Codex (Warhammer 40,000)

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Example early 3rd edition Codex (Imperial Guard) Each codex had its own lettering style for the title.
Example late 3rd edition Codex (Imperial Guard) All of these longer codices had a standard black border and common title style.

A codex (often pluralized as codexes by Games Workshop, though the grammatically correct pluralization is codices),[1] 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 battlezones and campaigns.

Until superseded by newer versions, the 3rd edition and later codices remain valid for the newer editions of Warhammer 40,000 (currently the oldest valid codex is Codex: Chaos Space Marines - 6th Edition). Games Workshop no longer produce campaign or battlezone codices, instead releasing 'expansions'. 'Codex' is now a term solely used for army books.

A codex normally contains:

  • 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.
  • Bestiary - A description of the units, characters and vehicles that can be chosen for use in a battle. This includes their characteristic values, information on their weapons, and any limitations on their use, as well as background information on the unit. The army's special psychic powers (if any) and wargear is also listed here, showing the rules for each item, as well as any legendary artifacts the army may use.
  • Hobby section - Information on collecting, building and painting an army from the codex. This features outstanding example models painted by veteran hobbyists and Games Workshop's 'Eavy Metal team.
  • Army list - The items in the bestiary are arranged by type and given a points value, with more powerful units costing more points, so that battles are fought between balanced armies. Options are also given here along with their cost.

In June 2013 Games Workshop introduced new codex supplements. Codex supplement books are additional rules and options for an army's standard Codex and contain additional background. These options often include new relic lists, warlord traits, and Special Characters to be used within the detachment. A detachment using a codex supplement may also ally with the parent codex, and vice versa. The parent Codex is required to use the supplement. For example, Iyanden is a supplement to Codex: Eldar that allows Craftworld Iyanden specific rules to be used in an Eldar army.

In June 2014 Games Workshop redesigned the basic layout of the codex, as standard for 7th Edition. New 7th Edition codices will now contain:

  • 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 - (The same style as before).
  • Showcase - This is the old Hobby Section that now contains just pictures of the Citadel Miniatures; painted by Games Workshop's 'Eavy Metal team.
  • Army List - This contains datasheets for every unit and a wargear list. A datasheet contains the complete rules and points values needed to field a unit and a picture of the model from the Citadel Miniatures range. It also includes a description of the unit, as per the old bestiary.
  • Appendix - This contains a complete, detailed list of all the army's weapons, special rules, psychic powers, warlord traits and any detachments or tactical objectives it may have. It also contains a quick reference sheet at the very back.

A complete and comprehensive list detailing all the datasheets available for each faction is available on the Datasheet (Warhammer 40,000) wikipedia page. This compiles a list of datasheets available throughout different Games Workshop publications that many not be included in the parent codex.

Current Books

Army Codices

The range of codices is regularly updated with new editions of armies and occasionally new army codices. However, all codices prior editions of Warhammer 40,000 are still valid in the current edition, unless a later version has replaced it.

7th Edition

7th Edition was released May 2014. All 7th Edition Codices are hardcover and full colour books.

Main Codices

These codices provide the core book for a faction.

Codex ISBN Release Date
Tau Empire ISBN 978-1785810091 October 2015
Dark Angels ISBN 978-1782537526 June 2015
Space Marines ISBN 978-1782537472 June 2015
Cult Mechanicus ISBN 978-1782537427 May 2015
Imperial Knights ISBN 978-1782537342 May 2015
Craftworlds ISBN 978-1782537304 April 2015
Skitarii ISBN 978-1782537380 April 2015
Khorne Daemonkin ISBN 978-1782537267 March 2015
Harlequins ISBN 978-1782536833 February 2015
Necrons ISBN 978-1782536079 January 2015
Blood Angels ISBN 978-1782536123 December 2014
Dark Eldar ISBN 978-1782534839 October 2014
Grey Knights ISBN 978-1782533702 August 2014
Space Wolves ISBN 978-1782533818 August 2014
Orks ISBN 978-1782533290 June 2014
Codex Supplements

The parent Codex (noted in the parenthesis) is required to use the supplement. Some 6th edition codex supplements have been revised to work with their new 7th edition codex counterpart. An * will indicate these - they will also only be available digitally as the original print versions are obsolete.

