How to Get Started with 2nd Edition 40K

Disclaimer: This is an updated version of an old post that Blogger took down because it's stupid filters think it's spam.

This post is a resource dump for players looking to get into 2nd Edition Warhammer 40K or those searching for a specific resource.  These are available in various other posts as they are produced/released.

*Note: Project Anvil produces a number of resources but we're also gathering the best online resources available.  If you created a resource located on this blog, please let us know so we can add our thanks!

Warhammer 40K 2nd Edition Components
 Warhammer 40K came with a load of cards, decks, tokens, templates, etc.  We've located the best PDF versions of these contents for you.   While old copies are occasionally available on eBay they're often in disrepair or incomplete.  We hope to provide as many of these items to you as possible.

2nd Edition Wargear Cards

2nd Edition Psychic Power Cards

2nd Edition Strategy Cards

2nd Edition Vehicle Equipment Cards

2nd Edition Weapon Templates

2nd Edition: Warp Cards

 

2nd Edition: Wargear Book 

2nd Edition: Rulebook

Warhammer 40K 2nd Edition Vehicle Datafaxes

 Vehicles in Warhammer 40K 2nd Edition were provided with a datafax or a double-sided card which detailed their abilities, stats, and provided a special armour/damage table.  We're in the process of digitizing these into PDFs - collecting vehicles from various White Dwarf magazines, later releases etc.  In addition we're adjusting weapon listings to better match current plastic kits, etc.  In a few places we're adding some vehicles which did not exist in 2nd edition (the plastic Eldar Wave Serpent, and Ork Deffkoptas for example).  These will be updated as we release them.

2nd Edition Chaos Datafaxes 2020
 

2nd Edition Eldar Datafaxes 2020

2nd Edition Squat Datafaxes 2020

2nd Edition Ork Datafaxes 2020

2nd Edition Imperial Guard Datafaxes 2020

2nd Edition Sisters of Battle Datafaxes 2020

2nd Edition Space Marine Datafaxes 2020 

Warhammer 40K 2nd Edition Necron Materials

 Necrons showed up in small numbers in 2nd Edition by way of several small White Dwarf articles.  We've combine them into a simple PDF including the Necron Destroyer datafax.

2nd Edition Necron Raiders

Warhammer 40K 2nd Edition Cheat Sheets

 We're producing a number of simple cheat sheets for various portions of the 2nd edition rulebook.  These cheat sheets serve to make finding and applying rules easier/faster (while the rules in the rulebook were quite good they often buried rules in large paragraphs which can take time to find during game play!)

Cheat Sheet: Movement

Cheat Sheet: Leadership and Psychology

Cheat Sheet: Strategy Ratings

Cheat Sheet: Vehicle Rules

Cheat Sheet: Psychic Phase

Cheat Sheet: Squadrons, Batteries, and Crewmen

Cheat Sheet: Chaos Daemons

Project Anvil Modifications
The modifications PDFs include rules modifications we've made to modernize or streamline elements of Warhammer 40K 2nd edition.  Due to the nature of these changes, players will be required to adapate wargear, unit rules etc. to the new system (i.e. you'll have to make some decisions on how certain things play out!).  These are obviously completely optional and not part of the original rule-set for Warhammer 40K 2nd edition.

Project Anvil Activations 1.0

 

Unboxing: 2nd Edition Warhammer 40K (Midwinter Minis)

A couple of months ago, YouTube Midwinter Minis did a nice unboxing video of the 2nd edition starter box.  A starter box which is in shockingly good condition.  It's a nice video showcasing the components:

Reference: Codex Chaos

Codex Chaos set a new standard when it arrived.  Unfortunately it was subject to a lot of power creep, but the codex is huge - absolutely brimming with content.  It should be considered required reading for Chaos players regardless of what edition they play.  It is simply packed with wargear, special rules, new psyker rules, special characters, and army lists.  It's probably the finest work of the 2nd edition codices - from a "bang for buck" standpoint.  The Daemon World Army even let players essentially run Warhammer Fantasy models in 40K.


