Part of our Deathwatch hub: every Deathwatch guide, lore page and painting tutorial in one place. Browse every Combat Patrol & Spearhead guide.
The Deathwatch are the Imperium’s elite xenos hunters. They aren’t a single chapter but an organisation that draws veterans from Space Marine chapters across the galaxy and forms them into kill teams built to destroy alien threats. They’re one of the coolest armies in Warhammer 40,000, but if you’re looking for a Deathwatch Combat Patrol box in 2026, there’s something you need to know first.
Is There a Deathwatch Combat Patrol Box?
No. There is currently no Deathwatch Combat Patrol box. The last one was released back in 9th Edition and has long been retired, and Games Workshop hasn’t made a replacement. There’s also no Deathwatch force among the Combat Patrol forces in the Warhammer 40,000 app, which is where Combat Patrol rules now live.
That doesn’t mean you can’t start a Deathwatch army. It just means you’ll put your starter force together from other boxes. This guide explains what’s available, how to build a small Deathwatch force, and how to get playing.
Previous box
The old 9th Edition Deathwatch Combat Patrol contained a Primaris Lieutenant, a Primaris Apothecary, 10 Intercessors and 3 Aggressors, plus Deathwatch upgrades. An earlier version of this page described that box as including a Watch Master, which it didn’t. If you own the old box or find one second-hand, the models are still perfectly usable in a Deathwatch army, but there are no current Combat Patrol rules for it.
What Can You Buy Instead?
Here are the current Deathwatch products, and what each is good for:
- Kill Team: Deathwatch: a five-model Deathwatch kill team for the Kill Team skirmish game, released in late 2025. It’s the cheapest way to get started, and the models can be used in Warhammer 40,000 too. Our Deathwatch Kill Team guide covers how they play.
- Kill Team: Tomb World: a bigger Kill Team boxed game that includes a Deathwatch kill team and a Necron Canoptek Circle team, plus a rules dossier. A good choice if you want to play Kill Team with a friend.
- Armageddon Battalion: Deathwatch: released in 2026, this box contains a Corvus Blackstar (a fast Deathwatch gunship) and ten Deathwatch Kill Team marines, enough for two five-man squads. Retailers listed it as a limited release, available while stocks last, so it may be hard to find.
Not sure where to start? If you mainly want small, tactical games, buy Kill Team: Deathwatch. If you want a Warhammer 40,000 army, the Armageddon Battalion is the best foundation, if you can find one.
Where to Buy the Box
If you’re starting with Kill Team: Deathwatch, it’s available on Amazon US from third-party sellers. Check that the listing is the five-model 2025 kill team.
Price details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.As an Amazon Associate, Warhammer Guild earns from qualifying purchases.
Which Rules Do Deathwatch Use?
Deathwatch use the 11th Edition Space Marines codex. Space Marines are one of only three armies with an 11th Edition codex so far (with Orks and Adeptus Custodes), and Games Workshop has said no more codexes are coming until 2027. Our Codex: Space Marines 11th Edition guide explains what changed.
The codex includes two Deathwatch detachments:
- Black Spear Task Force: the full Deathwatch army, built around their Mission Tactics.
- Deathwatch Support: a small detachment that lets any Space Marine chapter bring a limited Deathwatch contingent alongside its main force.
That second option is great news for new players. You can start with a regular Space Marine army and add a Deathwatch kill team, rather than committing to a full Deathwatch collection on day one. Our guide to Detachment Points in 11th Edition explains how detachments fit together.
For Combat Patrol specifically, there’s no official Deathwatch force. Combat Patrol rules are in the Warhammer 40,000 app, and our Combat Patrol rules guide explains how the format works.
How to Build a Deathwatch Starter Force
If you want a small Deathwatch army of roughly Combat Patrol size for friendly games, here’s a sensible way to put one together.
Option 1: The Armageddon Battalion
Ten Kill Team marines and a Corvus Blackstar already make a strong core. Add a character such as a Watch Captain to lead one of the squads, and you have a compact, characterful force with infantry, a leader and a fast vehicle.
Option 2: Kill Team First
Start with Kill Team: Deathwatch and play the Kill Team game. It’s a great way to learn the faction with very few models. When you’re ready for Warhammer 40,000, add a second kill team and a character, and you’ll have a small force to build on.
Option 3: Space Marines Plus Deathwatch
Buy Getting Started with Space Marines, which contains the 11th Edition Space Marine Combat Patrol (the Assault Force) along with paints and a brush. Play Combat Patrol games with it using the Assault Force rules in the app, then add a Deathwatch kill team later using the Deathwatch Support detachment for bigger games. Some players simply paint the whole Assault Force in Deathwatch black and silver. See our Space Marines Combat Patrol guide for the details.
