Adepta Sororitas Codex Review | Warhammer 40,000 10th Edition

As I started writing this review I had ‘Through the Fire and Flames’ by Dragonforce blasting out of Alexa, which feels completely fitting, as the ladies of the Adepta Sororitas know all about fire and flames!

Our thanks to Games Workshop for sending us the brand new Adepta Sororitas 10th Edition Codex to review. It’s up for preorder right now, and you can save a bit of cash by preordering through Element Games. Use this link right herel to make said preorder and you’ll massively help us out too!

So without further ado, shall we delve into this Holy tome?

Lore & Showcase

As with all Warhammer 40K Codexes, the book kicks off with some background on the Sisters of Battle, including the factions history, sub factions/Orders, special characters and deep dives in to the key units.

There is some absolutely fantastic art in this book, and combined with the suitable gothic backdrops they provide a very polished and well presented Codex.

The lore brings the story of the Sisters bang up to date with the current storylines, and provides some brilliant reading. We are talking Black Library writing in here which really fired me up to build and paint some Sisters.

These interlaced stories and backgrounds lead us into pages of gorgeous pictures showing off all the models in the range. This includes some different paint schemes showing the different Orders, such as the Bloody Rose, Sacred Rose and Argent Shroud.

Combat Patrol

Time to start looking at rules, kicking off with Combat Patrol.

If you’ve not heard of Combat Patrol before, it’s the ideal jumping in point for anyone new to the game, or keen to try a new faction.

This section of the book gives you a full set of rules for the models which are included in the armies Combat Patrol box (that is the brand new one which is also up for preorder today).

This allows you to battle other Combat Patrols without getting bogged down with other rules. It’s a great way to play!

This guide also includes specific stratagems and army rules just for Combat Patrol as well as a detailed painting guide.

Army Rule

Before we kick in to Detachment special rules, it’s important to just touch upon the general Army Rule, which is called Acts of Faith.

Acts of Faith is all about Miracle Dice. I don’t believe this has changed since the Index, but just in case let’s check out what it is.

Every time you gain a Miracle Dice you roll a D6 and get to keep whatever value is on the dice, and pop it to one side. You gain one at the start each turn and every time a Adepta Sororitas unit from your army dies.

During the battle you can use one of your stored Miracle Dice instead of rolling a dice. For example, say you had a 6 in your Miracle Dice pool and you want to make a 9” charge, prior to rolling you can declare you are using your 6 as one of the 2D6 dice you’d roll for your charge. This leaves you with a single D6 to roll (and hope you get a 3+!).

This is a list of where you can use Miracle Dice:

Advance Roll
Battle Shock Test
Charge Roll
Damage Roll
Hit Roll
Saving Throw
Wound Roll

It’s still a really cool ability, and I’m really pleased to see it intact for this edition.

What is cool is there are other ways to use Miracle Dice, but we’ll see more of that as we tackle the Detachments and Datasheets.

Detachments

The number of detachments has varied in 10th Edition Codexes so far, and sadly the Adepta Sororitas only get the 4.

Initially I was disappointed, but on reflection I think it reflects the different types of units the Sisters have, and the different styles they go to war. I’d rather GW flesh out and make detachments which suit the army, that force fit say 6 to 8 different detachments which don’t feel right.

Let’s break down the 4 Detachments we have, starting with the Index Detachment, Hallowed Martyrs.

Hallowed Martyrs

This was the detachment we’ve had with the Index, and for the most part it’s back, albeit with some changes.

The Detachment rule is the same, grant you a +1 to Hit if the unit making the attack is below Starting Strength, and adding a further +1 to Wound should the unit be below half Strength. This reflects your Sisters units powering up with Holy vigour as their unit takes casualties. It’s still a great rule.

Only two Enhancements have made it to the Codex equivalent of this detachment, Saintly Example (D3 Miracle dice when the bearer dies) and Mantle of Ophelia (change damage to 1).

The other two are new. Through Suffering and Strength grants the bearer +1 Attacks, Strength and Damage, which increases to +2 should the bearer have taken a wound. Great for a punchy Cannoness.

Chaplat of Sacrifice is a cool new enhancement. At the end of the Command phase, should your bearer of this relic still be kicking around, you can choose a Miracle dice in your dice pool to reroll, and place back in the dice pool. As well as this, should the bearers unit is below half Strength, you can reroll 3 Miracle dice should you wish.

The Stratagems have also had a refresh, with only Divine Intervention, Suffering and Sacrifice and Spirit of the Martyr making it from Index to Codex.

