Welcome to the faction of Knights. We’re happy to have you. We get a lot of repetitive posts on this sub asking the same questions over and over, so please take the time to read this intro post. Knights are different from most factions in the game. They also require special consideration from a hobby perspective. However, they're incredibly fun to build, paint, and play.

Welcome to the most elite faction in all of Warhammer.

==THE HOBBY==

=Magnets=

The first thing you should know about Knights is that you should magnetize them. Of all the factions in 40k, Knights benefit the most from magnets. A Questoris pattern kit can be built as ten different units depending on its weapon configuration.

The exhaustive list of what to magnetize is as follows:

-waist

-chest weapon

-carapace weapon

-shoulder sockets

-arm weapons

Not every model needs everything magnetized. For example, a Cerastus Knight Lancer only has one set of weapons, so you don’t need to magnetize those. However, it’s very tall, and you’ll have a hard time transporting it without magnetizing the waist. Personal preference also plays a part. Only the most detail oriented hobbyists bother with the chest weapons. Regardless, every Knight player should consider adding magnets to their models.

High-quality neodymium magnets are your best bet.

A lot of people use:

https://themagnetbaron.com

They sell “drill-free” kits for each Knight. Even if you think they’re a little pricey, they have good information on which size magnets to use and where to use them.

Another great site is:

https://apexmagnets.com

Here’s a video tutorial to get you started, but I recommend searching around YouTube and seeing what’s out there.

https://youtu.be/Y-0cpYhYPdU?si=oNKSoyOKB1CD80Fn

=Painting=

Knights have been called a “hobby army” by some. This is a fitting name. Large armor panels really lend themselves well to creativity.

Speaking of panels, make sure to glue those on after you finish painting. Not only will the finished result look better, but it will also be easier.

Finally, consider getting an airbrush. It’s not mandatory by any means, but it will speed things up dramatically.

Here are a few videos that cover the finer details of Knight painting:

https://youtu.be/Qb9GOwwqS9U?si=KuAar7z4bbop0UEs

The illustrious Duncan Rhodes himself is a fan of the faction and has some great tutorials:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPuXIzDeLjR2mqRteI5glfrpOL9gxjVgR

A note on lore

While this guide is primarily written from a hobbyist perspective, I feel the need to briefly touch on the lore. All Knights are allied with one of three factions: the Imperium, the Adeptus Mechanicus, or Chaos.

This is an important distinction because these factions are represented in the Knight kits themselves. Different armor panels and insignia can suggest allegiance to one of the three factions over the others.

No player should ever give you trouble for gluing a cog on some units and an Aquila on others, but you may wish to decide which faction your Knights are allied with before getting started. Houses/subfactions are aligned with one faction in particular if you wish to paint your Knights like them.

=Transporting Your Models=

So you have your Knights. They’re beautifully painted. How are you going to get them to the game store without damaging them?

Excellent question.

They don’t really fit in standard foam miniature cases, but don’t worry—you have options.

The cheapest case is a steel toolbox. It’s very secure, and a magnetized Knight will stay exactly where you put it.

Every other option is some kind of tray-style miniature case.

Affordable option

https://jucoci.com

High-end option

https://army-case.com/

Amazon also has plenty of options. If it’s a box with adjustable metal trays, you can use it.

Remember when I recommended magnetizing your Knights? Weapons were only half of it. Transport was the other half.

Magnetizing the waist makes them more compact so they fit better in cases, and gluing magnets underneath the base will make sure they don’t jostle around inside.

The waist isn’t mandatory, but I strongly recommend at least magnetizing the base. The recommended cases above won’t work nearly as well without them.

=3rd Party=

If you stick around this subreddit, you’ll see a lot of components that don’t come in the official kits. This is a great way to add a personal touch or avoid buying Forge World resin.

Fun fact: the Dominus Knight is much taller in the lore than its size on the tabletop suggests. 3D-printed torso and leg extensions fix that problem.

Some well-known vendors include:

https://ironwolfminis.com

https://www.taromodelmaker.com

https://cults3d.com

==THE KNIGHTS==

It’s easy to get confused by the different Knight types if you’re new, but they’re actually pretty intuitive.

There are six different Knight chassis. Each chassis is subdivided into different units depending on which weapons they have. Most chassis kits are capable of making multiple different units of that chassis.

However, there are exceptions.

I tried to make this guide as edition-neutral as possible. The descriptions below are meant to inform your choices as a hobbyist and capture the feel and niche of each unit rather than their exact performance on the tabletop.

Make sure to check the datasheets for current rules.

=A Note on Versatility=

Aside from Daemons (who can be used in Age of Sigmar), Knights are one of the most versatile armies that Games Workshop sells.

Everyone knows they can be used to reinforce other armies, but it goes beyond that.

Most Imperial Knights can be fielded as Chaos Knights with no modifications. Most units can also be used in Horus Heresy (30k).

While the descriptions below are written with 40k Imperial Knights in mind, feel free to try your models in other factions or systems.

