Games Workshop Warhammer 40,000 Codex: Astra Militarum (English)

The Verdict

The Astra Militarum codex for Warhammer 40,000 10th Edition is the book that Guard players have been waiting for — and dreading. With 70 Amazon reviews at 4.7 stars, the early consensus is solid, but the discourse among veteran Guard players tells a more nuanced story.

What’s In the Book

The 10th edition codex unifies the Imperial Guard — now called Astra Militarum — into a single, cohesive army book. For the first time in this edition, Death Korps of Krieg, Catachan Jungle Fighters, and Cadian Shock Troops all appear in one volume with their own detachment rules.

One reviewer puts it plainly: “Good update for the army. New units added plus detachments. Now includes Krieg, Catachan and Cadian units in one book.” That consolidation is the codex’s biggest selling point — no more buying multiple books or relying on index PDFs.

The Veteran’s Lament

The most memorable review cuts right to the heart of what it means to be a Guard player in 10th edition:

“Should’ve just called this the Death Korps of Krieg supplement. If you’re an IG player, Cadians aren’t IT anymore. If you have Catachans, just be happy you’re still in the book. Everyone else…you’re funny-looking Cadians or Kriegers now.”

This is the tension at the core of the codex. Games Workshop had to consolidate dozens of historical Guard regiments into a manageable ruleset. The result is a book that plays well but sacrifices some of the granular flavor that veteran Guard players loved. The review ends with a perfect in-character note: “The Emperor Protects!” — because that’s how Guard players roll.

For new players, this is a non-issue. “Great core book to dive into the 40k world with,” writes one. If you’re new to the Guard and want to field an army that plays well out of the box, this codex delivers.

The Physical Reality

At $66, Games Workshop books are never cheap. The production quality is excellent — full-color art, glossy pages, lore sections, and clearly laid-out rules. But several reviewers note shipping damage: “Arrived with some damage on the front cover.” Another reports “a gouge right through the Kriegsman’s gasmask.” The thin softcover is vulnerable in transit, and Amazon’s packaging isn’t always kind to books.

The Verdict

The Codex: Astra Militarum for 10th Edition is a solid army book that does what it needs to do: consolidates multiple Guard factions into a playable, balanced ruleset. New Guard players will love it. Veteran players will find plenty to work with, even if they mourn the loss of their specific regiment’s bespoke rules.

At 4.7 stars across 70 reviews, the buyers are happy. But for the old Guard — the real Guard — the codex represents a trade-off between playability and flavor. Whether that trade-off is worth $66 depends on how much you value rules over nostalgia.

CADIA STANDS.