Codex (Warhammer 40,000)
A codex, in the Warhammer 40,000 tabletop wargame, is a rules supplement containing information concerning a particular army, environment, or worldwide campaign.
Codexes for particular armies were introduced for the second edition of the game. The third edition rendered these obsolete, and a new series began, including introducing codexes for battlezones and campaigns. Until superseded by newer versions, the 3rd edition and later codexes remained valid for the newer editions of Warhammer 40,000. Games Workshop no longer produce campaign or battlezone codexes, instead releasing 'expansions'. 'Codex' is now a term solely used for army books.
At the launch of 8th edition all previous codexes were replaced with index books due to a major rules overhaul. The indexes were subsequently replaced by a new series of codexes. As before, these codexes remain valid until superseded by newer versions.
The format of codexes has varied somewhat over the years. The most common elements between iterations include:
- Background - Information about the force and its place in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. This includes artwork, short stories, and copies of fictional documents from the future.
- Miniature Showcase - Originally a hobby section providing information on collecting, building and painting an army. Later a selection of photographs of Citadel Miniatures painted by Games Workshop's 'Eavy Metal team.
- Rules - Delivered in varying forms between editions. In earlier editions: a bestiary, alongside an army list. Since 7th edition, rules for each unit have been delivered on a datasheet. All other army rules and points are listed separately in sections before and after the datasheets.
Rules for models produced by Forgeworld are available as part of the Imperial Armour series of books, also published by Forgeworld. Rules for models no longer supported by codexes and supplements can be found in Warhammer Legends on the Warhammer Community website.
Current Books
Army Codexes
The range of codexes is regularly updated with new editions of armies and occasionally new army codexes. Codexes designed for a prior edition of Warhammer 40,000 are still valid in the current edition, unless a later version has replaced it. Codex Supplements have their parent faction noted in brackets.9th Edition
9th Edition was released in July 2020.| Codex | ISBN | Release Date |
| Necrons | ||
| Space Marines |
| Codex Supplement | ISBN | Release Date |
| Blood Angels | ||
| Dark Angels | ||
| Deathwatch | ||
| Space Wolves |
8th Edition
8th Edition was released in June 2017.| Codex | ISBN | Release Date |
| Adepta Sororitas | ||
| Adeptus Custodes | ||
| Adeptus Mechanicus | ||
| Astra Militarum | ||
| Blood Angels | ||
| Chaos Daemons | ||
| Chaos Knights | ||
| Chaos Space Marines | ||
| Craftworlds | ||
| Dark Angels | ||
| Death Guard | ||
| Deathwatch | ||
| Drukhari | ||
| Genestealer Cults | ||
| Grey Knights | ||
| Harlequins | ||
| Imperial Knights | ||
| Necrons | ||
| Orks | ||
| Space Marines | ||
| Space Wolves | ||
| Tau Empire | ||
| Thousand Sons | ||
| Tyranids |
| Codex Supplement | ISBN | Release Date |
| Imperial Fists | ||
| Iron Hands | ||
| Ravenguard | ||
| Salamanders | ||
| Ultramarines | ||
| White Scars |
Expansions
Expansions for Warhammer 40,000 provide alternative ways to play the game. Rules in expansions remain valid unless superseded by a newer publication.8th Edition
Imperial Armour
