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 Until superseded by newer versions, the 3rd edition and later codices remained valid for the newer editions of Warhammer 40,000.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 As before, these codices remained valid until superseded by newer versions.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.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 |
7th Edition
All codices were rendered obsolete by 8th edition Warhammer 40,000. 7th Edition was released May 2014. Codex Supplements have their parent faction noted in brackets.| Codex | ISBN | Release date | Superseded By |
| Blood Angels | December 2014 | 8th Edition Index: Imperium 1 | |
| Cult Mechanicus | May 2015 | 8th Edition Index: Imperium 2 | |
| Craftworlds | April 2015 | 8th Edition Index: Xenos 1 | |
| Dark Angels | June 2015 | 8th Edition Index: Imperium 1 | |
| Dark Eldar | October 2014 | 8th Edition Index: Xenos 1 | |
| Deathwatch | August 2016 | 8th Edition Index: Imperium 1 | |
| Genestealer Cults | October 2016 | 8th Edition Index: Xenos 2 | |
| Grey Knights | August 2014 | 8th Edition Index: Imperium 1 | |
| Harlequins | February 2015 | 8th Edition Index: Xenos 1 | |
| Imperial Agents | December 2016 | 8th Edition Index: Imperium 1 & 2 | |
| Imperial Knights | May 2015 | 8th Edition Index: Imperium 2 | |
| Khorne Daemonkin | March 2015 | 8th Edition Index: Chaos | |
| Necrons | January 2015 | 8th Edition Index: Xenos 1 | |
| Orks | June 2014 | 8th Edition Index: Xenos 2 | |
| Skitarii | April 2015 | 8th Edition Index: Imperium 2 | |
| Space Marines | June 2015 | 8th Edition Index: Imperium 1 | |
| Space Wolves | August 2014 | 8th Edition Index: Imperium 1 | |
| Tau Empire | October 2015 | 8th Edition Index: Xenos 2 |
6th Edition
6th Edition was released June 2012. Codex Supplements have their parent faction noted in brackets.| Codex | ISBN | Release date | Superseded By |
| Adepta Sororitas | October 2013 | 8th Edition Index: Imperium 2 | |
| Astra Militarum | April 2014 | 8th Edition Index: Imperium 2 | |
| Chaos Daemons | March 2013 | 8th Edition Index: Chaos | |
| Chaos Space Marines | October 2012 | 8th Edition Index: Chaos | |
| Dark Angels | January 2013 | 7th Edition Codex: Dark Angels | |
| Eldar | June 2013 | 7th Edition Codex: Craftworlds | |
| Imperial Knights | March 2014 | 7th Edition Codex: Imperial Knights | |
| Inquisition | November 2013 | 8th Edition Index: Imperium 2 | |
| Legion of the Damned | February 2014 | 8th Edition Index: Imperium 1 | |
| Militarum Tempestus | Mars 2014 | 8th Edition Index: Imperium 2 | |
| Space Marines | September 2013 | 7th Edition Codex: Space Marines | |
| Tau Empire | April 2013 | 7th Edition Codex: Tau Empire | |
| Tyranids | January 2014 | 8th Edition Index: Xenos 2 |
| Codex Supplement | ISBN | Release date | Superseded By |
| Black Legion (Chaos Space Marines) | August 2013 | 7th Edition Revised Version | |
| Clan Raukaan (Space Marines) | November 2013 | 7th Edition Revised Version | |
| Crimson Slaughter (Chaos Space Marines) | March 2014 | 7th Edition Revised Version | |
| Farsight Enclaves (Tau Empire) | July 2013 | 7th Edition Revised Version | |
| Iyanden (Eldar) | June 2013 | 7th Edition Codex: Craftworlds | |
| Sentinels of Terra (Space Marines) | November 2013 | 7th Edition Revised Version |
5th Edition
5th Edition was released in 2008.| Codex | ISBN | Release date | Superseded By |
| Blood Angels | April 2010 | 7th Edition Codex: Blood Angels | |
| Dark Eldar | November 2010 | 7th Edition Codex: Dark Eldar | |
| Grey Knights | April 2011 | 7th Edition Codex: Grey Knights | |
