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The new Legio Custodes miniatures add more loadout and unit-size choices, but the official previews do not provide enough shared Horus Heresy profile and points data to rank them against existing units. The clearest comparisons are therefore about role, equipment, and how to verify the rules—not which unit is strongest or most efficient. For that, use the current profiles in Liber Custodes: The Forces of the Emperor and its applicable supplements.
What the new Custodes range adds—and what it does not prove
Games Workshop’s January 2026 reveal introduced new plastic Legio Custodes miniatures and identified Liber Custodes: The Forces of the Emperor as their Horus Heresy rules reference. An April preview described standalone releases including Venatari and grav vehicles. In September, Games Workshop previewed Aquilon Terminators and confirmed that their Horus Heresy rules are in Liber Custodes.
The timeline is useful because it separates the arrival of miniatures from the rules reference players need to use them. The January reveal established the broader new range, the April preview pointed to standalone kits such as Venatari and grav vehicles, and the September Aquilon preview described particular equipment options. These are release and miniature details, not a single comprehensive army-list update that places every new choice beside every existing one with comparable statistics.
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Those announcements establish that more miniatures and equipment options are available. They do not, by themselves, establish how the units perform in a game. A miniature reveal may describe a weapon or a unit’s intended theme, but it is not a substitute for the unit’s Army List Profile, special rules, points, or the rules governing its battlefield role.
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That distinction matters especially when comparing new units with existing Custodes choices. A meaningful comparison needs common information for both sides: role and army-list slot, unit size, movement or deployment rules, durability, weapons, special rules, and points. The official previews provide selected details for Aquilons and Venatari, but not a complete comparable profile-and-points set for every new and existing choice. No reliable points-efficiency or overall-strength ranking follows from the preview information alone.
In practical terms, the announcements answer questions such as “What weapon options does the kit represent?” and “How many Venatari can I organise from the kit?” They do not answer “How many points does this build cost?”, “How does its durability compare with an existing unit?”, or “Which is the better choice for my army?” Those are profile questions. Players should avoid filling the gaps with assumptions based on a model’s appearance, its weapon name, or an entry from a different game system.
Aquilons and Venatari: the clearest equipment comparisons
The previews make Aquilon Terminators and Venatari the easiest new units to distinguish by stated equipment. They suggest different ways to build and use a force, but do not identify a universally better option. The current Horus Heresy profiles are needed to judge what those weapons and unit rules do in play.
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That gives players useful comparison axes even without a final ranking. Aquilons have two named weapon packages to check against one another, while the Venatari kit offers a ranged-versus-melee distinction and a choice of organisation. These are concrete decisions to examine in the rules. They should not be turned into claims about damage, survivability, speed, or efficiency unless the relevant profile establishes those details.
Aquilon Terminators: two distinct weapon packages
Games Workshop’s September 2026 preview describes two Aquilon loadout themes:
- Lastrum storm bolters with Solarite power talons.
- Adrathic combi-destructors with Solarite power gauntlets.
This is a concrete choice between two weapon combinations, not enough information to claim that one is better at a particular target or battlefield task. To compare either Aquilon build with an existing Custodes unit, check the current Army List Profiles for weapon rules, any restrictions on equipment combinations, unit size, relevant special rules, and points. Then compare the complete builds rather than treating the miniature’s weapon names as performance data.
Keep the package intact when making that check: compare the lastrum storm bolter and Solarite power talon build with its actual profile, and compare the adrathic combi-destructor and Solarite power gauntlet build with its profile. Do not assume that a ranged-sounding weapon automatically makes one configuration a better ranged unit, or that a melee-sounding weapon alone establishes how it performs in close combat. The rules for the weapons, the unit’s rules, and the cost of the complete configuration all matter.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesThe preview identifies Liber Custodes as the Horus Heresy rules source. It does not establish an Aquilon points cost or provide a complete comparison with other Terminator or infantry choices. Those details must come from the current rules reference.
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If an Aquilon build appears to overlap with an existing unit, the next step is to identify exactly what role the two profiles share and where they diverge. Check the army-list slot and access first, then the movement or deployment rules, defensive profile, weapons, special rules, and points. This distinguishes “both are Custodes units with powerful equipment” from a genuine comparison of two choices that compete for the same place in a list.
