Part of our Astra Militarum hub: every Astra Militarum guide, lore page and painting tutorial in one place. Browse all 1000-point army lists.
Nothing feels like the Imperial Guard. Lines of troopers, officers barking orders, and tanks rumbling up behind them: the Astra Militarum are the Imperium’s hammer, and a 1,000-point Incursion game is a great way to start one. Most lists at this size have 35 to 55 models, plus a tank or two, so there’s plenty to paint, but it’s very satisfying once it’s on the table.
The playstyle is combined arms. Your infantry are fragile on their own, but they’re cheap, they hold objectives and they screen for your guns. Officers give orders that make squads shoot better or move faster, and your tanks and artillery deliver the firepower. You win by trading cheap bodies for the enemy’s expensive units.
New to the faction? Start with our Astra Militarum army guide. For the background on the Guard’s many worlds and armies, see our Imperial Guard regiments lore.
A quick note on rules and points
Astra Militarum don’t have an 11th Edition codex yet. They’re using their existing 10th Edition codex rules, with the 11th Edition core rules on top, until their new book arrives in 2027 or later.
Every points value below is approximate. 11th Edition points change with each Munitorum Field Manual and balance update, so check the Warhammer 40,000 app before you play.
How 1,000-point games work in 11th Edition
At 1,000 points you get 2 Detachment Points to spend on detachments, instead of picking one. Each detachment costs 1 to 3 DP depending on how much of your army it affects. Our detachment points explainer walks through it. Check each detachment’s DP cost in your faction pack or the app before you finalise a list.
Some other 11th Edition changes help the Guard:
- Cover is now -1 to Hit against ranged attacks for Infantry in terrain. Guardsmen in ruins are much harder to shoot off objectives.
- Monsters and Vehicles no longer get cover just for standing in terrain. Your tanks need real line-of-sight blockers, but so do your opponent’s.
- Objectives are terrain pieces. Lots of cheap infantry is great for holding them, and some units and detachments can also secure an objective so it stays yours after they leave.
- One Stratagem per unit per phase, so plan which tank or squad gets your CP.
The full list is in our 11th Edition rules changes guide.
List 1: Cadian Battle Group (beginner)
This list starts from the Combat Patrol box and adds the kits most Guard players buy next. It has two squads of Cadians on objectives, a third riding in a Chimera, a Leman Russ for firepower, some artillery and a squad of Bullgryns to protect the line. It teaches you orders, screening and combined arms.
Army composition
- Cadian Castellan — ~50 pts
- Cadian Command Squad — ~65 pts
- 10x Cadian Shock Troops — ~65 pts
- 10x Cadian Shock Troops — ~65 pts
- 10x Cadian Shock Troops — ~65 pts
- Chimera — ~80 pts
- Commissar — ~30 pts
- Heavy Weapons Squad (lascannons) — ~65 pts
- Field Ordnance Battery — ~105 pts
- Armoured Sentinel — ~60 pts
- Leman Russ Battle Tank — ~175 pts
- 3x Bullgryns — ~130 pts
Detachment: Combined Regiment, the detachment most Guard players start with
Approximate total: ~955 pts
Unit roles
Cadian Castellan: your Warlord and order-giver. Orders such as Take Aim! and Move! Move! Move! make a big difference to your squads. Lead a Cadian squad with him and keep him in range of the others.
Cadian Command Squad: a second officer, so you can give more orders each turn. They also bring useful special weapons.
3x 10 Cadian Shock Troops: your backbone. Two squads hold your home and middle objectives; the third rides the Chimera to a flank.
Chimera: a cheap, tough transport with decent firepower. It gets a squad of Cadians to a distant objective and blocks lines of sight.
Commissar: keeps your infantry in the fight. Attach him to a Cadian squad on an important objective.
Heavy Weapons Squad: cheap, long-range anti-tank. Put it in your deployment zone with a clear line of fire.
Field Ordnance Battery: artillery that can hit hard from the back. Keep it stationary and shooting every turn.
Armoured Sentinel: a fast walker that grabs objectives and adds firepower on a flank.
Leman Russ Battle Tank: the iconic Guard tank. Its battle cannon hits most targets well, and it’s tough enough to anchor the middle.
3x Bullgryns: big, tough bodyguards with shields. Put them in front of your infantry, hold the middle and hit anything that tries to charge your line.
List 2: Kasrkin and Rogal Dorn (competitive-leaning)
This list mixes elite infantry with heavy armour. Two squads of Kasrkin ride Chimeras up the board, a Rogal Dorn anchors the middle, and Ursula Creed hands out orders. It’s harder to play than List 1, but it has more punch.
Army composition
- Ursula Creed — ~65 pts
- Cadian Command Squad — ~65 pts
- 10x Kasrkin — ~110 pts
- 10x Kasrkin — ~110 pts
- Chimera — ~80 pts
- Chimera — ~80 pts
- Rogal Dorn Battle Tank — ~250 pts
- 10x Cadian Shock Troops — ~65 pts
- 10x Cadian Shock Troops — ~65 pts
- Armoured Sentinel — ~60 pts
- Commissar — ~30 pts
Detachment: Combined Regiment
Approximate total: ~980 pts
Unit roles
Ursula Creed: a tactical genius who can give more orders than a regular officer. Keep her safe in your deployment zone with the Command Squad.
Cadian Command Squad: more orders and a little firepower. Keep them near your tanks and backfield infantry.
