Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Hi all.

I'm a long time collector, inexperienced player, looking to get back in to 40K. I haven't bought a single rulebook or codex in a looooong time.

I'm interested in Inquisition, Assassins, Grey Knights and IG.

Would you guys mind confirming what books I need for the most up to date rules and point costs for those 4 "factions" in matched play?

Core rules
Codex Grey Knights
Codex Astra Mili.... IG

Do I need the datacards?
Do I need the Psychic Awakening or Warzone books?

Thanks in advance.

I think the new IG codex will be out in 2022 so maybe don’t buy that yet.

I think for grey knights you will need both the space marine codex and grey knights supplement.

Grey Knights is a standalone book.

The Guard are in a weird state of nobody knows what's happening outside of the designers. Things are incredibly likely to be shaken up heavily.

Unless you want to field a pure Scions force? Don't bother for the time being.

There are theoretically 3 books you'd need for Guard, the codex, for the greater good and whichever codex approved point values is current.

It's best not to bother until the update, because it's a mess. And no real hint of where anything is going beyond the PDF update that made Russes a bit better. I think.

Downside is, it isn't clear when that will happen, and what it will do. I suspect it will intentionally destroy certain playstyles, since I suspect GW hates (for example) artillery parked along the board edge, packed as tight as possible while throwing shells sideways. And the only way to do that outside of fixing core rules is to make those vehicles worse.

Ok so safe buys are the core rules and codex GK.

Where are the Inquisition rules at? There's no codex in their model range on the GW site.

I think the latest inquisition rules are in warzone octraious, rising tide. Not 100%, as I don’t play that faction.

@OP
Inquisition aren't really an army, they are force multipliers but the rules are indeed in Octarius: Rising Tide.
Grey Knights are a single book army, you don't need the Space Marine Codex, just the Grey Knight one.

You might get some of these rules, depending on when they were released, by subscribing to the app rather than buying books…

Thanks very much for all of the replies.

Grey Knights- Standalone codex
Inquisition- Warzone Octarius

Where are the rules for Assassins hidden at?

Hi all, I am in a similar situation and have a similar question to the OP. I have a 25 yr old chaos marine army (+1996 edition codex) and an itch to use them. I never actually played with the Chaos Marines although i had a few games of 2nd edition 40K with vanilla Marines, Orks and IG. I'm essentially a new starter in 40K and wondering how best to take the plunge.

My questiuon is: Should I buy the current Chaos Marines codex and either a) Core rules book or b) a starter set?

I'm not terribly interested in either Necrons or Spacebros (geneticaly modified fascists are apparently not twisted enough), so the models & stuff in the starter sets aren't terribly compelling, but that core book is not obviously as good value for money.

It also looks like none of the starter sets, even the big ones, actually have the full core rules. Is that right? How big a deal is it? Is anything in the starter sets (counters etc) useful/expensive to get otherwise?

Don't buy the current Chaos Marines codex. Their new one is due in the next few months I believe.

Crispy78 wrote:
Don't buy the current Chaos Marines codex. Their new one is due in the next few months I believe.

Ah - thanks. I hope they do some more Khorne minis then too as they're sadly lacking. Do you have a link for that scuttlebut on the codex?

Its not confirmed for any time soon (I.e. within 6 months), all we have is rumours and hearsay.

Most solid is here:

https://www.warhammer-community.com/2021/08/13/whos-getting-a-new-codex-in-2021-find-out-with-our-road-map-for-warhammer-40000/

"Eagle-eyed heretics** may note the lack of codexes for the Traitor Legions. Do not despair, as 2022 will be a bumper year for warp-based shenanigans."

There is talk of there being dedicated World Eaters and Emperors Children books as well as the updated CSM codex.

Thanks - I see. Pretty vague and understandably frustrating. I'd not want to spend the same ammount on a single army codex within 6-12 months so I'll take your advice to hold on.

I have 2nd edition, which came stuffed with counters & templates. Are they still used in 9th and a thing best acquired through a starter set?

