Warhammer 40k New Edition: Army Building and Mission Mechanics Guide
- Games Workshop has detailed a comprehensive overhaul of army construction and mission mechanics for the 11th Edition of Warhammer 40,000.
- The changes aim to create a more integrated experience between matched play and narrative play by aligning a player's army composition with the specific mission goals they are...
- A central component of the list-building overhaul is the introduction of Detachment Points.
Games Workshop has detailed a comprehensive overhaul of army construction and mission mechanics for the 11th Edition of Warhammer 40,000. The update, which was presented at AdeptiCon 2026 on March 25, introduces a structural shift in how players build their forces and how those choices dictate the objectives of a battle.
The new edition is confirmed for a June 2026 launch. The changes aim to create a more integrated experience between matched play and narrative play by aligning a player’s army composition with the specific mission goals they are tasked to achieve.
The Detachment Point System
A central component of the list-building overhaul is the introduction of Detachment Points. In the previous 10th Edition, players were limited to exactly one detachment per army. The 11th Edition removes this restriction, allowing for multi-detachment designs.
Each detachment now carries a cost ranging from 1 to 3 points. This cost is weighted based on the breadth of the detachment’s impact on the army. A detachment that focuses on specific units costs 1 point, while a detachment providing buffs to the entire force costs 3 points.
For a standard competitive Strike Force game of approximately 2,000 points, players are granted a budget of 3 Detachment Points and 4 Enhancement slots. The unit cap remains at 3 for non-Battleline units and 6 for Battleline units.
This point system allows for two primary army architectures: players can choose a single high-impact 3-point detachment supplemented by a 1-point pick, or they can utilize three separate 1-point detachments to gain a wider breadth of unit synergies.
Force Dispositions and Mission Impact
The 11th Edition introduces Force Dispositions, which link army selection directly to mission objectives. Each detachment unlocks a different Force Disposition, and players must choose one to represent their army for each battle.
This choice establishes the broad mission the army is assigned to accomplish. The specific details of the mission are then determined at the start of the battle by comparing the chosen Force Disposition of one player against that of their opponent.
These dispositions are designed to align with the thematic strengths of the army. For example, a force designed to Purge the Foe
will face objectives centered on wiping out enemy units, while Disruption
forces will be required to perform actions within enemy territory. Despite these thematic shifts, Games Workshop has stated that all armies will still be required to hold objectives to maintain balance.
Changes to Character Assignment
A significant shift in gameplay logic occurs during the list-writing phase. In the 10th Edition, players could assign Characters to units at the game table. In the 11th Edition, these pairings are locked during the list-writing process.
This means players must commit to their Character-unit pairings before they have seen their opponent’s army, adding a layer of strategic risk to the construction of the force.
Expanded Content and Compatibility
To support these new mechanics, Games Workshop is adding over 70 new and updated detachments at launch. This includes specific additions such as the Warpstrike Champions
for the Iron Warriors.
Players will not need to discard their current materials immediately, as existing codexes will remain valid alongside the new 11th Edition rules, encouraging players to experiment with both old and new army builds.