Warhammer 40,000: Dark Angels 10th Edition: All the Information You Need to Know About the New Codex<br>

I adore the Dark Angels. The Space Marines, the edgiest of Warhammer 40,000’s poster boys, have been repentant ever since half of them embraced the evil gods and turned to Chaos 10 millennia ago. These robed angels, dedicated to pursuing the traitors known as the Fallen over all others, are inspired by biblical figures—they pursue the mysterious Luther above all—and tell a more captivating tale of heresy and self-loathing than any other chapter.

It also doesn’t hurt that the Deathwing are the most stylish Terminators around. Whether fielding all-Terminator or all-mounted (Ravenwing) troops on the battlefield, the Dark Angels have always been allowed to paint their armor bone white as a sign of their impending sacrifice in every fight. Compared to normal Space Marines, the low model count, highly specialized army is more difficult to play but also more rewarding.

New Deathwing Knights, a new Belial model, and an upgrade sprue for standard Deathwing Terminators are included in the Dark Angels Codex for 10th Edition. Although a release date has not yet been announced, new models of Inner Circle Companions and Interrogator-Chaplain Asmodai are also available. My complete review of the models can be found here, but for now, let’s concentrate on the lore and rule modifications found in the Codex itself.

Codex: Dark Angels Rules, Units, and Points Modifications


The loss of a few crucial units is the biggest alteration to the Dark Angels 10th Edition Codex. The Deathwing Command Squad, Talonmaster, and Strikemaster are no longer in existence. Unexpectedly, the Ravenwing Command Squad is still in place despite the removal of its bone-colored equivalent.

The Inner Circle Companions are the only new addition to the Codex. They are all equipped with Calibanite Greatswords and can be used in squads of three or six (105 or 210 points, respectively). These wicked weapons have four attacks with AP -1 and Strength 6. There are two profiles available: Sweep and Strike. The former deals Damage 2 deadly blows, while the latter took Damage 1 hits. However, if the opponent rolls to hit a character that is in the unit, they take a -1 penalty, and if the character attacks another, they receive a +1 hit bonus.

It’s a common misconception that the Deathwing Knights have lost their recognizable Maces of Absolution. For the Knight Master, there are two additional weapon profiles available to the elite unit. In the regular Marine Codex, Power Weapons function as usual; however, Maces exchange one attack and one point of AP for Damage 2.

The Master’s Great Weapon of the Unforgiven, which boasts five Strength 6, AP -2, Damage 2 hits with catastrophic wounds and sustained hits, has regrettably totally vanished. Instead of using the special rules, he can replace it with a Relic Weapon, which deals six Strength 7, AP-2, Damage 2 hits. Deathwing Knights are limited to five-person squads and now enjoy a massive point gain from 235 to 290. The Watcher in the Dark continues to operate under the same rules.

The special characters of the Dark Angels have all somewhat moved, with Azrael and Lion El’Jonson seeing the largest gains at 15 apiece. The Ravenwing Command Squad may now only be used in squads of three and has grown by an astounding forty points to 185.

Changes to the Dark Angels Codex Lore



The Codex includes a brief section devoted to the Chapter’s history and its relevance in the 41st millennium, in addition to upgrading the datasheets to utilize the Dark Angels on the tabletop. The search for the Fallen has recommenced with newfound vigor ever since the Lion emerged from his hibernation (and took home the fan poll for greatest Warhammer model of 2023). But there’s something about the hunt that’s different.

It appears that Lion El’Jonson thinks there is a mole within his group. He is keeping the Fallen near, forgiving them, and referring to them as Risen. Between their interrogations, the Primarch has covert meetings with the buried Fallen; occasionally, the prisoners vanish from view following these discussions. I wonder if the Risen have pledged new allegiance to the Lion, or if they are simply keeping their black armour from the Heresy era and their oaths of quiet.

Luther said in the novel Luther: First of the Fallen that he would only confess his faults to the Lion directly, and this is precisely what he predicted the Lion would do in the fourth edition of the Codex. Is Azrael hiding the fact that Luther is still alive and incarcerated on The Rock from the Lion, or does the Lion even know this? I can’t help but believe that Luther will play a role in the Dark Angels’ future, and that Azrael and Jonson’s secret could plant the seeds of mistrust and possibly cause the Chapter to split once more.