What Deathwatch Units Do
Kill Team Marines
Deathwatch Kill Teams are the heart of the army. They’re veteran Space Marines with specialist weapons and ammunition, built to adapt to whatever enemy they’re facing. In 11th Edition their Mission Tactics are tied to the Space Marines’ Combat Doctrines, giving them different bonuses depending on how you’re fighting each turn.
Corvus Blackstar
The Corvus Blackstar is a fast gunship. It can be armed for anti-tank work with twin lascannons, or for anti-infantry work with a twin assault cannon. Use it to strike targets your infantry can’t reach and to support your kill teams wherever they land.
Characters
A Watch Captain or Watch Master gives your kill teams a leader. Characters make the squads they lead more effective and act as your Warlord in bigger games.
How to Play Deathwatch
Deathwatch are an elite army. You’ll have fewer models than almost any opponent, so every unit matters.
- Pick your targets. Deathwatch are built to hunt specific threats. Use the right squad and the right tactic for each target.
- Use cover. In 11th Edition, Infantry in a terrain area have the benefit of cover, which worsens the Ballistic Skill of ranged attacks against them by 1. With so few models, you can’t afford to stand in the open.
- Play the mission. You won’t out-number anyone, so focus on holding the objectives that matter rather than trying to kill everything.
- Don’t spread too thin. Keep your squads close enough to support each other.
Painting Deathwatch
The Deathwatch scheme is one of the most recognisable in the game: black armour, a silver left shoulder pad, and a right shoulder pad in the colours of the marine’s original chapter. That last detail is a lovely way to personalise every model.
Recommended Colour Scheme
- Armour: Chaos Black spray, edge highlighted with Eshin Grey and Dawnstone.
- Silver shoulder pad: Leadbelcher, washed with Nuln Oil, highlighted with Stormhost Silver.
- Chapter shoulder pad: your choice. Pick each marine’s original chapter, such as Ultramarines blue or Blood Angels red.
- Details: Mephiston Red for eye lenses, Wraithbone washed with Seraphim Sepia for purity seals.
For a full step-by-step, see our how to paint Deathwatch guide, plus our tutorials on painting black armour and painting silver armour. Our Space Marine chapter colours guide is handy for those chapter shoulder pads. For more Deathwatch guides, visit our Deathwatch army hub.
Expanding Your Deathwatch Army
We don’t have a dedicated Deathwatch army list yet, but our Space Marines 1000 point army list guide covers the core Space Marine units Deathwatch can use, and our army lists hub has lists for every faction.
- More Kill Team marines: the backbone of any Deathwatch army.
- A Watch Captain or Watch Master: leaders for your kill teams.
- Terminators: Deathwatch can field Terminators for a tough, elite strike force. See our Terminators guide.
- Space Marine vehicles and Dreadnoughts: Deathwatch can use much of the wider Space Marine range. Our Space Marine vehicles guide covers the options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a Deathwatch Combat Patrol in 2026?
No. The old 9th Edition box is retired, there’s no replacement, and there’s no Deathwatch force in the Combat Patrol section of the Warhammer 40,000 app. The current Deathwatch products are Kill Team: Deathwatch, Kill Team: Tomb World and the limited Armageddon Battalion: Deathwatch.
Are Deathwatch good for beginners?
They can be, but they’re not the easiest start. With so few models, every mistake hurts, and there’s no ready-made starter box. Many new players start with regular Space Marines and add Deathwatch later through the Deathwatch Support detachment.
Do Deathwatch have their own codex?
No. Deathwatch use the 11th Edition Space Marines codex, which includes the Black Spear Task Force and Deathwatch Support detachments.
Can I use Deathwatch models in Kill Team and Warhammer 40,000?
Yes. Deathwatch Kill Team models work in both games, which makes Kill Team: Deathwatch a low-risk way to start. Our Kill Team beginner’s guide explains the skirmish game.
Do Deathwatch marines go back to their own chapters?
Yes. A Space Marine serves the Deathwatch for a set period called a Vigil, then usually returns to his original Chapter, bringing back hard-won expertise in fighting xenos. A few stay on for much longer and rise to lead as Watch Captains or Watch Masters. That’s why every Deathwatch marine keeps his old Chapter’s heraldry on his right shoulder pad.
Where are the Deathwatch based?
The Deathwatch operate from Watch Fortresses scattered across the galaxy, each covering a region of space. The most famous is Watch Fortress Erioch, the oldest and greatest of them. From these bases, kill teams are sent out against alien threats, often working alongside the Ordo Xenos of the Inquisition, which founded the Deathwatch.
Related Content
- Deathwatch – Warhammer 40k Guide — apply this guide to a specific army
- How to Play Warhammer 40k — Complete Beginner’s Guide — learn the core rules of Warhammer 40K
- Aeldari Combat Patrol — Alternative Eldar Guide — explore another helpful guide
- All Warhammer 40k Factions Ranked — Tier List — see which factions rank highest