Part of our Space Marines hub: every Space Marines guide, lore page and painting tutorial in one place. Browse the 11th Edition hub.
What’s new in Codex: Space Marines for 11th Edition? The Emperor’s finest are the second army to get a full 11th-Edition codex, and it’s the biggest one yet — a 232-page tome with Combat Doctrines in place of Oath of Moment, 15 detachments, and a fresh wave of miniatures. This guide breaks down every confirmed change, what each detachment does, the new units, and whether the book is worth your money.
If you want the wider context first — the edition’s core changes, release schedule, and the Armageddon launch — start with our flagship hub, Warhammer 40k 11th Edition: everything you need to know. This article zooms in on the Space Marines specifically.
When does Codex: Space Marines release?
Codex: Space Marines goes up for pre-order in late September 2026 and lands on shelves in early October 2026, following Codex: Orks as the second 11th-Edition codex. It arrives in a standard hardback and a Special Edition hardback, and — as with every 11th-Edition release — its rules also drop into the Warhammer 40,000 app on launch day.
Alongside the book comes a Command Pack with 94 reference cards (covering every detachment’s rules, enhancements, and stratagems) and a set of tokens, plus the new units debuting in the Armageddon-era release wave.
Combat Doctrines replace Oath of Moment — the headline rule change
The biggest change is the army rule itself. As Warhammer Community put it in its first look at the codex rules: “Oath is dead, long live Combat Doctrines.” Oath of Moment, the 10th Edition rule that let you re-roll Hits and Wounds against one chosen target each turn, is gone. In its place, Combat Doctrines are the Space Marine army rule.
It’s a shift from raw damage to tactical flexibility: Marines no longer delete a target through sheer re-roll volume, but they gain movement and shooting options at the moments that matter. For how this fits the wider ruleset, see our breakdown of the 11th Edition rules changes.
How Combat Doctrines work
There are three doctrines:
- Assault Doctrine — Advancing doesn’t stop the unit charging.
- Devastator Doctrine — the unit’s ranged attacks gain [ASSAULT].
- Tactical Doctrine — Falling Back doesn’t stop the unit shooting or charging.
Each doctrine can normally be selected once per battle, and a unit can only have one doctrine active at a time, so timing is everything. The Assault, Tactical and Devastator Brethren detachments grant an extra use of their matching doctrine, Captains can activate a doctrine for their own unit, and Roboute Guilliman, fittingly, has all three doctrines active at once — a nod to his role as the Primarch who wrote the Codex Astartes in the first place.
All 15 detachments
The codex ships with 15 detachments, so you can theme your force around almost any Space Marine doctrine. The classic Gladius Task Force returns as the flexible all-rounder (four enhancements, plus a Codex Discipline rule that lets you use one Combat Doctrine an extra time), joined by a deep roster including:
- Assault, Tactical and Devastator Brethren — each gives an extra use of its matching Combat Doctrine
- Terminator Storm Force — elite Terminator-led forces
- Tacticus Attack Force and Tacticus Firestorm — Tacticus-armoured battle lines
- Phobos Shadow Force and Phobos Shock Force — Phobos and stealth troops
- Gravis Linebreaker Force and Gravis Siege Force — heavy, durable infantry
- Ironstorm Spearhead — vehicles and Dreadnoughts
- Stormlance Task Force — fast attack and bikes
- Ironclad Champions and Gauntlet Task Force — rounding out the 15
That breadth is the codex’s biggest selling point: a single collection can be rebuilt into wildly different armies just by swapping detachment. This pairs neatly with the new Detachment Points system that governs list-building in 11th.
New units and datasheets
The release wave adds several new plastic kits and refreshed datasheets, including:
- Captain on Bike — a fast-moving character to lead outriders
- Outrider Squad — refreshed fast-attack bikers
- Vanguard Veterans with Jump Packs — hard-hitting assault specialists
- Updated datasheets for Terminators and Sternguard Veterans
- Librarians that now have a psyker level, which sets how many psychic abilities they can use each battle round
What’s actually in the codex
Like every 11th-Edition book, this is a hefty hardback — 232 pages — split between rules and background. Expect updated datasheets for the full range, all 15 detachments, a large lore section, a painting and collecting guide, and a tour inside a Space Marine fortress-monastery. If you’re choosing between the many Chapters, our Space Marine chapter tactics compared guide is a useful companion.
Should you buy Codex: Space Marines?
If you play any Space Marines army — or one of the divergent Chapters — this book is essentially mandatory: it’s the up-to-date source for your datasheets and detachments in 11th. The Special Edition is a nice-to-have for collectors, but the standard hardback plus the Command Pack cards is the practical combo for most players. If you’re brand new, the Armageddon starter set remains the cheapest on-ramp to a Marine force.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many pages is Codex: Space Marines 11th Edition?
It’s a 232-page hardback — the largest 11th-Edition codex released so far.
What happened to Oath of Moment in 11th Edition?
It’s gone. Combat Doctrines replace Oath of Moment as the army rule: Assault, Devastator and Tactical Doctrines, each normally usable once per battle, with one active per unit at a time.
How many detachments are in the codex?
There are 15 detachments, including the returning Gladius Task Force plus new options for vanguard, assault, siege, and armoured play.
Do my existing Space Marine models still work?
Yes. In line with GW’s “evolution, not revolution” messaging for 11th, existing models remain usable — you simply update to the new datasheets and detachments.
Do Blood Angels, Dark Angels and Space Wolves need Codex: Space Marines?
Yes. The divergent Chapters build on Codex: Space Marines, which holds the core datasheets they share, such as Intercessors, Terminators and Captains. Their own Chapter-specific units and rules are added on top, so a Blood Angels or Dark Angels player still needs the main codex as their base book in 11th Edition.
What is the best Space Marines detachment for beginners?
Gladius Task Force is the easiest place to start. It’s the flexible all-rounder of the 15 detachments, with balanced bonuses and four enhancements that work with almost any collection. Once you know how your army plays, you can try a themed option such as Phobos Shadow Force or Ironstorm Spearhead.