Venatari: ranged or melee emphasis
Games Workshop describes a six-miniature Venatari kit that can be fielded as one large unit or as two squads of three. The stated equipment options distinguish ranged combat with kinetic destroyers from melee with Verutum lances.
The flexibility in how the six models are organised is a practical point of difference. A player can consider a single larger unit or two smaller squads, subject to the current profile’s rules and any applicable army-building restrictions. The preview does not establish the points cost of either arrangement, how the two unit sizes compare in resilience or effectiveness, or whether the weapons make one build stronger. Use the Army List Profile for those questions rather than assuming that more models in one unit, or a particular weapon theme, automatically produces better value.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWhen considering the two organisation options, compare what each one means for the list rather than treating six models as automatically equivalent in either arrangement. Verify the legal unit sizes and any equipment requirements in the profile, then check whether the current army rules or event pack place additional conditions on the choice. The preview establishes that the kit can be used as one larger unit or two squads of three; it does not supply the points or rules needed to say which arrangement is preferable.
The weapon choice also gives a straightforward question to take to the profile: does the intended list need the kinetic destroyer option’s actual rules, or the Verutum lance option’s actual rules? The preview labels the broad ranged and melee emphasis, but it does not provide range, damage, special rules, or a performance comparison. Those details must be read from the Horus Heresy entry, not inferred from the names.
Guard Sodalities and the loyalist Allied Detachment route
Games Workshop’s allied-army article describes a Legio Custodes Allied Detachment example for loyalist Horus Heresy armies. In that example, a Shield Captain occupies a Command slot, while Custodian Guard Sodalities or Sentinel Guard Sodalities occupy Troops slots. The article says Custodes are loyal to the Emperor and are not available as a Traitor ally in that example.
This is useful for understanding the route the article presents for adding Custodes to another loyalist force. It is not a blanket substitute for army-building rules: check the current army books and the event pack for the force you intend to use. A detachment example also does not show how either Guard Sodality compares in points, durability, or battlefield performance with another Troops choice.
The slots are important context for a comparison. A unit that occupies a required or limited place in a detachment may not be a direct alternative to a unit taken in a different slot, even if both seem to fill a similar battlefield role. Start by checking whether both choices are available to the force you are building, then compare their profiles and costs. The allied-army example shows one route and named slots; it should not be stretched into a claim that every loyalist list or event uses identical requirements.
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Games Workshop’s 2026 Adeptus Custodes Codex overview says older Custodian Guard miniatures can still represent the renamed Guard Sodalities. That is a miniature-continuity statement from a Warhammer 40,000 Codex preview; it should not be read as a Horus Heresy profile comparison or as proof that 40K and Horus Heresy rules are interchangeable.
For a player who already owns older Custodian Guard miniatures, that statement is relevant to representation of the renamed Sodality miniatures in the Codex context. It does not change which Horus Heresy profile to use, or establish any change to the unit’s Horus Heresy equipment, points, or battlefield role. Use the Horus Heresy rules source for those questions.
Vehicles and dreadnoughts: compare profiles, not a Codex unit list
The 2026 Codex overview names the Pallas Grav-attack, Coronus Grav-carrier, Caladius tanks, Telemon dreadnought, and Contemptor dreadnought variants among its entries. That list can point a reader toward units represented in the broader Custodes miniature range, but it does not establish current Horus Heresy points, rules, or battlefield performance for them.
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This is especially important when the names of several vehicles or dreadnoughts appear together in a Codex overview. A list of entries confirms neither that the units occupy the same role nor that their profiles are equivalent between Warhammer 40,000 and Horus Heresy. For a useful comparison, first locate each Horus Heresy entry, then record the profile details under the same headings. If one unit’s current Horus Heresy profile is not available in the material being consulted, leave that comparison unresolved rather than importing a Codex statistic.
The Codex overview says it presents 27 datasheets across its combined Warhammer 40,000 and Horus Heresy ranges. That is a Codex overview count, not a count of Horus Heresy units. Likewise, the preview’s Custodian Guard statistics—Toughness 7 and 5 Wounds per model, with squads capped at three models before Leaders—are Warhammer 40,000 datasheet details, not Horus Heresy profile values. Do not use either figure as a substitute for the relevant Horus Heresy rules.
