The Battle for Beta-Garmon: New Horus Hersey Campaign Book Revealed

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Warhammer: The Horus Hersey has seen some significant growth since the second edition of the game was released back in 2022. This includes cornerstone products likeThe Age of Darkness box set along with more recent releases like the upcoming Solar Auxilia Battle Group.

Now, a new campaign book has just been revealed by Games Workshop that offers even more meat for the grinder. Entitled The Battle for Beta-Garmon, the upcoming publication focuses on on one of the pivotal conflicts from the 31st millennium, offering up new lore and game mechanics. It’s will be available on April 6th, 2024 and available for pre-order now from Games Workshop.

So is this a battle worth fighting? Below we break out all the details.

What’s included in “The Battle for Beta-Garmon” campaign book?

The Battle for Beta-Garmon takes a similar approach as The Siege of Cthonia, the first official campaign book for Warhammer: Horus Hersey which was published in early 2023, and is a take on so-called “Black Book” covers which appeared in the first edition of the game more than a decade ago. As with those books, it offers a solid mix of both lore and gameplay.

features a number of new elements to expand on Warhammer: Horus Hersey

New Lore

Longtime fans of Warhammer 40K lore know that Horus eventually finds victory at Beta-Garmon, gaining access to the Sol System and beginning the Siege of Terra. Yet the book provides a significant amount of new narrative background and story on pivotal events during the battle, including looking at the roles played by Sanguinius (Primarch of the Blood Angels) and Jaghatai Khan (Primarch of the White Scars) in trying to hold back the legions of Warmaster Horus Lupercal.

New Rules

The Battle for Beta-Garmon campaign book also includes a wide variety of expanded rules for Warhammer: Horus Hersey. This includes a new Onslaught Campaign system, which offers a quicker way to complete a campaign, with up to six connected games leading to a climatic final battle where the winner takes all.

The Onslaught Campaign option also includes new campaign strategems that tie in directly to the lore and allow for pre-game modifications during a campaign. Additionally, the book includes a new Mortification Index, which grants Loyalist forces strategic advantages as their casualties (and outrage) increases.

New Playable Factions

The book also includes new rules for several playable factions, including the Shattered Legions (the Loyalist Space Marines who survived The Drop Site Massacre of Isstvan V). This mixed unit includes survivors from a range of different chapters, including: Salamanders, Raven Guard and Iron Hands.

Additionally, there are new faction rules for the Blackshields, the collection of Space Marine outcasts and marauders who continued to fight for the Emperor, despite shifting allegiance to their own Chapters.

In the case of both factions, there are new character rules and special abilities, along with the ability to customize your armies and mix and match different units together in new ways.

When is the Battle for Beta-Garmon Campaign Book Coming Out?

The Battle for Beta-Garmon Campaign Book will be available on April 6th, 2024 from the Games Workshop website.

It’s also possible that online and physical retailers may get their copies at different times, so if you’re planning on buying elsewhere, be sure to check with retailers first.

How much in the Battle for Beta-Garmon Campaign Book?

The book will retail for $60 USD if you order it directly from GW. Pricing may vary, however, if you order it from your local bookseller or game store.

What is the Battle for Beta-Garmon?

The Battle of Beta-Garmon (also known as “The Great Slaughter of Beta-Garmon” and “The Titandeath”) was a major battle of the Horus Heresy that took place over several years and involved dozens of different worlds.

The battle itself took place in two phases: The first phase began with the heretical traitor Space Marine legions entering the Beta-Garmon Star Cluster and laying siege to numerous worlds. During this time, many loyalist elements – including Space Marines and Titans – became trapped due to a huge Warp storm (known as the “Ruinstorm”) which had been conjured into existence by the traitor Lorgar Aurelian (one of the first son’s of the Emperor to turn to the forces of Chaos). Eventually, Rogal Dorn (Primarch of the Imperial Fists) was able to break through and drive the traitor legions from much of area, although casualties were staggering.

The second, far larger phase of the battle, was waged towards the end of the Heresy, with Warmaster Horus relying on his forces to hold Beta-Garmon in order to prepare for his advance on Terra. Much of the subsequent fighting involved massive Titans and naval battles in space, culminating in a victory for Horus which allowed him to access the Sol System and begin the Siege of Terra.

Final Thoughts

The Battle for Beta-Garmon remains one of the most epic in all of the Horus Hersey, and it’s amazing to see it finally given the attention it deserves, both in terms of new lore and new narrative campaign options for player.

We’ll be keeping a close eye on the new campaign book set in the days ahead and provide more information (and a complete review) once it’s available. In the meantime, you can pre-order the book now from Games Workshop.

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