Chaos Space Marines Lead New Pre-Orders on Saturday

Games Workshop starts pre-orders Saturday for new Chaos battleforces and units in Warhammer 40,000, Horus Heresy, and Warhammer: The Old World. The release focuses on Chaos Space Marines and their allies, giving players options to build armies around the four Chaos Gods. Pre-orders open at 1 p.m. EST in the US, with boxes priced around $250 each.

Background

Warhammer games have long centered on battles between human forces and Chaos followers. Chaos Space Marines broke away from the Imperium long ago and now serve dark powers. Games Workshop, the company behind these tabletop games, releases new models regularly to keep armies fresh. This weekend's pre-orders build on that with full army starter boxes called battleforces, each tied to one Chaos God: Khorne for blood and skulls, Tzeentch for magic and change, Nurgle for disease and endurance, and Slaanesh for excess and speed.

These battleforces let players start a Chaos Undivided army, mixing forces from all gods. The company also brings back classics for older game settings. Horus Heresy covers the civil war that split the Space Marines, while The Old World returns to fantasy battles with Chaos warriors from the north. Pre-orders like this happen most Saturdays, drawing fans to stock up on plastic models they assemble and paint for games.

Fans have ranked these battleforces already, with some calling them strong starters for new players. The Chaos Marauders fit into The Old World, where hordes raid from icy lands. Horus Heresy gets new heavy troops suited for tough fights.

Key Details

Chaos Battleforces

Four battleforce boxes headline the pre-orders. Each packs enough models for a full army core.

The Khorne Daemonkin box includes a Lord on Juggernaut, which builds as Lord Invocatus, a Master of Executions, six Bloodcrushers on mounts, 10 Khorne Berzerkers, 20 Bloodletters, and a World Eaters transfer sheet with 200 decals. These focus on close combat charges.

Sekhmet Coven serves Tzeentch with an Infernal Master, three Exalted Sorcerers, a Mutalith Vortex Beast, 10 Scarab Occult Terminators, and two Chaos Space Marines transfer sheets with 364 decals each. This set emphasizes psychic powers and tough units.

Vile Vectorium from Nurgle has a Daemon Prince, 20 Infractors that build as Tormentors, 12 Noise Marines, and four Emperor’s Children transfer sheets with 150 decals each. It plays on lasting through fights.

The fourth box rounds out Slaanesh forces, though details align with the resilient theme across Nurgle's followers.

Other Units

Chaos Marauders bring 20 plastic figures for The Old World. They form one big group or two smaller ones, each with a champion, musician, and standard bearer. Options include hand weapons and shields, great weapons, or flails, plus a Warriors of Chaos transfer sheet with 246 decals. These raiders burn their way south from northern wastes.

For Horus Heresy, Cataphractii Terminators come in a box of six with volkite chargers and power mauls. Thick armor and shield generators make them hard to kill, good against other elite troops. One can take a reaper autocannon for more firepower.

Breacher Squads suit close fights like boarding ships or sieges. The 10-man box has Space Marines in MkIII armor with shields, boltguns, alternate helmets, one graviton gun, one lascutter, and Sergeant options.

A Breacher Squad Upgrade Set turns existing Tactical Squads into Breachers. It provides shields, arms, and weapons for 10 models, working with MkII, MkIII, or MkVI armor.

"Chaos is rolling in, and if you can’t beat the Dark Gods, just join them. It’s easy, and if this week’s pre-orders are any indication, you get to hang out with some real style icons." – Games Workshop announcement

What This Means

Players gain full kits to jump into Chaos armies without buying pieces separately. Battleforces save money compared to individual models and give balanced starts for games. Khorne players get melee rushers, Tzeentch fans psychic tricks, Nurgle enduring blobs, and others noise and speed.

The Old World Marauders expand raiding forces, fitting big battles against empires. Horus Heresy additions like Terminators and Breachers fill gaps for veterans running civil war campaigns. Upgrades make older models useful again.

This wave hits after holiday releases, keeping momentum for 40K and side games. Stores see quick sell-outs on popular boxes, pushing fans to order fast. Army builders mix these into larger forces, like adding Daemonkin to World Eaters.

Communities buzz with rankings, some praising value in Scarab Terminators or Bloodletters. Others note high pack prices but strong contents for dedicated players. The transfer sheets alone help with markings on dozens of models.

Releases like these keep the hobby alive, with players trading lists and tactics online. Chaos armies grow more varied, matching loyalist Space Marines in options. Weekend pre-orders set up tables for matches soon after shipments arrive.