Let's Talk Ultras
Let's Talk Ultras - By Shaz
With no new event tracker lists to review today, I figured it’s the perfect time to dive into the latest Ultramarines releases—and wow, these are some incredible kits!
The Ultramarines are making a thunderous return to the forefront of Warhammer 40,000 with a wave of stunning new releases that bring iconic heroes and elite warriors back into the heart of the battlefield. Leading the charge is Marneus Calgar, now clad in all-new Terminator Armor. Alongside him strides Cato Sicarius, freshly ascended across the Rubicon Primaris, while the legendary Victrix Guard return as a powerful standalone unit with their own datasheet. This release is not just an update—it’s a statement that the sons of Guilliman are ready to dominate both tabletop and lore once more.
image sourced from www.warhammer-community.com
Calgar’s new Terminator variant appears to retain most of his profile from his Gravis-armored incarnation, which remains available as an option. The key differences are the addition of Deep Strike and expanded leader options, allowing him to join almost any frontline unit in the codex. His toughness is now a surprising T6, which has sparked speculation among the community. Is this a sign that Terminator Armor will universally gain +1 Toughness in the next edition, or is this simply the benefit of his master-crafted artificer plate? Time will tell, but the implications for future meta shifts are exciting. If Games Workshop prices him more affordably for lists that don’t wish to include his Victrix retinue, we may see Calgar become an auto-include in competitive Ultramarine armies.
image sourced from www.warhammer-community.com
Cato Sicarius emerges looking every bit the paragon of Ultramarine martial prowess, with aesthetics that echo the elegance and lethality of the Adeptus Custodes. His rules reflect this evolution. He brings a powerful reactive ability to any squad he leads, offering flexible tactical responses in both offense and defense. Even more intriguing is his synergy with Marneus Calgar—yes, he can join units already led by Calgar. This opens the door to some truly devastating combinations, essentially creating a super-leadership deathstar centered around heroic synergy.
Now let’s talk about the real stars of this release—the Victrix Guard.
image sourced from www.warhammer-community.com
These warriors of Ultramar are absolute behemoths on the tabletop. Each model boasts a 2+ save and a massive 4 wounds, making them among the most durable elite infantry available to any Space Marine chapter. Two members of your maximum three squads can be elevated into an Ancient and Champion via the Epic Hero upgrade, adding increased utility and combat ferocity. Their ranged weapons are no slouches either, firing at Strength 5, AP -1, Damage 2. In melee they are even deadlier—each Guard brings 5 attacks at Strength 5, AP -2, Damage 2, while the Champion can take twin blades striking at Strength 5, AP -2, Damage 2 with Twin-linked to ensure rerolls to wound.
Things get even spicier with the Banner of Macragge. Once per battle, the Ancient can unfurl this sacred relic to grant the entire squad +1 Strength and +1 Attack. This single activation can turn an already-lethal unit into a battlefield deletion engine capable of erasing elite infantry, monsters, or even light vehicles in a single swing.
As if their raw stats weren’t enough, the Victrix Guard gain a universal -1 to wound when led by a Captain or Chapter Master, and they possess the Blood Surge ability to immediately move closer to the enemy after being shot. This combination of offense, defense, and mobility makes them one of the most well-rounded elite units we’ve ever seen for the Ultramarines.
It is not hard to imagine a full strike force made up of maximum Victrix Guard enhanced by their two hero upgrades, accompanied by Gravis Calgar, Cato Sicarius, and possibly even a Lieutenant. Such a unit would occupy the footprint of a Knight and bring with it layer upon layer of defensive buffs, offensive auras, and heroic abilities. This is not just a hammer—it’s an orbital strike delivered on foot.
With these new releases, the Ultramarines are poised to reassert their dominance across both casual and competitive formats. The combination of lore significance, tabletop power, and stunning new models makes this one of the most exciting releases the chapter has seen in years. I will personally be picking up at least two boxes of the Victrix Guard, and if you have even a hint of Ultramarine blue in your heart, you absolutely should too.
image sourced from www.warhammer-community.com
Guilliman’s sons are ready. The question is—will you answer the call?