Warhammer 40K: Looking At 10th Edition Detachments
Today let’s go through 10th Edition’s new 40K Detachments as we get ready for a new era in building armies.
10th Edition is here and everywhere you can fee the buzz of people getting ready for a new era. the new rules are out, people are awaiting the App, and the full set of unit Datacards and points. Players around the world are pulling out models, dusting things off, doing repairs, and painting up reinforcements.
It’s an exciting time, and one of the things that a lot of people are questioning is the details of 40K Detachments and Armylist construction for 10th Edition. Let’s dive in and take a look at how things have changed from 9th:
Basics
Command Points
One of the biggest changes here is the much more limited CPs you get during the game. Both players start with 0 CPs, and gain 1 CP in each of their Command Phases. This will drastically limit the amount of Stratagems used in a game.
Armylist Construction
Next is the radically streamlined armylist construction rules. All previous edition lists of specialized Detachments have been replaced with the following list of army construction rules for 10th Edition.
- Pick one Faction Keyword for your entire army.
- Note Your faction’s Detachment Rules.
- You MUST select at least 1 Character unit.
- You may select any non-Battleline, or non-Dedicated Transport unit up to three times in your army.
- You may select any Battleline, or Dedicated Transport unit up to six times in your army.
- One Character unit in your army must be selected as your Warlord.
9th Edition
Basics
Back in 9th edition, players recieved fixed CPs based on game size. For the medium size 2000pt games most commonly played you will be getting 12CP for your army and a max of 3 Detachments.
The “Arks of Omen Detachment”
This last 9th Edition detachment rolled out in January 2023, is the “all-in-one” detachment that replaces all previous detachments for competitive event Matched Play. It arrived in the “Chapter Approved: Arks of Omen Grand Tournament” book. Outside of these competitive events, players can still use the default Detachments down below from the Core rulebook.
Arks of Omen Detachment (Command Cost: 0CP)
Command Benefit: None
Mandatory Units
- HQ: 1
Plus ONE of the following unit types:
- Troops: 3
- Elites:3
- Fast Attack: 3
- Heavy Support: 3
- Lords of War: 3
Optional Units
- HQ: 0-3 (1 Mandatory)
- Troops: 0-9 (1 Mandatory)
- Elites: 0-3
- Elites (Character Units only): 0-3
- Fast Attack: 0-3
- Heavy Support: 0-3
- Lords of War: 0-3
- Flyers: 0-2
- Fortifications: 0-3
- Dedicated Transports: 1 for each Infantry unit taken
The Big 3 40K Detachments
Here’s the Patrol, Battalion, and Brigade Detachments. The cost of these escalate from 2 to 3 to 4CP, but you get it refunded if they contain your Warlord. So like you may hear from time to time, the first one is free. The unit category layouts are identical to 8th Edition but note the subtle change to Dedicated Transports. You are now limited to one per INFANTRY unit, rather than on per unit. Also, note that Understrength units are specifically prohibited.
Patrol Detachment (Command Cost: 2CP)
Command Benefit: +2 CP if Warlord is part of the Detachment
- HQ: 1-2 (1 Mandatory)
- Troops: 1-3 (1 Mandatory)
- Elites: 0-2
- Fast Attack: 0-2
- Heavy Support: 0-2
- Flyers: 0-2
Battalion Detachment (Command Cost: 3CP)
Command Benefit: +3 CP if Warlord is part of the Detachment
- HQ: 2-3 (2 Mandatory)
- Troops: 3-6 (3 Mandatory)
- Elites: 0-6
- Fast Attack: 0-3
- Heavy Support: 0-3
- Flyers: 0-2
Brigade Detachment (Command Cost: 4CP)
Command Benefit: +4 CP if Warlord is part of the Detachment
- HQ: 3-5 (3 Mandatory)
- Troops: 6-12 (6 Mandatory)
- Elites: 3-8 (3 Mandatory)
- Fast Attack: 3-5 (3 Mandatory)
- Heavy Support: 3-5 (3 Mandatory)
- Flyers: 0-2
The Specialists 40K Detachments
Here’s the Vanguard, Spearhead, and Outrider Detachments. They all cost 3CP, and there is no refund if they contain your Warlord. The unit category layouts are identical to 8th Edition but note the subtle change to Dedicated Transports. You again are now limited to one per INFANTRY unit, rather than on per unit. Again note that Understrength units are specifically prohibited.
Vanguard Detachment (Command Cost: 3CP)
Command Benefit: none
- HQ: 1-2 (1 Mandatory)
- Troops: 0-3
- Elites: 3-6 (3 Mandatory)
- Fast Attack: 0-2
- Heavy Support: 0-2
- Flyers: 0-2
Spearhead Detachment (Command Cost: 3CP)
Command Benefit: none
- HQ: 1-2 (1 Mandatory)
- Troops: 0-3
- Elites: 0-2
- Fast Attack: 0-2
- Heavy Support: 3-6 (3 Mandatory)
- Flyers: 0-2
Outrider Detachment (Command Cost: 3CP)
Command Benefit: none
- HQ: 1-2 (1 Mandatory)
- Troops: 0-3
- Elites: 0-2
- Fast Attack: 3-6 (3 Mandatory)
- Heavy Support: 0-2
- Flyers: 0-2
The Odds & Ends 9th Edition 40K Detachments
Here’s the rest of the rarer Detachments. You have various costs on these and some are quite funky. Supreme Command has a new layout compared to 8th, strict allowed unit types, and MUST contain your Warlord. However, it coughs up a bunch of free CPs based on the other Detachments in your list.
The old 8th Edition Air Wing Detachment is gone.
The unit category layouts of the others are identical to 8th Edition. Note that Understrength units ARE allowed on these detachments.
~Get ready to grab your full rulebook the moment you can for all the other details. I’ll see you all at the table!
