Warhammer: Horus Heresy – Saturnine Box Set Overview and Review

Horus-BlogsSTEPHEN BRANTLEY
Preorder Warhammer Horus Heresy Saturnine Box Set

The Saturnine box set is the latest major release in the Warhammer: The Horus Heresy product line. Designed as a comprehensive starter, it includes everything you need to dive into the brutal civil war of the 31st Millennium—known as the Horus Heresy. Whether you're a newcomer curious about Space Marine-on-Space Marine warfare or a veteran hobbyist looking for new units and updated rules, this set offers a mix of nostalgia, utility, and value. In this article, we'll explore what comes in the Saturnine box, how it fits into the broader Horus Heresy game system, compare it to previous sets, and offer a final verdict on whether it’s worth buying.

What’s in the Saturnine Box?

The Saturnine box is packed with models and materials:

  • 50 new plastic miniatures, including:

    • 1 Praetor in Saturnine Terminator Armour

    • 1 Centurion in MkII Crusade-pattern Power Armour

    • 40 Legionaries in MkII Power Armour

    • 6 Saturnine Terminators

    • 1 Saturnine Dreadnought

    • 1 Araknae Quad-Accelerator Platform

    • Optional disintegrator weapons for Veteran squad upgrades

  • Core rulebooks and references:

    • 352-page hardcover Age of Darkness Rulebook

    • 48-page intro guide

    • 2 quick-reference sheets

  • Game tools:

    • 20 dice (including a scatter die)

    • Range ruler

    • Classic blast and flame templates

    • 40 plastic status and objective tokens

  • Decals:

    • Over 1,100 waterslide transfers for Salamanders and Iron Warriors

Model Highlights

The star features here include:

  • MkII Crusade Armour: A retro favorite for longtime hobbyists, newly realized in high-quality plastic.

  • Saturnine Terminators: Massive, hulking elites with a vintage design.

  • Saturnine Dreadnought: Larger than a Leviathan, boasting imposing firepower and bulk.

  • Disintegrator Weapons: A Dark Age tech-themed armory to customize your infantry squads.

  • Araknae Platform: A heavy support gun emplacement with a flexible battlefield role.

Saturnine's Role in the Horus Heresy Game

This box is designed to serve as both:

  • A standalone starter army for the Horus Heresy game (around 1500–2000 points worth)

  • A narrative intro to the iconic Dropsite Massacre on Isstvan V—where the Salamanders and Iron Warriors legions clashed during one of the Heresy's most infamous betrayals

All included units are Space Marines, and they can be painted and played as any of the 18 Legions—loyalist or traitor. While the decals nod to Salamanders vs Iron Warriors, the kits themselves are neutral and customizable.

How It Compares to Other Horus Heresy Sets

Box Set Miniatures Focused Legions Included Tank Infantry Armor Type Rulebook
Saturnine (2025) 50 Salamanders / Iron Warriors ❌ MkII Crusade ✔️ (New)
Age of Darkness (2022) 54 Imperial Fists / Sons of Horus ✔️ (Spartan) MkVI Corvus ✔️
Betrayal at Calth 38 Ultramarines / Word Bearers ❌ MkIV ❌
Burning of Prospero 47 Space Wolves / Thousand Sons ❌ MkIII / Tartaros ❌

Saturnine offers more modern sculpts, a streamlined force composition, and focuses heavily on infantry warfare with a siege-centric theme. Unlike Age of Darkness, it forgoes a tank in favor of powerful dreadnoughts and new Terminator sculpts.

Value for Painters & Players

For Hobbyists:

  • Brand-new sculpts never seen before in plastic

  • MkII armor is highly detailed and great for conversions

  • Saturnine Terminators and Dreadnought offer massive surfaces for artistic work

  • Huge transfer sheet adds to display-quality builds

  • Great diorama potential—especially recreating scenes from Isstvan V

For Players:

  • Well-rounded army composition: HQ, Troops, Elites, Heavy Support

  • Fully updated rulebook for the new edition

  • Great core for expanding into larger battles or themed forces

  • Can easily be split between two players with a bit of creativity

  • Legal army list options right out of the box

Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Full game system in a box

  • Excellent modeling and painting opportunities

  • Value-packed (estimated $500+ worth of contents)

  • Unique new units: Saturnine Terminators, Dreadnought, and MkII Legionaries

  • Rules and lore updates included

  • Ideal for narrative play and classic Horus Heresy matchups

Cons:

  • High price point (likely $300+ USD)

  • All models are Space Marines—no other factions included

  • Large number of models may intimidate new hobbyists

  • Not evenly split between two forces (requires coordination)

  • No vehicles or transports—pure infantry theme

  • Decals only for Salamanders and Iron Warriors

Verdict: Should You Buy It?

YES, if:

  • You're new and want a one-box intro to Horus Heresy

  • You're a veteran who wants MkII armor or the new units

  • You love Space Marines and want to paint or play themed forces

  • You enjoy narrative campaigns like Isstvan V

Maybe, if:

  • You already have a large Horus Heresy army and just want one or two specific units

  • You prefer xenos factions or armies outside the Legiones Astartes

  • You're looking for a competitive 40K experience rather than a lore-rich 30K war game

Final Verdict: The Saturnine box is one of the most complete and hobby-rich entry points ever released for Warhammer: The Horus Heresy. For fans of the setting, it’s hard to pass up. Whether you're collecting, painting, or playing—this set is a brilliant launchpad into the Age of Darkness.

Preorders open July 12th, and begin shipping July 26th.

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