The world's biggest wargame is a bit like phones in that new, updated versions are always coming out, and it won't be long before Warhammer 40K 11th Edition is joining the fray. That's because the system gets a revamp every three years (unlike the best board games, it's always evolving), which means we're due.
With Adepticon 2026 right around the corner, I'd be very surprised if we didn't see a reveal for Warhammer 40K 11th Edition during the livestream – that's certainly been the pattern before now. But what will it be like? What's changing, and which factions are going to headline this new version of the wargame?
I've been following Warhammer 40K in one way or another for almost 30 years, so I've got a pretty good idea. Here's what we can expect based on all the latest rumors, past patterns, and good old-fashioned speculation.
Warhammer 40K 11th Edition essential info
- A streamlining rather than an overhaul
- Launch box features Orks vs. Space Marines
- Due in June 2026
Want the TL:DR? Not a problem - here are your most burning Warhammer 40K 11th Edition questions, answered.
What is Warhammer 40K 11th Edition?
Warhammer 40,000 11th Edition is, as the name would suggest, the 11th version of the game since it first came out in 1987. Besides providing updated rules based on community feedback and internal playtests, it kickstarts a new game-wide storyline that moves the overall narrative forward. This involves Orks descending on the wartorn world of Armageddon, and the Space Marines who arrive to stop them.
What does Warhammer 40K 11th Edition change about the game?
Following AdeptiCon 2026, we now know that Warhammer 40K 11th Edition is more of a streamlining than a total reboot. For starters, your army books (AKA Codexes) are still compatible until they eventually get a new version however many years down the line. In addition, combat has been tightened with quality of life upgrades alongside changes based on community feedback - like objective marker circles being thrown out in favor of actual terrain we can fight over.
Why is Warhammer 40,000 11th Edition coming out?
While you're still very welcome to play older editions of the game, new versions typically sand away rough edges or address larger issues. As an example, the current edition removed fluff and introduced more accessible rules.
Warhammer 40K 11th Edition release date
- 11th Edition arrives June 2026
- Armageddon launch also drops in June
You'll be able to start playing Warhammer 40K 11th Edition very soon, because it arrives in June 2026. Things are kicked off by the Armageddon launch box, and a separate core rulebook (along with the usual starter sets, I'd assume) follow soon after.
Warhammer 40K 11th Edition new mechanics
- A more subtle update - not a massive overhaul
- Streamlining for combat, and community-based tweaks
Rather than the sweeping changes we saw in 10th Edition, Warhammer 40,000 11th Edition is more subtle - it's about quality-of-life tweaks, not a reinvention of the wheel. Basically, it looks to sand off many rough edges. Even though 10th was a success, it's not perfect – as we noted when it first came out, it was a bit unbalanced but a ton of fun.
Top of the list is the fact that your current Codexes will still be valid in 11th Edition. That's a marked departure from the past, where those books became doorstops as soon as a new edition dropped. Now they'll be usable until a new version of them eventually drops at some point in the future.
70 new detachments will follow this, and the type of match you play is going to be based on what you've chosen. No matter what though, they aren't going to be fighting over circular objective tokens anymore; these are being jettisoned and swapped out for terrain. Praise the Emperor!
We don't have precise details on other new additions to the game, but we do know courtesy of AdeptiCon that a lot of focus has been put on "cleaning up" combat. Stratagem stacking is a thing of the past, for instance, and the likes of disembarking now allows you to get stuck into melee right away (albeit with battleshock as a penalty).
Because Warhammer 40K 11th Edition hasn't been explained in full yet, we can't say for sure what all its new mechanics are going to be... but there are plenty of community suggestions. As a case in point, one of the most consistent requests I'm seeing after trawling the likes of Reddit is a look at re-rolls (either adjusting or removing them entirely). Another very common thread is improvements to the Combat Patrol game mode, because it's not quite matching the Age of Sigmar equivalent – Spearhead – right now.
Warhammer 40K 11th Edition starter box
- Called "Armageddon"
- Features Orks vs. Blood Angels
- Out in June
Every new edition of the game gets a limited-time launch box, and the same is true for 11th. It'll focus on Space Marines and Orks, with the greenskins facing off against the vampiric Blood Angels.
That makes a lot of sense; the greenskins have been due an update for a while, and they're the "big bad" of the upcoming Armageddon campaign book that closes out 10th Edition. Similarly, Blood Angels famously got a threadbare update in 10th. While I doubt we'll get any Blood Angels-specific miniatures in the launch box itself, that's likely to be one of the first drops of the edition – they're due some love in 11th, along the lines of what the Dark Angels got back in 2024.
Be that as it may, we only have two confirmed kinds of models right now: a new Intercessor Space Marine kit that allows you to use different marks of armor (representing them having to make hurried battlefield repairs), and a revised Ork Boy set.
Leviathan may not be available any more, but you can still get the 10th Edition Ultimate Starter Set from the likes of Amazon at a discount. I wouldn't grab it unless you're keen to have those two Combat Patrols and some terrain, though.
As per usual, the launch box is probably going to feature models you can't get anywhere else alongside the updated rules (much as we saw with the Skaventide box for Age of Sigmar 4th Edition). If you want the definitive launch for Warhammer 40,000 11th Edition, you need to get your hands on this. Just be aware that stock will get snapped up quickly, so move fast.
Don't worry too much if you miss out, though. Official starter sets will follow soon after, and if the trio of 10th Edition boxes are anything to go by, a range of them will be available. These go from cheap 'n' cheerful sets with paints for total beginners to "Ultimate" boxes with terrain and, if it's like the last version, two full Combat Patrols. While you're missing out on the exclusive models from the launch box and the full core rules, you're getting everything else.
Warhammer 40,000 11th Edition deals
Warhammer 40K 11th Edition has only just been announced, so there are no deals to be had… but if a reveal is now upon us, it won't be long before pre-orders are too. These will obviously go live at the Warhammer store, but they should appear at other retailers too. And because those retailers offer discounts on Warhammer stock, they'd be my go-to in this instance. For the US, start with Miniature Market. It takes a bit longer to get stock, but it'll knock around 10 to 20% off the MSRP. As for the UK, look no further than Wayland Games. It's by far the most reliable option around.
- See all Warhammer 40K deals at Amazon
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