Games Workshop has unveiled the first explicitly female models for the Legio Custodes in its Horus Heresy tabletop game. This development officially recognizes the Emperor's bodyguards as a mixed-gender force, building on confirmations from the latest Warhammer 40,000 edition. The reveal occurred during a preview event highlighting new miniatures.
During a Warhammer Preview event streamed across various channels, Games Workshop showcased upcoming content for The Horus Heresy, a tabletop spinoff set in the distant past of the Warhammer 40,000 universe. Among the highlights were new Legio Custodes miniatures, including options for female heads on several units. The elite Shield Captain model stood out, featuring a female head that presenters specifically identified as representing a female warrior.
The Legio Custodes serve as the personal guardians of the Emperor of Mankind, and their mixed-gender status was recently affirmed in the current edition of Warhammer 40,000. Until now, the heavily armored figures in lore and prior models left gender ambiguous under their helmets and plate. This marks the initial explicit inclusion of female Custodians on the tabletop.
Additional reveals included tanks tailored for the Legio Custodes, winged Venatari units, and a Liber Custodes rulebook that provides both narrative lore and gameplay rules for the army in the latest Horus Heresy edition. All featured miniatures shift to plastic construction, moving away from the resin and metal materials of earlier versions.
While designed for The Horus Heresy, players of the Adeptus Custodes faction in Warhammer 40,000 can incorporate these models into their forces, as long as they match existing unit profiles. The updates are slated for release in the coming months, expanding options for hobbyists and gamers alike.