The new edition of Horus Heresy, also known asWarhammer 30K, is upon us. If youdon’t want to read 64 novelslike I’m attempting, then I’ll run you through a (very) brief history of the setting, as well as help prepare you for the game’s third edition.
Warhammer: The Horus Heresy third edition is closing in fast, as evidenced by Warhammer Community’s frequent posts teasing the rules changes. It looks like there’s going to be a big shake-up to most areas of the game, from building your army to the basic stats of each warrior. While many existing players believed that the rules only needed light tweaks, these sweeping changes put everyone in the same boat, making third edition a great place to start your tabletop Heresy experience.
What Is The Horus Heresy?
I was there, the day that Horus killed the Emperor… Thus starts Horus Rising, the first novel in the Horus Heresy series. It perfectly encapsulates the trials of the 31st millennium, where half of the Emperor’s sons rebel against his rule, causing civil war and putting into motion a calamitous series of events that will impact the galaxy for millennia.
But let’s take it right back. You know what a Space Marine is, right? Genetically engineered super soldiers that are like the space SAS? The 18 Legions are descended from 18 Primarchs, each one of the Emperor’s sons. Even larger and more powerful than a Space Marine, they’re basically demigods who walk among men, and act as the protagonists for the Horus Heresy.
However, half of the brothers fall victim to the Chaos Gods. Tricked and coerced each, Horus and eight of his brothers turn on those loyal to their father. There are thousands of battles, hundreds of betrayals, and a winding plot that would take you years to fully understand, but the gist is: brother turns on brother, Space Marine versus Space Marine.
That means there are no xenos forces in the game. NoAeldari, no Orks. You can play as the Solar Auxilia (proto-Astra Militarum) and the Mechanicum (the precursors to the Mechanicus), but other than those options, you have to pick a Space Marine Legion.
How To Prepare For Warhammer: The Horus Heresy Third Edition
Despitenumerous Warhammer Community articles, we really don’t know a lot about the next edition of the Horus Heresy game. However, there are still a few things you can do to prepare for its imminent release.
Firstly, pick your Legion. Spend some time reading the lore, checking out colour schemes, or working out which unique unit you’d most like to use. Love flamethrowers and the colour green? Salamanders. Want to harness the dangerous psychic powers of the Warp? Try the Thousand Sons. Alternatively, just pickthe Legion that matches your star sign.
you’re able to buy a few units, too. The basis of any Horus Heresy army are the regular Space Marines. These squadsform the backbone of any force, so you can pick up a box or two of these (each box includes 20 soldiers as opposed to the ten in a 40K box) to get you started. There are different armour marks to choose from, but these are completely cosmetic and make no difference to gameplay. I use Mk. 3 because I think it looks the coolest.
You can also safely invest in some transports. Rhinos and Land Raiders will never go out of fashion, so they’re a solid bet. You’ll also need a commander to lead your army. Don’t go all-in on a Primarch just yet – they’re complicated resin kits and you’ll want some experience under your belt before tackling them – but find yourself a Praetor or Centurion for now. Primarchs are only really balanced at 3,000pts, which will take you a while to get to.
The alternative is to pre-order theSaturnine box. It’s going to be pretty expensive, but contains 40 Legionaries in Mk. 2 armour, six Saturnine Terminators, a power-armoured Centurion, a Saturnine-armoured Praetor, and a Saturnine Dreadnought. Early estimations suggest that the Saturnine Praetor is nearly as big as an old Dreadnought, and the Saturnine Dreadnought is even bigger than the 40K Redemptor. There’s also an Araknae Quad Accelerator Platform, which is a big gun emplacement.
The box is Legion agnostic, meaning you can paint it in whatever colours you choose, but you’re unlikely to need any more Tactical Squads if you buy it. Those Rhinos and Land Raiders will still come in handy, though, if you’re eager to get started before pre-ordering the starter set.
The Saturnine box also comes with the full hardback rulebook for Horus Heresy third edition, which is vital for playing games.
Too Long; Didn’t Read
In summation, there are a handful of crucially important things you need to do before the release of Horus Heresy third edition. First, choose your faction. Whether you read the lore heavily, choose an army that looks strongest, or just pick your favourite colour or match your star sign, it doesn’t matter. Pick your Legion, immerse yourself in it, and grab whatever paints you need.
Then, choose how you’re going to build the army: the new box set or individual units. If you’re waiting for pre-orders to go live, hold tight. Otherwise, maybe grab your first box of Tactical Marines and start building. The Horus Heresy kits are more complex than their practically push-fit 40K cousins, so might take a bit longer to assemble. That’s all a part of the fun, though.
After that, the choice is yours. Find a group of local players who are planning a campaign or series of one-off battles. Chat with likeminded hobbyists in online forums. Form a book club. This hobby is exponentially better when shared with others.