Codex ISBN Release Date
Clan Raukaan (Space Marines) ISBN 978-1782534068 June 2015 (Digital Only Release)
Sentinels of Terra (Space Marines) ISBN 978-1782533658 June 2015 (Digital Only Release)
Haemonculus Covens (Dark Eldar) ISBN 978-1782534938 October 2014
Champions of Fenris (Space Wolves) ISBN 978-1782533993 August 2014
Waaagh! Ghazghkull (Orks) ISBN 978-1782534600 July 2014

6th Edition

6th Edition was released June 2012. All 6th Edition Codices are hardcover and full colour books, except for a few iPad/eBook only editions.

Main Codices

These codices provide the core book for a faction. They contain the full background, bestiary, hobby section and army list sections.

Codex ISBN Release Date
Astra Militarum ISBN 978-1782532590 April 2014
Militarum Tempestus ISBN 978-1782533047 April 2014
Legion of the Damned ISBN 978-1782535263 March 2014 (Digital Only Release)
Tyranids ISBN 978-1782531951 January 2014
Inquisition ISBN 978-1782534044 November 2013 (Digital Only Release)
Adepta Sororitas ISBN 978-1782533603 October 2013 (Digital Only Release)
Chaos Daemons ISBN 978-1908872883 March 2013
Chaos Space Marines ISBN 978-1908872029 October 2012
Codex Supplements

The parent Codex (noted in the parenthesis) is required to use the supplement. For example, Crimson Slaughter is a supplement to Codex: Chaos Space Marines that allows rules for the Chaos Warband of the Crimson Slaughter to be used in a Chaos Space Marines detachment.

Codex ISBN Release Date
Crimson Slaughter (Chaos Space Marines) ISBN 978-1782533108 March 2014
Black Legion (Chaos Space Marines) ISBN 978-1782533016 August 2013

Expansions/Supplements

A supplement is for use in standard games, though they may significantly alter the game (such as by adding super-heavy vehicles to normal games, or the many supplemental battle missions). An expansion is normally a different way to play the game (such as the large scale battles of Apocalypse, or the different campaign expansions). Supplements are considered part of the main rules available in normal games. Expansions must be agreed upon by all players before the game begins, to see if that set of expanded rules are in use.

7th Edition

Supplement Subject Kind ISBN Release Date
Path to Glory Campaign Expansion Digital Edition December 2015
War Zone Damocles: Mont'ka Campaign and Mini Codex Supplements Expansion TBA November 2015
War Zone Damocles: Kauyon Campaign and Tau Update Expansion TBA November 2015
War Zone Damocles: Burning Dawn Campaign Boxset Expansion N/A - Boxset November 2015
Damocles: Operation Shadowtalon Campaign Boxset Expansion N/A - Boxset November 2015
Blood Oath Warhammer World Campaign Expansion ISBN 978-1785721182 May 2015
Shield of Baal: Exterminatus Campaign and 4 Mini Codex Supplements Expansion ISBN 978-1782536253 December 2014
Shield of Baal: Deathstorm Campaign Boxset Expansion N/A - Boxset December 2014
Shield of Baal: Leviathan Campaign and Cities of Death Rules Expansion ISBN 978-1782536192 November 2014
Planetstrike Sanctus Reach Planetstrike Compendium Expansion Digital Edition September 2014
Sanctus Reach: Hour of the Wolf Campaign and Planetrike Missions Expansion ISBN 978-1782534211 August 2014
Sanctus Reach: Stormclaw Campaign Boxset Expansion N/A - Boxset July 2014
Sanctus Reach: The Red Waaagh! Campaign and Planetstrike Rules Expansion ISBN 978-1782533375 July 2014

6th Edition

Supplement Subject Kind ISBN Release Date
Compendium: Altar of War Additional Battle Missions Supplement ISBN 978-1782535997 April 2014
Kill Team Small Skirmish Games Expansion Digital Edition December 2013
Escalation Lords of War Supplement ISBN 978-1782532552 December 2013
Stronghold Assault Siege Warfare Supplement ISBN 978-1782531753 December 2013
Death Worlds Digital Campaign Expansion Digital Edition June 2013
Campaign: Crusade of Fire Campaign and Additional Rules Expansion ISBN 978-1908872210 November 2012
Altar of War Additional Battle Missions Supplement Various - See Digital Releases 2012–Present
Apocalypse

Apocalypse is a 6th edition expansion for large-scale battles. Within apocalypse, new rules are added through the use of Apocalypse Warzones, depicting famous battles between factions.

