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The leading rumors are "Necrons vs Space marines" with further rumors suggesting "blue marines" which could be either Ultramarines or Crimson Fists.

Personally? I'd love to see Salamanders in there. They're one of the 9 Loyalists who've never been featured in a big box and the Necrons are mostly active in the Segmentum Pacifica, which is Salamander territory. Seems that they'd be the ones best in place to pick up the Poster Boy placement for the edition (which, supposedly, is more akin to "8/5" than a full reboot.)

Assuming that this is the case, what forces do you think are most likely to be inside the box?

My pick is roughly the following:

SPACE MARINES
1 Captain, 1 Chaplain
10 Intercessors
3 Aggressors
1 Dreadnought

NECRONS
1 Lord, 1 Cryptek
20 Warriors
5 Flayed Ones
1 Heavy Destroyer

…

(Outside shot of having two Lieutenants instead of the Marine Chaplain).

This gives two characters to each, two min troop options, a special unit (Agressors, probably given flamers if Salamander) vs new plastic Flayed Ones, and a Dread vs a heavy Destroyer (new plastic)

It's enough mass to feel heavy, 46 models in total which is about normal, a few big things to be focal points, enough new models to get players into the Necrons maybe, cheap Marines to start people down the Primaris path, without anything having just *crazy* rules, tho "We'll be back" on the Warriors will be tricky to get a hang on unless replaced with a "Feel no pain" rule instead. We'll see.

Anyway, that's my prediction, with nothing to go on in terms of new rumors whatsoever, but nobody knows for CERTAIN yet.

Until then... speculate!

What would YOU want in the 9th ed box for clashing factions once it, eventually, drops?

Necrons vs Deathwatch/Harlequins

Kirioth did say Deathwatch had been touted as a possible Marine faction. But he's doubtful for several reasons.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhNn5i3Fmh0
That said, DW getting the starter box and(presumably) a new Codex early in the edition might explain them getting the WD treatment. And GW have used divergent SM forces before(hello Dark Vengeance)So fingers crossed. But some form of Codex compliant chapter is most likely. So the exact flavour does not really matter as there wont be any specific iconography on the models.

Necrons are the more exciting prospect IMO though. Hopefully it would herald a range refresh with the retirement of the green rods and much of the finecast.

Space Marines vs other Space Marines.

I would bet on an archivist, because it's the end of PA:
1 captain
1 archivist or lieutenant
10 tactical
1 land speeder (to change from the usual dreadnought)
5 vanguard veterans with jump pack, instead of the terminators

Against
1 Lord
3 destroyers
20 warriors
1 destroyer lord

Sisters of Battle versus Genestealer cult.
It makes perfect sense: Sisters of Battle do a lot of thing, but they really mostly focus on heresy. Chaos space marines are technically heresy but, like, they left the Imperium already, not really the Sisters' alley. Meanwhile, Genestealer cults are really heresy eating the Imperium from the inside.
So there is absolutely no doubt: SoB vs genecult!!

Necrons vs AdMech, featuring a Skitarii Primus 2 set and Skitarii Alpha Primus.

Hold onto your butts people, 8.5's gonna be a wild ride.

Dark Eldar vs Astra Militarum.

Of course, I'd just prefer they stick to 8th and just do a big release and possibly a codex rewrite for each of those forces.

If 9th drops, it will be marines vs something, and it will be followed by 6 Space Marine releases in the first year, all of which we've already seen and done.

I think 9th is the last thing 40k needs; if they do it as a soft 8.5, I might be able to live with it, and it could end up being a good thing. But I'm skeptical. Every edition's first year is always ridiculously marine heavy.

It isn't until you're at least two years in that you can even innovate. The non marine factions still have a lot of growing to do. No 9th until Finecast is dead. No 9th until DE get their legacy HQ's reimagined. No 9th until the Tau actually have real alien auxiliaries.

I bought into 8th heavier than any other edition of the game, mostly due to the SoB and GSC, the cross platform integration and in some part on the promise of an endless living edition. Nothing is perfect, but so far there's been far more good for my personal taste than bad.

Some people here absolutely will not get it- which is okay, of course- but this truly is my 40k Golden age, and Ive played at least a little in every edition all the way back to Rogue Trader in 1989.

Literally nowhere except Bell of Lost Souls has referred to it as "9th edition" seriously. Any mention is just "new starter set" or 8.5.

Also, we have Tau auxiliaries. They're called Kroot and Vespid.

 Kanluwen wrote:
Literally nowhere except Bell of Lost Souls has referred to it as "9th edition" seriously. Any mention is just "new starter set" or 8.5.

But that's splitting hairs needlessly. Is it a revision of the game? Yes/no. If yes, new edition.

Ravenwing vs Necrons highlighting new Primaris bikes and speeders

But not until 2 years from now please

Plastic Aspects vs Militarum Traitoris

 Ginjitzu wrote:
Plastic Aspects vs Militarum Traitoris

See, if it was about what I *wanted* to see, instead of what I'd expect, I'd pitch for Imperial Guard vs Chaos Marines. It would have been a perfect Cadia box, if not for, you know … no more Cadia.

Flipping the usual script, where a handful of Brave Marines combat a whole bunch of Dirty Xenos, making the marines the bad guys and the more numerous, but more fragile, side the good guys?

That's just keen.

It gets more players involved with Chaos, which has always had lots of PRESENCE and notoriety, and brings other players into Guard, who are one of the biggest moneymakers around, after only the Orks in terms of "How much you have to buy to play'.

