If there’s one thing we learned from the reveal of the Fellblade, it’s that Horus Heresy fans like their tanks big and catastrophically destructive – and who are we to argue? Nothing conveys the sheer calamitous scale of the Age of Darkness like seeing a tracked monstrosity bulldoze its way through enemy ranks, and more armoured behemoths are making their way onto the battlefield soon – starting with the Glaive.
Glaive Super-heavy Special Weapons Tank
This variant of the Fellblade chassis mounts a devastating volkite carronade the size of a bus, which projects a beam of heat so intense it sears right through power armour and atomises the fleshy bits inside – a party trick that came in shockingly handy when the Space Marine legions started shooting at each other.
This new multi-part kit is the first time the Glaive has been available in plastic, and it comes with loads of options for its hull and sponson weapons – just like the Fellblade.
If you saw such a tank on the other side of the battlefield you’d be forgiven for staying a long way away, or perhaps out of sight. If only there was a way for you to bombard your opponents while keeping yourself out of danger… something like, say, a new plastic Whirlwind missile tank.
Whirlwind Missile Tank
Yes! Exactly like that one. The Whirlwind is a certified Astartes classic combining the venerable Rhino chassis with a huge missile launcher that hurls storms of explosive warheads into enemy ranks, whether it has line of sight or not. The sophisticated range-finding and targeting auspexes mounted to the launcher allow multiple different kinds of munitions to be loaded and fired independently, from standard high explosives to incendiary Pyrax rounds.
Most artillery pieces are vulnerable once the enemy closes in, but the speed and reliability of its chassis means the Whirlwind can quickly relocate under cover of smoke. It thrives in both mobile battalions and siege regiments, and it’s a rare commander who’ll turn down a rain of missiles that can pin and panic the foe before their own forces advance.
The mighty squadrons of super-heavy tanks that saw combat in the Horus Heresy are the focus of the next Journal Tactica book, Mailed Fist: Legiones Astartes Super-Heavy Tanks, which explores their use and abuse throughout the apocalyptic conflict.
This 48-page supplement includes new Leviathan Missions designed to accommodate vast numbers of vehicles in asymmetric clashes, with support for chaotic multiplayer battles that pitch everyone’s armoured squadrons against each other. It’s full of in-depth lore about the creation and organisation of the super-heavy fleets fielded by the Legiones Astartes, culminating in new Exemplary Battles that let you refight notorious vehicle-heavy engagements like the Siege of Portresh.
These vehicles will be entering service later this year, and you can find out when they’re coming to pre-orders by checking in with Warhammer Community each week. We’ll have a closer look inside the Journal Tactica too, as we inch nearer to its release.
Once you’ve torn your eyes away from all this wonderful armour, head back to the New Year Preview hub and see what else we’ve been showing off.
the new year preview
see all the reveals
