Games Workshop dropped the biggest announcement of AdeptiCon 2026 last week: Warhammer 40,000 is getting its 11th Edition, launching in June with an Armageddon-themed starter box pitting Blood Angels against Orks.
The headline changes target long-standing community complaints. Objective circles on the tabletop are gone, replaced by fights over actual terrain pieces like bunkers, shrines, and relics. Cover now affects hit rolls rather than just making tough units tougher, which should reward positioning over raw stats. Stratagem stacking has been removed entirely. Units can only benefit from one stratagem per phase, reining in the combo chains that have frustrated players throughout 10th Edition.
The army-building system gets 70 new detachments, giving players far more flexibility to build forces that match their playstyle. And critically, all existing 10th Edition codexes will remain compatible with the new rules. Nobody has to go back to index play on day one.
The Armageddon launch box brings the long-awaited return of Commissar Yarrick alongside Wazdakka Gutsmek, an Ork character fans have been requesting for years. GamesRadar's coverage noted refreshed sculpts for both Intercessors and Ork Boyz, signalling a visual update for the core range.
Warhammer 40K's 10th Edition launched in June 2023 with a simplified rules approach that won praise for accessibility but drew criticism for balance issues and stratagem bloat over time. The 11th Edition pitch is evolution rather than revolution. GW wants to keep what works while cleaning up the friction points that have built up over the last three years.
GW will be showing more of the launch box in the coming weeks, building up to a live unboxing event before the June release.
Sources: Warhammer Community | GamesRadar | Bell of Lost Souls | Goonhammer