Codex (Warhammer 40,000)
A codex, in the Warhammer 40,000 tabletop wargame, is a rules supplement containing information concerning a particular army, environment, or worldwide campaign.
Codices for particular armies were introduced for the second edition of the game. The third edition rendered these obsolete, and a new series began, including introducing codices for battle zones and campaigns. Until superseded by newer versions, the 3rd edition and later codices remained valid for the newer editions of Warhammer 40,000. Games Workshop no longer produce campaign or battle zone codices, instead releasing 'expansions'. 'Codex' is now a term solely used for army books.
At the launch of 8th edition all previous codices were replaced with index books due to a major rules overhaul. The indices were subsequently replaced by a new series of codices. As before, these codices remained valid until superseded by newer versions.
The format of the codices has varied somewhat over the years. The most common elements between iterations include:
- Background - Information about the force and its place in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. This includes artwork, short stories, and copies of fictional documents from the future.
- Miniature Showcase - Originally a hobby section providing information on collecting, building and painting an army. Later a selection of photographs of Citadel Miniatures painted by Games Workshop's 'Eavy Metal team.
- Rules - Delivered in varying forms between editions. In earlier editions: a bestiary, alongside an army list. Since 7th edition, rules for each unit have been delivered on a datasheet. All other army rules and points are listed separately in sections before and after the datasheets.
Rules for models produced by Forgeworld are available as part of the Imperial Armour series of books, also published by Forgeworld. Rules for models no longer supported by codices and supplements can be found in Warhammer Legends on the Warhammer Community website.
Current Books
Army Codices
The range of codices is regularly updated with new editions of armies and occasionally new army codices. Codices designed for a prior edition of Warhammer 40,000 are still valid in the current edition, unless a later version has replaced it. Codex Supplements have their parent faction noted in brackets.10th Edition
10th Edition was released in June 2023.| Codex | ISBN | Release date | Number of Pages |
| Space Marines | 216 | ||
| Tyranids | 120 | ||
| Adeptus Mechanicus | 120 | ||
| Necrons | 136 | ||
| T'au | 136 | ||
| Adeptus Custodes | 112 | ||
| Orks | 152 | ||
| Chaos Space Marines | 160 | ||
| Genestealer Cults | 120 | ||
| Adepta Sororitas | 129 | ||
| Imperial Agents | 128 | ||
| Aeldari | |||
| Astra Militarum | |||
| Emperor’s Children | |||
| World Eaters | |||
| Death Guard | |||
| Thousand Sons | |||
| Chaos Knights | |||
| Grey Knights | |||
| Leagues of Votann | |||
| Imperial Knights | |||
| Drukhari |
| Codex Supplement | ISBN | Release date | Number of Pages |
| Dark Angels | 96 | ||
| Blood Angels | 104 | ||
| Space Wolves | |||
| Black Templars |
Expansions
Expansions for Warhammer 40,000 provide alternative ways to play the game. Rules in expansions remain valid unless superseded by a newer publication.10th Edition
9th Edition
Imperial Armour
For main article see Imperial ArmourImperial Armour is a series of official rules supplements to Warhammer 40,000 Codices produced by Forge World, a subsidiary company of Games Workshop. Current, valid books:
Obsolete Books
Codices
9th Edition
9th Edition was released in July 2020. All codices were rendered obsolete by 10th edition Warhammer 40,000. 10th Edition was released June 2023. Codex Supplements have their parent faction noted in brackets.| Codex | ISBN | Release date | Superseded By |
| Necrons | 10th Edition Index: Necrons | ||