2x 10 Kasrkin + 2x Chimeras: your elite strike force. Kasrkin are tougher and better shots than regular Guardsmen. Ride them up in Chimeras, jump out next to a key target or objective, and unload.
Rogal Dorn Battle Tank: the biggest tank in the list. It’s hugely tough and carries plenty of guns. Put it in the middle and let it shoot every turn.
2x 10 Cadian Shock Troops: your objective holders. One on your home objective, one in the middle.
Armoured Sentinel: fast flank support and an objective grabber.
Commissar: keeps a key infantry squad fighting.
List 3: Tank Company (themed)
This is the Guard list people dream about. A Leman Russ Commander leads two more Leman Russ and a Hellhound, with just enough infantry to hold objectives. It uses Hammer of the Emperor, the armour-focused detachment. For a full rundown of the Guard’s armoured vehicles, see our Imperial Guard tanks guide.
Army composition
- Leman Russ Commander (Tank Commander) — ~200 pts
- Leman Russ Battle Tank — ~175 pts
- Leman Russ Demolisher — ~190 pts
- Hellhound — ~125 pts
- Cadian Castellan — ~50 pts
- 10x Cadian Shock Troops — ~65 pts
- 10x Cadian Shock Troops — ~65 pts
- Armoured Sentinel — ~60 pts
- Commissar — ~30 pts
Detachment: Hammer of the Emperor, the armour detachment
Approximate total: ~960 pts
Unit roles
Leman Russ Commander: your Warlord. He’s a Leman Russ with better shooting, and the best gun platform in the list.
Leman Russ Battle Tank: long-range firepower. It deals with most targets.
Leman Russ Demolisher: shorter range but heavier hits. Push it up to crack enemy tanks and elite infantry.
Hellhound: a fast flamer tank. It clears infantry off objectives and out of cover.
Cadian Castellan + 2x 10 Cadians: your only real infantry, so they hold objectives. The Castellan’s orders keep them effective.
Armoured Sentinel: fast objective grabber and flank support.
Commissar: keeps your infantry fighting when the enemy reaches them.
The trade-off: very few bodies. If your opponent charges your tanks with fast melee units, your infantry needs to be close enough to help.
General tactics at 1,000 points
Give orders every turn. Orders are free buffs. Before you move anything, decide which squads need them and keep your officers in range.
Screen your tanks. Put cheap infantry in front of your vehicles so enemy melee units have to chew through Guardsmen first.
Trade up. A 65-point squad that holds up a 200-point enemy unit for two turns has done its job.
Use terrain. Infantry in cover are much harder to shoot under the new -1 to Hit rule. Tanks, however, need real line-of-sight blockers to hide behind.
Focus fire. Pick one target each turn and kill it, rather than wounding three.
Watch the 2″ engagement range. Engagement range is now 2″, which makes it easier for enemy melee units to lock your guns in combat. Keep a screen between them and your tanks.
What to buy first
Start with the Astra Militarum Combat Patrol. It’s the cheapest way to get a core of Cadian infantry, an officer and support pieces. Check our guide for the current box contents. From there:
- Astra Militarum Combat Patrol — your core.
- Leman Russ Battle Tank — the kit builds several variants, including the Demolisher.
- Chimera — a cheap, useful transport.
- More Cadian Shock Troops — more objective holders.
- Rogal Dorn or Kasrkin — if you want to build towards List 2.
Our Cadian Shock Troops guide covers the Guard’s most common infantry, and our how to paint Astra Militarum guide helps with batch painting all those troopers.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting orders. Every turn without orders is wasted power.
- Leaving tanks unscreened. Enemy melee units love an unprotected Leman Russ.
- Spreading too thin. Guard have lots of bodies, but squads on their own die quickly. Keep them close enough to support each other.
- Overloading one unit with Stratagems. You can only use one per unit per phase, so plan ahead.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many models are in a 1,000-point Astra Militarum army?
Usually 35 to 55 models, plus vehicles. Infantry-heavy lists sit at the top end, and tank lists sit at the bottom.
Do Astra Militarum have an 11th Edition codex?
Not yet. They use their existing 10th Edition codex rules with the 11th Edition core rules until their new codex arrives in 2027 or later.
Is the Astra Militarum Combat Patrol enough for 1,000 points?
No. It’s a good core, but you’ll need more units, such as a Leman Russ and a Chimera, to reach 1,000 points.
What is the best Astra Militarum detachment at 1,000 points?
Combined Regiment is the detachment most players start with because it works with infantry and tanks alike. Hammer of the Emperor is the pick for tank-heavy lists.
Are Astra Militarum good for beginners?
They’re a bit harder than Space Marines because your infantry are fragile and you need to give orders every turn. But they teach you good positioning and combined arms, which will help you with any army.
Can I use Catachans instead of Cadians in these lists?
Yes. Catachan Jungle Fighters can fill the same objective-holding infantry slots as Cadian Shock Troops, so the lists still work with a jungle-fighter theme. They use a different datasheet with a different points cost, though, so recheck your totals in the Warhammer 40,000 app after swapping them in.
What is the difference between a Leman Russ and a Rogal Dorn?
The Rogal Dorn is the bigger, tougher and more expensive tank. It carries more guns and anchors the middle of the board, while the Leman Russ is cheaper, comes in more turret variants and lets you field more tanks for the same points. At 1,000 points that’s why List 2 takes a single Rogal Dorn and List 3 takes three Leman Russ.
Related guides
More 1,000-point lists: Chaos Space Marines for a traitor opponent to fight.