The Siege of Death Mire campaign has reached a stalemate, with neither Imperial forces nor Orks securing a decisive victory. Despite early Imperial success in the first two weeks, the final battle zones remain contested, leading organizers to grant both factions new rules detachments to commemorate the conflict. The campaign, which represents the first global Warhammer 40k campaign of the 11th edition, saw thousands of players dedicate their games to either the invading Orks or the defending Imperials.
Stalemate at Hive Death Mire
The global Warhammer 40,000 campaign, which tasked players with determining the fate of a beleaguered hive city on the war-torn surface of Armageddon, concluded without a clear winner. While the Imperium dominated the initial phases of the war, the Orks managed to hold the final two battle zones, forcing a deadlock. There is no clear progress, and the situation is marked by what organizers described as “untold death and destruction on both sides.”
Organizers had originally promised a new detachment for the winning faction. Faced with a draw, they opted to reward both sides. “If that isn’t the most Warhammer 40,000 outcome possible, we don’t know what is,” the campaign organizers noted, confirming that both the Imperium and the Orks will receive new rules to reflect the brutal, inconclusive nature of the fighting.
Vengeful Hosts and the Imperial Counter-Attack
For the Space Marines, the stalemate brings the Vengeful Hosts detachment. This rule set evokes the image of avenging angels striking from the skies. It lets players make all of their jump pack-equipped infantry extra deadly on the turn they arrive. This follows several weeks of tactical shifts in the narrative. The campaign’s first week, centered on the defense of the Tempestor Victorum Wall, saw Imperial forces secure a victory through an orderly withdrawal. By the second week, Imperial defenders triumphed again, sweeping aside resistance in The Cloisters battle zone and preparing for a counter-attack.
Kaius Konorius and the Ultramarines Reinforcements
One of the most notable outcomes of the Imperial successes during the campaign was the reveal of the character Kaius Konorius. A grizzled blademaster of the Ultramarines, Konorius is described as a veteran who fought alongside Marneus Calgar and Chaplain Cassius when all three were neophytes. At the dawn of the Era Indomitus, he was tutoring battle-brothers in bladework on Macragge.
For more on this story, see The Siege of Death Mire: Week 1 Results.
Following his near-fatal duel against Abaddon the Despoiler, Calgar summoned his old comrade to serve as his champion. Now, clad in armour reminiscent of the Victrix Honour Guard and armed with a pair of weapons called Severance and Rebuke, this grizzled blademaster is ready to take on all challengers.
Campaign Mechanics and Participant Rewards
The campaign, which ran from June 22 to July 13, utilized a format that allowed players worldwide to register results via their My Warhammer accounts. This structure was designed to influence the in-universe fate of Hive Death Mire. Players were required to dedicate their victory to either the Imperium or the Orks. The event also featured specialized participation: while online reporting influenced locations like Hive Heart, the Gallows Space Port was determined by games played in physical Warhammer stores.
The campaign offered significant incentives for participation. Forty lucky players who submitted results were set to win a full 1,000-point army of brand new miniatures from whichever faction emerged victorious. Additionally, the victors of each week’s battles were rewarded with an early preview for their faction. Following the first Imperial victory, Games Workshop revealed the new multi-part Outriders kit. Originally released as a push-fit kit in the 2020 Indomitus launch box, the updated Outriders are now receiving a multi-part kit loaded with options, including a sergeant who can be equipped with a plasma pistol, thunder hammer, power axe, or chainsword.
Ork Adaptability
The Orks have also seen significant attention regarding their equipment. The Boyz are currently revelling in their ability to carry both a slugga and a shoota. The kit includes a full selection of upgraded dakka options, including a big shoota, a rokkit launcha, and a burna, all of which can be included in a single squad without any of the ladz dropping their choppas. The Nob unit features options such as a kombi-skorcha and kustom choppa or power klaw, or a two-handed big choppa, accompanied by an ammo runt and a squig friend.
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