Bringing the Guard Back: Prepping My Astra Militarum for 10th Edition

After sitting in storage since my move from Virginia to Gozo last year, my Imperial Guard—sorry, Astra Militarum—army is finally coming back to life. With the release of the new Warhammer 40K codex, I’ve been digging through boxes, finding misplaced models, rebasing, magnetizing, and getting everything ready for the battlefield.

This army is a true mix of Imperial history—spanning everything from Rogue Trader and 2nd edition metal models to the latest plastic kits. My first experiences with 40K were playing 2nd edition Imperial Guard in high school nearly 25-30 years ago, and while I sold off that original army in my late teens, I’ve slowly rebuilt it—tracking down most of the models I used to own and repainting them.

Now, with my Astra Militarum finally back on the table, it’s time to get some games in.

The Army: A Collection Across Eras

Taking stock of my collection has been a project in itself—there’s a lot of it! Here’s what I’m working with:

Infantry

I have 250-300 Guardsmen, drawn from different regiments:

• Classic metal Praetorians, Armageddon Steel Legion, Tallarn, and Valhallans
• Rogue Trader and 2nd edition Ratling Snipers, plus the more recent ones from Blackstone Fortress
• Ogryns spanning Rogue Trader-era models, 2nd edition metals, and modern plastics
• 2nd edition metal and plastic Storm Troopers, mixed with the newer Kasrkin and a Taurox to carry them
• The Last Chancers, Sly Marbo, and other classic special characters
• The OG Commissar Yarrick—because I refuse to believe he’s dead!

Tanks & Vehicles

I’ve always loved the armored power of the Guard, and this army reflects that:

• 3 Basilisks, 2 Hydras, 3 Wyverns
• 2 Hellhounds, 6 Chimeras
• 15 Leman Russ tanks and Demolishers in various configurations
• One plastic Baneblade still in the box, plus an old Armorcast Baneblade if needed
• 3 Valkyries, which need some love and weapons but are otherwise serviceable
• 3 Cyclops demolition vehicles

This force also overlaps with my Solar Auxilia army for Horus Heresy 30K, where some of the Leman Russ tanks and Krieg units will serve a dual purpose.

Back in the Fight: Learning 10th Edition

Since I haven’t played 40K in two editions, I’ve got a lot of catching up to do. My first step is learning the new rules and figuring out how my army functions in 10th edition.

Key things I need to get familiar with:

• Orders & Detachments: Getting the most out of my Officers and special characters
• Vehicle Rules: With so many tanks, understanding how toughness, armor, and damage work now is essential
• List-Building: Finding the right balance between infantry blobs, mechanized forces, and elite units like the Death Korps

It’s also great timing—Michael, a player from Germany, is moving to Gozo, and he plays Eldar, so I’ll have a local opponent to test my army against! I’ll also be playing against Andres and his Orks, and when I get the chance, I’ll head down to Malta to play at The Realm of Pure Fantasy.

I may even mix things up and use some of my Squat army (detailed here: Squat Militia for Horus Heresy) as Astra Militarum proxies when I feel like something different.

Rebasing, Magnetizing & Transport Solutions

One of my biggest projects has been rebasing all my heavy weapons squads to make them consistent and tournament legal. I’ve also been magnetizing all my bases to make storage and transport easier. My trick? Instead of super glue, I use a hot glue gun and place the magnets on waxed paper while they set, which creates a stronger bond and better adhesion to magnetic storage sheets.

For infantry, I’ll be using Green Stuff World magnetic cases, and I’m still working on a solid transport solution for my tanks and Sentinels.

The Road Ahead: Building a Standard List & Playing Games

My first goal is to build a standard 2,000-point list and get some games in with Michael and Andres. Once I get comfortable with the new edition, I’ll start experimenting with different lists and playstyles.

It’s been a long time since my Imperial Guard were on the battlefield, but with 10th edition in full swing, it feels like the perfect time to bring them back. There’s a lot of work ahead, but I’m looking forward to rolling dice and sending wave after wave of Guardsmen into battle once again.

Stay tuned for updates as I finish painting, list-building, and getting my Astra Militarum ready for war!