Warhammer 40,000 September Update Boosts Space Marine Stats

A new rollout balance update has landed for Warhammer 40,000, marking the final entry in a sequence of monthly rules updates that began in July. Released on September 30, 2026, the major balance update focuses heavily on the stats, abilities, and points costs of the Adeptus Astartes and related factions.

Stat Increases and Tactical Shifts for Space Marines

Phobos armored Space Marines now feature a Move characteristic of 8 inches while staying at Toughness 4. This mobility boost aids in scoring objectives and blocking opponents, though it comes with a corresponding points increase. Meanwhile, most units wearing Tacticus and Terminator armor receive a one-point increase to their Toughness. This widespread durability adjustment extends to numerous Chaos Marine units, including generic Chaos Space Marines, Emperor’s Children, Thousand Sons, and World Eaters.

Because units enjoying the increased Toughness must pay for it with higher points values, the overall evolution of marine armies trends toward more elite forces that are fewer in number. Consequently, these armies will feature fewer bodies on the battlefield, making it more challenging for them to hold down objectives and trade for them as effectively as non-Space Marine armies.

Space Marine Weapons Gain Strength and Durability

Alongside greater durability, standard Space Marine core weaponry is increasing in Strength. Boltguns and chainswords gain an additional point of Strength to reach Strength 5, with select options also receiving extra Armor Penetration. Rules revisions and point changes similarly impact non-Codex-compliant chapters and factions such as the Black Templars, Blood Angels, Dark Angels, Space Wolves, and Adeptus Custodes.

The Death Guard faction avoids the general Toughness increase and therefore escapes the associated points increases. However, their boltguns and plague knives are upgraded to Strength 5 with AP-1, turning even core infantry into a notable threat and increasing the damage potential of their Nurgle’s Gift army rule.

Transition to Quarterly Rules Reviews

Today’s rules and point changes conclude a period of close scrutiny designed to get the new edition off on an even footing. Following this sequence of monthly releases, the game returns to its usual quarterly rules review format.