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A codex (plural codexes, although the correct English is codices), in the Warhammer 40,000 tabletop wargame, is a rules supplement containing information concerning a particular army, environment, or worldwide campaign.

A codex normally contains:

• Army list - A list of the units, characters and vehicles that can be chosen for use in a battle. This includes their characteristic values, information on their weapon options, and any limitations on their use. Each item also has a points value, with more powerful units costing more points, so that battles are fought between balanced armies.
• Background - Information about the force and its place in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. This includes artwork, short stories, and copies of fictional documents from the future.
• Hobby section - Information on collecting, building and painting an army from the codex. This features outstanding example models painted by veteran hobbyists and Games Workshop's 'Eavy Metal team.
• Special characters - Contains background information and rules for fielding remarkable individuals from the army. Examples include Marneus Calgar in Codex: Space Marines and Ghazghkull Mag Uruk Thraka in Codex: Orks.

With the release of Warhammer 40,000 4th edition, the range of codexes has started to be updated and rereleased. However, all codexes from 3rd edition are still valid, unless a 4th edition version has replaced it. Also, some 3rd edition codexes are on their 2nd version.^[1]

• Black Templars
• Blood Angels^[2]
• Chaos Space Marines
• Dark Angels
• Eldar
• Space Marines
• Tau Empire (replaces Codex: Tau)
• Tyranids

• Assassin (superseded by rules in Codex: Daemonhunters and Codex: Witchunters)
• Daemonhunters
• Dark Eldar (2nd version)
• Imperial Guard (2nd version)
  • Catachans (superseded by rules in Codex: Imperial Guard (2nd version))
• Necrons
• Orks (although the Orks are due to be given a codex update, the date of which is said to be January 2008)
• Space Wolves (a "mini-dex"; needs to be used in conjunction with Codex:Space Marine, cannot be used on its own)
• Witch Hunters

Battlefield Codexes are rules supplements that deal with a specialised combat environment, instead of an army. There is only one environment covered so far, urban warfare. However, material in Codex: Catachans provides rules for jungle warfare.

• Apocalypse^[3]
• Cities of Death (4th Edition, replaces Codex: Cityfight)^[4]
  • Cityfight (3rd edition)

The two event codexes were released in association with the 2000 and 2003 Worldwide Campaigns. These codexes provided background and special gaming rules for the event, along with four "supplemental army lists"; variant armies that required access to certain other Codexes for use.

• Armageddon^[5] (3rd edition)
• Eye of Terror^[6] (3rd edition)

1. ^ http://uk.games-workshop.com/warhammer40000/
2. ^ Presented in two parts in White Dwarf (UK) issues #330 and #331, with long-term plan to publish this list in a new book.
3. ^ http://us.games-workshop.com/games/40k/apocalypse/default.htm
4. ^ http://uk.games-workshop.com/cityfight/background/1/
5. ^ http://www.armageddon3.com/English/Codex/codexarm.html
6. ^ http://www.eyeofterror.com/uk/welcome.htm