Codex (Warhammer 40,000)

A codex (often pluralized as codexes, though the correct pluralization is codices)^[1], in the Warhammer 40,000 tabletop wargame, is a rules supplement containing information concerning a particular army, environment, or worldwide campaign.

Codexes for particular armies were introduced for the second edition of the game. The third edition rendered these obsolete, and a new series began, including introducing codexes for battlezones and campaigns.

Unless superseded by newer versions, the 3rd edition codexes remain valid for the 4th and 5th editions of Warhammer 40,000. Games Workshop no longer produce campaign or battlezone codexes, instead releasing 'expansions'. 'Codex' is now a term solely used for army books.

A codex normally contains:

• Army list - A list of the units, characters and vehicles that can be chosen for use in a battle. This includes their characteristic values, information on their weapon options, and any limitations on their use. Each item also has a points value, with more powerful units costing more points, so that battles are fought between balanced armies.
• Background - Information about the force and its place in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. This includes artwork, short stories, and copies of fictional documents from the future.
• Hobby section - Information on collecting, building and painting an army from the codex. This features outstanding example models painted by veteran hobbyists and Games Workshop's 'Eavy Metal team.
• Special characters - Contains background information and rules for fielding remarkable individuals from the army. Examples include Marneus Calgar in Codex: Space Marines and Ghazghkull Mag Uruk Thraka in Codex: Orks.

Current list of codexes

Army codexes

The range of codices is regularly updated with new editions of armies and occasionally new army codices. However, all codices from 4th and 3rd editions of Warhammer 40,000 are still valid in the current, 5th edition, unless a later version has replaced it.

5th Edition

4th Edition

Expansions

5th Edition

4th Edition

Imperial Armour

For main article see Imperial Armour

Imperial Armour is a series of official rules supplements to Warhammer 40,000 codexes produced by Forge World, a subsidiary company of Games Workshop. Current, valid books:

Obsolete Codexes

4th Edition

Imperial Armour

3rd Edition

The * above indicates a 'mini-dex' - a smaller codex requiring a parent list to complete its army list. For example, Codex: Dark Angels required Codex: Space Marines for shared units and wargear. Codex: Assassins could be used with either Codex: Imperial Guard or any Space Marine army.

Battlezone

Battlezone codexes were rules supplements that dealt with a specialised combat environment, instead of an army. There was only ever one produced. However, material in Codex: Catachans provides rules for jungle warfare. The concept of a Battlezone codex was replaced by Games Workshop's Expansions.

3rd Edition Events

The two event codexes were released in association with the 2000 and 2003 Worldwide Campaigns. These codexes provided background and special gaming rules for the event, along with four "supplemental army lists"; variant armies that required access to certain other Codexes for use.

2nd Edition

All codexes were rendered obsolete by 3rd edition Warhammer 40,000.

The * above indicates a 'mini-dex' - a smaller codex requiring a parent list to complete its army list.

References

1. ^ http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/codex
2. ^ Large scale battles Warhammer 40,000 - Apocalypse
3. ^ GW Online : Warhammer 40,000 : Cityfight : What's in the Book?
4. ^ Presented in two parts in White Dwarf (UK) issues #330 and #331, and subsequently available online from the GW website, with long-term plan to publish this list in a new book.
5. ^ (Available to download http://uk.games-workshop.com/imperialguard/catachan-rules/1/ )
6. ^ http://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d.html?pd=1&l=Product%20Details&a=1841543071
7. ^ (a "mini-dex"; needs to be used in conjunction with Codex: Space Marines, cannot be used on its own)
8. ^ http://www.eyeofterror.com/uk/welcome.htm (Space Wolf 13th company rules not yet superseded)
9. ^ Games Workshop PLC - Welcome! Please, choose your destination