For main article see Imperial ArmourImperial Armour is a series of official rules supplements to Warhammer 40,000 codexes produced by Forge World, a subsidiary company of Games Workshop. Current, valid books:
| Imperial Armour | Notes | ISBN | Release Date |
| Index: Forces of Chaos | All Chaos | June 2017 | |
| Index: Forces of the Adeptus Astartes | All Adeptus Astartes | June 2017 | |
| Index: Forces of the Astra Militarum | All Astra Militarum and Imperium | June 2017 | |
| Index: Xenos | All Xenos | June 2017 |
Obsolete Books
Codexes
8th Edition
8th Edition was released June 2017.| Codex | ISBN | Release Date | Superseded By |
| Chaos Space Marines | 8th Edition Codex: Chaos Space Marines | ||
| Space Marines | 8th Edition Codex: Space Marines |
| Index | Factions | ISBN | Release Date | Superseded By |
| Chaos | Heretic Astartes, Chaos Daemons & Questor Traitoris | 8th Edition Chaos Codexes | ||
| Imperium 1 | 8th Edition Imperium Codexes | |||
| Imperium 2 | 8th Edition Imperium Codexes | |||
| Xenos 1 | Craftworlds, Drukhari, Ynnari, Harlequins & Necrons | 8th Edition Xenos Codexes | ||
| Xenos 2 | Orks, Tau Empire, Tyranids & Genestealer Cults | 8th Edition Xenos Codexes |
7th Edition
7th Edition was released May 2014. On 22 April 2017 Games Workshop announced via their Warhammer Community website that when 8th Edition was released, all army codexes would be obsolete.| Codex | ISBN | Release Date | Superseded By |
| Blood Angels | December 2014 | 8th Edition Index: Imperium 1 | |
| Cult Mechanicus | May 2015 | 8th Edition Index: Imperium 2 | |
| Craftworlds | April 2015 | 8th Edition Index: Xenos 1 | |
| Dark Angels | June 2015 | 8th Edition Index: Imperium 1 | |
| Dark Eldar | October 2014 | 8th Edition Index: Xenos 1 | |
| Deathwatch | August 2016 | 8th Edition Index: Imperium 1 | |
| Genestealer Cults | September 2016 | 8th Edition Index: Xenos 2 | |
| Grey Knights | August 2014 | 8th Edition Index: Imperium 1 | |
| Harlequins | February 2015 | 8th Edition Index: Xenos 1 | |
| Imperial Agents | December 2016 | 8th Edition Index: Imperium 1 & 2 | |
| Imperial Knights | May 2015 | 8th Edition Index: Imperium 2 | |
| Khorne Daemonkin | March 2015 | 8th Edition Index: Chaos | |
| Necrons | January 2015 | 8th Edition Index: Xenos 1 | |
| Orks | June 2014 | 8th Edition Index: Xenos 2 | |
| Skitarii | April 2015 | 8th Edition Index: Imperium 2 | |
| Space Marines | June 2015 | 8th Edition Index: Imperium 1 | |
| Space Wolves | August 2014 | 8th Edition Index: Imperium 1 | |
| Tau Empire | October 2015 | 8th Edition Index: Xenos 2 |
6th Edition
6th Edition was released June 2012. Codex Supplements have their parent faction noted in brackets.| Codex | ISBN | Release Date | Superseded By |
| Adepta Sororitas | October 2013 | 8th Edition Index: Imperium 2 | |
| Astra Militarum | April 2014 | 8th Edition Index: Imperium 2 | |
| Chaos Daemons | March 2013 | 8th Edition Index: Chaos | |
| Chaos Space Marines | October 2012 | 8th Edition Index: Chaos | |
| Dark Angels | January 2013 | 7th Edition Codex: Dark Angels | |
| Eldar | June 2013 | 7th Edition Codex: Craftworlds | |
| Imperial Knights | March 2014 | 7th Edition Codex: Imperial Knights | |
| Inquisition | November 2013 | 8th Edition Index: Imperium 2 | |
| Legion of the Damned | March 2014 | 8th Edition Index: Imperium 1 | |
| Militarum Tempestus | April 2014 | 8th Edition Index: Imperium 2 | |
| Space Marines | September 2013 | 7th Edition Codex: Space Marines | |
| Tau Empire | April 2013 | 7th Edition Codex: Tau Empire | |
