The Siege of Death Mire was the worldwide campaign that kicked off Warhammer 40,000’s new edition — a global battle where thousands of players’ games decided the fate of an Imperial hive city on Armageddon, pitting the Orks against the Space Marines. Here’s what the campaign was, how it worked, and the grim way it ended.
For the wider edition context, see our Warhammer 40k 11th Edition hub.
What was the Siege of Death Mire?
Death Mire is a hive city on Armageddon (in the Volcanus theatre of Armageddon Prime) that became the flashpoint for a fresh Ork invasion as the new edition launched. Games Workshop turned that story into a global participation campaign: real games played by real people around the world were tallied to decide which faction — Orks or Space Marines — would claim the world, with the result written into official Warhammer 40,000 lore.
It slotted neatly into the edition’s launch narrative, continuing the great Ork invasions of the Wars for Armageddon and the Blood Angels vs Orks clash of the Armageddon box.
How the campaign worked
The campaign ran from 22 June to 13 July 2026. Participation was refreshingly open:
- You needed a My Warhammer account to log results.
- You could use any faction, but each victory had to be dedicated to either the Orks or the Space Marines.
- You could log one result per week online.
- You didn’t need the Armageddon box to take part.
Each week, the winning side was rewarded with new model reveals, and everyone who submitted results was entered into a prize draw to win one of 40 1,000-point armies of new Orks or Space Marines miniatures. At the campaign’s end, the victorious side would receive a brand-new detachment.
How the Siege of Death Mire ended
In a fittingly grimdark twist, the Siege of Death Mire ended in a draw. Neither the Orks nor the Space Marines could claim outright victory, dooming the hive to a long, grinding war of attrition — exactly the kind of endless, unwinnable conflict that defines the 41st Millennium. That stalemate is now the official canon outcome of the campaign.
The Space Marines won the first two weeks (the Outer Walls and the Cloisters), the Orks narrowly took the Hive Heart in week three with 53.7% of battles, and Ork victories in Warhammer stores overran Gallows Spaceport. With no clear winner, both sides got a new detachment: Vengeful Hosts for the Space Marines and Equatorial Hordes for the Orks.
Why it mattered
Global campaigns like Death Mire do two things at once: they give the community a shared story to fight over, and they let players’ collective results shape official lore — a rare thing in a setting usually dictated from the top down. Coming at the launch of a new edition, it was also the perfect on-ramp for players to try the new rules with stakes attached.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Siege of Death Mire run?
From 22 June to 13 July 2026, at the launch of the new edition.
Who won the Siege of Death Mire?
Neither side — it ended in a draw, condemning the hive city to a grinding war of attrition, which became the official lore outcome. Both factions received a new detachment as a reward.
Did you need the Armageddon box to take part?
No. Any army could join; you just dedicated each logged victory to the Orks or the Space Marines.
Was the result made canon?
Yes. The fate of Death Mire became official Warhammer 40,000 lore.
Can I still take part in the Siege of Death Mire?
No. The campaign ran from 22 June to 13 July 2026, and results could only be logged online during that window. It has ended, and its outcome, a draw that left the hive in a grinding war of attrition, is now official lore. You can still recreate the fighting yourself with Orks and Space Marines.