A Historic Reveal at the New Year Preview
In a historic move for the world of tabletop wargaming, Games Workshop has officially unveiled a new range of models that will allow players to build Adeptus Custodes units featuring unhelmeted female heads. This announcement marks a significant departure from tradition and opens a new chapter for the Emperor of Man’s personal guard.
The revelation came during Games Workshop’s celebrated “New Year Preview” livestream. During the broadcast, the company showcased a variety of upcoming models for both the Legio and Adeptus Custodes. Among these new offerings were specific designs featuring female-presenting heads, a first for the faction.
To ensure clarity in the design and distinguish the new models, Games Workshop highlighted specific details during the stream. For instance, the Shield Captain’s unhelmeted head features “golden leaf woven into her hair”. This distinct design choice serves to preemptively address potential debates regarding the gender presentation of the models, confirming clearly that these are indeed women within the ranks of the Custodes.
Expanding the Lore: From Noble Sons to Noble Houses
Games Workshop confirmed that the introduction of female Custodes is not a change to the established lore, but rather an expansion of it. The company clarified that the recruitment process for the Custodes is not limited solely to first-born sons.
According to the information provided, “noble daughters could also have been taken” to join the ranks. This inclusion is logically grounded in the grim reality of the Warhammer 40K universe: even after conquering Terra, the Imperium’s “inexorable war machine” demands a constant, ceaseless churn of recruits, meaning that eventually, the pool of noble sons would run dry, necessitating the recruitment of noble daughters as well.
Building on Recent Narrative Shifts
While the Sisters of Silence were traditionally viewed as the female equivalent to the Custodes since their introduction in the Seventh Edition back in 2017, Games Workshop has been gradually shifting this dynamic.
The path to these physical models began in 2024, when the company started rolling back previous restrictions. This shift was signaled through various media:
- The 2024 Rulebook: Featured a short story centered on Calladayce Taurovalia Kesh, a woman Custodian who was, at the time, the only representative of her gender within the organization.
- The Animated Series Tithes: The second episode of this series debuted Tyrith Shiva Kyrus, another female Custodian.
Community Reaction and Future Availability
The gradual introduction of female Custodes, particularly through Tithes and the 2024 rulebook, previously spurred reactions from specific right-wing sectors of the Warhammer community. However, the release of these physical models demonstrates that Games Workshop is standing firm on the inclusion of female Custodes.
This release is described as a significant step for the company in supporting fans who have long requested such options, while simultaneously putting its foot down against bad-faith actors within the base.
For players eager to add these warriors to their armies, the wait won’t be long. The new Legio Custodes models are compatible with both Horus Heresy and Warhammer 40K and will be available for purchase later this year.