| Imperial Guard | May 2009 | 6th Edition Codex: Astra Militarum | |
| Necrons | November 2011 | 7th Edition Codex: Necrons | |
| Sisters of Battle | N/A - White Dwarf | August/September 2011 | 6th Edition Codex: Adepta Sororitas |
| Space Marines | October 2008 | 6th Edition Codex: Space Marines | |
| Space Wolves | October 2009 | 7th Edition Codex: Space Wolves | |
| Tyranids | January 2010 | 6th Edition Codex: Tyranids |
4th Edition
4th Edition was released in 2004. Codex Supplements have their parent faction noted in brackets.| Codex | ISBN | Release date | Superseded By |
| Black Templars | November 2005 | 6th Edition Codex: Space Marines | |
| Blood Angels | N/A - White Dwarf | June/July 2007 | 5th Edition Codex: Blood Angels |
| Chaos Daemons | May 2008 | 6th Edition Codex: Chaos Daemons | |
| Chaos Space Marines | September 2007 | 6th Edition Codex: Chaos Space Marines | |
| Dark Angels | March 2007 | 6th Edition Codex: Dark Angels | |
| Eldar | November 2006 | 6th Edition Codex: Eldar | |
| Orks | January 2008 | 7th Edition Codex: Orks | |
| Space Marines | November 2004 | 5th Edition Codex: Space Marines | |
| Tau Empire | March 2006 | 6th Edition Codex: Tau Empire | |
| Tyranids | June 2005 | 5th Edition Codex: Tyranids |
| Codex Supplement | ISBN | Release date | Superseded By |
| Catachans | 2005 | 5th Edition Codex: Imperial Guard |
3rd Edition
3rd Edition was released in 1998. Codex Supplements have their parent faction noted in brackets.| Codex | ISBN | Release date | Superseded By |
| Chaos Space Marines | February 1999 | 3rd Edition Codex | |
| Chaos Space Marines | October 2002 | 4th Edition Codex | |
| Daemonhunters | March 2003 | 5th Edition Codex: Grey Knights | |
| Dark Eldar | November 1998 | 3rd Edition Codex | |
| Dark Eldar | November 2003 | 5th Edition Codex | |
| Eldar | August 1999 | 4th Edition Codex | |
| Imperial Guard | November 1999 | 3rd Edition Codex | |
| Imperial Guard | September 2003 | 5th Edition Codex | |
| Necrons | July 2002 | 5th Edition Codex | |
| Orks | July 1999 | 4th Edition Codex | |
| Space Marines | October 1998 | 4th Edition Codex | |
| Tyranids | February 2001 | 4th Edition Codex | |
| Tau | October 2001 | 4th Edition Codex: Tau Empire | |
| Witch Hunters | April 2004 | 5th Edition Codex: Sisters of Battle |
| Codex Supplement | ISBN | Release date | Superseded By |
| Assassins | July 1999 | Codex: Daemonhunters / Witch Hunters | |
| Blood Angels | December 1998 | 4th Edition Codex | |
| Catachans | February 2000 | 4th Edition Codex | |
| Craftworld Eldar | June 2000 | 4th Edition Codex: Eldar | |
| Dark Angels | May 1999 | 3rd Edition Codex | |
| Dark Angels | Nov 2002 | 4th Edition Codex | |
| Space Wolves | April 2000 | 5th Edition Codex |
2nd Edition
All codices were rendered obsolete by 3rd Edition Warhammer 40,000. 2nd Edition was released in 1993.| Codex | ISBN | Release date |
| Angels of Death | January 1996 | |
| Chaos | July 1996 | |
| Eldar | April 1994 | |
| Imperial Guard | November 1995 | |
| Orks | July 1994 | |
| Sisters of Battle | August 1997 | |
| Tyranids | August 1995 | |
| Ultramarines | April 1995 | |
| Space Wolves | January 1994 |
| Codex Supplement | ISBN | Release date |
| Assassins | December 1997 |
Expansions/Supplements
9th Edition
All 9th Edition expansions were superseded by 10th Edition, with the exception of the Arks of Omen "Boarding Actions" rules.| Book | Notes | ISBN | Release date |
| War Zone Charadon Act 1: The Book of Rust | Campaign & Death Guard, Adeptus Mechanicus, Imperial Knights, Chaos Knights, Drukhari Rules | ||
