Warhammer 40k Space Marine Datasheets are here, and they showcase not one, not two, but 250 pages of Space Marine goodness.
Yesterday, Games Workshop have revealed the full datasheets for the Tyranids Faction after showcasing all the rules, weapons and stats of the models found in the Leviathan Box, the starter kit of the 10th Edition of Warhammer 40k. As the release of the next Edition is set to be on the 24th of June, so GW doesn’t have much time left to share the datasheets and points with the players, they revealed the full datasheets for the Space Marines – except the special Chapters, such as the Blood Angels, the Deathwatch, the Dark Angels, the Space Wolves, the Black Templars, and the ever-secretive Grey Knights.
If you though that the Tyranids Datasheets are long with their 94-page length, you’ll find that the Space Marine rules are Extensive, with a capital E, as Games Workshop have compiled their datacards in an index consisting of more than 250 pages. This contains the Oath of Moment rule, which let’s every Astartes reroll Hits and Wounds against a target, the Combat Doctrines Detachment Rule, which buffs Space Marines with extra abilities, stated by the Doctrines, and all the other datasheets, Stratagems and weapons showcased in the Space Marines Faction Focus. This takes up roughly 7 pages of the Datasheets, which means that there’s 245 pages of brand-new Adeptus Astartes might – and ESTNN tried to pick a few of the best of them!
Stratagems of the Warhammer 40k Space Marine Datasheets
Other than the Only in Death does Duty End Stratagem, which gives Fight on Death to one Astartes unit if it hasn’t fought yet in the Fight phase, 5 brand-new and revised Stratagems have been showcased:
- Armour of Contempt, an old friend, which worsens the Armour Penetration of all enemy units in the Shooting of Fight phase against an Adeptus Astartes unit for 1 CP,
- Honour the Chapter, which gives the Lance ability to one Space Marine unit, while also giving them +1 AP if they are in the Assault Doctrine for 1 CP,
- Adaptive Strategy, which let’s you change the active Combat Doctrine for one unit for 1 CP,
- Storm of Fire, which gives the Ignores Cover rule to one Space Marine unit from your army with a bonus AP if you chose the Devastator Doctrine at the start of the game,
- And the Squad Tactics, which let’s an Astartes Infantry or Mounted unit close the distance with and extra D6 Move, or just 6” if the Tactical Doctrine is active.
These Stratagems give extreme flexibility to the Space Marines, who successfully retained their jack-of-all-trades identity (unless until the “smaller” Chapters get extra rules).
Enhancements of the Warhammer 40k Space Marine Datasheets
Alongside the simplified Stratagems, Games Workshop combined the Relics and Warlord Traits into Enhancements, and the Space Marines received some great ones:
- Artifice Armour, which boosts an Astartes’ Armour Save to a 2+ while granting them a 5+ Feel No Pain,
- The Honour Vehement, which gives +1 Attack and Strength to the enhanced model’s melee weapons – or double that if the Assault Doctrine is active for your army,
- Adept of the Codex, which gives the Tactical Doctrine for the Captain model’s unit – even after the turn has passed in which the Doctrine was chosen,
- And Bolter Discipline, which gives the unit lead by the bearer the Sustained Hits 1 ability in ranged combat, while also granting a 5+ Critical Hit in the Devastator Doctrine.
These are 4 very distinct Enhancements, which let’s Space Marine players shape their armies in a way that suits their (or their chosen Chapter’s playstyle).
The Best Units of the Warhammer 40k Space Marine Datasheets
While the Space Marine Datasheets are more than 250 pages long, we don’t have to delve deep in order to find a great leader for a unit – or your entire army. The Primaris Captain has some incredible options in both Ranged and Melee, as he can carry three types of pistols alongside Power Weapons or a Power fist, a Relic Shield, or a Master-crafted bolt rifle, so he can fit into any type of Space Marine army, be it ranged or melee focused, or a mix of both.
The Primaris Captain also has the Rites of Battle ability, which let’s your use a Stratagem on him or a unit lead by him for free once per turn, while also letting your double up on the said Stratagem, which works great with both Core and Astartes Stratagems – who wouldn’t like to Fire Overwatch twice? The Captain can also make a last stand or a devastating charge thanks to his Finest Hour ability, which gives him 3 extra melee Attacks and the Devastating Wounds ability to let him exert the God-Emperor’s will.
If you’re looking for some armoured Walkers, the Contemptor Dreadnought could be your answer. This iron-clad warrior kept his Duty Eternal ability, which lessens the damage it takes by one, making him incredible hard to take down thanks to his 2+ Save, 10 Toughness and 12 Wounds. The Redemptor Dreadnought also has a wide array of ranged weapons from Heavy flamers to Gatling cannons which can deal with a variety of enemy units thanks to the many new Keywords. While the Redemptor Dreadnought is not meant for Melee combat first and foremost, it’s Redemptor Fist can deal up to 15 Damage per Fight phase, which is still a lot.
If you need something even heavier, you can rely on the Gladiator Valiant for example. This T10, 12 Wound vehicle can be equipped with Rockets, Meltas, Las-talons or Ironhail Heavy Stubbers for maximum firepower. They can also take on other Vehicles and Monsters with their Ferocious Assault, which gives them +1 to Hit against enemies with those two keywords.
While the Space Marine Chapters that had supplementary books in 9th Edition will receive separate Datasheets, the Chapters like the Imperial Fists, the Raven Guard and the Salamanders are still playable with their own Epic Heroes, such as Vulkan He’Stan for the Salamanders. His Gauntlet of the Forge is a fearsome flamer, and his Forgefather ability buffs every Flamer and Melta against a selected enemy – so the Salamanders can still bring fiery hell upon their enemies. His Seeker of Lost Relics also lets him hold down the fort on a selected objective while he tries to bring his Primarch back from… wherever Vulkan is.
Of course, this incredibly limited showcase of the whopping 250-page Datasheets doesn’t convey all the awesome rules for the Space Marines, so see for yourself here. Don’t forget to also follow ESTNN, as there’s still an incredible number of rules coming before the 10th Edition of Warhammer 40k!
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