White Dwarf 60 First Look: Khorne Codex

This week's White Dwarf is out, announcing the long anticipated release of a Legion/Chaos God combined codex. Leading things off is Codex: Khorne Daemonkin, with expanded new rules for different Bloodthirsters using the new End Times kit.

Along with the announcement of the new book are some hints at what it might contain, including a Blood for the Blood God rule that grants benefits to units based on spending points from the Blood Tithe.

In addition to the Khorne release is the announcement of new GW army cases. If you haven't checked them out, they look pretty cool and pretty reasonably priced as army cases go. Check out the video.

Getting back into the Khorne release, there are some pages providing additional information, describing the Blood Tithe rules allowing the summoning of Khorne Daemons up to a Bloodthirster of Unfettered Rage (more on the three Bloodthirster types below).

The Daemonkin book includes rules for fielding Daemons and Chaos Space Marine forces in one army. Something called a Slaughtercult is frequently mentioned, and sounds to be one core Detachment for this Codex. Another, the Blood Host Detachment, allows for the inclusions of two Bloodthirsters in the army. Further discussions make it sound like the Slaughtercult may function very similarly to the Reclamation Legion for the Decurion Detachment for Necrons. We will have to see.

There are some hints that Daemonkin armies will not be Battle Brother allies with other Chaos armies, at least those that don't worship Khorne, which could be interesting to see play out.

The rules are provided for the three Bloodthirster types, all of which can take 50 points of Daemonic Rewards. First is the Bloodthirster of Unfettered Fury, at 250 points, which is the cheapest of the three. This is just the standard Bloodthirster as is currently printed in the Daemon book.

Next is the Bloodthirster of Insensate Rage, who is 25 points more expensive and trades his Axe of Khorne and Lash of Khorne for a Great Axe of Khorne, which is Strength D, but forces the Bloodthirster to fight at I1. He also gains Rage.

Finally is the Wrath of Khorne Bloodthirster, checking in at 50 points over the standard variant, he trades his Lash of Khorne for a Bloodflail and has a Hellfire Daemonic Gift. The former is S7 AP2 Assault D3 at 12" and a Specialist Weapon as well, and the Hellfire gift is a S5 AP4 Soul Blaze flamer. This Bloodthirster also gets Hatred (Characters) and Adamantium Will.

And with that, we have some nice teasers about what is to come next week in the first Legion based Chaos Codex for 7th Edition. What are your thoughts on what we've seen so far? Do you expect to see an impact on your scene?