| War Zone Charadon Act 2: The Book of Fire | Campaign & Adeptus Mechanicus, Adeptus Sororitas, Be'lakor, Chaos Space Marines Rules | ||
| War Zone Octarius Book 1: Rising Tide | Campaign & Astra Militarum, Deathwatch, Fortification, Inquisition, Tyranids Rules | ||
| War Zone Octarius Book 2: Critical Mass | Campaign & Astra Cartographica, Orks Rules |
7th Edition
All 7th Edition expansions were superseded by 8th Edition.| Book | Notes | ISBN | Release date |
| Black Crusade: Angel's Blade | Blood Angels Update | September 2016 | |
| Black Crusade: Traitor's Hate | Chaos Space Marines Update | September 2016 | |
| Blood Oath | Warhammer World Campaign | May 2015 | |
| Death from the Skies | Expanded Rules for Flyers | May 2016 | |
| Death Masque | Deathwatch vs Harlequins | N/A - Boxset | August 2016 |
| Gathering Storm: Fall of Cadia | Narrative Campaign of Fall of Cadia | January 2017 | |
| Gathering Storm: Fracture of Biel-tan | Narrative Campaign | February 2017 | |
| Gathering Storm: Rise of the Primarch | Narrative Campaign | March 2017 | |
| Kill Team | Small Skirmish Games | N/A - Boxset | September 2016 |
| Path to Glory | Campaign | Digital Edition | December 2015 |
| Planetary Onslaught | Planetstrike, Cities of Death Compendium | November 2016 | |
| Planetstrike | Sanctus Reach Planetstrike Compendium | Digital Edition | September 2014 |
| Sanctus Reach: Hour of the Wolf | Planetrike Missions and Space Wolves | August 2014 | |
| Sanctus Reach: The Red Waaagh! | Planetstrike Rules and Orks | July 2014 | |
| Sanctus Reach: Stormclaw | Space Wolves vs Orks | N/A - Boxset | July 2014 |
| Shield of Baal: Deathstorm | Blood Angels vs Tyranids | N/A - Boxset | December 2014 |
| Shield of Baal: Exterminatus | Blood Angels and Necrons Detachments | December 2014 | |
| Shield of Baal: Leviathan | Cities of Death and Tyranids Update | November 2014 | |
| War Zone Fenris: Curse of the Wulfen | Space Wolves and Daemons Updates | February 2016 | |
| War Zone Fenris: Wrath of Magnus | Thousand Sons and Daemons Update | December 2016 | |
| War Zone Damocles: Burning Dawn | Tau Empire | N/A - Boxset | November 2015 |
| War Zone Damocles: Kauyon | Tau Empire and Space Marines Updates | November 2015 | |
| War Zone Damocles: Mont'ka | Tau, Astra Militarum and Assassins Updates | November 2015 | |
| War Zone Damocles: Operation Shadowtalon | Raven Guard | N/A - Boxset | November 2015 |
3rd Edition
Battlezone
Battlezone codices were rules supplements that dealt with a specialised combat environment, instead of an army. There was only ever one produced. However, material in Codex: Catachans provides rules for jungle warfare. The concept of a battlezone codex was replaced by Games Workshop's Expansions.| Codex | ISBN | Release date | Superseded By |
| Cityfight | September 2001 | 4th edition expansion Cities of Death |
3rd Edition Events
The two event codices were released in association with the 2000 and 2003 Worldwide Campaigns. These codices provided background and special gaming rules for the event, along with four "supplemental army lists"; variant armies that required access to certain other codices for use.| Codex | Obsolete Army Lists | ISBN | Release date | Superseded By |
| Armageddon | Black Templars, Salamanders, Speed Freeks, Armageddon Imperial Guard | August 2000 | 4th Edition Codex: Space Marines; Black Templars; Orks and 5th Edition Codex: Imperial Guard | |
| Eye of Terror | Lost and the Damned, Ulthwé Strike Force, Cadian Shock Troops, 13th Company | June 2003 | 4th Edition Codex: Eldar; Chaos Space Marines and 5th Edition Codex: Imperial Guard; Space Wolves |