Thousand Sons 2025 Re-release – What Can We Expect?

The recent Games Workshop roadmap has placed the Thousand Sons front and centre, hinting at a reimagining of this iconic Chaos Legion. While this potential re-release is exciting news, it also brings a bittersweet realisation for some of us: it’s time to tackle that ever-growing "pile of shame." My brushes had better work overtime to get my existing Thousand Sons ready for what’s to come!

What can we hope for? Let’s look at the precedent set by other god-specific Chaos Legions. Over the years, the World Eaters, Death Guard, and more recently; Emperor’s Children have seen their ranges significantly expanded. These legions have grown beyond their singular troop choices to include diverse, legion-specific units that add flavour and tactical depth. A far cry indeed from the time of the simple choice between Khorne Berzerkers, Plague and Noise Marines. The Thousand Sons, however, remain more limited in scope, with Rubric Marines and Scarab Occult Terminators serving as the backbone of their forces.

This limited roster traces back to their unique lore. After the Rubric of Ahriman, the Thousand Sons’ non-psykers became dust-bound souls encased in power armour. While this created a fascinating narrative identity, it also locked the army into a narrow playstyle for years. Compare this to the diversity of their nemeses, the Space Wolves, who field multiple specialised units without relying heavily on generic Imperial assets. Where are the Thousand Sons’ assault marines, bikers, or heavy weapon squads? It seems their lore was shaped retroactively since that original single model (the iconic metal Tzeentch Chaos Renegade) was released decades ago.

It’s time for change! - see what I did there... Recent updates for the other Chaos Legions give me hope that the Thousand Sons will finally receive the same treatment. Imagine the possibilities: for example; three-man elite squads like the Emperor’s Children’s Flawless Blades or the World Eaters’ Eightbound. The Thousand Sons deserve an expansion that explores their pre-Heresy might and magical prowess in greater detail.

One tantalizing clue comes from the Warhammer Community Rumour Engine—specifically, the May 14, 2024, issue. The image (left) appears to show blue and yellow-striped shin guard armour on what might be a robot. Could this be a nod to the Cataphract Robots mentioned in Battle of the Fang? If these robotic constructs are included, they’d add a new layer of tactical options while paying homage to the Thousand Sons’ rich lore.

Beyond robots, I’d love to see an expansion of their pre-Heresy units. Havoc-equivalent squads equipped with Soul Reaper autocannons and missile launchers could provide much-needed anti-tank options, especially in an edition dominated by monsters and super-heavy tanks.

Assault squads with jump packs, led by Pyrae sorcerers, could bring dynamic close-combat options—imagine whirlwinds of khopesh blades tearing through enemy lines. Even land speeders or jackal-themed bikers would offer exciting mobility and thematic depth.

Another idea: introduce units of lesser sorcerers. These could represent heretical librarians from other fallen chapters or newly recruited psykers—a grim reminder of the Thousand Sons’ desperate need to replenish their ranks. Games Workshop could expand on the lore, perhaps by revealing how the Thousand Sons extract geneseed from their defeated sorcerers to create new recruits, albeit in limited numbers.

Of course, the easiest route would be to lean into Tzeentch Daemons or expand the Tzaangor range. As this is the simplest option, it's also likely to be the one James Workshop picks. I’d be disappointed if such releases came at the expense of new Thousand Sons-specific units. The army’s identity should focus on the sorcerous might and ingenuity of its Astartes, not just hordes of beast-men or daemons.

On a smaller scale, cultists could be reimagined as Spire Guard, the original human defenders of Prospero. This would tie nicely into lore from both the pre-Heresy era and Battle of the Fang, where Spire Guard played a key role. A simple name change and a new unit entry could go a long way, but James Workshop’s tendency to tie rules strictly to available models might limit this.

I'll take the opportunity to take a pot shot at 10th edition. You're telling me that the rag tag hordes of Tzaangor come in multiples of 10 you say. Very organised for a horde of beastmen...

Lastly, we could see something in the form of a Kill Team box set. While such a release might not introduce entirely new unit types, custom poses and specialised upgrades for Thousand Sons operatives would be a welcome addition.

The possibilities for a Thousand Sons re-release are vast, and while we can’t know for sure what’s coming, the hints and trends give me hope. Whether it’s new robots, expanded sorcerer cadres, or long-lost unit archetypes, I’m ready to see the Thousand Sons finally receive the attention they deserve. Let’s just hope I can clear that pile of shame before the dust (or warp-spawned magic) settles.