Warhammer 40,000 Core Book

In the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war.

The galaxy writhes in the mailed fist of all-consuming war. The Imperium teeters on the brink of annihilation, beset upon all sides by heretic warlords, daemon-summoning witches, and rapacious alien empires. The Great Rift sunders the void, a ragged wound torn through the heart of the Emperor's realm and bleeding madness and mutation across all.

In every star system and upon every planet, battle rages more fiercely than ever before as loyalists, heretics, and aliens tear reality itself apart in their war for dominance. Every day the flames rise higher – this is a more terrible era than ever before, for there is no peace amongst the stars…

The Book

This 220-page hardback book is an essential guide to Warhammer 40,000. It contains everything you need to know to collect, build, paint, and play with Citadel miniatures in the grim darkness of the 41st Millennium.

• Overview of the Warhammer 40,000 hobby: Learn about every aspect of the hobby.
• Core rules: Play battles ranging from small skirmishes to massive Onslaught games.
• Immersive lore and stunning visuals: Dive into the rich setting, with detailed illustrations and photography.
• Faction details: Discover each faction waging war in the far future.

The Warhammer 40,000 Hobby

The book begins with an introduction to the hobby through its four keys: Collect, Build, Paint, and Play.

• Start your collection of Citadel miniatures.
• Learn how to build and paint models, with tool suggestions and guides.
• Explore dynamic tabletop battles, including:
  • An example Battle Report between two armies.
  • Different styles of play: Combat Patrols, Chapter Approved competitive games, and narrative Crusade campaigns.

Dark Imperium

This expansive lore section immerses you in the grim darkness of the 41st Millennium, a future dominated by an oppressive and corrupt Human empire.

Key Highlights:

• The Imperium: Explore its decaying borders, ruled by the High Lords, Adeptus bureaucracies, and the fanatical Ecclesiarchy.
• Space Marines: Learn about the post-human warriors who fight battles no one else could endure.
• The Warp: Discover the hellish dimension fueling psychic powers and interstellar travel, ruled by the mad Gods of Chaos.
• The Great Rift: A galactic map highlights vital planets, systems, war zones, and warp storms.

The section also delves into the history of the setting, from Humanity's myth-shrouded past to its apocalyptic present. Learn about:

• The Great Crusade and the Horus Heresy.
• The Era Indomitus: Marked by the Great Rift, the rise of a new God of Death, the revival of Roboute Guilliman, and the resurgence of Hive Fleet Leviathan.

Factions

Explore the factions of Warhammer 40,000 with detailed backgrounds, tactical descriptions, and miniature showcases.

Armies of the Imperium:

• Space Marine Chapters
• Astra Militarum
• Adeptus Mechanicus
• Adepta Sororitas
• Adeptus Custodes

Forces of Chaos:

• Traitor Legions
• Heretic Astartes
• Chaos Daemons

Xenos Threats:

• Orks, T'au Empire, and Leagues of Votann.
• Aeldari, Drukhari, Necrons, Tyranids, and Genestealer Cults.

Core Rules

The Warhammer 40,000 Core Rules provide everything you need to wage battle across the war-torn galaxy. These rules apply to games of all sizes and styles, forming the foundation for additional supplements.

Learn About:

• General principles and core concepts.
• Datasheets and characteristics used by models.
• The five game phases:
  • Command Phase
  • Movement Phase
  • Shooting Phase
  • Charge Phase
  • Fight Phase
• Stratagems, abilities, and additional rules for terrain, aircraft, and Strategic Reserves.

You'll also find rules for:

• Mustering an army.
• Setting up models for a game.
• Controlling objectives to claim victory.
• A starter mission: Only War.

Combat Patrol

Combat Patrol is the ideal starting point for playing Warhammer 40,000. It’s fast-paced, quick to learn, and uses the Core Rules to play tactical clashes lasting up to an hour.

This section includes:

• An introduction to Combat Patrol game mode.
• Explanation of the Battle Ready painting standard.
• Six Combat Patrol missions:
  • Clash of Patrols
  • Archeotech Recovery
  • Forward Outpost
  • Scorched Earth
  • Sweeping Raid
  • Display of Might

Each mission features unique objectives, rules, and deployment maps for varied experiences.

The book concludes with a separate index for the Core Rules, providing a handy reference during gameplay.