Imperium of Man · Humanity Endures
Astra Militarum
The Imperial Guard — countless ordinary humans holding the line with lasguns, faith and very big tanks.
About Astra Militarum — Lore & How They Play
The Lore
The Astra Militarum — the Imperial Guard — is the Hammer of the Emperor: billions of ordinary men and women holding a galaxy-wide line with bayonet, lasgun and sheer bloody-minded courage. They have no gene-forged organs and no power armour; they have each other, their orders, and more tanks than any other fighting force in existence.
From the lost fortress-world of Cadia to the jungle-fighters of Catachan, every regiment brings its own character to the same defiant creed: the Guard dies standing, and the Guard holds the line.
On the Tabletop
On the table the Guard are board control and massed firepower: cheap infantry screens flood objectives while Leman Russ tanks and artillery batteries delete whatever the officers point at. The orders system lets your commanders sharpen the whole army's efficiency each turn.
Individually your soldiers are fragile — the skill is in spending them well. Screen your tanks, layer your guns, and make every trade favour the Imperium. Few armies reward planning so richly, or forgive melee so little.
The Astra Militarum, still called the Imperial Guard by most of us, are billions of ordinary humans with lasguns, flak armour and a frankly alarming amount of artillery, holding the line because somebody has to. Collect them for massed infantry, rumbling tank companies or both: no other Warhammer 40,000 army does the 'thin khaki line' quite like it.
Start here
- Combat Patrol: Astra Militarum: a ready-made regiment in one box
- Codex: Astra Militarum (10th edition): the full Imperial Guard rules and datasheets
- Astra Militarum: Cadian Shock Troops: the classic, flexible regiment
- Astra Militarum: Death Korps Of Krieg: grim trench fighters in greatcoats and gas masks
- Astra Militarum Leman Russ Battle Tank: the backbone of every armoured company
- All Combat Patrols: every faction's starter army in one place
Every kit here is genuine Games Workshop stock from an official stockist, supplied unassembled and unpainted, with fast UK delivery from our shop in Barry, South Wales. In-stock orders placed by 3pm on weekdays go out the same day.
Read more: Astra Militarum lore in Faction Files, Astra Militarum Army Analysis, the 40K factions hub.
Paint and browse: grab the Astra Militarum Paint Set – 10 Essential Colours or the five-tone Warhammer Tone Pro paints, then explore the rest of the Warhammer 40,000 Imperium range.
Prefer them ready-painted? JoyToy make fully painted, articulated 1/18 scale Astra Militarum (Death Korps of Krieg and Kasrkin) figures. Find them in our Warhammer action figures range.
Is the Astra Militarum the same as the Imperial Guard?
Yes. Imperial Guard is the older name; Games Workshop now uses Astra Militarum. Same army, same tanks, same unshakeable commissars.
Cadians or Krieg: which should I start with?
Both use the same codex. Cadians are the versatile classic; the Death Korps of Krieg are grimmer and more uniform. Pick the look you'll happily paint fifty times.
Do I need lots of tanks?
No. You can run an infantry-heavy force, a tank company or a mix. Start with the Combat Patrol and add what you enjoy.
Your Crusade Begins
New to the Imperium?
Start with a boxed set — miniatures, rules and dice in one go. Free UK delivery over £65, same-day dispatch by 3pm on weekdays.
Shop 40K Starter SetsFrequently Asked Questions
The Astra Militarum, or Imperial Guard, are the massive conventional armies of the Imperium. Made up of ordinary humans with lasguns and tanks, they rely on numbers, firepower, and armoured support to overwhelm their enemies.
Yes — the Astra Militarum are one of the classic horde factions in 40k, fielding large numbers of infantry backed by powerful tanks and artillery. They suit players who enjoy big armies and combined-arms tactics.
Yes. The Guard is a big army of infantry squads, tanks and artillery led by officers giving Orders, so it suits players who like a combined-arms force. Every faction has rules for Warhammer 40,000 11th Edition, and new codexes are rolling out through the edition, so check the latest codex for your army before you build a list.
The Combat Patrol: Astra Militarum is the best entry point. Adding a Leman Russ tank and extra Infantry Squads quickly builds a solid army.
It depends on your chosen regiment. Cadian shock troops use olive green and khaki. Key paints include Death World Forest, Zandri Dust, and Agrax Earthshade. We stock the full Citadel range.
Yes — we stock the full Astra Militarum range in our Barry, South Wales shop and online at loadeddice.uk with fast UK dispatch.