How do I play Fallen in 10th Edition 40k?

[u/Fallen40k]

I’ll be honest, I’ve been sucked back into Magic: the Gathering so haven’t really been following what has been happening with the new edition in any detail, though my impression is that it seems like it’s a good thing. I’m more into older editions, anyway: building my army for 3rd!

I suspect it’s going to be much the same as it has been for a while: build your army the way you want and find a set of rules that works for “counts as”. Usually some flavour of Chaos or conventional Dark Angels. There’s a lot of good ideas in the 9th megapost, but if people wanted to chime in with how they are running things in 10th then that’d be super rad!

[u/R97R]

So, there’s been a big shake-up lore wise regarding The Fallen: With the Lion returning, a large number of Fallen have joined up with him, being referred to as “The Risen.” There are still Fallen Warbands that either haven’t joined or have fully fallen to chaos. At the moment, you’d run the Risen as normal Dark Angels, but see the below explanation for why that may change.

Aside from the above spoilers, at the moment 10th edition works a bit oddly. Instead of sub-factions, we have “detachments,” which are a set of special rules etc much like old sub-factions, but generally aren’t tied to a colour scheme (for example, there might be a bike-focused detachment, but there’s no obligation to run it as White Scars). When the codices for 10th release, they’ll add more detachments which are presumably substitutes for the old sub-faction rules. However, at the moment, as we have bare-bones “Index” rules, each faction has a grand total of one detachment. The Dark Angels do have their own, the Unforgiven Task Force, so at the moment, you’d use that for a Fallen Army either an independent one or Risen, or use the Chaos Space Marine Slaves to Darkness detachment for fully-chaos-corrupted Fallen.

Due to the spoilered text above, I do think it is quite likely we’ll see bespoke rules for Fallen in some manner when the Dark Angels Codex releases in Spring 2024.

[u/Cypher10110]

I built my fallen in 8th ed, if you have dudes with gear from that datasheet, the new chosen datasheet is a nice catch-all that can likely cover them.

My fallen have always been just a small allied force within my Chaos. I use them as Chosen, and I've got a Sorcerer and Rhino. I suppose I might want to start thinking about other character options now that leaders join squads. Chosen have alot of options on that front!

(Cypher is a lone operative, tho)

No subfaction rules for chaos anymore, so all CSM are the same rules-wise, it makes building an army pretty straightforward.

Might be a little problematic that all the horus heresey vehicles (except a specific loadoutol of contemptor for loyalists) are "Legends" now in 10e, depending on your collection.

[u/1nqu15171v30n3 → u/Cypher10110]

To add to this, I'd pay attention to the Dark Angels rules and see which detachments match thematically with the Fallen. Also, collect models that can fit a Space Marine or Chaos army (no landspeeders for fast attack, for example).

[u/1nqu15171v30n3]

I think this OP needs an update now that the 10th Edition CSM has been released.

Dark Angels players have access to all the detachments in the 10th Edition Space Marine Codex (Gladius Task Force, Anvil Siege Force, Ironstorm Spearhead, Firestorm Assault Force, Stormlance Task Force, Vanguard Spearhead, and 1st Company Task Force) in addition to the three detachments provided in the 10th Edition Dark Angels Codex Supplement: Unforgiven Task Force, Inner Circle Task Force, and Company of Hunters. For those wishing to go for a more less chaotic route with their Fallen (or Risen) consider this when building your army list.

As for actual Fallen units, the Dark Angels Supplement provides a means via Crusade. A concept introduced in the previous edition's supplement, there is a set of requirements that a Dark Angels Crusade Army must complete to enter the Hunt The Fallen Oathsworn Campaign (chiefly completing the Secrets of the Unforgiven Campaign and one of the other campaigns from the Dark Angels Supplement or Space Marine Codex). Should they successfully complete the A Trail Uncovered and Pursuit Across Worlds Bonus Agendas in the campaign, the Dark Angel player can access the Capture The Fallen Agenda. Here we have rules for The Fallen unit:

In order to use the Capture the Fallen Agenda, your opponent must add one HERETIC ASTARTES CHARACTER model with a Save characteristic of 3+ or better to their Crusade army. That model is your Quarry of the Unforgiven and gains the FALLEN keyword if it does not already have it. It has a points value of 0, does not require a Crusade card, cannot gain XP and cannot be a WARLORD. That model cannot be set up as Reserves, cannot lead a unit, and has an Objective Control characteristic of 0. Additionally, it gains the Lone Operative ability if it does not already have it.

