Horus Heresy: Saturnine Starter Set – Age of Darkness 2-Player Box
Horus Heresy: Saturnine Starter Set – Age of Darkness 2-Player Box
The Horus Heresy: Saturnine Starter Set throws you straight into the grimdark future of the 31st Millennium, where the Siege of Terra rages and brother battles brother. Designed as a complete two-player experience, this box set includes everything needed to wage full-scale civil war in the Age of Darkness. Inspired by the famous battle at the Saturnine Gate from the Siege of Terra novel series, this kit is ideal for both new and veteran Horus Heresy players looking to start fresh, collect a new Legion, or engage in tightly balanced narrative warfare.
What’s Inside the Saturnine Starter Box
This set is built for accessibility and thematic impact, offering two balanced armies and all required components. Inside, you’ll find:
- Two Legiones Astartes Forces – Loyalist and Traitor Marines, including Tactical Squads and Heavy Support options.
- Age of Darkness Core Rulebook – The full hardback rulebook for Horus Heresy 2nd Edition.
- Scenario Booklet – Missions tailored to the Siege of Terra and the events of the Saturnine assault.
- Dice, Measuring Tools, Templates – All gaming accessories needed to play.
- Transfer Sheets and Base Accessories – Customization options for your chosen Legion.
The set provides a strong foundation—roughly 1,000 points of miniatures per player—and is fully expandable using the kits in our Horus Heresy collection.
Saturnine in the Lore
The Saturnine Gate stood as one of the Emperor’s final strongholds during the Siege of Terra. Assaulted by traitor legions led by Horus himself, the battle featured infiltration, sabotage, and desperate last stands. Rogal Dorn and his loyal sons held firm against overwhelming odds—an epic saga captured in Dan Abnett’s Saturnine novel and now brought to your tabletop.
This set translates that brutal narrative into a playable miniatures experience, allowing you to forge your own ending to this pivotal conflict in mankind’s history.
Factions Breakdown – Who’s Fighting?
Loyalist Astartes
These forces might represent the Imperial Fists, White Scars, or other defenders of Terra. Their role is to hold ground, deliver suppressive fire, and coordinate decisive counterattacks using bolter drills and heavy weapons.
Traitor Astartes
Forming the assault wave, traitor units mirror the Sons of Horus or Word Bearers. They’re aggressive, fast-moving, and equipped for frontal attacks and close combat dominance—perfect for breaching loyalist defenses.
Tactical Play & Unit Synergy
This isn’t just a narrative set—it’s tactically sharp. Each side includes key tools for reactive and aggressive play:
- Tactical Squads: Use Fury of the Legion to overwhelm enemies with rapid-fire bolter barrages.
- Support Units: Equip plasma, melta, or volkite to punch through elite armor or crack vehicles.
- Warlord Characters: Customize with traits that buff nearby troops, issue reactions, or drive your army’s theme.
- Scenario Missions: Introduce mechanics like breach points, time-limited objectives, and escalation reinforcements.
It’s a teaching tool, an introduction, and a competitive launchpad all in one box.
Why the Saturnine Box Is a Great Buy
- Complete 2-Player Experience: Two armies, full rules, dice, and missions—ready to play.
- Lore-Based Gaming: Recreate one of the most iconic moments of the Siege of Terra.
- Modular Forces: Both sides are flexible and expand easily into any of the 18 Legions.
- High Value: You get over 2,000 points of miniatures, plus the full hardcover rulebook.
Next Steps After Saturnine
- Upgrade with Elite Units: Add Cataphractii Terminators, Contemptor Dreadnoughts, or Jetbikes for heavier support.
- Deploy Heavy Armor: Sicaran tanks, Land Raiders, or Rhino transports increase mobility and firepower.
- Customize with Legion Kits: Add shoulder pads, helmets, and character upgrades for your specific Legion flavor.
- Start a Campaign: Use the included scenarios to create a Siege of Terra campaign with ongoing battles and evolving forces.
Painting Themes & Hobby Tips
Horus Heresy models offer a clean slate for customization. Consider the following schemes:
- Imperial Fists: Use Averland Sunset base, Reikland Fleshshade wash, and Flash Gitz Yellow for highlights.
- Sons of Horus: Base with Incubi Darkness, then highlight with Sybarite Green and sponge weathering.
- Urban Bases: Paint rubble grey, add streaks of Typhus Corrosion, and drybrush with Dawnstone for a siege-worn effect.
Transfers, decals, and hand-painted Legion insignias bring the siege atmosphere to life, especially when paired with ruined terrain or trenches.
---Frequently Asked Questions – Saturnine Starter Box
No, this is a miniatures starter set inspired by the events of the novel. It includes models, rules, and missions—not the book itself.
The box supports 1,000-point games per side—perfect for teaching or escalation play in the Horus Heresy setting.
Yes. These models are customizable and can be painted to represent any Legion—Loyalist or Traitor.
Yes, it includes the full Age of Darkness hardcover rulebook—identical to the standalone version.
Cataphractii Terminators, Contemptor Dreadnoughts, Praetors, and Rhino tanks are excellent follow-ups.
Very much so. It includes a guided setup, balanced forces, and narrative missions ideal for onboarding new players.
Explore our full range of 30K kits, characters, and upgrades in the Horus Heresy collection.