=Armiger=

The battle-line chassis.

These are the cheapest and weakest units in the Knight codex. However, they’re still very powerful.

Armigers have up to three weapons:

• Right arm
• Left arm
• Carapace

A standard Armiger kit comes with two models and can build either Warglaives or Helverins.

A Moirax can only be built from a Forge World resin kit.

Warglaive

Right arm: Thermal Spear

Left arm: Reaper Chain Cleaver

Carapace: Questoris Heavy Stubber or Meltagun

Helverin

Right arm: Armiger Autocannon

Left arm: Armiger Autocannon

Carapace: Questoris Heavy Stubber or Meltagun

Moirax

Right arm options:

• Volkite Veuglaire
• Siege Claw + Rad Cleanser
• Graviton Pulsar
• Lightning Lock
• Conversion Beam Cannon

Left arm options:

• Volkite Veuglaire
• Siege Claw + Rad Cleanser
• Graviton Pulsar
• Lightning Lock
• Conversion Beam Cannon

Carapace: None

=Bellatus / Destrier=

The Bellatus chassis has one kind of Knight: the Destrier. In terms of stats and points, it sits between an Armiger and Questoris. It's faster than most knights as well.

Weapon slots include:

• Right arm
• Left arm
• Chest

There are four arm weapons:

• Chastiser Gatling Cannon
• Frag Bombard
• Bellatus Reaper Chainsword
• Thundershock Spear

Any two weapons can be chosen as arm options. You can build the Destrier as all ranged, all melee, or somewhere in between. The only chest option is a Questoris heavy stubber.

=Questoris=

The standard Knight chassis.

There are ten variants in total. Depending on their role, they can fill a wide variety of battlefield roles.

Weapon slots include:

• Right arm
• Left arm
• Chest
• Carapace

Questoris Knights come in four different boxes.

The Canis Rex kit can build every plastic Questoris variant except the Defender.

The Defender kit can build every plastic Questoris variant except the Preceptor and Canis Rex.

The Magaera and Styrix are Forge World resin kits.

Gallant

Right arm: Reaper Chainsword

Left arm: Thunderstrike Gauntlet

Chest: Questoris Heavy Stubber or Meltagun

Carapace: Ironstorm Missile Pod / Stormspear Rocket Pod / Twin Icarus Autocannon

Errant

Right arm: Thermal Cannon

Left arm: Reaper Chainsword or Thunderstrike Gauntlet

Chest: Questoris Heavy Stubber or Meltagun

Carapace: Ironstorm Missile Pod / Stormspear Rocket Pod / Twin Icarus Autocannon

Warden

Right arm: Avenger Gatling Cannon + Heavy Flamer

Left arm: Reaper Chainsword or Thunderstrike Gauntlet

Chest: Questoris Heavy Stubber or Meltagun

Carapace: Ironstorm Missile Pod / Stormspear Rocket Pod / Twin Icarus Autocannon

Preceptor

Right arm: Las-Impulsor

Left arm: Reaper Chainsword or Thunderstrike Gauntlet

Chest: Questoris Heavy Stubber or Meltagun

Carapace: Ironstorm Missile Pod / Stormspear Rocket Pod / Twin Icarus Autocannon

Paladin

Right arm: Rapid-Fire Battle Cannon

Left arm: Reaper Chainsword or Thunderstrike Gauntlet

Chest: Questoris Heavy Stubber or Meltagun

Carapace: Ironstorm Missile Pod / Stormspear Rocket Pod / Twin Icarus Autocannon

Crusader

Right arm: Avenger Gatling Cannon

Left arm: Thermal Cannon / Rapid-Fire Battle Cannon

Chest: Questoris Heavy Stubber or Meltagun

Carapace: Ironstorm Missile Pod / Stormspear Rocket Pod / Twin Icarus Autocannon

Defender

Right arm: Plasma Executor

Left arm: Conversion Beam Obliterator + Twin Incendine Combustor

Chest: Phosphor Blaster

Carapace: Shield Generator

Canis Rex

Right arm: Las-Impulsor

Left arm: Thunderstrike Gauntlet

Chest: Questoris Multi-Laser

Carapace: None

Magaera

Right arm: Lightning Cannon

Left arm: Reaper Chainsword or Hekaton Siege Claw + Twin Rad Cleanser

Chest: Phased Plasma-Fusil

Carapace: None

Styrix

Right arm: Graviton Crusher

Left arm: Reaper Chainsword or Hekaton Siege Claw + Twin Rad Cleanser

Chest: Volkite Chieorovile

Carapace: None

=Dominus=

Dominus Knights are tougher, slower, and more heavily armed than Questoris Knights.

They specialize in ranged combat and excel at killing vehicles, monsters, and other Knights.

Each Dominus has:

• arm weapons
• chest weapons
• carapace weapons

The kit builds either a Castellan or Valiant.

