Games Workshop dropped a new Dataslate today, giving us another set of game wide balance updates as well as updated points for new units and Detachments. In this article we’re looking at the changes made to the various Space Marine Chapters - what changed, what it means, and how it changes the faction’s outlook in the overall meta moving forward.
Before we dive in, we'd like to thank Games Workshop for providing us with a preview copy of this update for review purposes.
Space Marine Codex
Codex: Space Marines remain one of the game’s top factions at the moment, buoyed by the ongoing power of +1 to wound and Oath of Moment with good vehicle-based shooting from a variety of solid tank and vehicle options. And while the Ultramarines are the top chapter choice for the faction, there have been some interesting Salamanders builds of late running Forgefather’s Seekers.
Points Changes
Lt. with Combi-Weapon +15pts (85)
Redemptor Dreadnought +10pts (205)
Repulsor Executioner +10pts (230)
Wardens of Ultramar +10pts (105)
Rules Changes
Marneus Calgar and his two cronies are gone, along with the resin Captain Sicarius. Not even in Legends; taken out back and shot.
Impact
The rat bastards are out to hurt me specifically. Loser
Thoughts
Hits to Repulsor Executioners and Redemptors hurt the general ability of Marines to survive and smoke C’tan, so the point squeeze there is a loss. As always it depends heavily on your build on how much this is going to hurt. If you can spare 15 points, you’re still bringing Lt. Sitsonballs (Lt. with Combi-weapon), and moving on with your life. Other builds, like the increasingly popular Salamanders builds, really don’t suffer too much.
One of the big changes here is that finally Marneus Calgar in his Gravis armor and his two dickhead friends are gone. This reduces the durability of the Calgar Victrix squad by A LOT without the cheesing of the 4+++ FNP shenanigans. Ultramarines players finally caught their very mid nerf, and now, instead of one of the best datasheets in the game, they have to settle for merely one of the goodest datasheets in the game. Resin Captain Sicarius, while he showed up a bit less, was still a common sight, and now Ultras have to live with modern models and ok rules like the rest of the field.
None of this kills the faction, it’s still good, it’s still strong, but it’s a bit worse than it was and a bit tighter on points. Tighten the belts and keep trucking.
Black Templars
Black Templars run purely on the strength of the Bastion Task Force Detachment, which does its best works on Crusader Squads
Points Changes
Crusader Squad -10pts for 20 models (to 300)
Rules Changes
None.
Impact
Slight Winner
Thoughts
The Black Templars Repulsor Executioners didn’t catch the same points hike as the standard marines ones, so these lists are basically unchanged. The drop on the Crusader Squads here is meaningful - a 10-point drop on a unit you take three of in top Bastion lists means you’re saving 30 points - but it’s offset somewhat by the increase on the Combi-Weapon Lieutenant. These combine to mean that top Bastion lists likely pick up 15-25 points, which is enough for an extra Enhancement - potentially spent on the Bombast Omnivox to get you extra Command Points. It’s not a huge improvement, but it’s one players will appreciate.
Blood Angels
Points Changes
Astorath -10pts to 85.
Rules Changes
Sanguinary Priests can now join Bladeguard Veterans.
Impact
Slight Winner
Thoughts
Blood Angels remain strong, and love to see the C’Tan menace blunted a bit. The tools that hit basic Marines don’t impact Blood Angels infantry heavy lists too badly, and Astorath, who lags behind the other character options, gets a little more viable. The bigger deal is that the Sanguinary Priest can attach to Bladeguard Veterans now - they’re a unit which really benefits from both his 5+ Feel No Pain and +1 AP on melee attacks. There’s nothing but upside here, really, so long as you can find 15 points for the Combi Lt that you are probably bringing anyway.
Dark Angels
The Sons of the Lion have less play than most of the other Space Marine factions right now - they show up every now and then in results but lack the kinds of exceptional units to put them over the top. Azrael and the Lion are both notable but Deathwing Knights don’t fare particularly well in a meta tooled toward kill C’Tan.
Points Changes
None.
Rules Changes
None.
Impact
Neutral
Thoughts
Nothing really changes for Dark Angels - their one major build in Wrath of the Rock takes a slight nerf with the increase to the Lieutenant with Combi-weapon and they continue with their hunt for the Fallen. The Company of Hunters Ravenwing-heavy lists will continue to do reasonably well, but Necrons will remain a considerable challenge.
Deathwatch
The Deathwatch lists out there rely almost exclusively on the Black Spear Taskforce and their kill teams to throw out some eye-watering levels of damage with units that can harass opponents in their backfield. They’re among the stronger Marine armies as a result, but can be punishing given their reliance on a small number of very elite units.
Points Changes
None.
Rules Changes
None.
Impact
Slight Loser
Thoughts
The points on the Lieutenant with Combi-Weapon going up will force a list change for most Deathwatch lists, as the cheapest infiltrate unit they have access to in Blackspear (no scouts for you). It is not a massive change but it ends up being enough to have to flex around to keep around (or maybe bump up to infiltrators).
Space Wolves
Despite their desire to be seen as alphas, Space Wolves remain near the middle of the pack and struggle to achieve good boy status.
Points Changes
None.
Rules Changes
None.
Impact
Slight Loser
Thoughts
As usual, Wolves catch strays on the back of changes made to Marines. Lists with Repulsor Executioners, Redemptors, and my most special boy, the Lieutenant with Combi-Weapon take a hit while the faction receives nothing in return. If you were hoping for a boost to put the faction on par with vanilla space marines, this is a real bummer.
Final Thoughts
Space Marines cover a wide swath of the meta and it’s telling that Ultramarines and vanilla options are still at the top of that - there’s just not a lot out there which beats +1 to wound and the Gladius Task Force detachment, even as we near the end of our third year of Tenth Edition. The changes here seem mostly geared toward pruning those top marine armies back, with trickle-down effects that have varying levels of impact on every other chapter. Blood Angels and Black Templars escape more or less unscathed while the others are likely to feel it a bit.
Have any questions or feedback? Drop us a note in the comments below or email us at contact@goonhammer.com. Want articles like this linked in your inbox every Monday morning? Sign up for our newsletter. And don’t forget that you can support us on Patreon for backer rewards like early video content, Administratum access, an ad-free experience on our website, and subscriber-only content covering competitive Warhammer 40K!
This website uses cookies. Learn more.
Goonhammer Hobby Round-Up: March 2026
Goonhammer Reviews: Tribal Conquest
Conquest: Weaver Courts Gemred Knights and Scaile Dancers Model Review
