Warhammer 40,000 is a tabletop game that is hard to get into initially, but once you know how to play and have your models ready, it brings much enjoyment. To learn how to play correctly and have solid support in understanding the game, Codex Books are a great purchase choice to delve into the tabletop experience more fully.
Related:What You Need To Play Warhammer 40,000
Each book is focused on a faction or sub-faction, and it tells a good amount of their lore and includes information about the units. The Codex also comes with a good amount of artwork, and they are premium pieces that are so good they could easily be confused for an artwork book. Learn to play withyour favorite factionwith the books featured in this buyer’s guide.
Warhammer 40,000 Codex: Space Marines
Get into the tabletop with this great Codex book.
The Warhammer 40,000 Codex: Space Marine is an excellent Codex book that covers the most popular faction in the 8th Edition of the tabletop.
The Warhammer 40,000 Codex: Space Marines Hardcover is the best Codex Book to get due to the popularity and variety of the Space Marines. It includes various units, such as Ultramarine, White Scars, Black Templars, and many more, supporting seven chapters.

It is a tremendous all-around Codex covering the variety that Space Marines bring with concise and detailed content. It’s great for beginners, too, since the Space Marines are straightforward to play and the faction that new players tend to pick. The 8th edition book is of high premium quality and includes much information.
Warhammer 40,000 Codex: Necrons
Get into the Warhammer 40K universe with this Codex.
The Necrons Codex Warhammer 40k is an excellent Codex book if you are into creepy, highly detailed art and old-school lore of the Warhammer 40K universe.
The Necrons Codex for Warhammer 40,000 3rd edition is a fantastic Codex that mixes spectacular artwork with superb lore. And we’re talking lore so good, it’s what got some players got invested in Warhammer 40,000 in the first place. The Codex introduced new rules and concepts that became staples for the Necron’s army, like the ability to revive warriors after being destroyed.

However, the main highlight of the book is the lore and artwork, as these are reminiscent of Lovecraftian stories due to the creepy art and the unsettling tales in the Codex. It provided a good start for introducing Necrons to the players and is a stunning Codex that reminds them that old codexes have their particular flair.
Learn to play Necrons with this excellent Codex.
The Warhammer 40K: Codex: Necrons (9th Edition) is a Codex that has been praised thanks to the updates and revisions it brings to the Necrons faction. That makes it an essential Codex to play the Necrons.
If you like Necrons and want to stay updated with the rules, the 9th Edition of the Codex Necrons is perfect. It is a Codex that has been praised for its updates to the rules and lore of the Necrons and shows that they are a force to be reckoned with in the Warhammer 40,000 universe.

This Codex also introduced some new units to the game, giving new strategies and options for the Necrons to use on the battlefield. It is paired with the new stratagems and updates, making it a must-have book if you are going to play a Necron army on the tabletop, and being a 9th edition book means it is one of the freshest codexes.
Warhammer 40,000 Codex: Tyranids
The Tyranids get revitalize with this Codex.
The Warhammer 40,000 Codex: Tyranids is excellent if you want to play the Monstrous faction. It adds quality-of-life improvements that make the Tyranids more viable on the battlefield.
Tyranids may catch your attention if Necrons and Space Marines are not for you. The Codex Tyranids, 9th Edition, brings tremendous improvements to the dreadfulness of the creatures in this faction. The Synapse, a key mechanic for the Tyranids, has been improved, making it far easier to keep their units in control, allowing them to survive more.

In addition, both monsters and psychic phases have been buffed, giving the faction powerful tools to work with to annihilate enemies. The Hive Fleet adaptation also brings a lot of flexibility to how players make their armies, including named ones such as Leviathan, Behemoth, and Kronos. The Codex is a great way to get into Tyranids in the 9th Edition while enjoying some of their artwork.
Warhammer 40,000 Codex: Chaos Space Marines
Highly detailed depiction of the Chaos Marines.
The Warhammer 40,000 Codex: Chaos Space Marines gives a glimpse into what makes the Chaos Marines such a force to be reckoned with in the lore and the tabletop.
While a good deal of information can be found online about Warhammer 40,000 and its factions, including some bits from tales and books, there is no better way to get a feel for a faction than to get their Codex Book. That is what the Codex Chaos of the Space Marines does best, provide detailed lore and art about those that follow Chaos.

While the book adds some updates to the rules, this is a book you want to get if you are more into the game’s lore than the rules themselves. It makes for a fantastic piece of lore to acquire and can undoubtedly appeal to you to play more Chaos factions on the tabletop. It is a Codex with great worth as a collectible, too, if you want to make a collection of codexes.
Warhammer 40,000 Codex: Orks
Comprehensive guide to playing the Orks, WAHHHGH!
The Warhammer 40,000 Codex: Orks is a perfect book to get into one of the wildest factions in the game, thanks to its comprehensive contents that explain the versatile yet aggressive faction.
Warhammer 40,000 Orks can be as famous as Space Marines at times, and that’s due to how colorful and fun their units are on the battlefield. This Codex lets you know what the Orks are best at, being a versatile and aggressive army that can give you many options on the battlefield.

This book is an excellent fit for playing Orks on the tabletop. It features the artwork of the faction while including a lot of information about the units and giving you access to the ruling of how to play them. The Codex does a great job presenting high-detail details so you can access everything you need regarding the Orks.
These Codex Books do a great job explaining rules, presenting the lore of the factions they focus on, and expanding it with fantastic artwork. They serve multiple purposes, too, as they are nice rulesets to rely on, great pieces to collect as a fan of Warhammer 40,000, and can provide a lot of information with great detail.
Bottom Line
The best pick for new players is the Warhammer 40,000 Codex: Space Marines Hardcover; it focuses on the most popular faction that is straightforward to play. For those wanting an all-rounder book that gives a different experience, the Warhammer 40k - Codex Orks is an ideal pick to get into the game while having a great deal of information to work with.
FAQ
Are Codex Books necessary to play Warhammer 40,000?
While not required, the Codex Books give you ample information and teach you how to use units easily while being accessible at all times.
Do Codex Books get new versions?
Yes, Games Workshop makes new Editions of the codexes as time progresses, updating and revising the rules of the factions.
Do old Codex Books have any worth to them?
While old Codex Books have outdated rules, they present unique art and an old-school touch, making them great as collectibles and lore books.