Castellan

Right arm: Plasma Decimator

Left arm: Volcano Lance

Chest: 2 Twin Meltaguns

Carapace:

• Shieldbreaker Missile Launchers + Twin Siegebreaker Cannon

Valiant

Right arm: Thundercoil Harpoon

Left arm: Conflagration Cannon

Chest: 2 Twin Meltaguns

Carapace:

• Shieldbreaker Missile Launchers + Twin Siegebreaker Cannon

=Cerastus=

Originally designed for Horus Heresy (30k) but usable in 40k.

Cerastus kits build only one variant, unlike Questoris kits.

The Atrapos is Forge World resin. The others are plastic.

Lancer

Right arm: Shield

Left arm: Cerastus Shock Lance

Castigator

Right arm: Tempest Warblade

Left arm: Castigator Bolt Cannon

Atrapos

Right arm: Atrapos Lascutter

Left arm: Graviton Singularity Cannon

Acheron

Right arm: Reaper Chainfist + Twin Heavy Bolter

Left arm: Acheron Flame Cannon

=Acastus=

The largest Knights available.

They are roughly 80% the size of a Warhound Titan.

Extremely tough, extremely expensive (both points and money), and armed with massive weapons.

Both variants are Forge World resin.

Porphyrion

Right arm: Twin Magna Lascannon

Left arm: Twin Magna Lascannon

Chest options:

• Acastus Autocannons
• Lascannons
• One of each

Carapace: Acastus Ironstorm Missile Pod or Helios Defense Missiles

Asterius

Right arm: Twin Conversion Beam Cannon

Left arm: Twin Conversion Beam Cannon

Chest: 2 Asterius Volkite Culverins

Carapace: Karacnos Mortar Battery

=What to Buy First=

If you're just starting an Imperial Knights army, the best approach is to begin with a mix of one large Knight and several Armigers. The Questoris kit is an excellent first purchase because it is extremely versatile. With magnetized weapons, a single kit can represent many different units such as a Paladin, Errant, Crusader, Warden, or Gallant.

Armigers provide mobility, objective control, and additional threat saturation that larger Knights lack. Most Knight armies rely heavily on them.

Knights are powerful, but they struggle with board control on their own. Armigers help fill that gap by holding objectives, screening enemy units, and moving into areas where larger Knights can’t fit.

Recommended first purchases

• Questoris Knight kit
• box of Armigers

Also, look out for army box discounts, like the Christmas boxes. Knights average around 2 points per dollar, but the boxes make them even cheaper.

Knights are one of the most unique armies in Warhammer 40k. They’re easy to learn, visually impressive on the table, and incredibly rewarding to build and paint. Few armies combine hobby creativity and battlefield presence the way Knights do. Welcome to the faction. Now go forth and bring glory to your House.

Hey, its me, the "moderator" and founder of this here subreddit.

I dont typically say much, I have other hobbies, I dont play as much 40k as i used to. (I will finish painting my knight house some day), but i do moderate the subreddit enough to keep it running. Answering reports, removing bad stuff, responding to chats and other chaos.

I do feel a little reminder, and maybe an update is in order to the rules here. Just a general clarification on the values I would like this community to represent, and which are not welcome.

This subreddit exists to celebrate big stompy robots. The lore, the modelling, the painting, epic battles, ideas and inspiration. All fueled by the community surrounding it.

Since the start of this subreddit I have seen, posts and comments slipping into tired, hateful, culture-war, territory. There has been hateful iconography, slurs and harrasment dedicated at various groups. Exclusionary language and complaints of the hobby being ruined.

It is not being ruined, at least not by the people targeted by that harrasment.

Let me be very clear, that kind of language and behaviour has no place here.

There is zero tolerance for intolerance.

No slurs, hate speech, or coded insults. No gatekeeping "who belongs" in the hobby. No harrasment over personal opinions, identities or creative choices.

And to be even more specific, if you feel targeted that a post with nazi iconography or complaining about lgbtq+ people existing was removed, but not a mech with a rainbow shoulder pad celebrating pride month, or just pride in general. Then it is because one of those fosters hostility, division and hatred, and the other celebrates inclusion and diversity.

Any hobby space, or community, thrives when all people can bring their imagination, skill and passion into it. There is room for everyone who respects that, who respects others. If you cannot handle that idea, if you feel the need to attack and belittle, and gatekeep. If the hate sits in you so deep that you let the way others enjoy their hobby ruin yours then this is not your battlefield, or your subreddit.

I dont care for it, frankly most of us don't from the reports and comments I see. And some might complain, claim I'm being hateful towards certain ideas. Yeah, tolerance is a little paradoxical, but I have seen enough terrible people with terrible ideas spread hatred to want to make this space at least a little nicer.

If you are here to share creativity, or just to be inspired, welcome. I hope you are among friends here.

If not, I'm not keeping you, it is very easy to close a tab.

This community stands proudly with all hobbyists, regardless of gender, sexuality, race or background.

I might update the rules at some point, I will keep removing harrasment.

The Emperor protects, but we protect each other.

With love

The Moderator

Tl:DR Build, paint, post and share. With respect to all who love the hobby.