Date: 1996

Length: 143 Pages

Armies Included: Chaos Space Marines, Chaos Cult, Daemon World Army

Included Wargear Cards:

• Inferno Bolts
• Chaos Terminator Armour
• The Talon of Horus
• The Daemon Sword Drach 'Nyen
• Gorechild
• The Chirurgeon
• Rod of Torment
• Xyclos Needler
• Black Staff of Ahriman

Included Chaos Reward Cards:

• Scream of Slaanesh
• Gaze of Slaanesh
• Allure of Slaanesh
• Steed of Slaanesh
• Juggernaut of Khorne
• Collar of Khorne
• Axe of Khorne
• Praise of Khorne
• Breathe Fire
• Destiny of Tzeentch
• Disc of Tzeentch
• Fortune of Tzeentch
• Nurgle's Cloud of Flies
• Nurgle's Rot
• Beast of Nurgle
• Plaguesword

Included Datafaxes:

• Chaos Space Marine Bike
• Chaos Space Marine Rhino
• Chaos Dreadnought
• Chaos Marine Land Raider
• Chaos Marine Predator

Included Chaos Vehicle Upgrades:

• Nurgle Infestation
• Destroyer
• Combi-Bolter
• Daemonic Possession
• Warp Amp
• Coruscating Warp Flame

Included Unit Entries:

• Chaos Lord
• Army Icon
• Chaos Space Marine Sorcerer
• Greater Daemon
• Chaos Champion
• Chaos Aspiring Champion
• Chaos Space Marine Terminators
• Veteran Chaos Space Marine Squad
• Chaos Space Marine Squad
• Plague Marines
• Khorne Berzerkers
• Thousand Sons Marines
• Noise Marines
• Chaos Space Marine Bikers
• Chaos Space Marine Dreadnought
• Chaos Space Marine Land Raider
• Chaos Space Marine Rhino
• Chaos Space Marine Predator
• Flesh Hounds - Daemons of Khorne
• Bloodletters - Daemons of Khorne
• Beasts - Daemons of Nurgle
• Plaguebearers - Daemons of Nurgle
• Nurglings - Daemons of Nurgle
• Pink Horrors - Daemons of Tzeentch
• Flamers - Daemons of Tzeentch
• Daemonettes of Slaanesh
• Fiends of Slaanesh
• Demagogue
• Chaos Magus
• Cult Icon Bearer
• Acolyte
• Beastman Champion
• Chaos Cultist Coven
• Beastman Pack
• Daemon Prince
• Great Daemon (Repeat)
• Daemonic Icon Bearer
• Chaos Warrior Champion
• Chaos Magus (Repeat)
• Beastman Champion (Repeat)
• All Daemon Types (Repeated)
• Chaos Warrior Warband
• Chaos Hound Pack
• Beastmen
• Minotaurs
• Trolls

Included Special Characters:

• Abaddon the Despoiler, Warmaster of Chaos
• Kharn the Betrayer
• Fabius Bile
• Huron Blackheart, Tyrant of Badab, Master of the Red Corsairs, Lord of the Maelstrom, the Reaver
• Ahriman
• Doombreed, Daemon Prince of Khorne
• N'Kari, Daemon Prince of Slaanesh
• Foulspawn, Daemon Prince of Nurgle
• M'Kachan, Daemon Prince of Tzeentch
• Cypher, Fallen Dark Angel Champion 

PART 1/2

 PART 2/2

Reference: Codex Space Wolves

The first of the official Space Marine codices, Space Wolves introduce a lot of options which would later be abused by not-so-scrupulous gamers!  Space Wolves were one of the most unique of the Space Marine forces - featuring units unlike any other published chapters.  It is also the only codex to feature a battle report in its contents.