| Space Marines | 10th Edition Index: Space Marines | ||
| Death Guard | 10th Edition Index: Death Guard | ||
| Drukhari | 10th Edition Index: Drukhari | ||
| Adeptus Mechanicus | 10th Edition Index: Adeptus Mechanicus | ||
| Adepta Sororitas | 10th Edition Index: Adepta Sororitas | ||
| Grey Knights | 10th Edition Index: Grey Knights | ||
| Thousand Sons | 10th Edition Index: Thousand Sons | ||
| Orks | 10th Edition Index: Orks | ||
| Adeptus Custodes | 10th Edition Index: Adeptus Custodes | ||
| Genestealer Cults | 10th Edition Index: Genestealer Cults | ||
| Tau Empire | 10th Edition Index: T'au Empire | ||
| Aeldari | 10th Edition Index: Aeldari | ||
| Tyranids | 10th Edition Index: Tyranids | ||
| Chaos Knights | 10th Edition Index: Knight Households | ||
| Imperial Knights | 10th Edition Index: Knight Households | ||
| Chaos Space Marines | 10th Edition Index: Chaos Space Marines | ||
| Chaos Daemons | 10th Edition Index: Chaos Daemons | ||
| Leagues of Votann | 10th Edition Index: Leagues of Votann | ||
| Astra Militarum | 10th Edition Index: Astra Militarum | ||
| World Eaters | 10th Edition Index: World Eaters |
| Codex Supplement | ISBN | Release date | Superseded By |
| Deathwatch | 10th Edition Index: Deathwatch | ||
| Space Wolves | 10th Edition Index: Space Wolves | ||
| Blood Angels | 10th Edition Index: Blood Angels | ||
| Dark Angels | 10th Edition Index: Dark Angels | ||
| Black Templars | 10th Edition Index: Black Templars |
8th Edition
8th Edition was released June 2017.| Codex | ISBN | Release date | Superseded By |
| Adeptus Custodes | 9th Edition Codex: Adeptus Custodes | ||
| Adepta Sororitas | 9th Edition Codex: Adepta Sororitas | ||
| Adeptus Mechanicus | 9th Edition Codex: Adeptus Mechanicus | ||
| Astra Militarum | 9th Edition Codex: Astra Militarum | ||
| Blood Angels | 9th Edition Codex: Space Marines | ||
| Chaos Daemons | 9th Edition Codex: Chaos Daemons | ||
| Chaos Knights | 9th Edition Codex: Chaos Knights | ||
| Chaos Space Marines | 8th Edition Codex: Chaos Space Marines | ||
| Chaos Space Marines | 9th Edition Codex: Chaos Space Marines | ||
| Craftworlds | 9th Edition Codex: Aeldari | ||
| Dark Angels | 9th Edition Codex: Space Marines | ||
| Death Guard | 9th Edition Codex: Death Guard | ||
| Deathwatch | 9th Edition Codex: Space Marines | ||
| Drukhari | 9th Edition Codex: Drukhari | ||
| Elucidian Starstriders | 10th Edition Index: Imperial Agents | ||
| Gellerpox Infected | N/A | ||
| Genestealer Cults | 9th Edition Codex: Genestealer Cults | ||
| Grey Knights | 9th Edition Codex: Grey Knights | ||
| Harlequins | 9th Edition Codex: Aeldari | ||
| Imperial Knights | 9th Edition Codex: Imperial Knights | ||
| Necrons | 9th Edition Codex: Necrons | ||
| Orks | 9th Edition Codex: Orks | ||
| Space Marines | 8th Edition Codex: Space Marines | ||
| Space Marines | 9th Edition Codex: Space Marines | ||
| Space Wolves | 9th Edition Codex: Space Marines | ||
| Tau Empire | 9th Edition Codex: Tau Empire | ||
| Thousand Sons | 9th Edition Codex: Thousand Sons | ||
| Tyranids | 9th Edition Codex: Tyranids |
| Codex Supplement | ISBN | Release date | Superseded By |
| Imperial Fists | 10th Edition Index: Space Marines | ||
| Iron Hands | 10th Edition Index: Space Marines | ||
| Ravenguard | 10th Edition Index: Space Marines | ||
| Salamanders | 10th Edition Index: Space Marines | ||
| Ultramarines | 10th Edition Index: Space Marines | ||
| White Scars | 10th Edition Index: Space Marines |
| Index | Factions | ISBN | Release date | Superseded By |
| Chaos | Heretic Astartes, Chaos Daemons & Questor Traitoris | 8th Edition Chaos codexes | ||
| Imperium 1 | 8th Edition Imperium codexes | |||
| Imperium 2 | 8th Edition Imperium codexes | |||
| Xenos 1 | Craftworlds, Drukhari, Ynnari, Harlequins & Necrons | 8th Edition Xenos codexes | ||
| Xenos 2 | Orks, Tau Empire, Tyranids & Genestealer Cults | 8th Edition Xenos codexes |