Supplement Subject ISBN Release Date
Valedor Apocalypse Warzone ISBN 978-1782532057 May 2014
Damocles Apocalypse Warzone ISBN 978-1782532354 March 2014
Pandorax Apocalypse Warzone ISBN 978-1782531012 November 2013
Damnos Apocalypse Warzone ISBN 978-1782530893 September 2013
Apocalypse Large-scale battles ISBN 978-1782530473 July 2013

5th Edition

Supplement Subject Kind ISBN Release Date
Planetary Empires Map-based Campaigns Expansion N/A August 2009

Digital Releases

Dataslates

Dataslates are a way to digitally add new rules and new units to the game. For Characters, Dataslates give the full rules and points to include that character in the listed factions.

Formations are a group of units that work together in a specific battlefield role, and they are taken as a separate formation detachment (the alliance rules are in place for allied formations). For example, a primary detachment from Codex: Space Marines could take the Tau Firebase Support Cadre formation and it would count as a battle brother, however, the Space Marines would not be able to take a tyrannic formation (as tyranids can not be allies). NOTE: Multiple formation detachments may be taken.

Apocalypse units and formations follow the rules in the Apocalypse Rulebook.

Other White Dwarf Exclusive Datasheets are have been released. A complete list of these can be viewed in the section below.

Dataslate Kind Faction Release Date
Battlegroup Hammerblow** Formation Astra Militarum November 2015
Tidewall Counterstrike Cadre** Formation Tau Empire October 2015
Skyhammer Annihilation Force** Formation Space Marines June 2015
Cohort Mechanicus** Formation Adeptus Mechanicus May 2015
Space Marine HQ Command Tanks Vehicle Unit Space Marines, Blood Angels, Dark Angels, Space Wolves May 2015
The Exalted Court of House Terryn** Formation Imperial Knights May 2015
Plasma Obliterator Aquila Strongpoint** Fortification Factionless April 2015
Khârn's Butcherhorde Formation Chaos Space Marines December 2014
Dark Angels Librarius Conclave Formation Dark Angels December 2014
Kranon's Helguard Formation Chaos Space Marines December 2014
The Unrelenting Hunt Formation Dark Angels December 2014
Officio Assassinorum 4 Assassins Officio Assassinorum August 2014
Space Marine Strike Force Ultra 3 Formations Space Marines May 2014
Tyranid Onslaught - Rising Leviathan III 5 Formations Tyranids March 2014
Helbrutes 3 Formations Chaos Space Marines March 2014
Tyranid Invasion - Rising Leviathan II 5 Formations Tyranids March 2014
Tyranid Vanguard - Rising Leviathan I 5 Formations Tyranids January 2014
Tyrannic War Veterans Unit + Formation Space Marines (Chapter Tactics: Ultramarines) January 2014
Cypher - Lord of the Fallen Character (Unique) Imperium (except Dark Angels), Chaos Space Marines December 2013
Reclusiam Command Squad Formation Space Marines December 2013
Centurion Siegebreaker Cohort Apocalypse Formation Space Marines December 2013
Adeptus Astartes Stormwing Formation Space Marines December 2013
Be'lakor, The Dark Master Character (Unique) Chaos Daemons, Chaos Space Marines December 2013

A * indicates a White Dwarf Exclusive and no digital version available. A ** indicates that the datasheet was available as a pdf only as part of a Games Workshop Webstore Exclusive Bundle: containing the models on the datasheet.