Date: 1994

Length: 88 Pages

Armies Included: Space Wolves

Included Wargear Cards:

• The Axe Morkai
• Master-Crafted Bolt Pistol
• Frostfang
• The Pelt of Wulfen
• The Wolf Helm of Russ
• Night Wing the Cyber Raven
• The Rune Staff Stormcaller
• The Hood of Gnyrll
• The Helm of Durfast
• The Wulfen Stone
• Hrulf's Hood of Darkness
• Torgarl's Plasma Blade

Included Datafaxes:

• Bjorn the Fell-Handed (in the Special Characters area)

Included Unit Entries:

• Wolf Lord
• Wolf Priest
• Rune Priest
• Iron Priest
• Wolf Guard Champions
• Grey Hunter Pack
• Blood Claw Pack
• Long Fang Pack
• Wolf Scouts
• Wolfguard
• Dreadnought
• Servitor Bodyguard
• Rapier Laser Destroyer
• Tarantula
• Bike
• Land Raider
• Rhino
• Land Speeder
• Predator

Included Special Characters:

• Wolf Priest Ulrik the Slayer
• Wolf Lord Ragnar Blackmane
• Njal Stormcaller
• Great Wolf Logan Grimnar
• Wolf Guard Durfast of Mordrak
• Wolf Guard Ranulf
• Bjorn the Fell-Handed
• Wolf Lord Kyrl Grimblood

 

Reference: Codex Imperial Guard

Codex Imperial Guard was a big deal when it came out.  It solidified the scattered Imperial bits from previous editions and army lists.  It introduced numerous new war machines (finally separating Marine vehicles from Guard vehicles) and was supported by a large range of metal Imperial Guard miniatures.  The Imperial Guard would gain a reputation for brutal firepower...

Date: 1995

Length: 112 Pages

Armies Included: Imperial Guard

Included Wargear Cards:

• Claw of the Desert Tigers
• Crushing Arm of Kamir
• Eye of the Falcon
• Force Field
• Bale Eye
• Battle Claw

Included Datafaxes:

• Imperial Guard Sentinel
• Imperial Hellhound
• Leman Russ Demolisher
• Leman Russ Battle Tank
• Imperial Basilisk
• Imperial Griffon
• Imperial Chimera

Included Unit Entries:

• Command HQ
• Command Squad
• Rough Rider Command Squad
• Primaris Psyker
• Commissar
• Imperial Guard Squad
• Imperial Guard Heavy Weapons Squad
• Rough Rider Squad
• Ogryns
• Ratling Snipers
• Storm Troopers
• Leman Russ
• Leman Russ Demolisher
• Griffon
• Chimera
• Basilisk
• Hellhound
• Sentinel Squadron

Included Special Characters:

• Lord Commander Solar Macharius
• Commissar Yarrick
• Nork Deddog, Ogryn Bodyguard
• Captain Al'Rahem of Tallarn
• Captain Chenkov of Valhalla
• Colonel Shaefer's Last Chancers Penal Squad
• Stumper Muckstart, Ratling Sharp Shooter
• Captain Mogul Kamir

 

Reference: Codex Angels of Death

Codex Angels of Death was a large tome included a heap of information for running both the Blood Angels and Dark Angels.  This is a larger book with a lot of content, heaps of wargear and a good smattering of special characters.

Date: 1996

Length: 120 Pages

Armies Included: Dark Angels, Blood Angels

Included Wargear Cards:

• Standard of Fortitude
• Standard of Retribution
• Standard of Devastation
• Death Mask of Sanguinius
• The Inferno Pistol
• Master-Crafter Plasma Pistol
• Red Grail
• Shroud of Sanguinius
• The Lion Helm
• Sword of Secrets
• Book of Salvation
• Blades of Reason
  

Included Datafaxes:

• Ravenwing Land Speeder
• Space Marine Whirlwind
  

Included Unit Entries:

