As the Lord Commander Solar, Arcadian Leontus sits among the highest echelons of the Imperium, boasting an unimaginable roll of titles, peerages, ranks, and probably a whole gaggle of attendants tasked solely with ensuring that his horse has enough cyber-hay.

With an army of logistical advisers, priests, tacticians, tarot readers, prophets, seers, confidants, and sub-commanders at his beck and call, Lord Solar Leontus is personally responsible for hundreds of stunning Imperial victories. Though his remit is technically confined to the defence of the Segmentum Solar, Leontus has led campaigns far beyond its boundaries. How else, he argues, can he protect Holy Terra from distant foes?

His steed Konstantin* is decades old, now largely cybernetic and clad in gleaming armour. From this lofty perch, Arcadian Leontus commands the men and women of the Astra Militarum as they endure horrifying battles in their mission to protect the Imperium from the heretic, the mutant, and the alien.

Though he’s kept at his physical peak by a healthy diet, regular exercise, and staggeringly expensive rejuvenat treatments, Leontus has spent over a century leading the Emperor’s armies. 

Wearied by the horrors of war and the Imperium’s brutal demands, the Lord Solar knows that he may never see the fruits of his tireless efforts. Nevertheless, he continues to lead from the front – armed with his pistol Sol’s Righteous Gaze, and his power sword Conquest.

Unorthodox use of the tarot readers of The Collegiate Astrolex gives Leontus the ability to change one of his army’s secondary objectives or Agendas on the cusp of battle, reacting to his foe’s plans. Or if he’s feeling secure in his tactical choices, he can proceed with steely confidence and gain an additional Command point in the first Command phase.

Lord Solar Leontus (and Konstantin) feature on the cover of the version of Codex Astra Militarum in the forthcoming Cadia Stands: Astra Militarum Army Set.

Rough Riders first appeared way back in White Dwarf #111, with the planet Attila – home to the most famous of these far future cavaliers – arriving a few years later in the second edition of Warhammer 40,000. They’ve been on something of a hiatus since 2009,* but the wait is over – they’re raring to go, and ready for horseplay. 

It takes a ridiculously brave soldier to ride into the horrors of the 41st Millennium on horseback – not to mention a ridiculously brave horse! Daring Rough Riders specialise in lightning assaults on enemy weak points, and punch far above their weight thanks to the sheer destructive power of their hunting lances.

You need more than just a sharp stick to face foul xenos war-beasts – fortunately, these lances pack a deadly explosive payload. Employing reckless battlefield techniques refined by the horsemasters of Attila, the hunting lances wielded by Rough Riders can deliver your choice of an infantry-shredding frag tip or vehicle-busting melta tip. 

Far from lonesome outriders, Rough Riders are an integral part of the Imperial war machine – the PLATOON keyword lets them receive orders from Cadian Castellans and other officers, while the CORE keyword grants access to a wide variety of bonuses. They even pack a lasgun each for the rare moments when they’re not ramming explosive lances through traitorous faces.

Unlike regular Command Squads, Castellans don’t go into battle accompanied by a retinue. They move among their troops, issuing orders and directing fire wherever it’s needed, all while extending re-rolls to every CORE unit in range.

Astra Militarum officers can all boost the effectiveness of their Guardsmen with orders, but the Castellan can issue two per turn. Orders are a vital aspect of the war machine, encouraging units to hit harder, pin down foes, and surge across the battlefield in mass human waves.

This incredible new model is tremendously versatile, and comes with plenty of weapon options and four separate heads which you can use to make it truly your own. It can be used with any Astra Militarum army, Cadian or otherwise – even the Death Korps of Krieg and the Catachan Jungle Fighters need battlefield command.

Castellans are competent fighters in their own right, with a panoply of powerful equipment at their disposal. Many a foul traitor has tried to cut the head from the Imperial beast only to receive a power fist to the face for their trouble. 