| Tyranids | January 2014 | 8th Edition Index: Xenos 2 |
| Codex Supplement | ISBN | Release Date | Superseded By |
| Black Legion | August 2013 | 7th Edition Revised Version | |
| Clan Raukaan | November 2013 | 7th Edition Revised Version | |
| Crimson Slaughter | March 2014 | 7th Edition Revised Version | |
| Farsight Enclaves | July 2013 | 7th Edition Revised Version | |
| Iyanden | June 2013 | 7th Edition Codex: Craftworlds | |
| Sentinels of Terra | October 2013 | 7th Edition Revised Version |
5th Edition
5th Edition was released in 2008.| Codex | ISBN | Release Date | Superseded By |
| Blood Angels | April 2010 | 7th Edition Codex: Blood Angels | |
| Dark Eldar | November 2010 | 7th Edition Codex: Dark Eldar | |
| Grey Knights | April 2011 | 7th Edition Codex: Grey Knights | |
| Imperial Guard | May 2009 | 6th Edition Codex: Astra Militarum | |
| Necrons | November 2011 | 7th Edition Codex: Necrons | |
| Sisters of Battle | N/A - White Dwarf | August/September 2011 | 6th Edition Codex: Adepta Sororitas |
| Space Marines | October 2008 | 6th Edition Codex: Space Marines | |
| Space Wolves | October 2009 | 7th Edition Codex: Space Wolves | |
| Tyranids | January 2010 | 6th Edition Codex: Tyranids |
4th Edition
4th Edition was released in 2004.| Codex | ISBN | Release Date | Superseded By |
| Black Templars | November 2005 | 6th Edition Codex: Space Marines | |
| Blood Angels | N/A - White Dwarf | June/July 2007 | 5th Edition Codex: Blood Angels |
| Catachans | 2005 | 5th Edition Codex: Imperial Guard | |
| Chaos Daemons | May 2008 | 6th Edition Codex: Chaos Daemons | |
| Chaos Space Marines | September 2007 | 6th Edition Codex: Chaos Space Marines | |
| Dark Angels | March 2007 | 6th Edition Codex: Dark Angels | |
| Eldar | November 2006 | 6th Edition Codex: Eldar | |
| Orks | January 2008 | 7th Edition Codex: Orks | |
| Space Marines | November 2004 | 5th Edition Codex: Space Marines | |
| Tau Empire | March 2006 | 6th Edition Codex: Tau Empire | |
| Tyranids | June 2005 | 5th Edition Codex: Tyranids |
3rd Edition
3rd Edition was released in 1998.| Codex | ISBN | Release Date | Superseded By |
| Assassins | July 1999 | Codex: Daemonhunters / Witch Hunters | |
| Blood Angels | December 1998 | 4th Edition Codex | |
| Catachans | February 2000 | 4th Edition Codex | |
| Chaos Space Marines | February 1999 | 3rd Edition Codex | |
| Chaos Space Marines | October 2002 | 4th Edition Codex | |
| Craftworld Eldar | June 2000 | 4th Edition Codex: Eldar | |
| Daemonhunters | March 2003 | 5th Edition Codex: Grey Knights | |
| Dark Angels | May 1999 | 3rd Edition Codex | |
| Dark Angels | Nov 2002 | 4th Edition Codex | |
| Dark Eldar | November 1998 | 3rd Edition Codex | |
| Dark Eldar | November 2003 | 5th Edition Codex | |
| Eldar | August 1999 | 4th Edition Codex | |
| Imperial Guard | November 1999 | 3rd Edition Codex | |
| Imperial Guard | September 2003 | 5th Edition Codex | |
| Necrons | July 2002 | 5th Edition Codex | |
| Orks | July 1999 | 4th Edition Codex | |
| Space Marines | October 1998 | 4th Edition Codex | |
| Space Wolves | April 2000 | 5th Edition Codex | |
| Tyranids | February 2001 | 4th Edition Codex | |
| Tau | October 2001 | 4th Edition Codex: Tau Empire | |
| Witch Hunters | April 2004 | 5th Edition Codex: Sisters of Battle |
2nd Edition
All codexes were rendered obsolete by 3rd edition Warhammer 40,000. 2nd Edition was released in 1993.| Codex | ISBN | Release Date |
| 1996 | ||
| Assassins | June 1997 | |
| Chaos | 1996 | |