Those figures can be useful when describing what the Codex overview says about its own game, but they cannot be used to fill gaps in a Horus Heresy comparison. A different datasheet may use different characteristics, unit sizes, rules, or points conventions. Keeping the two systems separate prevents a precise-looking number from creating a misleading comparison.
Where the Horus Heresy rules come from
Liber Custodes is the main reference for the named units
Games Workshop identifies Liber Custodes: The Forces of the Emperor as the Horus Heresy rules reference for the new miniatures discussed here. Start with the current Army List Profile for the unit you want to use. It is the place to verify its classification, equipment, rules, and points before comparing it with another choice.
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Use the profile for both sides of the comparison, not just the new miniature. Matching the edition and source is as important as matching the unit role: one current profile and one Codex datasheet do not form a fair comparison. Check any applicable updates and the rules that govern the army or detachment as well as the profile itself.
Legacies expands the options but is not a standalone rules source
The Third Edition Version 1.0 Legacies of the Age of Darkness: Legio Custodes PDF supplements Liber Custodes with Expanded Units. The document says it is not standalone and requires both the Age of Darkness Rulebook and Liber Custodes.
It also clarifies that Core and Expanded classifications do not, by themselves, determine whether a unit may be used in a Horus Heresy battle. Its wording is: “Both types of Unit may be freely used in any Horus Heresy Battle, and this category does not affect their availability as part of an Army or Detachment or the Rules for their use during a Battle.” That statement is from the Third Edition Version 1.0 Legacies document. Check the individual unit’s current Army List Profile and the rules for the game or event you are playing; do not treat the classification label alone as a restriction.
The practical takeaway is that “Expanded” is not, on its own, a reason to rule a unit out. At the same time, that sentence is not a substitute for reading the actual profile or all the list requirements. A player still needs the prerequisite books, the relevant unit entry, and any applicable event rules. Confirm the unit’s classification and profile before building around it.
How to make a fair comparison with an existing unit
Once you have the current profiles in front of you, use the same questions for each unit. This avoids comparing a miniature preview for one option with a complete rules profile for another.
- Confirm the rules edition and source. Use the current Horus Heresy books and applicable updates, not a Warhammer 40,000 Codex datasheet. If a unit comes from Legacies, also check the document’s stated prerequisites.
- Check role and list access. Record the Army List Profile’s classification, slot, detachment access, and any restrictions relevant to your force. For an Allied Detachment, verify the current army-building requirements rather than relying only on an example article.
- Compare unit size and organisation. For Venatari, the preview supports considering six models as one unit or two groups of three; verify the profile and current rules before building a list around either arrangement. Apply the same scrutiny to the existing unit.
- Compare complete loadouts. Note the legal weapon combinations and their rules. For Aquilons, distinguish the storm bolter and talon combination from the combi-destructor and gauntlet combination. For Venatari, compare kinetic destroyers with Verutum lances using their actual profiles.
- Include movement, durability, and special rules. These determine how a unit reaches and contributes to a target, and how it behaves once engaged. Do not infer them from a model’s appearance or from weapon names.
- Put points beside the complete build. Compare the points for the actual unit and equipment configuration you would field. Only then can you assess cost against a specific role; a points figure without the associated rules and loadout is not a useful efficiency verdict.
- Check the context of the game. Army composition and event rules can affect whether a choice is available. Confirm those rules for your army and event before treating a profile comparison as a legal list decision.
A simple comparison table can help keep the process consistent. For each candidate, note the source and edition, profile classification, slot and list access, allowed unit size, legal equipment options, movement or deployment rules, durability, special rules, and points for the specific build. Then write down the role you want the unit to fill. A completed table may show that two units are alternatives, that they serve different purposes, or that one cannot be included in the list under the same conditions. It should not force a winner where the profiles do not support one.
For Venatari, the preview supplies two entries in that table: six miniatures can form one large unit or two squads of three, and the stated equipment options are kinetic destroyers or Verutum lances. For Aquilons, it supplies the two named weapon packages. The remaining columns still need current profile information. That is the line between using release details as a starting point and treating them as if they were a complete game comparison.
This method yields a grounded comparison without pretending that every unit is interchangeable. It can tell you whether two choices compete for a similar role in your list, where their equipment differs, and what rules or points affect the choice. The official previews do not supply the complete values needed to fill in that comparison across the whole range.