Dark Angels

• Master of the Death Wing
• Master of the Raven Wing
• Dark Angels Master
• Company Standard
• Chaplains
• Librarians
• Apothecary
• Techmarine
• Veteran Sergeants
• Deathwing Squad
• Assault Squad
• Tactical Squad
• Devastator Squad
• Scout Squad
• Ravenwing Land Speeder Squadron
• Ravenwing Bike Squadron
• Ravenwing Attack Bike Squadron
• Tarantula
• Space Marine Dreadnought
• Rapier Laser Destroyer
• Space Marine Whirlwind
• Space Marine Land Raider
• Space Marine Predator
• Space Marine Rhino
• Space Marine Razorback

Blood Angels 

•  Terminator Captain
• Space Marine Captain
• Company Standard
• Chaplain
• Librarian
• Apothecary
• Techmarine
• Veteran Sergeants
• Death Company
• Terminator Squad
• Veteran Space Marine Assault Squad
• Assault Squad
• Devastator Squad
• Scout Squad
• Tactical Squad
• Bike Squadron
• Space Marine Dreadnought
• Tarantula
• Rapier Laser Destroyer
• Space Marine Land Raider
• Space Marine Whirlwind
• Space Marine Predator
• Space Marine Rhino
• Space Marine Razorback
• Space Marine Land Speeder
• Space Marine Attack Bike

Included Special Characters: 

• Commander Azrael, Supreme Grand Master of the Dark Angels, Keeper of the Truth
• Ezekiel, Grand Master of Librarians, Keeper of the Book of Salvation, Holder of the Keys
• Brother Bethor, Bearer of the Sacred Standard
• Sapphon, Grand Master of Chaplains, Finder of Secrets
• Asmodai, Interrogator Chaplain
• Commander Dante, Lord of the Blood Angels
• Veteran Sergeant Cleutin, Guardian of the Shroud of Sanguinius
• Chief Librarian Mephiston, Lord of Death
• Apothecary Corbulo, Sanguinary Priest of the Blood Angels
• Brother-Captain Tycho, Commander of the 3rd Company

 

 

Reference: Codex Sisters of Battle

Sisters of Battle, the Codex, snuck in just before the end of 2nd edition - it's often lamented because of this fact.  Sisters is the closest thing we ever got to the oft-rumoured "Imperial Agents" codex which never materialized.

Date: 1997

Length: 64 Pages

Included Armies: Sisters of Battle

Included Wargear Cards:

• None

Included Datafaxes:

• Sisters of Battle Immolator

Included Unit Entries:

•  Canoness
• Veteran Sister Superior
• Veteran Seraphim Superior
• Missionary
• Confessor
• Preacher
• Battle Sister Squad
• Seraphim Squad
• Frateris Militia Band
• Rhino
• Adepta Sororitas Immolator
  

Included Special Characters: 

• Saint Praxedes of Ophelia VII
• Helena the Virtuous, Prioress of the Convent Sanctorum
• Uriah Jacobus, Protector of the Faith
• Redemptor Kyrinov, Arch-Confessor
• Cardinal Armandus Helfire 

 

Reference: Codex Tyranids

The original "bugs" (or dinosaurs depending on who you ask...) the Tyranids codex combined a fleshed out Tyranid army and a Genestealer Cult List.  Acknowledging that a Tyranids army would never fight according to conventional rules or objectives, the Tyranids Codex includes special missions for the army.  The codex makes up for its somewhat scant list of units with a lot of special Tyranid tables/rules/options/biomorphs, etc.