| Eldar | 1994 | |
| 1995 | ||
| Orks | 1994 | |
| Sisters of Battle | August 1997 | |
| Tyranids | 1995 | |
| Ultramarines | 1995 | |
| Space Wolves | 1994 |
Expansions/Supplements
8th Edition
7th Edition
All 7th Edition expansions were superseded by 8th Edition.| Book | Notes | ISBN | Release Date |
| Black Crusade: Angel's Blade | Blood Angels Update | September 2016 | |
| Black Crusade: Traitor's Hate | Chaos Space Marines Update | September 2016 | |
| Blood Oath | Warhammer World Campaign | May 2015 | |
| Death from the Skies | Expanded Rules for Flyers | May 2016 | |
| Death Masque | Deathwatch vs Harlequins | N/A - Boxset | August 2016 |
| Gathering Storm: Fall of Cadia | Narrative Campaign of Fall of Cadia | January 2017 | |
| Gathering Storm: Fracture of Biel-tan | Narrative Campaign | February 2017 | |
| Gathering Storm: Rise of the Primarch | Narrative Campaign | March 2017 | |
| Kill Team | Small Skirmish Games | N/A - Boxset | September 2016 |
| Path to Glory | Campaign | Digital Edition | December 2015 |
| Planetary Onslaught | Planetstrike, Cities of Death Compendium | November 2016 | |
| Planetstrike | Sanctus Reach Planetstrike Compendium | Digital Edition | September 2014 |
| Sanctus Reach: Hour of the Wolf | Planetrike Missions and Space Wolves | August 2014 | |
| Sanctus Reach: The Red Waaagh! | Planetstrike Rules and Orks | July 2014 | |
| Sanctus Reach: Stormclaw | Space Wolves vs Orks | N/A - Boxset | July 2014 |
| Shield of Baal: Deathstorm | Blood Angels vs Tyranids | N/A - Boxset | December 2014 |
| Shield of Baal: Exterminatus | Blood Angels and Necrons Detachments | December 2014 | |
| Shield of Baal: Leviathan | Cities of Death and Tyranids Update | November 2014 | |
| War Zone Fenris: Curse of the Wulfen | Space Wolves and Daemons Updates | February 2016 | |
| War Zone Fenris: Wrath of Magnus | Thousand Sons and Daemons Update | December 2016 | |
| War Zone Damocles: Burning Dawn | Tau Empire | N/A - Boxset | November 2015 |
| War Zone Damocles: Kauyon | Tau Empire and Space Marines Updates | November 2015 | |
| War Zone Damocles: Mont'ka | Tau, Astra Militarum and Assassins Updates | November 2015 | |
| War Zone Damocles: Operation Shadowtalon | Raven Guard | N/A - Boxset | November 2015 |
6th Edition
5th Edition
4th Edition
3rd Edition
Battlezone
Battlezone codexes were rules supplements that dealt with a specialised combat environment, instead of an army. There was only ever one produced. However, material in Codex: Catachans provides rules for jungle warfare. The concept of a Battlezone codex was replaced by Games Workshop's Expansions.| Codex | ISBN | Release Date | Superseded By |
| Cityfight | September 2001 | 4th edition expansion Cities of Death |
3rd Edition Events
The two event codexes were released in association with the 2000 and 2003 Worldwide Campaigns. These codexes provided background and special gaming rules for the event, along with four "supplemental army lists"; variant armies that required access to certain other Codices for use.| Codex | Obsolete Army Lists | ISBN | Release Date | Superseded By |
| Armageddon | Black Templars, Salamanders, Speed Freeks, Armageddon Imperial Guard | August 2000 | 4th Edition Codex: Space Marines; Black Templars; Orks and 5th Edition Codex: Imperial Guard | |
| Eye of Terror | Lost and the Damned, Ulthwé Strike Force, Cadian Shock Troops, 13th Company | June 2003 | 4th Edition Codex: Eldar; Chaos Space Marines and 5th Edition Codex: Imperial Guard; Space Wolves |