Altar of War

Altar of War Missions can be used instead of the Eternal War missions in the main rulebook, however the named army's Altar of War missions can only be played if that army is one of the primary detachments in the battle. For example, a battle is being fought between Tyranids and Imperial Guard - the Imperial Guard player has also brought along a baneblade. They can either play the eternal war missions or choose to play/role on the tyranid OR Escalation Altar of War missions.

As of May 2015, White Dwarf has started to include new missions and scenarios in a new regular article known as Theatre of War. These missions can be played when agreed upon by the players instead of the standard rulebook missions. Some missions require one player to use an army of a specific faction (noted before the title of each mission when necessary). The issue number that the mission is printed in, is included in brackets.

Altar of War Publish Location Release Date
Cryostorm Digital December 2014
Haemonculus Covens Supplement: Haemonculus Covens October 2014
Champions of Fenris Supplement: Champions of Fenris August 2014
Waaagh! Ghazghkull Supplement: Waaagh! Ghazghkull July 2014
Compendium: Altar of War Compendium: Altar of War* April 2014
Crimson Slaughter Supplement: Crimson Slaughter March 2014
Imperial Knights Digital & Altar of War March 2014
Tyranids Digital & Altar of War January 2014
Escalation Escalation December 2013
Clan Raukaan Supplement: Clan Raukaan & Altar of War November 2013
Sentinels of Terra Supplement: Sentinels of Terra & Altar of War October 2013
Space Marines II Digital September 2013
Black Legion Supplement: Black Legion & Altar of War August 2013
Altar of War Vol. 1 Digital July 2013
Eldar Digital & Altar of War Vol. 1 & Altar of War June 2013
Tau Empire Digital & Altar of War Vol. 1 & Altar of War April 2013
Chaos Daemons Digital & Altar of War Vol. 1 & Altar of War March 2013
Dark Angels Digital & Altar of War Vol. 1 & Altar of War February 2013
Chaos Space Marines Digital & Altar of War Vol. 1 & Altar of War February 2013
Space Marines I Digital & Altar of War Vol. 1 & Altar of War August 2012

The Bold type indicates that this publication is available in print (*Compendium: Altar of War is only available in print). Codex Supplements are available both in print and in digital formats. If the publish location reads digital, it means the digital publication, located on iTunes, is called Altar of War: (Name specified in the first column).

Other

Publication Subject Release Date
Datacards: White Scars Tactical Objectives December 2014
Echoes of War: Ravenguard - Loss Mission Pack December 2014
Echoes of War: Astra Militarum - Last Step Backwards Mission Pack December 2014
Echoes of War: Flesh Tearers - A Son's Burden Mission Pack December 2014
First Blood: An Altar of War Selection Pack Mission Pack December 2014
On Contaminated Ground Apocalypse Mission December 2013
Carnage 4 player Mission December 2013

White Dwarf Exclusive Rules

Datasheets

White Dwarf Exclusive Datasheets provide unique rules for units and formations omitted from a codex or are standalone models such as new fortifications (for which the models are usually included in the box). Apocalypse units and formations follow the rules in the Apocalypse Rulebook.

Dataslate Kind Faction Issue Release Date
Adeptus Mechanicus War Convocation Formation Adeptus Mechanicus White Dwarf 69 May 2015
Plasma Obliterator Fortification Factionless White Dwarf 63 April 2015
Mephrit Dynasty Resurgence Decurion Formation Necrons White Dwarf 47 December 2014
Flesh Tearers Blood Rain Strike Force Formation Blood Angels White Dwarf 47 December 2014
Angel's Fury Spearhead Force Formation Blood Angels White Dwarf 47 December 2014
Angel's Wrath Intervention Force Formation Blood Angels White Dwarf 47 December 2014
Gerantius - The Forgotten Knight Vehicle (Character) Imperial Knights White Dwarf 24 July 2014
Looted Wagon Vehicle Orks White Dwarf 21 June 2014
Kabalite Stormsurge Apocalypse Formation Dark Eldar White Dwarf 15 May 2014
Exalted Flamer of Tzeentch Character Chaos Daemons White Dwarf 7 March 2014

Missions

As of May 2015, White Dwarf has started to include new mission packs in a new regular article known as Theatre of War.

