A New Chapter in the Stars: Captains, Combat Patrols, and the Shifting Face of Warhammer 40,000

4-minute read

The galaxy stirs once more. This week’s Warhammer preview brings us three striking new Space Marine Captains and two fresh Combat Patrols that advance both lore and gameplay. From stoic Iron Hands machine-masters to high-speed White Scars raids, these releases mark another exciting step in the ongoing evolution of Warhammer 40,000.

The Captains: Faces of a Thousand Battles

Caanok Var – The Iron Captain

From the heart of Clan Avernii, Caanok Var embodies the Iron Hands’ creed: flesh is weakness, steel is strength. Encased in Terminator armour and wielding the power maul Axiom, he’s built for endurance and punishing counter-attacks. Expect him to anchor your gunlines and grind through the enemy’s best — a literal wall of iron advancing through fire. Supplied on a 50 mm base.

Suboden Khan – The Thunder of Chogoris

Fast, fearless, and ferocious, Suboden Khan thunders into battle atop his grav-bike “Thunder”, lance poised to strike. With head options for personalisation and a look that screams speed, this Khan is every inch the hit-and-run commander his Chapter demands. Perfect for players who like to keep their forces moving — strike hard, reposition, and leave opponents reeling.

Captain with Jump Pack, Thunder Hammer & Relic Shield

This new Jump Pack Captain pairs the mobility of a strike leader with the resilience of a shielded veteran. The Thunder Hammer hits like a meteor, while the Relic Shield ensures he’s still standing when the dust settles. With optional heads and weapon swaps, he’s an instant favourite for custom Chapter collectors and anyone wanting a dynamic, drop-ready command option.

Compact but Lethal: The New Combat Patrols

Combat Patrol: Iron Hands

If your idea of subtlety involves servo-arms and autocannons, this one’s for you.

• 10 Heavy Intercessors
• 2 Firestrike Servo-Turrets
• 1 Techmarine
• New Iron Hands transfer sheet featuring 468 decals across multiple Clans (Avernii, Garrsak, Raukaan, Kaargul, Atropos)

This box brings a fortress-worth of firepower to the table — ideal as a standalone Patrol or the armoured core of a larger Iron Hands army. Browse all Combat Patrols, or search our Heavy Intercessors and Techmarines.

Combat Patrol: White Scars

Speed is life — and this box is pure motion.

• 5 Assault Intercessors in an Impulsor transport
• 3 Outriders
• Suboden Khan leading the charge
• New White Scars transfer sheet rich with Brotherhood iconography

A lightning-fast starter set that captures everything the White Scars stand for: mobility, precision, and ferocity. Explore Outriders, the Impulsor, and other Space Marine kits in our store.

Combat Patrol: Harlequins

The laughter in the dark grows louder — the Harlequins return to the stage. Their new Combat Patrol captures the shifting, theatrical chaos that defines the Masques of the Laughing God. Every model is a performer, every blade a punchline — and this box ensures your army can pirouette through enemy lines before they even realise the show’s begun.

Inside you’ll find:

• 1 Troupe Master to lead the performance
• 6 Players — agile, acrobatic, and devastating up close
• 2 Skyweavers, weaving death from above
• 1 Starweaver transport to carry your deadly jesters into battle

This is an army that dances, strikes, and vanishes before retaliation even lands. Whether you’re expanding an Aeldari collection or stepping into the Webway for the first time, the Harlequin Combat Patrol offers fast, high-impact play with distinctive flair — perfect for players who prefer finesse over brute force.

The March of the Combat Patrols Continues

With these latest boxes, the tally of Combat Patrols keeps climbing — a clear signal that Games Workshop is doubling down on the format as a bridge between casual and competitive play.

How many will we see by the time the next edition lands next summer? It’s anyone’s guess, but it feels inevitable that every major faction will soon have a refreshed, balanced Patrol ready to deploy.

What’s becoming increasingly clear is that Combat Patrol is evolving to mirror the Spearhead system — compact, contained, and accessible while retaining faction flavour and strategic depth. Expect the format to continue tightening the gap between pick-up-game convenience and league-ready structure.

Given the lost opportunity with Combat Patrol in 10th Edition, this shift feels like a good sign — proof that the format is finally finding its footing within the wider game ecosystem.

What These Releases Mean for the Meta

1. Commanders, not Characters – These new Captains blur the line between named heroes and customisable leaders, letting you tailor them to your army’s needs.
2. Balanced Entry Points – The new Combat Patrols offer accessible, ready-to-play forces that scale naturally into full armies — ideal for newcomers and veterans alike.
3. Faction Identity Reinforced – From Iron Hands stoicism to White Scars aggression, these boxes stay true to their Chapters in both theme and playstyle.
4. Flexibility and Flow – With jump packs, bikes, and turrets, players now have more tools than ever to define their battle rhythm — whether that’s a solid line or a lightning strike.

Final Thoughts

These releases show that Games Workshop is serious about refining Warhammer 40,000’s small-scale experience. Compact, characterful, and increasingly balanced, Combat Patrols and Spearhead alike are paving the way for a more flexible future — one where anyone can grab a box, a few dice, and get straight into the fight.

Whether you’re a veteran adding new heroes to your Chapter or a newcomer looking for a gateway into the hobby, there’s never been a better time to take command.

Battle. Bond. Belong. Keep it Mighty.