The other three are well worth mentioning:

Righteous Vengeance: A fantastic strat that can only be used in combat. Grants for 1CP full rerolls to Hit, and, should the target of the strat be under half strength, full rerolls to wound too. Ommpfftt.
Sanctified Immolation: in short, auto explode. Can be used on any Sisters vehicles (but you are absolutely using it on an Immolator).
Praise the Fallen: a very nice reactive strat, that you can use in your opponents shooting phase. select a unit that’s just lost a model from shooting. That selected unit gets to shoot as if it’s the shooting phase.

All and all, a great allrounder of a detachment, thanks to the strats and enhancements that have very few requirements.

Hard one to look past.

Penitent Host

Enough of old stuff. We want new stuff.

This particular brand new detachment leans into the slightly, crazier, side of the Adepta Sororitas. The Penitent keyword pops up throughout this detachment, with only a couple of exceptions.

This leads nicely into the Army Rule, which only affects Penitent models.

It’s called Desperate for Redemption. At the start of each battle round you can choose from one of the following abilities (called Vows of Atonement) to kick in until your next battle round. You can choose each one once per battle.

Path of Penitent: Add 3” to all Penitent models in your army
Absolution in Battle: Any Penitent models that have made a Charge get 1x extra attack and Strength.
Death Before Disgrace: Simple, but effective. Your Penitent models fight on death.

Moving over to Enhancements, we have a few tasty choices.

Psalm of Righteous Judgement can be given to any Sororitas model. Whilst said model is on the battlefield, any time a Penitent model destroys an enemy unit you can discard a miracle dice and replace it with one that has a value of 6.

The next two can only be taken by a Penitent model. Verse of Holy Piety allows you to use a second Vow of Atonement, even if it’s been used already in the battle, whilst Refrain from Enduring Faith grants a 5+ invulnerable save.

Finally Catechism of Divine Penitence can be given to a Canoness, Palatine or Priest, and it grants them the Penitent keyword. It also allows them to join a unit of Repentia.

Moving finally on to the Strats for this detachment, and again as you would expect they are almost exclusively for Penitent models. Final Redemption gives your Penitent units ‘sticky’ objectives, Purity of Suffering grants them a 4+ Feel No Pain and Passion of the Penitent gives you 5+ Critical Hits.

Boundless Zeal is the only Strat from this detachment that can be used on Adepta Sororitas model, granting fall back and charge.

Bringers of Flame

Like flamers and other close range guns? Then this could be the detachment for you.

Fervent Purgation is the name of the army rule, and it’s very straight forward. It grants all ranged weapons in your army the Assault keyword, whilst also granting a +1 Strength to any ranged shots within 12” of the enemy target.

Let’s check out the enhancements:

Righteous Rage – You can discard up to 3 Miracle dice, and for each you discard the bearer gets an extra attack and an extra pip of strength on there melee weapons (so discard 3 miracle dice, gain +3 Attacks and +3 Strength).
Manual of Saint Griselda – An interesting one, allows you at the start of your command phase to discard 2 of you Miracle dice, then gain back 1 dice that has a value equal to the 2 you discarded. So if you discarded a 1 and a 3, you gain back a 4.
Fire and Fury – Whilst the bearer has a unit, said unit gains +1 Attack with Torrent weapons whilst all other ranged attacks in the unit gain Sustained Hits 1.
Iron Surplice of Saint Istela – Can only be given to a Canoness or Palatine, and gives said model a 2+ save and 5+ Feel No Pain.

The strats reflect buffs for shooting, and include Carry Forth the Faithful, which allows you to reroll Advance rolls on a Transport, and allows you to disembark from said transport even if it advanced.

Cleansing Flames grants Devasting Wounds in the shooting phase and Shield of Aversion worsens enemy AP by 1, basically Armour of Contempt.

Righteous Weapons does help your melee however, giving your chosen unit Lethal Hits. As well as this if a model is destroyed by this unit, then the enemy unit must take a battle shock test.

Army of Faith

The final detachment to run through is my favourite, and whilst it buffs a lot of Sororitas units, it also then further buffs Jump Infantry.

It also uses Miracle dice a lot too.

The detachment rule is super straightforward. Each unit from your army can use two Acts of Faith per phase, instead of one.

We’ve got a nice mix of enhancements too!