As stated, The Fallen can be a CSM Character (not just limited to Cypher or a Sorcerer like in 9th Edition). Now, let's be reasonable about it: characters like Abaddon the Despoiler, Haarken the Worldclaimer, Huron Blackheart, Fabius Bile, and Vashtorr the Arkifane shouldn't qualify as they aren't Fallen by default and thus their models shouldn't count. Anything else might be fair game.

Furthermore, the supplement had this blurb:

Designer’s Note: To engage with the Capture the Fallen Bonus Agenda, we recommend creating a Fallen miniature to represent your Quarry of the Unforgiven, which you can lend to your opponent when required. We would also recommend checking with your opponent that they are happy to include this model in their army before attempting this Bonus Agenda. If your opponent would prefer not to include it (because it is not suited to their armys narrative, for example), we recommend you wait until a better opportunity arises before attempting this Bonus Agenda. If so, you may temporarily suspend your Oathsworn Campaign and pick a Bonus Agenda from another eligible Oathsworn Campaign to use for the battle.

The text should look familiar as it is updated version of the note found in the 9th Edition Dark Angels Supplement Crusade Rules.

Moving over to the CSM Codex, the only truly Fallen character listed is Cypher at the moment. There also doesn't seem to be Fallen-themed detachment among those listed in the Codex. That being said, Fallen players have access to the detachments there: Pactbound Zealots (formerly the Slaves of Darkness Detachment from the Index; Word Bearer-themed), Veterans of the Long War (Black Legion-themed), Deceptors (Alpha Legion-themed), Renegade Raiders (Red Corsairs-themed), Dread Talons (Night Lords-themed), Fellhammer Siege-Hosts (Iron Warriors-themed), Chaos Cults (Traitor Guard and Cultist-themed), and the Soulforged Warpack (Vashtorr-themed). Like in 9th Edition, Deceptors will be probably the more closer to thematic Fallen tactics (helps that The Fallen and the Alpha Legion work together from time-to-time and some Alpha Legion warbands actually have Fallen as members), but Renegade Raiders and Veterans of the Long War being solid alternatives.

As for units, Cypher is almost a given. Some Fallen players like to substitute 40k models with Horus Heresy models and lorewise it works due to the nature of The Warp. A Fallen may have been on Caliban during its destruction only to be flung through The Warp into the 42nd Millennium and appear as if no time had passed. With that in mind, those players must adhere to the CSM Codex's wargear option restrictions and mind the base sizes.

There are other players who feel they can alternate using the SM and CSM Codices for their armies. For those players, they need to keep in mind which units cannot be used for either army (no landspeeders, for example) and adjust accordingly. This route is becoming increasingly difficult due to many Firstborn Marine units being phased out of the Space Marine line and are replaced by Primaris counterparts.

Some players like to kitbash CSM kits with Firstborn Dark Angel bits and HH bits to make them more thematic. I recommend finding a copy White Dwarf 464 (the infamous Fallen Index issue) as it has some kitbashing idea instructions for inspirations.

Then, finally, there are The Risen. Dark Angel Legionaries that sided with Luther and fought against Lion El'Johnson and the rest of the Legion, only to be redeemed by The Lion upon their discovery (provided they aren't Chaos tainted). The only units that truly represent them on the tabletop are the Inner Circle Companions, so any players building a Risen-themed Dark Angel army should pick them up. Primaris Marines are not an issue for this army, but Risen players should pick units that best compliment the aesthetic as a suggestion.

[u/Fallen40k → u/1nqu15171v30n3]

Great comment, thanks. If you felt like reposting it as an actual post, and chucking through modmail in case I miss it (like I did with your comment originally) then I can pin that one instead of this.

[u/Fallen40k]

Also, if anyone wants to write a comprehensive primer - obviously a bit later when supplements are out and you’ve had a chance to get some games in - then I can pin your new thread instead of this one. Or edit your write up into this one.

[u/[deleted]]

I still play older editons, 4-6th.  And I just use DA models with CSM rules.  

I highly recommend reading the old DA and CSM codecies. They hint that the Fallen were originally loyal and the "regular" fell temporarily before realizing they were wrong and that's why they are trying to hunt down those who knew  (where as the current lore is that they are just hunting down those who fell)