The third edition of Warhammer: The Horus Heresy has landed like a drop pod, and the buzz is spot on—the new core set, titled ‘Saturnine,’ introduces some impressive new units and refines the existing rules without throwing them out entirely.
There’s plenty to explore with this new release, especially following the playful hints dropped by the Horus Hearsay “fansite” (which is actually a publisher Games Workshop page) that obscured some details. With that in mind, the GamesRadar+ experts and I have compiled everything you need to know about Warhammer: The Horus Heresy Third Edition. What’s included in the starter set? How will the new rules work? Let’s break it down.
First things first, you’ll definitely need to clear some space; the Saturnine core box looks to be larger than many popular board games when you consider the model sizes…
Essential Info on Warhammer: The Horus Heresy Third Edition
- New core box named ‘Saturnine’
- Includes new Dreadnought and Terminators
- Features updated rules, not a complete overhaul
Warhammer: The Horus Heresy is set to launch its Third Edition soon (likely in the summer), and new information is surfacing every day. To save you time sifting through Games Workshop’s hints, here’s a summary of what you need to know about the core set—Age of Darkness: Saturnine.
What is Horus Heresy Third Edition?
Horus Heresy is a tabletop wargame in the Warhammer 40K universe, serving as a prequel that takes place thousands of years earlier. It depicts a civil war between the human Emperor and his son, the Warmaster Horus, who has allied with the alien forces of Chaos (divine beings with enmity toward humanity). Players get to engage in battles where Space Marines fight their brethren, choosing their legion and side before diving into conflict on a miniature scale.
This third edition isn’t a total reset of the existing rules, which were already quite solid. Instead, it fixes some issues and introduces new mechanics. Notably, it brings in new units like the Saturnine Dreadnought and the Terminators—tough soldiers that can be integrated into existing armies. Old models from the second edition will still be compatible.
Rather than having a traditional starter set, the new edition kicks off with the Saturnine core box that contains everything needed to play.
What is Horus Heresy Saturnine?
Age of Darkness: Saturnine is the new core set for Warhammer: The Horus Heresy, supplying players with all the essentials. This means a new rulebook, dice, tokens, measuring tools, and enough models for either two smaller armies or one larger force.
This edition showcases the infamous Dropsite Massacre of Istvaan V as its theme, and the artwork reflects this significant event in Warhammer lore—where many loyal Space Marines were betrayed and killed in an ambush by turncoats. The Salamanders, one of the hardest-hit legions, feature prominently on the cover.
However, you aren’t limited to painting your models as Salamanders or the traitorous Iron Warriors shown on the cover; you can customize them however you prefer, and those units can fit into any army. The same flexibility was present in the previous Horus Heresy 2nd Edition starter set and the Epic scale Legions Imperialis Starter Set, staying true to Games Workshop’s style.
Warhammer: The Horus Heresy Third Edition Release Date
- No official release date yet
- Expected in summer
- Potential release in June or July
While there’s no specific release date for Warhammer: The Horus Heresy – Saturnine as of now, a ‘Summer’ timeframe has been indicated.
Publisher Games Workshop has previously followed a similar trend with their major releases for Warhammer 40K and Age of Sigmar, which came out in June and July. Therefore, it’s reasonable to anticipate that the Saturnine box will debut around that time.
Expert Opinion on Warhammer: The Horus Heresy
GamesRadar+ Streaming Editor and Horus Heresy aficionado Will Salmon remarked, “it feels like we’re taking a trip back to the ’80s with this set: large shoulder pads and even larger weapons. It’s great that Games Workshop is embracing the extravagant characters from this era.
“Regarding the game mechanics, I’m hoping for evolution rather than revolution. Heresy is distinctly different from the more streamlined and competitive Warhammer 40K; it’s sprawling and chaotic—and that’s part of its charm! We just need to address a few overly powerful rules (like piling shots on sergeants in Artificer Armor), while keeping the core experience mostly intact. Also, here’s hoping we won’t have to repurchase the Liber Astartes and Hereticus—Games Workshop really should move away from relying on expensive core rulebooks eventually.”
Based on the announcements, it appears that “evolution” is indeed in the cards. And I’m excited about it; the fundamentals of the game don’t require drastic changes, but some refinement wouldn’t hurt. I’ve always been drawn to Horus Heresy because of its grittier vibe, and these complex mechanics remind me of the classic Warhammer 40,000. As Will pointed out, there are indeed some rough spots that could use smoothing. Going by the revised rulebook and mechanical hints in the Horus Hearsay and Saturnine reveals, I anticipate something akin to the new Dungeons & Dragons system—fundamentally the same game, but improved.
Pre-orders for Warhammer: The Horus Heresy Third Edition
Currently, pre-orders for the new Horus Heresy box set aren’t available yet, but that should change soon. We can expect more details on May 30, and it’s likely that pre-orders will start shortly afterward.
While the official Warhammer store will definitely carry the Saturnine set, keep an eye on independent retailers as well. Yes, Amazon will stock it eventually, but places like Miniature Market in the US or Magic Madhouse in the UK or Wayland Games might offer better deals. They often reduce the standard price, making them more affordable options for purchasing Warhammer.
Just remember, they tend to sell out quickly. If you want to snag the new core set and save some money, you’ll need to act fast.
In the meantime, check out the best card games or the top tabletop RPGs to pass the time while you wait!