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Common comparison mistakes to avoid
- Mixing game systems: Warhammer 40,000 Codex datasheets and Horus Heresy Army List Profiles are not interchangeable. The 27-datasheet count and the previewed Custodian Guard statistics belong to the Codex context.
- Ranking units from weapon names: A named weapon or a miniature’s visual theme does not establish range, damage, special rules, or effectiveness. Use the current profile.
- Treating a release preview as a full rules entry: Previews establish selected facts, such as Venatari kit organisation or Aquilon equipment themes, but do not provide a full points-and-performance comparison.
- Assuming Core and Expanded labels decide availability: The Third Edition Version 1.0 Legacies document says the classification does not itself affect availability in a battle. Read the profile and relevant army rules.
- Assuming a detachment example covers every army or event: The allied-army article describes an example for loyalist forces. Confirm composition rules in the current books and event pack for your situation.
- Comparing a kit with a profile as though they answer the same question: A kit description tells you about the miniatures and some equipment or organisation options. The profile supplies the rules needed to judge an in-game choice.
- Calling a unit more efficient without comparing its complete cost: Points for a different size or loadout may change the comparison. Use the actual profile and configuration rather than a partial cost or a broad impression.
What can be concluded now
The new Custodes releases broaden the available miniatures and give players identifiable equipment choices: two Aquilon weapon packages, and Venatari that can be organised as six models together or two squads of three with ranged or melee emphasis. The allied-army article also describes a loyalist route using a Shield Captain and Guard Sodalities in specified slots.
Those facts support a role-and-loadout comparison, not a definitive ranking. To decide whether a new unit is better than an existing Horus Heresy choice, compare their current Army List Profiles and points under the same edition and list conditions. Keep the 40K Codex figures separate, and use Liber Custodes plus the relevant Legacies supplement where applicable.
The strongest practical conclusion is therefore a method, not a winner. Use the same rules source for both units, confirm that they are available to the army and detachment, compare complete equipment configurations, and account for unit size, movement, durability, special rules, and points. If those details are not available for both choices, the fair answer is that the comparison remains open. The previews identify what to look up; they do not replace the profiles that settle it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which book has the Horus Heresy rules for the new Custodes units?
Games Workshop identifies Liber Custodes: The Forces of the Emperor as the rules reference for the named new units, including Aquilon Terminators. Check each unit’s current Army List Profile for its rules, equipment, classification, and points.
How many Venatari can I field from the kit?
Games Workshop describes a six-miniature kit that can be fielded as one large unit or two squads of three. Check the current profile and army-building rules for the legal details of the arrangement you plan to use.
Do the previews say which Aquilon loadout is better?
No. The September 2026 preview describes lastrum storm bolters with Solarite power talons, or adrathic combi-destructors with Solarite power gauntlets. Compare their current profiles, rules, and points before judging either build.
Can I use an Expanded Legio Custodes unit in a Horus Heresy battle?
The Third Edition Version 1.0 Legacies of the Age of Darkness: Legio Custodes document says Core and Expanded classifications do not by themselves affect availability in a battle. The PDF supplements Liber Custodes and also requires the Age of Darkness Rulebook; check the individual profile and any event rules.
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Games Workshop’s allied-army article describes an Allied Detachment example for loyalist armies, with a Shield Captain in a Command slot and Custodian Guard or Sentinel Guard Sodalities in Troops slots. It says Custodes are not available as a Traitor ally in that example. Verify current army composition rules and event requirements for your game.
Can I use the 40K Custodian Guard stats or Codex unit count to compare Horus Heresy units?
No. The 27 datasheets and the previewed Toughness 7 and 5 Wounds per Custodian Guard model, with squads capped at three models before Leaders, are Warhammer 40,000 Codex details. Use the Horus Heresy Army List Profiles for a Horus Heresy comparison.
Do the official previews establish which new unit is most points-efficient?
No. They do not provide a complete, comparable set of Horus Heresy profiles and points for all new and existing choices. Compare the current profiles and the points for the complete build you intend to field.
The Bottom Line
The previews establish distinct equipment and organisation choices, not a winner. Compare new Custodes units with existing Horus Heresy choices using current Army List Profiles, complete loadouts, list access, and points; do not substitute Warhammer 40,000 Codex figures.
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