Templates died off in the move to 8th edition. You could do with some objective counters but they can be anything. All you really need these days are lots of dice and a tape measure.

1thickcoat wrote:
Thanks - I see. Pretty vague and understandably frustrating. I'd not want to spend the same ammount on a single army codex within 6-12 months so I'll take your advice to hold on.

I have 2nd edition, which came stuffed with counters & templates. Are they still used in 9th and a thing best acquired through a starter set?

Neoprene objective markers are your friend:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/3d6Wargaming?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=986252909

Other than that just stuff to track wounds.

1thickcoat wrote:
Thanks - I see. Pretty vague and understandably frustrating. I'd not want to spend the same ammount on a single army codex within 6-12 months so I'll take your advice to hold on.

I have 2nd edition, which came stuffed with counters & templates. Are they still used in 9th and a thing best acquired through a starter set?

There are no counters & templates in today's game.

There is zero reason for you to buy any of the starter sets.

What you should do:
1) pick up the current rule book - as cheap as possible. It has rules NOT present in the free download version.

2) the CSM codex. Pick one up. AS CHEAP AS POSSIBLE. via ebay, Amazon prs from credit card, etc.
Why? Because even if a new version lands within 6 months it won't completely reshuffle things. So in the here & now you can get your stuff sorted & get playing

I'll post the CSM rumors here since they are tied to things that are real so it makes them slightly more probable:

Dont buy any books. Wait until the entire game gets reset. This will be happening soon.

Lol sure thing. You got any actual evidence for that chief?

The state of the game has never been worse.

That's a no then.

Anyone saying to not buy a Codex because it might be changed in half a year is giving bad advice. If you are going to be playing games for that half year, you need the rules regardless if they're brand new or not. If they're garbage then you have something to look forward to with the new Codex whenever it comes out. But if you think buying two Codexes 6 months apart is going to be too much money, then you might need to think about a different army.

 Gert wrote:
That's a no then.

Anyone saying to not buy a Codex because it might be changed in half a year is giving bad advice. If you are going to be playing games for that half year, you need the rules regardless if they're brand new or not. If they're garbage then you have something to look forward to with the new Codex whenever it comes out. But if you think buying two Codexes 6 months apart is going to be too much money, then you might need to think about a different army.

This is a bit disingenuous. You will be buying a lot more than “two books in 6th months”.

In the last year I've bought 3 books for 40k. The SM Codex, DW supplement and Drukhari Codex. If you're trying to stay on the competitive edge then sure you might need some Warzone books but apart from that 2 books in 6 months is more than reasonable.

Pancakey wrote:
The state of the game has never been worse.

Really? Ok.

Don't buy the 8th edition CSM codex unless you can get it CHEAP. Gw are currently dropping teasers for new CSM models, so the new codex isn't far away, and the 8th edition codex is, "lackluster". Gw kneecaped CSM at the end of 4th edition, and the faction hasn't recovered yet. So cross your fingers and hope that the 9th edition codex finally breaks the 4th edition CSM codex Curse.

 Gert wrote:
In the last year I've bought 3 books for 40k. The SM Codex, DW supplement and Drukhari Codex. If you're trying to stay on the competitive edge then sure you might need some Warzone books but apart from that 2 books in 6 months is more than reasonable.

Likewise. Here in '21 I've only bought.... 3 books for 40k - Codex: Drukhari, Codex: SoB, & Codex: Tau back in Oct.
And the Tau don't really count as I used Amazon pts (not actual $ out of my pocket. Not even a dime of interest as I don't run a balance. )

Squats? I don’t trust that rumor. If you’ve got the models and the codex is still 8th, like chaos, and you have a casual group, use wahapedia until you get your updated codex. Or BattleScribe. Buy the core rule book though... The csm 8th codex was rereleased with 8th supplements rolled in but I was kinda miffed they pulled that...

Thanks guys! Core rules it is for now then. I’m a noob so tournaments are unlikely.

I’ll just go and build a small shrine to the dark gods in the garden, hoping for a speedy CSM codex next year…