Who Bought into the Ultra Models/Upgrades?

[Prot]

Just curious what the older players thought of this release (and the newer players of course). 

 

The new Calgar is getting mixed reviews based purely on playability, but I think it's a fine sculpt. The Victrix are certainly an upgrade, as well as Cato (my last one was Failcast.) 

 

The upgrade box is the sort of thing I really like as it's something that allows me to refresh the older line.

 

So who jumped in on the new stuff?

[nodnol88]

Ordered two boxes of Victrix and Cato.

 

Cancelled Cato because Element got barely any stock for him so I wanted the Victrix to ship upon release.

 

Will pick up Cato, Calgar and the upgrade sprue down the line. 
 

The Victrix Guard sprues have six helmets. Going to put those on the Company Heroes I have to make. 

[Subtleknife]

None ordered yet, but will likely get one model just to paint in the coming weeks. Likely going to get Cato to replace my metal one.

 

Personally, I think all the sculpts look awesome. I am very happy. My only complaint is that Victrix don't have a shield option. As bodyguards I think that would have finished the look. 

 

I do hope that isn't all we get for the next few years. I am hoping it signals GWs ambition to make a few more Ultramarine specific units.

[Prot]

14 hours ago, nodnol88 said:

Ordered two boxes of Victrix and Cato.

 

Cancelled Cato because Element got barely any stock for him so I wanted the Victrix to ship upon release.

 

Will pick up Cato, Calgar and the upgrade sprue down the line. 
 

The Victrix Guard sprues have six helmets. Going to put those on the Company Heroes I have to make. 

 

I did pre order Cato through a retail hobby shop. I wonder now if I'll actually get him. 

 

The weird thing is UM have never been popular where I am. In part it's why I started them years ago and then grew into them. But maybe that's why I got Cato.

 

6 helmets is awesome. I love the models and could see putting those on some Sternguard Srgnts, etc.

 

 

11 hours ago, Subtleknife said:

None ordered yet, but will likely get one model just to paint in the coming weeks. Likely going to get Cato to replace my metal one.

 

Personally, I think all the sculpts look awesome. I am very happy. My only complaint is that Victrix don't have a shield option. As bodyguards I think that would have finished the look. 

 

I do hope that isn't all we get for the next few years. I am hoping it signals GWs ambition to make a few more Ultramarine specific units.

 

I wonder if they will drop Victrix from the Grav Calgar too. If so that would be an end to the shields and I also love that look. Very roman-esque/gladitorial. 

[Subtleknife]

Im not sure they will drop the victrix from the gravis calgar. Worse case though, they make great looking BGVs.

 

I do hope, that if in the futute GW release more UM units, they lean heavily into the greco-roman theme.

Edited October 29 by Subtleknife

[Casual Heresy]

17 hours ago, Subtleknife said:

 Worse case though, they make great looking BGVs.

 

This is exactly what I've done. Ordered two more Victrix off bitzbox as soon as the new Calgar was revealed so between them, the ones I already had, and the two left over from my Decimus Felix kitbash (finally using the long hoarded 2nd Calgar from the Imperium magazine) I now have a third full squad of Bladeguard.

 

For this release I have bought in heavily. I'd been following the rumours for a while so have been saving and making space to splurge. Managed to get two Crux Terminatus boxes (though the majority of those will become Blood Angels), Calgar, Cato, 2x boxes of Victrix and the upgrade sprue.

 

I kind of wish I'd picked up a 2nd upgrade sprue, but I have loads of PA shoulder pads (began stockpiling them from bitz sites and occasional sprue purchase since the leak for Heresy 2.0 dropped). For the moment it's only really Terminator pads I would need.

 

The reveal of these Ultramarine kits really inspired me to get to work expanding my collection. They had a nice break while Blood Angels and Grey Knights were my focus, but it's time for the boys in blue to take the lead again. As well as the new stuff coming, I've built two full Bladeguard squads (the aforementioned Victrix and one led by a kitbashed Metaurus), and next up is a full Eradicator Squad led by an Apothecary Biologis kitbash inspired by the 3rd company Gravis Apothecary from 'The Tithes' episode 1.

Edited October 30 by Casual Heresy
Spelling and Grammar

[darkhorse0607]

I ordered the Victrix and the upgrades. I'll pick up Cato next (eventually), and then new Calgar. I think both new Sicarius and new Calgar are upgrades, even if I do prefer some parts of old Sicarius (maybe it's just my nostalgia because it was the first character that I ever painted)

 

I will be switching out new Calgar's face with old Calgar's face though, I still have that in a box somewhere and as long as it fits, I prefer the old to the new face

 

The upgrades I mainly got for the transfer sheet to be honest. I wanted the Tyrannic War transfers. 