It's great for both the marketing side and the writing side, but, alas, they've never done it.

 Ginjitzu wrote:
Plastic Aspects vs Militarum Traitoris

That would be good. But not Howling Banshees and Dire Avengers only. Share the love with other Aspects

Normally for these boxed sets its a variety of troop types. Some durable troops some soft troops etc. That is why I don't think it will be Necrons vs (some flavour of) Space Marines. Neither faction has soft troops. I know all troops are soft in the artillery barrage we call a game, but you know what I mean.

Wakshaani wrote:

My pick is roughly the following:

Poor necrons. Would be rather uneven matchup

Necron warriors are on sprues of 6 aren't they? Unless they get redesigned, your numbers are off...

Unless he assumes new improved plastics without green rods(which is common desire).

Would welcome one as well as getting 20 strong units in pain. Though not looking forward to inevitable price hike. 50€ for 10 for example...

But yes atm you get them in box of 12 +3 scarab base.

edit: Aaaah actually I think it was sprue of 4+scarab base so box is 3 sprues. So 20 is actually 5 sprues. Fits.

I don't even expect a new box at all. I think they'll do 8.5 edition with the return of some universal special rules, refined terrain and simply put a new rulebook in Dark Imperium - basically what they did in 7th edition.

Marines, not what I want but inevitable, Vs craftworlds with new dual guardians kit, new dark reapers, new autarch skyrunner and new shining spears would be very nice.

I think GW should do at least 3 variations of the starter set, each with own sort of approach.

Primaris vs. Chaos
classic rivalry, elite force vs. elite force

Admech vs. Necrons
tech vs. tech

Sisters of Battle vs. Orks
resilience vs. numbers

I'd also like to see a fourth, but I doubt the set could come with the appropriate numbers...

Guard vs. Nids - horde vs. horde, range vs. melee

Sgt. Cortez wrote:
I don't even expect a new box at all. I think they'll do 8.5 edition with the return of some universal special rules, refined terrain and simply put a new rulebook in Dark Imperium - basically what they did in 7th edition.

So, 9th edition.

I mean, if that's what they did & you all call it 7th, why wouldn't you call it 9th if they do it again?

ccs wrote:

Sgt. Cortez wrote:
I don't even expect a new box at all. I think they'll do 8.5 edition with the return of some universal special rules, refined terrain and simply put a new rulebook in Dark Imperium - basically what they did in 7th edition.

So, 9th edition.

I mean, if that's what they did & you all call it 7th, why wouldn't you call it 9th if they do it again?

I don't care how they call it, if 9th or 8.5 or what, my point was that I don't expect a new box . 8.5 was merely meant to underline that I don't expect a lot to change ruleswize.

Factions in dire need of stylistic upgrades in the troops department :

- tyranids
- necrons
- astra
- chaos daemons
- craftworld


Given that tyranids and daemons are basically abandoned at this point , and astra are not a good choice for a boxed set, necrons Vs something or eldar Vs necrons sound like a good bet.

straigt outta the left field, traitor guard vs Sisters.

Would be nice to have something like DA vs SW box, or Ultramrines vs Minotaurs. this way one could use both sides of the box, without feeling of wasting money or having a hope that maybe someone plays a xeno or non marine faction, and is going to want that stuff.

failing that make the non marine stuff eldar. eldar players want new models, so maybe they would buy the other half of the box, if it had units with good rules.

Deathwatch vs Harlequins

Ultramarines vs Ynnari. Have Guilliman and Yvrane go though a toxic breakup.

Grey Knights vs traitor guard & demons.

Still ticks the box for GW needing to have Space Marines in the box, it’s a perfect opportunity to update the Grey Knight range with some new plastics, and to introduce a proper traitor guard army ( use the Blackstone Fortress sprues as a starting point) and some nice demon models for variety.

Realistically speaking, one of the factions would have to be space marines of some kind, and not too specialist ones (we did have Dark Angels once, but they aren't that divergent, still being standard space marines). So, that would remove Grey Knights from the running. I also wouldn't expect Deathwatch because they have some more difficult painting bits (all the shoulder pads) and could be confusing.

That said, they need some sort of opposition which is where some more variety is a possibility. Recently, the big enemy has been Chaos, but it would be possible to include some Xenos. They would preferably have to be one that's 'Evil' to strengthen the idea of two sides, which instantly removes the Eldar and Tau. Dark Eldar would also not work very well because they are a relatively minor faction and nowadays, GW likes to push the big conflicts. So, we are left with Orks, Tyranids, Chaos, and Necrons. Out of them, I think that Necrons or Tyranids would be a good fit. Tyranids even have two factions that could be boosted and Necrons are quite a simple thing to get started with in terms of painting them.

Crispy78 wrote:
Necron warriors are on sprues of 6 aren't they? Unless they get redesigned, your numbers are off...

The big assumption, here, is that you get a new Necron Warrior model debuting here (as well as new Flayed Ones, topped off with a Heavy Destroyer in plastic instead of Finecast) … it's one that'd drive older players that wanted in, move away from the green rod style (shame as I dig those things!), while the Marine half brings in the new players.

This would let you drop a new "Start Collecting necrons" box, using 10 of the new Warriors and new Flayed Ones, the Heavy Destroyer, and toss in a command model (lord or Cryptek) as a bonus to call it done.

I figure Necrons are the move, since they get the last DA book, which would roll into the new edition hype, and have never co-starred in a starter box.