Date: 1995

Length: 88 Pages

Armies Included: Tyranids, Genestealer Cult

Included Wargear Cards: None (Includes Biomorph list)

Included Datafaxes:

• None

Included Mission Cards:

• Tyranid Attack
• Trap
• Terrorise

Included Unit Entries:

• Hive Tyrant
• Zoanthrope 
• Lictor
• Tyranid Warrior Brood
• Genestealer Brood
• Termagant Brood
• Hormagaunt Brood
• Gargoyle Brood
• Carnifex
• Ripper Swarm
• Spore Mines
• Biovores
• Genestealer Patriarch
• Genestealer Magus
• Cult Icon Bearer
• Genestealer Brood (Identical to earlier entry)
• Genestealer Hybrid (Neophyte, Acolyte)
• Genestealer Hybrid Brood (Neophytes, Acolytes)
• Brood Brother Squad
• Brood Brother Heavy Weapon Team
• Rapier Laser Destroyer
• Tarantula
• Mole Mortar
• Thudd Gun
  

Included Special Characters:

• None

Reference: Codex Orks

Codex Orks was the last hurrah of the vibrant coloured, bizarre and wild Orks.  In 2nd edition, Orks were organized around clans and different fighting styles.  The entire wargear section and all of their artillery were based on luck and madness rather than skill.  Orks were an absolute riot prior to the coming darkness of later editions.

Date: 1994

Length: 88 Pages

Armies Included: Orks

Included Wargear Cards:

• Ghazghkull's Adamantium Skull
• Runtherd's Grabba-Stick
• Kustom Shoota (x2)
• Cybork Body
• Buzzer Squig Stikkbombz
• Vaxxine Squig
• Sniffer Squig
• Doc's Tools
• Kustom Blasta (x2)
• Mekboy's Tools
• Kustom Force Field
• Force Field Projecta
  

Included Datafaxes:

• None

Included Unit Entries:

• Warboss
• Battle Standard
• Bigboss
• Freebooter Kaptin
• Blood Axe Kommando Kaptin
• Drillboss
• Nobz
• Mekaniak
• Painboy
• Runtherd
• Weirdboy
• Weirdboy Warphead
• Ogryn Leader
• Gretchin Assistants
• Nobz Mob
• Blood Axe Kommando Mob
• Freebooter Pirates
• Mad Mob
• Bad Moons Boyz Mob
• Blood Axe Boyz Mob
• Stormboyz Korps
• Deathskulls Mob
• Evil Sunz Boyz Mob
• Goff Boyz Mob
• Snakebite Boyz Mob
• Gretchin Mobs
• Ogryn Mob
• Ork Dreadnought
• Pulsa Rokkit
• Smasha Gun
• Splatta Kannon
• War Buggy
• Ork Wartrak
• Scorcher
• Nobz Bike
• Warbike
  

Included Special Characters:

• Nazdreg Ug Urdgrub, Bad Moon Warlord
• Kaptin "Flash Git" Badrukk
• Mad Doc Grotsnik, Deathskull Painboy
• Ghazghkull Mag Uruk Thraka, Mighty Goff Warlord and Leader of the Waaaagh!
• Makari Ghazghkull's Battle Standard Bearer
• Zodgrod Wortsnagga, Snakebite Runtmaster
• Wazdakka Gutzmek, Evil Sunz Mekaniak and Bad Ork Bikeboy

 

Reference: Codex Eldar

The Eldar Codex from 2nd edition was the first real time that scattered Eldar units (previously Space Elves) were consolidated and fleshed out into their own significant tabletop force.  This codex included the Eldar now referred to as "Craftworld" Eldar, as well as entries for Harlequins, Exodites, Pirates, etc.

Date:  1994

Length: 96 Pages

Armies Included: Eldar, Harlequins

Included Wargear Cards:

• The Sword of Asur
• The Staff of Ulthamar
• The Maugetar
• The Fire Axe
• The Scorpion's Bite
• The Blade of Destruction
• The Silent Death
• The Mask of Jain Zar
• Lasblaster
• Seer Runes
• Eldar Spirit Stones
• The Fire Pike
  

Included Datafaxes:

• Eldar Jetbike
• Eldar Vyper
• Eldar War Walker
• Eldar Dreadnought
  

 Included Unit Entries:

• Avatar
• Farseer
• Exarch
• Warlock
• Exodite Lord
• Pirate Captain
• Guardian Squad
• Dire Avenger Squad
• Fire Dragon Squad
• Dark Reaper Squad
• Swooping Hawk Squad
• Howling Banshee Squad
• Shining Spear Squad
• Striking Scorpion Squad
• Warp Spider Squad
• Eldar Scouts
• Wraithguard
• Exodite Dragon Knight
• Eldar Pirates
• Dreadnought
• Lascannon on Anti-Grav Platform
• Scatter Laser on Anti-Grav Platform
• Heavy Plasma Gun on Anti-Grav Platform
• Distort Cannon on Anti-Grav Platform
• Vibro-Cannon on Anti-Grav Platform
• War Walker
• Jetbike
• Vyper
• Great Harlequin
• Death Jester
• Solitaire
• Shadow Seer
• Harlequin Squad
  

Included Special Characters:

•  Asurmen
• Maugan Ra - The Harvester of Souls
• Karandras - The Shadow Hunter
• Fuegan the Burning Lance
• Baharroth - The Cry of the Wind
• Jain Zar - The Storm of Silence
• Eldrad Ulthran 

 

Reference: Codex Ultramarines

The "Ultramarines" codex from 2nd edition served as "the" Marine codex.  With the exception of the included special characters and their wargear, this was the codex used by players to run any variety of Space Marine chapters.  Strictly adhering to the Codex Astartes, the Ultramarines were the blue-print for many successor chapters.

Date: 1995 

 

Length: 96 Pages

Armies Included: Ultramarines

Included Wargear Cards:

• Servo Arm
• Plasma Blaster
• Auto-Launchers (for Terminators)
• Photon Beam Searchlight
• Rod of Tigurius
• Hood of Hellfire
• Gauntlets of Ultramar
• Banner of Macragge

Included Datafaxes:

• Space Marine Whirlwind

Included Unit Entries:

• Terminator Captain
• Space Marine Captain
• Company Standard
• Chaplain
• Librarian
• Apothecary
• Techmarine
• Veteran Sergeants
• Terminator Squad
• Veteran Space Marine Squad
• Assault Squad
• Tactical Squad
• Devastator Squad
• Scout Squad
• Bike Squadron
• Space Marine Dreadnought
• Tarantula
• Rapier Laser Destroyer
• Space Marine Whirlwind
• Space Marine Land Raider
• Space Marine Predator
• Space Marine Land Speeder
• Space Marine Attack Bike
• Space Marine Rhino
• Space Marine Razorback

Included Special Characters:

• Chief Librarian Tigurius
• Marneus Calgar, Master of the Ultramarines
• Ultramarines Chaplain Cassius
• Ancient Helveticus, Bearer of the Battle Standard of Macragge
• Captain Invictus of the Ultramarines First Company
• Legion of the Damned (Squad)  

 

Resources: Wargear Cards

The following PDF contains all of the common wargear cards from Warhammer 40K, 2nd edition.  It is a standard PDF meant to be printed single-sided (cards then cut/folded).  I will post pictures of mine when I've had some properly printed/laminated.

Warhammer 40K, 2nd Edition Wargear Cards

If anyone knows the source of this excellent PDF, please do let me know.  I found it on numerous websites.

The Purpose

Welcome to Project Anvil.  This is a simple blog dedicated to a game modification intended for Games Workshop's 2nd edition Warhammer 40,000 tabletop miniatures game.  This is colloquially referred to as Oldhammer or Middlehammer, having taken place in the early to late 1990's.

Project Anvil is aimed at streamlining a handful of rules or practices which hindered gameplay in 2nd edition, namely condensing and re-doing the Psyker Phase and Close Combat - as well as changing up unit activation.

Needless to say, all of the content on this blog is free-to-use and is a constant work-in-progress.  I don't have the gaming community currently to playtest this nearly as much as I'd like.  When most of this is narrowed down and solidified I will provide a simple PDF file to detail the changes.  If you have any suggestions please feel free to post it in the comments sections of the pertinent post!

Thanks,
Oscar