Overall I think the upgrades are okay, I would've preferred more helmets to bare heads and more of the fancy shoulder pads (like the ones in the old kit/there's one in the new one), and I wish there was a little more flavor from it (like pteruges or something for an Intercessor Sergeant), but it's ok. I'm sure there are bits from the Victrix kit that will be leftover as well that can supplement it

[Prot]

21 hours ago, Subtleknife said:

Im not sure they will drop the victrix from the gravis calgar. Worse case though, they make great looking BGVs.

 

I do hope, that if in the futute GW release more UM units, they lean heavily into the greco-roman theme.

 

The reason I mention it is there is a rumour that Gravis Calgar will be "Legends" eventually. I'm not sure how much validity there is to the rumour though.

 

 

1 hour ago, darkhorse0607 said:

 

I will be switching out new Calgar's face with old Calgar's face though, I still have that in a box somewhere and as long as it fits, I prefer the old to the new face

 

The upgrades I mainly got for the transfer sheet to be honest. I wanted the Tyrannic War transfers. 

Overall I think the upgrades are okay, I would've preferred more helmets to bare heads and more of the fancy shoulder pads (like the ones in the old kit/there's one in the new one), and I wish there was a little more flavor from it (like pteruges or something for an Intercessor Sergeant), but it's ok. I'm sure there are bits from the Victrix kit that will be leftover as well that can supplement it

 

I love the old transfers, but these new ones are cool. I still have some of my Forgeworld sheet transfers and they were amazing. Super expensive, but amazing.  

 

You definitely have a point about the heads. I would have really liked more helmeted heads in that 'gladiator-esque' style... especially for Sternguard.

[mel_danes]

I've played Ultramarines since 1st edition, OG beaky plastics and metal boys. 

This new release is great. Wonderful updates all around.

I bought 2 boxes of Victrix and the dice. I have the old guard squad in metal, so seeing the chapter banner in plastic was a must buy.

As for transfers I was lucky and snagged one of the veteran tyrannic vet sheets. See attached.

Glad I saved it.

[Prot]

That is sweet. Thanks for sharing it. I see those old icons and it immediately brings back memories. 

 

I think the new Calgar is far bigger than I thought. I've seen what I believe are some comparisons with typical Primaris and it seemed to me he was substantially larger than the Gravis version.

 

Also hearing a bit that a new Guilliman is coming. I do find that hard to believe, but I did honestly feel like they should redo him once the Lion came out. They've come a long way in a short time with the sculpts.

 

 

 

[The Pounder]

I’m restarting my Ultramarines!

 

I’ve preordered the Victrix and Marneus Calgar.

 

First though I’ll be building some basic Ultramarines to get the Colours right.

 

This time I’m doing 3rd Company as my other army is Tyranids so the 3rd will fit in nicely.

 

Personally I love everything that’s been previewed so far for Ultramarines!
 

Hopefully we’ll see more stuff Friday night.

Can’t wait to get going on them again!!

[Tacitus]

I haven't bought any yet, but I'm expecting (depending on points costs) to go a little too heavy/hard into the Victrix squad.  When the new Calgar came out (and the Victrix Guard Fluff) I made a number of "Victrix" lists playing with a Calgar led force, and "Indomitus" named forces led by Grandpappy himself.  Most of the Victrix were either a theme list, or some sort of Demi/Full Company attempt  Depending on the points cost I may try and do another one where the Honor Guard Squads are the "Troops" and I'll have three of them.

[Arkley]

Got Calgar and 2 Vitrix Guard, Upgrades and Cato are delayed but ordered.

[Wraithwing]

I love the new kits, but haven't ordered any yet, as I am funding an 18 year old until he starts a new job, so disposable income is limited. 

 

I will be adding Marneus, Victrix and Cato to my growing 1st Company army though. 

 

I also missed out on the Terminator box, and want to add a couple of squads of Assault Terminators and an Ancient as well when I get the chance. 

[Tacitus]

Has anyone gotten a new Sicarius?  I can't find the hand with his helmet on the sprue, and I'm wondering how convertible it is - I hate bare heads and love helmets.

[Casual Heresy]

17 hours ago, Tacitus said:

Has anyone gotten a new Sicarius?  I can't find the hand with his helmet on the sprue, and I'm wondering how convertible it is - I hate bare heads and love helmets.

 

It's not an easy conversion. With the helmet being split across three parts and partially incorporated into the cape pieces it wouldn't be easy. I actually hated assembling that part of the model. Was a real pain to get everything aligned properly to the point I almost ruined the model and rage quit at least twice.

