The Imperial Knights Stomp Back Into Warhammer 40,000

May 6, 2025 by brennon

Games Workshop revealed a new miniature coming out to support Codex: Imperial Knights and its re-release for the 10th Edition of Warhammer 40,000. The towering Knight Defender will bring all weapons to bear to protect the Imperium.

Knight Defender // Warhammer 40,000

The Knight Defender has been crafted as a walking reliquary of ancient technology. It weilds a powerful Plasma Executor and a deadly Conversion Beam Obliterator. They both sound like weapons that will end up turning your enemies into piles of molten slag. It also has a Void Shield Generator mounted on the top of the chassis.

Knight Defender - Details // Warhammer 40,000

The title of Defender matches the selfless nobles who pilot these walking relics. They will throw themselves in front of their allies and the guns of the enemy to save them from harm. Their hardy defences also mean that they are effectively a walking bunker which can lock in and hose down the enemy with its weapons.

The rules for the Knight Defender will be found in the new Codex: Imperial Knights.

Codex: Imperial Knights // Warhammer 40,000

As well as the rules for the Knight Defender, you will also get access to more background lore and plenty of miniature galleries that might inspire you to go down a particular route with the Noble Houses you choose. You will also get four Detachments for the Imperial Knights, but no Combat Patrol (which makes sense). Instead, there is an in-depth painting and heraldry guide that helps you with the painting of these towering constructs.

I'm still a firm believer that Imperial Knights don't need to be in Warhammer 40,000. They seem too big to fit into the battles of Warhammer 40,000 and feel like they'd just be better in the likes of Adeptus Titanicus.

What do you make of the new Knight Defender?