It is not a time for peace. No forgiveness. No truce. There is only war.

The galaxy writhes in the armored fist of a conflict that consumes all. The Imperium of Mankind teeters on the brink of annihilation, besieged from all sides by heretical warlords, demon-summoning witches, and rapacious alien empires. In every star system and on every planet, battles rage for dominance between loyalists, heretics, and aliens that tear at reality. Every day the flames rise higher.

This is a terrible age, and there is no peace among the stars...

The Book
A 368-page hardcover volume, it is the essential book for any Warhammer 40,000 fan. Everything you need to know to collect, assemble, paint, and play with Citadel miniatures.

The book begins with an overview of the Warhammer 40,000 hobby, illustrating the four areas of Collect, Assemble, Paint, and Play along with the description of open, balanced, and narrative games.

Dark Imperium
In the first of the massive background sections, you can learn about the state of the galaxy after the Cicatrix Maledictum, the Great Rift, opened in the galaxy, splitting the Imperium in two. Humanity faces its greatest challenge in over ten millennia as the forces of Chaos rampage through the faltering Imperium and alien commanders seek to take advantage of the widespread devastation in the Emperor's realm.

A fold-out section includes a lavish illustration of the planets and the Sol System, as well as a map of the entire galaxy, indicating major war zones so you can see where the current hot spots are. Dark Imperium continues with a brief indication of the military wings of the Imperium, its bureaucratic institutions, and the many clandestine organizations…

Further on, you will read about the constantly changing borders of the Imperium and the Imperial Creed's views on subhumans, psykers, and, above all, mutants and heretics!

Finally, Dark Imperium provides a brief overview of the four Dark Gods of Chaos, including their immortal daemonic legions, followers, and the feared mortal champions: a constant threat in the Imperium.

The Imperialis Saga
When you delve into the next part of the background, you can enjoy an in-depth look at the history of Mankind, from its dawns to the early Eras of Earth and Technology, the Era of Conflict and Darkness, up to the Era of the Imperium following the Horus Heresy. It continues revealing the events of the Age of Dark Imperium and the Gathering Storm in the period before the appearance of the Great Rift, as well as the Age of Sorcery that followed the Psychic Awakening. Finally, it lays the foundations for the Indomitus Crusade, after the reborn Primarch Roboute Guilliman met his father, the Emperor, on Holy Terra.

As you continue, you will see how the Imperium faces the Aliens, namely Orks, the T'au Empire, the Aeldari, the Necrons, and the intergalactic Tyranids, as well as Daemons and Heretics.

This section concludes with four tales that vividly bring to life the grim reality of the Indomitus Era.

Warriors of the Emperor, The Lost and the Damned, and Xenos Invaders
These sections discuss every faction in Warhammer 40,000 and provide an exhaustive overview of each, the threat they pose, and their place in the galaxy. There is also a fantastic showcase of miniatures for each faction, illustrating how they appear in battle and including narrative descriptions.

Rules
The first section covers the basic rules and guides you through the seven phases of the game: Command Phase, Movement Phase, Psychic Phase, Shooting Phase, Charge Phase, Combat Phase, and Morale Phase.

Additional rules include:

- Playing missions and the process of assembling an army using Power Level or points values
- Organized and Open Armies, as well as Command Points that Organized Armies can use
- Battle Roles and 11 types of Detachment that can be included in your armies
- Seven universal Base Stratagems available to all Warhammer 40,000 armies
- Strategic Reserves: the ability to set aside some units during deployment and have them outflank enemy lines
- Actions, such as placing explosives, hacking databases,