Warhammer 40000 Core Rulebook 10th Edition
This Rulebook is for Warhammer 40K 10th Edition and is now out of date.
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 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 280-page hardback book is an essential guide to Warhammer 40;000; and contains everything you need to know to collect; build; paint; and play with Citadel miniatures in the grim darkness of the 41st Millennium.
You'll find an overview of the Warhammer 40;000 hobby in all its aspects; core rules for playing out battles that range from small skirmishes to massive Onslaught games; and an in-depth introduction to this rich and ruinous setting through immersive lore; stunning illustrations and photography; and an evocative look at each of the factions waging war in the far future.
THE WARHAMMER 40;000 HOBBY
The book opens with an introduction to this amazing hobby through its four keys – Collect; Build; Paint; and Play. You'll find out how to start your collection of Citadel miniatures; learn how people build and paint their models; and get suggestions to tools and guides that will help further. You'll also begin your journey as a commander with a look at how; where; and why players engage in dynamic tabletop battles of Warhammer 40;000; an example Battle Report between two armies; and an explanation of different styles of play – self-contained Combat Patrols; competitive Chapter Approved games; and narrative Crusade campaigns.
DARK IMPERIUM
This expansive lore section provides a doorway into the grim darkness of the 41st Millennium. It is a far-distant future dominated by an oppressive and corrupt Human empire; its crumbling borders defended by doomed heroes and imperiled by threats from both without and within; its history marked by ignorance and carnage and the laughter of thirsting gods.
The first part of this guide explores the decaying Imperium and the galaxy in which it resides – the long-dead God-Emperor who sits eternal on his Golden Throne; the High Lords and Adeptus bureaucracies that rule in his name; the fanatical Ecclesiarchy which preaches the Imperial faith; the secretive Ordos of the all-seeing Inquisition; and the post-human Space Marines who fight battles no other could endure. You'll also discover the hellish dimension known as the warp; which fuels psychic mutation and interstellar travel; the mad Gods of Chaos who rule its infinite depths; the blasphemous cults that serve them; and the Great Rift that splits realspace itself in two.
There's also a double-page galactic map; highlighting vital planets; systems; war zones; and warp storms.
The second half delves into the history of the setting; from its myth-shrouded past to the apocalyptic clashes of its present. You'll find a timeline of Humanity's development through the Ages of Terra and Technology; the Ages of Strife and Darkness; all the way to the Age of the Imperium. You'll explore the superstitions that fuelled the Imperium's worship of lost technology and its fearful hatred of aliens and mutants; the Great Crusade through which the Emperor sought to unite Humanity; the Horus Heresy that set the galaxy aflame; and the millennia of war and loss that shaped the Imperium.
Finally; you'll enter the Era Indomitus – marked by the opening of the Great Rift; the birth of a new God of Death; and the revival of the Primarch Roboute Guilliman. Even as the new Lord Regent's Indomitus Crusade strives to reunite the dying Imperium; a psychic awakening heralds a terrifying Age of Witches; and Abaddon the Despoiler plagues the galaxy with aid of the daemonic demigod Vashtorr and their Arks of Omen. The return of Lion El'Jonson; the First Primarch of the Emperor; only forestalls total disaster – and with the resurgence of Hive Fleet Leviathan; the galaxy may be reduced to nothing but food for an alien swarm.
FACTIONS
Explore each of the factions waging war in Warhammer 40;000; with detailed background information plus tactical descriptions and a miniature showcase of their Combat Patrols. The mustered Armies of the Imperium include mighty Space Marine Chapters; the ranks of the Astra Militarum; the fanatical cults of the Adeptus Mechanicus and Adepta Sororitas; and the golden guardians known as the Adeptus Custodes. The blasphemous Forces of Chaos feature ancient Traitor Legions and more recent Heretic Astartes; as well as the otherworldly Chaos Daemons. Finally; the insidious Xenos Threat ranges from the brutish Orks; mercenary Leagues of Votann; and expansionist T'au Empire to the ancient branches of Aeldari and Drukhari; the deathless Necrons; and the ravening Tyranids and their Genestealer Cults.
CORE RULES
The Warhammer 40;000 Core Rules contain everything you need to know in order to wage glorious battle across the war-torn galaxy of the 41st Millennium. These basic rules are used for games of all sizes and styles; and provide a foundation for use with other supplements.
You'll learn the general principles and core concepts of Warhammer 40;000; the datasheets and characteristics used by your models; and the rules that apply to the five phases of the game: the Command phase; the Movement phase; the Shooting phase; the Charge phase; and the Fight phase. You'll also find Stratagems and abilities used by all armies; as well as additional rules for elements like Strategic Reserves; terrain features; and aircraft.
Lastly; there are rules for mustering an army; setting up your models for a game; controlling objectives to claim victory; and a mission – Only War – to get you started playing right away.
COMBAT PATROL
Combat Patrol is the ideal starting point for playing Warhammer 40;000. Fast-paced and quick to learn; it uses the Core Rules to play out tactical clashes that should last up to one hour; using only the contents of Combat Patrol boxes. These forces each have bespoke; self-contained rules which are presented online and in other publications; and provide everything you need to get playing. This section provides an introduction to the Combat Patrol game mode; an explanation of the Battle Ready standard of painting for games; and six different Combat Patrol missions – Clash of Patrols; Archeotech Recovery; Forward Outpost; Scorched Earth; Sweeping Raid; and Display of Might – each with their own objectives; mission rules; and deployment maps for a variety of game experiences.
The book concludes with a separate index for the Core Rules; acting as a handy reference for use while playing games.