Name Issue Release Date
Altar of War: Dark Angels - Hunt the Fallen White Dwarf 74 June 2015
Altar of War: Dark Angels - The Battle of Piscina IV White Dwarf 73 June 2015
Altar of War: Space Marines - The Emperor's Finest White Dwarf 70 May 2015
Altar of War - Archeotech Hunt White Dwarf 68 May 2015
Altar of War: Imperial Knights - Gods of War White Dwarf 66 May 2015

Other

As of May 2015, White Dwarf has started to include new rules packs in a new regular article known as Theatre of War.

Rules Issue Release Date
Warlord Traits: Black Templars White Dwarf 72 June 2015
Warlord Traits: Crimson Fists White Dwarf 72 June 2015
Datacards: Salamanders White Dwarf 71 June 2015

Imperial Armour

For main article see Imperial Armour

Imperial 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:

Codex Notes ISBN Release Date
Imperial Armour - The Siege of Vraks Death Korps of Krieg, Red Scorpions, Grey Knights, World Eaters & Chaos Renegades ISBN TBA 2015
Imperial Armour Volume Thirteen - War Machines of the Lost and the Damned Chaos Space Marines, Chaos Renegades & Chaos Daemons ISBN 978-1782536062 September 2014
Imperial Armour Volume Four Second Edition - The Anphelion Project Tyranids, Imperial Guard & Space Marines ISBN 978-1782535287 July 2014
Imperial Armour Volume Two Second Edition - War Machines of the Adeptus Astartes Adepta Sororitas, Space Marines & Forces of the Inquisition ISBN 978-1782533023 December 2013
Imperial Armour Apocalypse Companion volume to Warhammer 40,000 Apocalypse, containing new battle formations as well as new Apocalypse-compatible game statistics for several Forge World models ISBN 978-1782531067 August 2013
Imperial Armour Volume Three Second Edition - The Taros Campaign Tau & Elysian Drop Troops ISBN 978-1908872791 June 2013
Imperial Armour Volume 12: The Fall of Orpheus Necrons, Minotaurs & Death Korps of Krieg ISBN 978-1908872951 May 2013
Imperial Armour Volume One Second Edition - Imperial Guard Imperial Guard ISBN 978-1907964084 December 2012
Imperial Armour Aeronautica Update and compilation of fliers and anti-aircraft units for 6th Edition release of Warhammer 40k ISBN 978-190796495-4 July 2012
Imperial Armour Volume 11: The Doom of Mymeara Imperial Guard, Space Wolves & Eldar ISBN 978-1-907964-16-9 December 2011
Imperial Armour Volume Ten - The Badab War - Part Two Siege Vanguard Assault ISBN 978-1-90796-401-5 January 2011
Imperial Armour Volume Nine - The Badab War - Part One The Tyrant’s Legion ISBN 978-1-84154-995-8 2010
Imperial Armour Volume Eight - Raid on Kastorel-Novem Elysian Drop Troop, Raven Guard & Orks ISBN 978-1-84154-977-4 May 2010

Obsolete Books

Codices

6th Edition

6th Edition was released June 2012. Codex Supplements are included in the same table but are notable by the parent faction noted in brackets. Codex Supplements are considered obsolete along with their parent codex they were written for, unless Games Workshop explicitly states otherwise.

Codex ISBN Release Date Superseded by
Imperial Knights ISBN 978-1782532453 March 2014 7th Edition Codex: Imperial Knights
Clan Raukaan (Space Marines) ISBN 978-1782534068 November 2013 7th Edition Revised Version
Sentinels of Terra (Space Marines) ISBN 978-1782533658 October 2013 7th Edition Revised Version
Space Marines ISBN 978-1782530763 September 2013 7th Edition Codex: Space Marines
Iyanden (Eldar) ISBN 978-1782531074 June 2013 7th Edition Codex: Craftworlds
Eldar ISBN 978-1782532125 June 2013 7th Edition Codex: Craftworlds
Farsight Enclaves (Tau Empire) ISBN 978-1782532224 July 2013 7th Edition Codex: Tau Empire
Tau Empire ISBN 978-1782530039 April 2013 7th Edition Codex: Tau Empire
Dark Angels ISBN 978-1908872265 January 2013 7th Edition Codex: Dark Angels

5th Edition

5th Edition was released in 2008.