Called Cadia Stands, this Army Launch Set is the start of a huge overhaul for the Astra Militarum range, bringing new and highly detailed kits to the battlefields of Warhammer 40,000.

The box contains 20 Cadian Shock Troops, a Command Squad, a Field Ordnance Battery, and a Sentinel – plus a spoilerific codex that we can’t show quite yet – but these are far from the only new miniatures coming for the Astra Militarum.

A squad of Cadian Shock Troops packs in more special weapons than a standard Infantry Squad, leaving the Heavy Weapons Team behind for greater mobility.

Cadian Command Squads wring more from your infantry too, issuing orders and rallying nearby Guardsmen when the going gets a little too tough.

In addition to tripod-mounted heavy weapons, Astra Militarum regiments have begun wheeling larger artillery pieces to the front lines. Equipped with large-bore cannons, multi-missile launchers, or heavy, overcharged lascannons, Field Ordnance Batteries are the most powerful man-portable assets available.

We’ve already seen the armoured variant of the Sentinel– revealed alongside the new Lord Castellan of Cadia, Ursula Creed – but the kit also makes a classic Scout Sentinel complete with open canopy and chainsaw attachment.

In addition to the miniatures contained in the Army Launch Set, two more classic units are getting a well-earned update.

Fresh troops need a new Commissar to watch over them, and this stern individual will make sure the Cadians become the best soldiers they can be – or die trying.

Whether on their own or as part of an Infantry Squad, Heavy Weapons Teams are responsible for taking down the big beasts that lasguns won’t scratch. All the classic weapons are back, from heavy bolters to lascannons, and each base contains a massive amount of options to make them stand out. With spotters, loaders, sergeants, and more – allowing each team to look like its own mini-diorama.

Every Astra Militarum player can include these new Cadian models in their army, as the new codex returns to the old days of mixing and matching regiments – which means fielding squads of Shock Troops alongside the Death Korps of Krieg, Catachan Jungle Fighters, and more. Instead of tying your troops to a specific world, you’ll create a Regimental Doctrine that fits your preferred playstyle by combining two doctrine rules. Some of these are themed after iconic regiments, but you’re free to pick and combine whichever you like the most. 

For example – do you love ranks of infantry standing firm and firing disciplined volleys in the face of mounting casualties? Choose the Cult of Sacrifice and Parade Drill doctrines to add a touch of die-hard Death Korps determination to the Mordian Iron Guard’s discipline.

Ursula Creed

Ursula Creed is the Lord Castellan of Cadia – and we dare any of you to tell her that she can’t hold the post simply because Abaddon destroyed that entire planet. Creed follows in her father’s footsteps – but while nepotism is alive and well in the 41st Millennium, this is no hereditary title. She’s earned that mantle like her father before her, and is every bit as ruthless, tactical, and unflinching.

Wait, could that be her father’s battered old greatcoat? But wasn’t he wearing that when Cadia fell?

Kasrkin

The new Lord Castellan deserves to command only the finest troops in battle – and who better than the renowned Kasrkin? These warriors are the elite of the elite, and they’re getting a stunning kit to match their fearsome reputation.

Clad in the finest carapace armour, these special forces have more skills than your standard Astra Militarum trooper, and are able to cut down their enemies with volleys from their hot-shot lasguns.

Sentinel

Finally, there’s an incredible new take on a classic kit – the Sentinel. These agile walker-vehicles are superb hunter-killers, and can be equipped with a variety of weaponry and wargear that enables them to deal with any foe – from blasting apart a tide of frenzied cultists to bringing down xenos monstrosities.

The new miniature can be assembled as an Armoured Sentinel or – if you prefer to feel the wind in your hair as you slay the enemies of the God-Emperor – a lightweight Scout Sentinel.

That’s just a taste of the reinforcements that are on the way for the Astra Militarum. This release is a little way off yet – a few more armies will have their time to shine before these kits drop into the fight. But while the Hammer of the Emperor is ponderous, it is also mighty – this mobilisation will be far more than a scouting force…