Warhammer 40K Is Finally Updating Some of Its Oldest Models

A fewer years ago, Games Workshop yet begun taking immoderate unprecedented steps to update the models of 1 of Warhammer 40,000‘s astir fashionable factions: the ranks of the Aeldari, the lithe, elven aliens who person been portion of the tabletop crippled for astir 40 years. But adjacent with those important updates, the enactment of Aeldari models was inactive location to immoderate of the oldest miniatures that Games Workshop inactive sold… but adjacent year, that’s yet going to alteration successful a immense way.

As portion of a special preview event up of the upcoming Warhammer World Championships, contiguous Games Workshop revealed the upcoming revamp of the Aeldari’s rulebook for the latest, 10th edition of Warhammer 40K. Alongside the updated rulebook volition beryllium a swath of caller miniatures focusing connected 1 of the unsocial elements of Aeldari culture: the Aspect Warriors, clans of specialized elite operatives dedicated to circumstantial schools of martial thought, and their fabled, legendary leaders successful the Phoenix Lords.

Although these units and heroes are cardinal elements of Aeldari lore—and often cardinal pillars of an Aeldari army—players of the faction person spent literal decades moving those Aspect Warriors with the aforesaid models portion watching Games Workshop find ever-increasing ways to merchantability radical a caller Space Marine. Up until comparatively recently, galore cardinal models successful the Aeldari were based connected sculpts that been astir for the champion portion of 20 years. Some of the oldest among these models were those of the 8 main Aspect Warrior archetypes: the Howling Banshees, Striking Scorpions, Swooping Hawks, Dire Avengers, Warp Spiders, Fire Dragons, Dark Reapers, and Shining Spears. Many of these models were truthful aged that they were inactive formed successful metallic oregon yet resin, and Games Workshop took its saccharine clip updating them spot by spot implicit the years. The Howling Banshees received a exemplary overhaul successful 2019 (replacing models from 2006), portion the Dark Reapers and Shining Spears were updated arsenic portion of that 2022 enactment overhaul (replacing models from 2006 and 1999, respectively), and the Striking Scorpions were updated this twelvemonth done the smaller-scaled skirmish crippled Kill Team (replacing models again, from 2006).

Today’s quality brings astir each different Aspect Warrior people to modern integrative miniature standard. The Fire Dragons, Swooping Hawks, and Warp Spiders volition each person updated integrative multi-part models to regenerate metallic and resin kits from 2006, 2000, and 1994, respectively. Alongside those mainline squads, the institution besides unveiled updates for their accompanying Phoenix Lords—the elite leader units that are the heads of each Aspect—in the signifier of Fuegan (the lord of the Fire Dragons), Baharroth (the Swooping Hawks), and, for the precise archetypal clip successful miniature signifier astatine all, Lhykis, the lord of the Warp Spiders, alongside the Dire Avenger lord Asurmen. Putting Lhykis speech arsenic a marque caller character, these different miniatures each replaced “current” models from 1994.

It should beryllium stressed that Games Workshop charged for these practically past miniatures with the aforesaid benignant of pricing that immoderate of its modern miniatures would command, contempt their ever-increasing age—and Aeldari players were simply expected to woody with it and look connected arsenic different factions received regular caller miniatures and refreshes. As a life-long subordinate of the faction, it’s been chaotic to maine successful my off-and-on journey with Warhammer 40K arsenic a grown big has been played with the aforesaid miniatures I could bargain arsenic a 10-year-old getting into tabletop gaming for the archetypal time. And it’s taken astir of that beingness for that to change!

But astatine agelong last, it present is. There’s inactive immoderate Aeldari models that are showing their age—among the Aspect Warriors astatine least, Asurmen’s Dire Avengers haven’t been updated since 2006 either, and the Striking Scorpion’s leader, Karandras, is present the past remaining un-updated Phoenix Lord sitting astatine 30 years aged (and counting). Hopefully with the caller rules for the faction coming immoderate clip successful 2025, it won’t instrumentality that overmuch longer to spot these remaining alien legends get the shiny caller integrative attraction they merit too… and hopefully these caller models, arsenic beauteous arsenic they look present successful 2024, aren’t inactive connected shelves by the 2060s. After all, successful the grim acheronian aboriginal of the 21st century, determination indispensable ever beryllium caller integrative soldiers to purchase.

Want much io9 news? Check retired erstwhile to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s adjacent for the DC Universe connected movie and TV, and everything you request to cognize astir the aboriginal of Doctor Who.