Codex ISBN Release Date Superseded by
Necrons ISBN 978-1907964183 November 2011 7th Edition Codex: Necrons
Sisters of Battle N/A - White Dwarf August/September 2011 6th Edition iBook Codex: Adepta Sororitas
Grey Knights ISBN 978-1841549910 April 2011 7th Edition Codex: Grey Knights
Dark Eldar ISBN 978-1841549781 November 2010 7th Edition Codex: Dark Eldar
Blood Angels ISBN 978-1841549606 April 2010 7th Edition Codex: Blood Angels
Tyranids ISBN 978-1841549514 January 2010 6th Edition Codex: Tyranids
Space Wolves ISBN 978-1841540108 October 2009 7th Edition Codex: Space Wolves
Imperial Guard ISBN 978-1841549231 May 2009 6th Edition Codex: Astra Militarum
Space Marines ISBN 978-1841548944 October 2008 6th Edition Codex: Space Marines

4th Edition

4th Edition was released in 2004.

Codex ISBN Release Date Superseded by
Chaos Daemons ISBN 978-1841548791 May 2008 6th Edition Codex: Chaos Daemons
Orks ISBN 978-1841548524 January 2008 7th Edition Codex: Orks
Chaos Space Marines ISBN 978-1841548425 September 2007 6th Edition Codex: Chaos Space Marines
Blood Angels N/A[2] June/July 2007 5th Edition Codex: Blood Angels
Dark Angels ISBN 1-84154-807-3 March 2007 6th Edition Codex: Dark Angels
Eldar ISBN 1-84154-791-3 November 2006 6th Edition Codex: Eldar
Tau Empire ISBN 1-84154-712-3 March 2006 6th Edition Codex: Tau Empire
Black Templars ISBN 1-84154-685-2 November 2005 6th Edition Codex: Space Marines
Tyranids ISBN 1-84154-650-X June 2005 5th Edition Codex: Tyranids
Catachans* ISBN 1-84154-016-1 2005 5th Edition Codex: Imperial Guard
Space Marines ISBN 1-84154-526-0 November 2004 5th Edition Codex: Space Marines

The * above indicates a 'mini-dex' - a smaller codex requiring a parent list to complete its army list.

3rd Edition

3rd Edition was released in 1998.

Codex ISBN Release Date Superseded by
Witch Hunters ISBN 1-84154-485-X April 2004 5th edition Sisters of Battle White Dwarf list
Dark Eldar (revised) ISBN 1-84154-307-1 November 2003[3] 5th edition codex
Imperial Guard (second version) ISBN 1-84154-410-8 September 2003 5th edition codex
Daemonhunters ISBN 1-84154-361-6 March 2003 5th edition Codex: Grey Knights
*Dark Angels (updated second printing) ISBN 1-84154-302-0 Nov 2002 4th edition codex
Chaos Space Marines (second version) ISBN 1-84154-322-5 October 2002 4th edition codex
Necrons ISBN 1-84154-190-7 July 2002 5th edition Codex: Necrons
Tau ISBN 1-84154-098-6 October 2001 4th edition Codex: Tau Empire
Tyranids ISBN 1-84154-013-7 February 2001 4th edition codex
*Craftworld Eldar ISBN 1-84154-029-3 June 2000 4th edition Codex: Eldar
*Space Wolves[4] ISBN 1-84154-010-2 April 2000 5th edition codex
*Catachans ISBN 1-84154-016-1 February 2000 4th edition free download codex
Imperial Guard (first version) ISBN 1-869893-52-2 November 1999 Second 3rd edition codex
Eldar ISBN 1-869893-39-5 August 1999 4th edition codex
Orks ISBN 1-869893-38-7 July 1999 4th edition codex
*Assassins ISBN 1-84154-019-6 July 1999 Rules in Codex: Daemonhunters and Codex: Witch Hunters
*Dark Angels (original version) ISBN 1-869893-67-0 May 1999 Updated second printing of 3rd edition codex
Chaos Space Marines (first version) ISBN 1-869893-49-2 February 1999 Second 3rd edition codex
*Blood Angels ISBN 1-869893-45-X December 1998 4th edition White Dwarf list
Dark Eldar (original version) ISBN 1-869893-41-7 November 1998 Updated second printing (3rd edition)
Space Marines ISBN 1-869893-28-X October 1998 4th edition codex

