Two boxes, one name
Age of Darkness vs Saturnine: Which Horus Heresy Box Is Current?
Most "Age of Darkness box contents" pages describe a box Games Workshop no longer sells. The Horus Heresy's big starter changed completely in July 2025 — here is what each box actually holds, and what the current one costs today.
| Age of Darkness (2022) | Age of Darkness: Saturnine (2025) | |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Discontinued (print run ended 2023) — secondhand only | In print — the current 3rd edition starter |
| Edition | 2nd edition (launch box, June 2022) | 3rd edition (launch box, 26 July 2025) |
| Miniatures | 54 | 50 |
| Armour mark | MkVI "Corvus" tactical armour | MkII "Crusade" tactical armour |
| Infantry | 40 MkVI Tactical Space Marines, 10 Cataphractii Terminators | 40 MkII Tactical Space Marines, 6 Saturnine Terminators |
| Characters | 2 Praetors (MkVI and Cataphractii) | Saturnine Praetor, plus a Cataphractii Praetor |
| Big kits | Contemptor Dreadnought, Spartan Assault Tank | Saturnine Dreadnought, Araknae Quad Accelerator Platform |
| Rulebook | 336-page 2nd edition rulebook (superseded) | 352-page 3rd edition rulebook |
| RRP at launch | £180 | £195 |
Which should you buy?
If you are starting the Horus Heresy today, the question answers itself: Saturnine is the box in print — it launched the game's 3rd edition on 26 July 2025 and its MkII-armoured contents match the current rules and supplements. The 2022 launch box was discontinued when its print run ended; it survives only secondhand, where sealed copies trade above their old retail price. Its 54 MkVI-armoured miniatures are all still legal — if you find one cheap it is a lot of plastic — but its 2nd-edition rulebook is superseded.
Saturnine, priced today
from £200.00 · 2 shops· priced 16 AugFull contents and every price we track: Horus Heresy: Saturnine Starter Set →
Prices were last checked 17 Aug and can change — the retailer's own page always has the final say. Affiliate links — how we make money.