Litanies of Faith – Can be given to a Canoness or Palatine. At the start of your command phase, make a Leadership test and if passed gain a Miracle dice.
Blade of Saint Ellynor – The sword of the Index Hallowed Martyrs. Improves Strength and AP of melee weapons by 1 and grants Precision. Also, gain a Miracle dice if you manage to slay one or more enemy models.
Divine Aspect – Pick an enemy model within 12”. That enemy unit must take a leadership test. If failed, you gain a Miracle dice (spotting a theme here?)
Triptych of the Macharian Crusade – each time the bearer uses an Act of Faith to substitute a saving throw, the saving throw is successful regardless of what value is on the Miracle dice.

We’ve got some fun strats to play with, which all (bar one) can be used on any Adepta Sororitas unit. The exception being Angelic Descent, which can only be used by a Jump Pack unit. You pop the Strat in the opponents fight phase, and allows you to choose one Jump Pack unit and remove them from the battlefield and enter reserves. That unit can then reenter using the normal Deep Strike rules at the end of your next Movement Phase.

Faith and Fury gives your unit Lance, and should at least one enemy model be slain you gain a Miracle dice. Divine Guidance improves a units AP by 1 in either the shooting and fight phase, and again if you kill at least one enemy model, you gain a Miracle dice.

The other strats have various effects, and can either be used on a Adepta Sororitas unit or a Jump Pack unit. If you pick a Jump pack unit, then any units within 3” also get the effect. Shield of Faith (Feel No Pain 5+ against mortal wounds), Blinding Radiance (-1 to hit) and Light of the Emperor (ignore negative modifiers) are the other strats.

Datasheets

Time to check out the datasheets, and see what has changed since the Index rules from the start of 10th Edition.

Now, this isn’t a comprehensive list, as I’m sure I’ve missed some, but should you give you a good idea of what’s changed.

Junith Eruita – Fiery Conviction has changed. Can now either discard a Miracle dice and gain a CP, or take a leadership test and if passed, gain a CP

Triumph of Saint Katherine – Also now gains a Miracle dice with a value of 6 at the start of the battle round.

Canoness – Reroll the Hit roll ability has gone, replaced with Sacred Command, which allows you to use a Strat for 0CP (same as Space Marjne Captains). Blessed Blade gets an extra attack, and gains Lethal Hits.

Canoness with Jump Pack – Brand new unit. Can lead Seraphim and Zephyrim. Has the same Sacred Command ability that the normal Canoness has. Also has Divine Deliverence, which is a once per battle ability that gives the Canoness +3 attacks and Devastating Wounds.

Dialogus – Laud Haller ability changed. Now you pick a friendly battle shocked unit within 12”, that unit is no longer battle shocked.

Hospitaller – Sacred Healing has changed. No longer heals characters. Can now return a destroyed model to a unit (excluding characters) or you can discard a single Miracle dice and return D3 + 1 models.

Battle Sisters Squad – Defenders of the Faith has changed. Now has sticky objectives.

Zephyrim Squad – Embodied Prophecy has completely changed. You can now choose at the start of the fight phase to either have Lethal Hits or Sustained Hits 1, OR you can spend a Miracle dice and gain both!

Celestian Sacresants – Slight change here. Sworn Protectors now kicks in so long as a Character is attached to the unit, instead of having to be Junith, a Canoness or Palatine.

Mortifiers – No longer gain Sustained Hits. Now get fight in death (on a 2+)

Exorcist – No longer has a leadership bonus. Now has Devastating Refrain. Enemy units that get hit by the Exorcist Indirect fire weapon must take a battle shock test. Also, any vehicles you destroy with this weapon has Deadly Demise on 5+ rather than 6s.

Side Note!

Following the datasheets you then get a couple of pages which shows you pictures of every ranged and melee weapon in the army. A small thing, but for those new to the army who don’t know what a multi melta or Condemor Boltgun are, then this is really handy!

Crusade

I’m very quickly going to touch upon Crusade.

In short, you can nominate a character to lead in a path to becoming a living saint.

It’s a fantastic mechanic, with some really narrative rules. You’ve got upgrades and traits which suit the army.

Really need to properly do a Crusade campaign!!

Summary

Time to wrap up what is a fantastic Codex.

It really leans in to the Miracle dice element of the army, but in a way which makes the army really fun to play with.

From what I have read, I’ve only seen positive changes from the Index. It’s a shame there is only 4 detachments, when other armies have a plethora, however I can see why GW have done it. They’ve leaned in to the playing styles of the army, which is what the detachments are meant to do.

I really want to pick up the new Combat Patrol of the back of this release and take them along to a Combat Patrol event. I also need to finish painting the original Combat Patrol!

You can preorder the Codex, Battleforce and Combat Patrol right now via Element Games and other retailers.

Our thanks to Games Workshop for sending us the book to review!