Tabletop Spotlight: Talons of the Emperor
The Talons of the Emperor are here to strike at the enemies of the Imperium – check out what’s in the box!
Our friends at Dragon’s Lair Comics & Fantasy brought over a copy of the new limited run Talons of the Emperor. Take a look inside on today’s Tabletop Spotlight:
The Models
Let’s just get this out of the way up front – none of these models are “new” at this point. The Rhino and Land Raider are the same kits we’ve come to expect from Games Workshop. The Custodes, Sister of Silence, and Contemptor are all the same kits from Burning of Prospero as well. That said, the infantry included in the Talons of the Emperor box are still fantastic models.
The Custodes are super detailed and you’ve got a couple of different weapon options to play around with. However you build them, these Golden Warriors of the Emperor will bring the pain!
The Sisters are also another great kit on their own. No matter how you build them (with bolters, power swords, or flamers) they can be quite effective. But their real power comes from shutting folks down in the psychic phase. And now that they can also be purchased as a stand-alone box I wouldn’t be surprised if a unit or two started showing up in random lists as well…
The Rules
Also included in the box are two 24-page Codex books. The Codex Sisters of Silence and Codex Adeptus Custodes. As far as we have learned, this is the only way to get a physical copy of these two books. You can still get digital copies from Black Library in the future.
These books both feature a ton of background and lore on their respective “armies” which was nice. However, I hope you weren’t expecting a ton of in-depth army construction options. If you remember the first Imperial Knights codex…well, these books have more unit options than that one! They do have formations/detachments you can build so they will be “legal” forces on the tabletop as well.
Each of the books also has all the special rules, points, and armory for their respective faction. The art work inside isn’t too shabby either!
The Value
Typically, when we’re looking at a Tabletop Spotlight I don’t harp on the value of the product too much. But, because this is a Games Workshop item and all of these models are available on their own, I figured we could at least crunch some numbers at see the pricing difference:
Venerable Land Raider $74.25
Venerable Contemptor Dreadnought $60
Null-Maiden Rhino $37.25
Adeptus Custodes Custodian Guard $60
Total: $271.50
Savings: ~41% or $111.50
So, if you were looking to add a unit of Sisters of Silence, a unit of Custodians, and a Contemptor you really should consider just purchasing the box and (essentially) get a free Rhino and Land Raider with your purchase.
Overall, I think this is a pretty respectable value and a good offering from Games Workshop. If you have zero interest in using the models for your games then you probably weren’t going to purchase this box anyways. But, if you are wanting to start a “core” Custodes/SoS force then I think this is a pretty good deal for you! The Talons of the Emperor is currently listed as “available while stocks last.” So if you want it, you might want to act sooner rather than later.
Talons of the Emperor $160
So if they are out crusading then… who’s watching the Golden Throne?
