
- BGG rating
- 8.4
Warhammer 40,000: Shadowspear
- 2 players
- 2019

2017
Rules assistance for Warhammer 40,000: Dark Imperium
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Warhammer 40,000: Dark Imperium is a board game released in 2017 for 2 players, 60–180 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Dice Rolling, and Action Points.
After 10,000 years of war, turmoil and destruction, the Imperium of mankind is on the brink of collapse and is besieged on all fronts by Xenos filth and blasphemous traitors. The Domain of the Emperor has been split asunder by Cicatrix Maledictux, the galaxy-spanning warp storm; stripping planetary systems of all life, through plague, mutation and Daemonic hellfire raining down from the skies. Swarming Tyranids have devoured worlds leaving lifeless husks. Brutal Ork hordes have smashed sector after sector. Ruinous Traitor Legions have surged from their lairs, eradicating all that stands in their path on their route to eternal glory... or damnation. The only shining light of hope that the citizens of the Imperium have are the newly founded Primaris Marines, genetically enhanced super soldiers. Clad in the improved Mk. X armour, wielding a weapon designed for warfare and perfected over countless millennia. Led by the Emperor's finest son and Primarch, Roboute Guilliman, the Chapters of the Space Marines have declared the Indomitus Crusade, to strike back against the enemies Mankind. Bringing the fiery vengeance of Imperial law back to those systems that have fallen into darkness. As the light of the Golden Throne flickers on the brink of eternal damnation, in the grim darkness of the far future, there is only War! Warhammer 40000: Dark Imperium is the 2 player box set for 8th Warhammer 40,000. Including a huge amount of miniatures and accessories, it allows you to; *Collect: Two brand new armies both Death Guard & Primaris Space Marines *Build: 53 Stunning, single-pose multi-part plastic Citadel miniatures. *Paint: No Chapter icons on the miniatures so you get to choose whichever Space Marine Chapter you want to collect. *Play: Everything you need to play Warhammer 40,000 is included in the box.
Warhammer 40,000: Dark Imperium supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for Warhammer 40,000: Dark Imperium is 60–180 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Warhammer 40,000: Dark Imperium for ages 14 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Warhammer 40,000: Dark Imperium has a complexity rating of 3.4 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Warhammer 40,000: Dark Imperium belongs to these categories: Wargame, Miniatures, and Science Fiction. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Dice Rolling, and Action Points. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The catalogue lists Warhammer 40,000: Dark Imperium as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.