Games Workshop is starting off the new year in quite some style with the big new narrative event for Warhammer 40,000 and 2023 getting fired up right away. Arks Of Omen: Abaddon is going to be kicking things off as the storm of Chaos rages across a still-fractured Imperium.

Arks Of Omen: Abaddon // Warhammer 40,000

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Abaddon The Despoiler has joined forces with the terror known as Vashtorr The Arkifane and is seeing to crush the Imperium. The massive Arks Of Omen have torn into realspace and, laden down with powerful weaponry, are looking to utterly destroy everything in their way. Considering Abaddon smashed an entire Black Fortress into a planet once (RIP Cadia), I wouldn't put anything past this crusading Chaos general.

As well as including the updated lore for the Warhammer 40,000 world, Arks Of Omen: Abaddon also contains rules for playing out new Boarding Action battles. These are tight and fast-paced games set in voidcraft, space hulks and orbital stations. To aid in that, you're going to be able to get your hands on a new terrain set.

Boarding Actions Terrain Set // Warhammer 40,000

This set comes with two double-sided gaming boards alongside sixty-eight pieces of modular terrain. This can then be used to play out the different Boarding Actions missions found throughout the Arks Of Omen series.

Games Workshop has detailed more on the rules for Boarding Actions over on Warhammer Community. It seems a lot more about getting up close and personal rather than just sitting back and blasting from range. You'll also not find any vehicles here. It's all about troops and veteran elite options pushing their way through tight interior locations looking to shut down the plans of the enemy.

I also like that Boarding Actions cuts right down on the Strategems available to players. It will be interesting to see just how cut down that is and how this is going to be affecting each of the factions in-game. It does seem like you get a good set of core options and then new faction-specific ones for use with Boarding Actions. I am interested in seeing how the game goes, to be honest!

New Chapter Approved Book

As well as the new game mode for Warhammer 40,000, there is also going to be an update for traditional Warhammer 40,000 too.

Arks Of Omen: Grand Tournament Mission Pack // Warhammer 40,000

This new Mission Pack comes with everything that you'll need for the upcoming season of matched play in Warhammer 40,000. As well as tweaks and updates to the various armies in Warhammer 40,000, you'll also find an entirely new Arks Of Omen Detachment which makes it pretty easy to just make whatever army takes your fancy without having to worry about working with multiple detachments and such.

Space Marine Strike Forces

As well as the new books and terrain, this will also be your chance to pick up the new Space Marine Strike Forces that we looked at last week.

Ultramarine Strike Force // Warhammer 40,000

Iron Hands Strike Force // Warhammer 40,000

Salamanders Strike Force // Warhammer 40,000

White Scars Strike Force // Warhammer 40,000

Good starting points for a new Primaris army in Warhammer 40,000. With each coming with a named character and a bunch of good core options, these should be able to tick off pretty much the basics of a Combat Patrol and then some. I quite like the Salamanders one with all of those heavily armoured individuals getting to kick ass and take names.

Could you be tempted by the new Arks Of Omen book or perhaps one of those new Strike Forces?

Drop your thoughts below...