saga of the Great Wolf Take and Hold 2 Logan Grimnar, Wolf Guard
Saga of the Hunter Disruption 2 Grey Hunters, Blood Claws

T'au Empire detachments

Detachment Disposition DP Preferred units
Advanced Acquisition Cadre Reconnaissance 1 Pathfinders, Stealth suits
Auxillary Cadre Disruption 1 Kroot, Vespid, Stealth suits
Experimental Prototype Cadre Priority Assets 1 Battlesuit characters
Kauyon Priority Assets 2 Static ranged
Kroot Hunting Pack Take and Hold 2 Kroot
Mont'ka Purge the Foe 3 Mobile units
Retaliation Cadre Purge the Foe 2 Battlesuits

Thousand Sons Detachments

Detachments Disposition DP Preferred units
Ritual of Regeneration Purge the Foe 1 Psykers
Sekhetar Cohort Priority Assets 1 Sekhetar Robots
Servants of Change Reconnaissance 1 Tzaangors, Mutants
Changehost of Deceit Reconnaissance 2 Daemons
Grand Coven Priority Assets 3 All
Hexwarp Thrallband Take and Hold 2 All
Rubricae Phalanx Take and Hold 3 Rubric Marines, Terminators
Warpforged Cabal Disruption 2 Vehicles
Warpmeld Pact Purge the Foe 2 Tzaangors, Chaos Spawn, Mutalith Vortex Beasts

Tyranids Detachments

Detachment Disposition DP Preferred units
Ambush Predators Disruption 1 Lictors
Talons of the Norn Queen Take and Hold 1 Norn Emissaries, Norn Assimilators
Warrior Bioform Onslaught Take and Hold 1 Warriors
Assimilation Swarm Priority Assets 2 Harvester units
Crusher Stampede Purge the Foe 2 Monster
Invasion Fleet Take and Hold 3 All
Subterranean Assault Disruption 2 Burrower units
Synaptic Nexus Disruption 2 Synapse units
Unending Swarm Take and Hold 2 Endless Multitude units
Vanguard Onslaught Reconnaissance 2 Vanguard units

World Eaters Detachments

Detachment Disposition DP Preferred units
Butchers of Khorne Disruption 1 Terminators
Brazen Engines Purge the Foe 1 Daemon Engines
Vessels of Wrath Priority Assets 1 Non-epic hero Characters
Berzerker Warband Purge the Foe 3 All
Cult of Blood Priority Assets 2 Jackals, Goremongers, Monsters, Lord of Skulls
Goretrack Onslaught Take and Hold 2 Transports
Khorne Daemonkin Reconnaissance 2 Daemons
Possessed Slaughterband Purge the Foe 2 Eightbound, Daemon Princes