The * above indicates a 'mini-dex' - a smaller codex requiring a parent list to complete its army list. For example, Codex: Dark Angels required Codex: Space Marines for shared units and wargear. Codex: Assassins could be used with either Codex: Imperial Guard or any Space Marine army.

2nd Edition

All codices were rendered obsolete by 3rd edition Warhammer 40,000. 2nd Edition was released in 1993.

Codex ISBN Release Date
Sisters of Battle ISBN 1-872372-14-7 August 1997
*Assassins ISBN 1-872372-05-8 June 1997
Angels of Death (rules for both Dark Angels and Blood Angels) ISBN 1-872372-96-1 1996
Chaos ISBN 1-872372-47-3 1996
Ultramarines (also covering other 'standard' Space Marine armies) ISBN 1-872372-87-2 1995
Tyranids (rules for both Tyranids and Genestealer Cults) ISBN 1-872372-90-2 1995
Imperial Guard ISBN 1-872372-92-9 1995
Space Wolves ISBN 1-872372-71-6 1994
Orks ISBN 1-872372-76-7 1994
Eldar ISBN 1-872372-74-0 1994

The * above indicates a 'mini-dex' - a smaller codex requiring a parent list to complete its army list.

Expansions/Supplements

6th Edition

Book Notes ISBN Release Date Superseded by
Compendium: Death from the Skies Flier Rules Compendium ISBN 978-1782530657 February 2013 7th Edition Shield of Baal: Leviathan

5th Edition

Book Notes ISBN Release Date Superseded by
Death Worlds Additional Battle Scenarios N/A - White Dwarf April 2012 Death Worlds - Digital 6th Edition
Spearhead Mechanized Armies N/A - White Dwarf June 2010 7th Edition & Formations
Battle Missions Additional Battle Scenarios ISBN 978-1841549118 March 2010 Eternal War, Maelstrom of War, Altar of War & Echoes of War
Planetstrike Planetary Invasions ISBN 978-1841549316 July 2009 7th Edition Sanctus Reach Campaign/Planetstrike
Apocalypse Reload Supplement to Apocalypse ISBN 978-1-84154-893-7 August 2008 6th Edition Apocalypse Book

4th Edition

Book Notes ISBN Release Date Superseded by
Apocalypse Large-scale battles ISBN 1-84154-838-3 October 2007 6th Edition Apocalypse Book
Cities of Death[5] Urban Warfare ISBN 1-84154-749-2 June 2006 7th Edition Shield of Baal: Leviathan

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 ISBN 1-84154-093-5 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
Eye of Terror[6] Lost and the Damned, Ulthwé Strike Force, Cadian Shock Troops, 13th Company ISBN 1-84154-398-5 June 2003 4th Edition Codex: Eldar; Chaos Space Marines and 5th Edition Codex: Imperial Guard; Space Wolves
Armageddon[7] Black Templars, Salamanders, Speed Freeks, Armageddon Imperial Guard ISBN 1-84154-045-5 August 2000 4th Edition Codex: Space Marines; Black Templars; Orks and 5th Edition Codex: Imperial Guard

Digital Releases

Dataslates

Dataslate Kind Faction Release Date
Tau Firebase Support Cadre Formation Tau Empire December 2013
Eldar Ghost Warriors Formation Codex: Eldar December 2013

A * indicates a White Dwarf Exclusive and no digital version was available. A ** indicates that the datasheet was available as a pdf only as part of a Games Workshop Webstore Exclusive Bundle: containing the models on the datasheet.

