Space Marines have long been Warhammer 40,000's most recognizable army, and the new wave of models for the game's 11th edition doubles down on the qualities that made them so enduring: broad tactical options, imposing silhouettes, and a deep pool of characters and units to collect. This refresh is not trying to compete with the wild visual energy of the recently updated Orks by becoming stranger or more elaborate. Instead, it leans into a different strength. These are models built around flexibility, clean battlefield identities, and a generous helping of nostalgia.
The range includes a named Ultramarines champion, a Captain on Bike, redesigned Intercessors, multipart Outriders, and multipart Vanguard Veterans with Jump Packs. Together, they offer useful additions for newcomers assembling a first force and established collectors looking to give their existing army more personality. The common thread is customization. Many of these releases move beyond older push-fit construction, opening up more choices for heads, weapons, accessories, and poses.
That matters especially for Space Marines. Their army is large enough that repeated visual designs can become apparent quickly, particularly when building several squads of the same battlefield role. The new kits aim to make a collection feel less uniform without sacrificing the polished, practical construction expected from modern plastic miniatures. Here is what each new addition brings to the tabletop and hobby desk.
Kaius Konorious is built to hunt enemy leaders
Kaius Konorious, champion to Ultramarines Chapter Master Marneus Calgar, arrives as a close-combat character with a very direct job: get into melee and remove key opposing units, especially characters. Space Marine armies never lack heroes, so a new named fighter has to establish a purpose quickly. Konorious does that through a combination of heavy melee damage and meaningful support for the unit he joins.
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His weapons, Severance and Rebuke, can be used in different profiles. Strike carries Precision, making it particularly useful when a dangerous character is embedded in an enemy unit. Sweep provides Cleave 2. Depending on the selected profile, he makes five or six attacks, hits on a 2+, has AP -3, and inflicts either 2 or 3 damage per successful wound. Those numbers give him the tools to threaten elite targets rather than merely add another power weapon to a Marine formation.
Konorious also grants a Feel No Pain 4+ to his attached unit. When he is attacking a Character unit, he may re-roll hit rolls and wound rolls of 1. It is a strong package for players who want a forceful combat piece that contributes to the squad around him. His role is clear: identify the enemy's pivotal leader or hard-hitting unit, close the distance, and make the engagement count.
Hobbyists looking for an approachable character kit should take note as well. His construction is relatively simple, with an estimated build time of around five to 10 minutes. There is an alternate head for a little variation. One practical warning is worth keeping in mind: the blocks attached to his feet can look like surplus sprue connections, but they are part of the miniature and should not be clipped away.
The Captain on Bike leads from the front
The Captain on Bike is the obvious pick for a fast-moving Space Marine army. Outriders, tanks, Landspeeders, and other rapid elements benefit from a leader that can keep pace with them rather than trailing behind on foot. The model is a natural fit for players who want an aggressive vehicle-focused force with a character at its center.
Like other Captains, he is a capable all-rounder. He can contribute at range with his standard sidearms and the bike's twin bolt rifles, then move into combat with either a Thunder Hammer or Master-crafted Power Weapon. His familiar Strategic Acumen ability allows his unit to activate one Combat Doctrine until the player's next Command phase. The bike-specific Into the Fray rule adds Cleave 1 if he charged that turn, reinforcing the intended play pattern: keep advancing, charge decisively, and turn mobility into combat momentum.
Assembly is moderately complex, at roughly 25 minutes, though it comes with rewarding options. Alternative heads, weapons, and posing choices make it easier to give the Captain a distinct identity. The cape-bearing arm requires care, as its placement can be unclear and can interfere with surrounding pieces if misaligned. Still, the kit appears welcoming to kitbashing. Chapter-specific components, such as spare Dark Angels parts, can help turn the miniature into a more personal commander.
Intercessors are the range's most important refresh
A new Intercessor Squad may sound like a routine release, but it is arguably the centerpiece of this wave. Intercessors are foundational Space Marine troops, the kind of unit likely to appear in many armies and to be built in multiples. Updating them successfully requires more than supplying replacement bodies. The squad needs to be reliable in play and diverse enough in construction that repeated purchases do not become repetitive.
On the tabletop, the new Intercessors remain versatile objective holders and dependable general-purpose infantry. Their Toughness has risen from 4 to 5, improving their staying power. Bolter Discipline has changed from the older Hail of Bolts approach. Instead of adding attacks against a chosen target, it now gives the squad +1 to hit rolls while it is within range of an objective or when its target is close to one. That makes the unit especially effective in the objective-focused areas where it is most likely to operate.
