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The battlefields of the 41st millennium have seen countless armored vehicles stalking among the burning wreckage of their enemies. Within the Imperium of Man, one of the most iconic is the Dreadnought. Small enough to maneuver among infantry troops yet powerful enough to obliterate even the most heavily fortified positions, these unique mechanized units have cemented their place among the Adeptus Astartes for thousands of years.
Now, this legendary vehicle is coming to Warhammer 40K 10th edition, with a new Space Marines Ballistus Dreadnought model that’s available for pre-order from Games Workshop. Below we smash into all the details.
What’s Included With the New Ballistus Dreadnought?
The new Ballistus Dreadnought kit includes 21 separate push-fit plastic components and a 90mm base. Despite its fairly static design, there is a bit of customization potential as you can rotate the firing arcs of the lascannon (located on the right side of the vehicle) and the missile launcher (located on the left side). The model also includes a Space Marines Vehicles Transfer Sheet containing 325 transfers (most of which have appeared in other similar models).
It’s worth noting that this isn’t the first time we’ve seen this Ballistus Dreadnought model. In fact, it was originally included in the Warhammer 40K Leviathan Box Set, with the model itself first unveiled at Warhammer Fest 2023. This is, however, the first time that the vehicle has been sold separately.
What is the Datasheet and Point Value for the Ballistus Dreadnought?
The datasheet for new Ballistus Dreadought is available in the Codex: Space Marine for 10th Edition and on Page 115-116 of Games Workshop’s free Adeptus Astartes rules PDF).
The model includes the following key abilities:
- Oath of the Moment: At the start of your Command phase, select one unit from your opponent’s army. Until the start of your next Command phase, each time a model from your army with this ability makes an attack that targets that enemy unit, you can re-roll the hit roll and you can re-roll the Wounds roll.
- Wisdom of the Ancients: While a friendly ADEPTUS ASTARTES INFANTRY unit is within 6″ of this model, each time a model in that unit makes an attack, re-roll a Hit roll of 1.
According to the most recent Munitorium Field Manual (which breaks out the point value of all Warhammer 40K 10th edition models), a Ballistus Dreadnought comes in at 135 points, putting it just 5 points under the cost of a similar Invictor Tactical Warsuit.
What is A Ballistus Dreadnought?
In the lore of Warhammer 40K, Dreadnoughts are a fusion of man and machine, as inside each vehicle is a single, permanently-encased Space Marine who is kept alive via a cybernetic life-support system and neurally linked to the vehicle. Essentially, each combat walker is an extension of the pilot’s own body, allowing them to move and fight as a single entity. In many cases, the Space Marines chosen for this duty are those who have been severely crippled in battle.
Notably, Dreadnoughts are often kept in a state of suspended animation within their Chapter’s shrine and only awoken in times of great need. For this reason, many of the Space Marine pilots are actually thousands of years old and valued for their fighting prowess and experience.
While there are a variety of different Dreanought types – including modern units like the Redemptor, Brutalis and Ballistus – they all tend to be similarly equipped with Ceramite armor and wield many of the same weapons, including heavy plasma cannons, heavy bolters and heavy flamers.
How much Is the new Ballistus Dreadnought?
The new Space Marines Ballistus Dreadnought model has an MSRP of $70 USD if you purchase it directly from the Games Workshop website. This is comparable to the Redemptor Dreadnought and Invictus Tactical Warsuit models.
As always, prices may vary if you buy the model from your local game store or from Amazon (where discounts and sales may allow you to pick him up for a bit cheaper, with most third-party retailers offering at least 10-15% discounts).
When Will the New Ballistus Dreadnought Be Released?
The box set is currently available for pre-order and will launch on March 2nd, 2024. It’s possible that local game stores and online retailers will have copies on shortly after this date.
Notably, in recent months Games Workshop has been having difficulties meeting pre-order demand, with some third-party game stores being unable to get their hands on product, so you may want to check with your local retailer to see if it’s available.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a little more mobile firepower for your Space Marines army, then that Ballistus Dreadnought is likely the perfect options. If you already have one from the Leviathan, you’ll probably be set (especially given the point cost), but. You can pre-order yours now from the Games Workshop website.
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Zachary Birch lives in Medford, Massachusetts and has been a dedicated war gamer for over 15 years, playing pretty much ever system under the sun. Orks remain his favorite Warhammer 40K army (because nothing beats stomping gits into the ground). He also enjoys playing video games, reading, playing the guitar and shouting “WAAAGH!” at inappropriate times.
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