Altar of War

Altar of War Publish Location Release Date
Farsight Enclaves Supplement: Farsight Enclaves & Altar of War Vol. 1 & Altar of War July 2013
Iyanden Supplement: Iyanden & Altar of War Vol. 1 & Altar of War June 2013

The Bold type indicates that this publication was available in print. Codex Supplements were available both in print and in digital formats. If the publish location reads digital, it means the digital publication, located on iTunes, was called Altar of War: (Name specified in the first column).

Imperial Armour

Book Notes ISBN Release Date Superseded by
Imperial Armour Volume Seven - The Siege of Vraks Part three Forces of the Inquisition & Chaos Renegades ISBN 978-1-84154-955-2 August 2009 Imperial Armour - The Siege of Vraks
Imperial Armour Volume Six - The Siege of Vraks Part two Death Korps of Krieg & Chaos Renegades ISBN 978-1-84154-910-1 August 2008 Imperial Armour - The Siege of Vraks
Imperial Armour Volume Five - The Siege of Vraks Part one Death Korps of Krieg, Dark Angels & Chaos Renegades ISBN 978-1-84154-851-7 May 2007 Imperial Armour - The Siege of Vraks
Imperial Armour Apocalypse Second Edition Companion volume to Warhammer 40,000 Apocalypse, containing new battle formations as well as new Apocalypse-compatible game statistics for several Forge World models ISBN 978-1-907964-67-1 2011 6th Edition Imperial Armour Apocalypse
Imperial Armour Apocalypse II Companion volume to Warhammer 40,000 Apocalypse, containing new battle formations as well as new Apocalypse-compatible game statistics for several Forge World models ISBN 978-1-84154-976-7 2009 6th Edition Imperial Armour Apocalypse
Imperial Armour Apocalypse Companion volume to Warhammer 40,000 Apocalypse, containing new battle formations as well as new Apocalypse-compatible game statistics for several Forge World models ISBN 978-1-84154-892-0 2007 Imperial Armour Apocalypse Second Edition
Imperial Armour Update 2006 Rules for Forge World models not covered by the other volumes ISBN 1-84154-818-9 2006 Restarted Imperial Armour Line
Imperial Armour Volume Four - The Anphelion Project Tyranids, Imperial Guard & Space Marines ISBN 1-84154-784-0 2006 Imperial Armour Volume Four Second Edition - The Anphelion Project
Imperial Armour Volume Three - The Taros Campaign Tau, Imperial Guard & Space Marines ISBN 1-84154-708-5 2005 Imperial Armour Volume Three Second Edition - The Taros Campaign
Imperial Armour Update 2005 Rules for Forge World models not covered by the other volumes 2005 Restarted Imperial Armour Line
Imperial Armour Volume Two - Space Marines & Forces of the Inquisition Space Marines & Forces of the Inquisition ISBN 1-84154-509-0 2004 Imperial Armour Volume Two Second Edition
Imperial Armour Volume One - Imperial Guard & Imperial Navy Imperial Guard & Imperial Navy ISBN 1-84154-421-3 2003 Imperial Armour Volume One Second Edition
Imperial Armour Update Rules for models for all races, stopgap measure until the release of the "Imperial Armour Volume x" books. ISBN 1-84154-355-1 2002 Restarted Imperial Armour Line
Imperial Armour II Orks, Eldar, and Dark Eldar ISBN 1-84154-219-9 2001 Restarted Imperial Armour Line
Imperial Armour Imperial Guard & Imperial Navy ISBN 1-84154-127-3 2000 Restarted Imperial Armour Line

References

  1. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/codex
  2. Presented in two parts in White Dwarf (UK) issues #330 and #331, and subsequently available online from the GW website, with long-term plan to publish this list in a new book.
  3. http://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d.html?pd=1&l=Product%20Details&a=1841543071
  4. (a "mini-dex"; needs to be used in conjunction with Codex: Space Marines, cannot be used on its own)
  5. GW Online : Warhammer 40,000 : Cityfight : What's in the Book?
  6. http://www.eyeofterror.com/uk/welcome.htm (Space Wolf 13th company rules not yet superseded)
  7. Games Workshop PLC - Welcome! Please, choose your destination