Tactical Mainstay adds further utility. The squad remains eligible to start an action even while engaged or battle-shocked, and performing an action does not stop it from being eligible to shoot. These rules make Intercessors feel appropriately dependable: they can occupy ground, continue contributing under pressure, and support the larger battle plan rather than relying on a narrow trick.
The hobby appeal is just as important. Expect a build time of more than an hour for the squad, largely because there are so many choices. Heads, weapons, armor elements, accessories, and poses provide extensive room for personalization. Veteran fans can draw on visual motifs from Warhammer history, including classic helmet styles such as the distinctive beaked pattern. A player could build pristine, uniform troops, a scavenged-looking squad assembled from mismatched battlefield armor, or a force heavy on old-school styling. Even details like a leader's back banner help bridge the gap between modern proportions and the character of earlier Space Marine ranges.
Multipart Outriders add speed without identical poses
Outriders are among the boldest-looking Space Marine units, even by the faction's famously impractical standards. Heavily armed warriors riding huge combat bikes into the thick of battle are not subtle, but they are undeniably striking. More importantly, this new version replaces the limitations of older push-fit Outriders with a multipart plastic kit.
That change benefits both collectors and commanders. In rules terms, Outriders offer a relatively inexpensive fast assault unit. Their twin bolt rifle array has a 24-inch range, while their melee output becomes especially nasty on the charge. Thunder Hammer-equipped models gain +1 to hit rolls after charging; other melee weapon users receive +1 damage and Sustained Hits 1. They make an excellent fit in armies that want to seize space quickly, pressure exposed targets, or provide a durable-looking threat alongside a Captain on Bike.
The kit is moderately to highly demanding, with an estimated build time of 45 to 50 minutes. Bike riders require careful alignment: legs need to sit naturally, feet need to meet the pedals correctly, and hands must line up with handlebars. It is sensible to add pouches, grenades, and similar accessories before fixing the Marine onto the bike, because the space becomes difficult to reach afterward. The extra work is offset by the ability to avoid repetitive poses across a larger Outrider collection.
Vanguard Veterans with Jump Packs remain premier assault troops
For players who want the fastest route to a devastating melee attack, Vanguard Veterans with Jump Packs remain an excellent answer. The unit previously received updated models in Armageddon, but this new release shifts to multipart plastic and adds expanded equipment choices, including shields. The result is a more customizable version of a classic Space Marine battlefield role.
These veterans combine Deep Strike with formidable close-combat options, including power swords, axes, hammers, and sidearms. Their Vanguard Assault ability grants +1 attack to all melee strikes in any turn where the unit charged. With Master-crafted Power Weapons even as a baseline, that extra volume of attacks can make a jump pack squad a serious problem for opponents trying to hold remote objectives or protect vulnerable units behind their lines.
They are particularly appealing for commanders who enjoy layered positioning. A Vanguard Veteran unit can arrive where pressure is needed, threaten a faraway objective, or force an opponent to divert resources to their backfield. That distraction can create openings for the rest of a Space Marine force to advance elsewhere.
Despite their dramatic airborne poses, the miniatures are only moderately difficult to assemble, taking about 40 minutes. They are sturdier than they first appear and offer alternative heads, weapons, and poses to support dynamic squad builds. Their height and jump pack silhouettes should also make them natural visual focal points in a finished army.
Which new Space Marine kit should you choose?
The best purchase depends on the kind of force and hobby project you want. Kaius Konorious is the uncomplicated pick for players needing a melee character who can target enemy leaders. The Captain on Bike belongs in a rapid, vehicle-led formation. Intercessors are the safest broadly useful choice, combining upgraded resilience and objective utility with perhaps the widest cosmetic variety in the range.
Outriders suit collectors who value speed, charging power, and high-impact silhouettes, provided they are ready for more careful assembly. Vanguard Veterans with Jump Packs are the choice for players who want flexible deep-striking melee pressure and a squad that can become an army's visual centerpiece.
More than anything, this release makes Space Marines feel broad again. The 11th-edition range offers accessible entry points without flattening the army's tactical depth, while the kits' retro details ensure long-time hobbyists have plenty to enjoy. Whether the aim is a clean new force or a collection filled with echoes of older chapters and classic armor, these releases provide a sturdy foundation.
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