[Tacitus]

2 hours ago, Casual Heresy said:

 

It's not an easy conversion. With the helmet being split across three parts and partially incorporated into the cape pieces it wouldn't be easy. I actually hated assembling that part of the model. Was a real pain to get everything aligned properly to the point I almost ruined the model and rage quit at least twice.

that's disappointing, I was hoping it was all just part of his hand and I could replace it with a Plasma Pistol hand.

[Tacitus]

On 10/27/2025 at 7:24 AM, Prot said:

Just curious what the older players thought of this release (and the newer players of course). 

 

The new Calgar is getting mixed reviews based purely on playability, but I think it's a fine sculpt. The Victrix are certainly an upgrade, as well as Cato (my last one was Failcast.) 

 

The upgrade box is the sort of thing I really like as it's something that allows me to refresh the older line.

 

So who jumped in on the new stuff?

We've still only seen the datasheets not the points costs (Unless I'm blind again) so this is going to come with a large grain of salt:

 

Marneus is still Marneus.  I'm slightly annoyed this version can join aggressors and Terminators while the other version cannot join Terminators.  His price point here is going to be VERY interesting - as he'll lose two bodyguards and a bespoke rule.  The new version is a downgrade in most cases.  You could have attached him to Blade Guard Veterans and gotten a similar -1 plus 4++ bodyguard units.  Unless he's joining Terminators you're just better off attaching the original version.  Unless the points cost is a huge huge savings.

 

Edit to Add:  Attaching him to Shootinators may not be a bad idea.  His best attach is probably the Aggressors but Shootinators are now an intruiging opportunity.  Advance and Charge on 10 4++ Shootinators and Marneus isn't something I'd shrug off.

 

Cato also got a little backhanded upgrade in that he can join Marneus in a Victrix squad, but he can no longer join anything else.

 

 

Edited November 12 by Tacitus

[Orange Knight]

I am on the cusp.... I have a 30k Ultramarine army. I have played it twice in 2 years.

I have Imperial Fists in 40k, and I'm resigned to that being a faction that is less supported, less often in the spotlight.

So now I'm looking at the new Ultramarines in 40k. I do not like the Space Wolves, I am neutral towards the Dark Angels. I have a fondness for the Blood Angels but I don't like their focus on jump packs (historically my least favourite type of infantry).

 

My AdMech army is 99% done. When I finish the last few models, I will pull the trigger on the new Ultramarines.

[Tacitus]

8 hours ago, Orange Knight said:

I am on the cusp.... I have a 30k Ultramarine army. I have played it twice in 2 years.

I have Imperial Fists in 40k, and I'm resigned to that being a faction that is less supported, less often in the spotlight.

So now I'm looking at the new Ultramarines in 40k. I do not like the Space Wolves, I am neutral towards the Dark Angels. I have a fondness for the Blood Angels but I don't like their focus on jump packs (historically my least favourite type of infantry).

 

My AdMech army is 99% done. When I finish the last few models, I will pull the trigger on the new Ultramarines.

When I first started Ultras were the "least" of the named Chapters that got any support.  But there were four of us, and everyone picked something different.  I picked last so I got Ultras.  It wasn't horrible.  Marneus + a Power Field was pretty funny. I've got a 2++ invuln except in melee, and you can't swarm me because of the Gauntlets.  Not as funny as the BA and DA causing Terror, but meh. 

 

Right now, I'm not sure if the other chapters will remain Cinderella before her Fairy Godmother, or if they'll get their slippers.  New Lysander, entirely new RG character,  Losing Tycho made sense, but not getting a replacement Captain - they have a number of special characters but they don't actually have a named captain anymore.  Dark Angels are probably in the "best" shape for named characters.  Thye've got CM, Iconic Captain, and Black Sheep Captain (Sammael, Vulkan Hestan, potentially Bjorn, Sicarius, etc), Chief Libby, and Master of Sanctity (more or less).  UM need a new Chaplain now that Cassius is gone.  Every chapter should have Master, Iconic/Thematic Captain, a "Black Sheep" captain that turns the theme on its head, a Chief Librarian, and a Master of Sanctity - and then potentially a dribble of thematic specials like The Sanguinor, Corbulo, potentially Bjorn, potentially Sicarius, Arjac, Murderfang, Namaan, Telion, Chronus, etc.

 

I can't really tell what they're doing with the "nameds"  they got rid of Tyrannic War Vets, then added Victrix Squads.  They gave the RG a new character but only redid Lysander.  Not that he didn't need it, but they didn't add a new one on top either - Chapter Master, Master of Sanctity and Librarian would have all been possible. 

[Arkley]

Soon™