Horus Heresy Unveils 50-Weapon Veteran Upgrade Set With 60 Accessories

Q: Is this a last hurrah for classic Space Marines before they're phased out of competitive play?

Probably not a “last hurrah,” but it is a strong sign that Games Workshop is prioritizing classic Space Marines mainly for Horus Heresy and narrative play rather than guaranteeing them a long-term place in top-level 40k competition. The clearest clue is what this kit is for. The upgrade set is built around MkII, MkIII, MkIV and MkVI armor, Veteran Breacher Squads, and Zone Mortalis rules from Horus Heresy material. That points more to support for the 30k ecosystem than to a major competitive 40k revival. The one-handed combi-weapons and shotguns are explicitly designed for Breachers, which reinforces that reading. At the same time, this does not prove classic Marines are disappearing entirely. Some older Space Marine concepts have been refreshed, folded into newer ranges, or kept alive through updated rules. The broader trend, though, is that many older Firstborn-era kits and datasheets have either already moved to Legends or are widely seen as vulnerable to that shift in future codex cleanups. In practice, Legends means legal for casual and narrative games, but not actively balanced for tournaments and often excluded from competitive events. So the safest reading is that this release is more of a specialist support product than a promise of competitive longevity. It gives hobbyists and Horus Heresy players a rich new toolbox, but it does not materially weaken the evidence that classic Firstborn-style units remain at risk of being sidelined in mainstream competitive 40k.

2 articles · Updated · warhammer-community.com · Jul 10

Games Workshop revealed a Horus Heresy Combi-weapons & Shotguns Upgrade Set that packs 50 main weapons plus 60 accessories for veteran Space Marine units.
The set includes 10 each of combi-flamers, combi-plasmas, combi-meltas, combi-volkites and Astartes shotguns, plus two one-handed versions of each for alternate builds.
Those one-handed options are designed to work with the MkIII Breacher Squad kit, letting players build Veteran Breacher Squads from Journal Tactica: Zone Mortalis.
The upgrade frame is also compatible with MkII, MkIII, MkIV and MkVI Tactical Squads, broadening its use across veteran, reconnaissance and close-quarters themed armies.
Games Workshop said pre-order details are still to come, positioning the release alongside the updated Zone Mortalis rules and new Journal Tactica material.