In the 'Golden Era' of 2000–2007, the Empire was the quintessential combined-arms force. While later editions turned them into a "Hero-Machine," 6th Edition Empire is defined by its State Troops, the legendary Detachment System, and high-risk black powder engineering. This page consolidates every rule fragment for the Empire of Man released during the 6th Edition lifecycle.
To play them in 2026 you need three things:
- The rules: Core rules + faction-specific rules (physical if you are lucky, a good PDF version if you are not).
- The Miniatures to represent the warriors (as close as possible).
- An army list to organize your forces.
And dice and measuring tape, and a table, and a 1-3h. And an opponent!
Note: The "Rules Engine" and "Digital Repository" are fully operational. The "Miniatures Equivalency" section below is an Active Restoration. We are currently mapping the 2026 'The Old World' and 'Age of Sigmar' catalogs to the classic 6th Edition profiles. If you have verified proxies or high-fidelity conversions, please contribute your findings to the archive below.
The Mechanical Evolution of the Empire Rules in 6th Edition
As the first Army Book of the edition, the Empire's rules evolved significantly through the Warhammer Chronicles updates and the Storm of Chaos campaign.
- The Ravening Hordes Era (2000): Released at the launch of 6th Edition to provide immediate balance. This list was replaced in the same year.
- Warhammer Armies: the Empire (6th Edition) (2000): The primary Army Book. It established the core of the Detachment System (arguably the most tactically deep rule in the history of the game).
- Warhammer Annual (2002): Rules for Volkmar the Grim, Grand Theogonist.
- Warhammer Armies: Kislev (2003): Rules for fielding Kislev as an Allied contingent or as a Stand-alone army. The most empire-relevant unit here are the Gryphon Legion.
- Warhammer Chronicles (2004): containst the rules for the alternative list Cult of Ulric to represent armies from the northern provices of the empire, where Ulric has more influence than Sigmar hilself! It also includes the rules for the Steam Tank!
- Army of Middenland (SoC, 2004): This alternative army list feels like a mix of Cult of Ulric and a normal Empire force. Published for the Storm of Chaos campaign, but widely accepted in tournaments after the campaign.
- Old website of Games-Workshop (UK): contains the rules of experimental special characters, and even versions and revisions of existing characters! (see below the full list)
1. Technical Documentation: Sourcing the Empire Rules
You will need the general rules and the faction-specific rules. While physical copies are the preferred historical standard, digital consolidation is the practical standard for local campaigns and competitive events
Unless you can grab a physical copy of the Core Rulebook (BRB), you will probably use either a PDF or the Digital Rulebook (6th.whfb.app)
Nothing beats the feeling of an old physical book, but being practical... the Rulebook must be consulted constantly, and a digital search is faster (and does not damage your physical relics!).
This website is just awesome, and for the Empire it already includes:
The Basic Rulebook (BRB): All core movement and combat logic.
The Empire Army Book + Errata: The primary updated faction roster.
Official Errata & FAQs: Pre-applied logic for rule clarifications.
Base Size Index: Essential for converting modern models back to the 6th Edition standard.
Alternative army lists: Crusader Army (CJ#43) and Army of Middenland (SoC).
The standard digital tools do NOT contain these rules:
- Special units from scenarios and campaigns.
- Annual and Chronicles experimental units and characters.
- White-Dwarf experimental units and characters.
- GW's website units and characters (like Kurt Helborg or Marius Leitdorf).
- Experimental lists (like the Marienbug Mercenary army or the Sigmarite Army).
- Ravening Hordes' lists.
Alternative army lists: lists of the ArmyBook appendix, Cult of Ulric (SoC).
For the official rules, the website is the most usefull tool you will need, specially DURING the games.
Beware they may have some typos due to the OCR scans of the original documents. Still awesome.
2. The miniatures: how to build an army of the Empire
Almost the entire range of the Empire is available through The Old World (TOW), rebranded as The Empire of Man.
| 6th Ed Unit | Modern Equivalent (TOW/AoS) | Basing Requirement |
| State Troops | Empire State Troops (TOW) | 20mm Square (6th Ed Standard) |
| Knightly Orders | Empire Knights (TOW) | 25x50mm Cavalry |
| Steam Tank | Empire Steam Tank (TOW) | 50x100mm Chariot |
| Greatswords | Empire Greatswords (TOW) | 20mm Square |
| Warrior Priests | Witch Hunter/Warrior Priest (TOW) | 20mm Square |
3. The modern Army Builder: The New Recruit Engine
Karak Norn Wargaming uses, supports and recommends the use of NewRecruit for several reasons:
- It's cloud-based, so you don't need to install it (just configure it),
- it can run in the browser!You can sync army lists bewteen devices (requires a free account)
- Mobile-friendly (but in tablet/PC the experience is better)
- The most important thing: IT IS THE MOST COMPLETE ARMY LIST BUILDER FOR 6TH.
Contents of the Army Builder:
The data files contain all the official and experimental rules ever published in supplements, the old GW website (with alternative versions of the special characters)or magazines (White-Dwarf, Troll, Citadel Journal...), as well as the FAQ, Direwolf interpretations and the Norn Consensus resolutions for edge cases.Alternative army lists:
- The Emperor's Guard (EM-AB, p.78)
- The Artillery Train of Nuln (EM-AB, p.78)
- Sigmarite Army (EM-AB, p.79)
- Marienburger Mercenary Army (EM-AB, p.79)
- Cult of Ulric (EM-AB, p.79)
- Cult of Ulric (CR-04, p.2-13)
- Crusader Army (EM-AB, p.79)
- Crusader Army (CJ#43)
- Army of Middenland (SoC, p.43-51)
- Balthazar Gelt (EM-AB)
- Luthor Huss (EM-AB)
- Reiksmarshall Kurt Helborg, Captain of the Reiksguard (CJ#43, p.15)
- Volkmar the Grim, Grand Theogonist (AN-02, p.60)
- Emperor Karl Franz, Prince of Altdorf (SoC, p.42)
- Emperor Karl Franz, Prince of Altdorf (WD#288-UK, p.61)
- Karl Franz, the Ruling Emperor (webGW-ES)
- Boris Todbringer, Elector Count of Middenland (SoC, p.43)
- Boris Todbringer, Elector Count of Middenland (webGW-UK)
- Boris Todbringer, Elector Count of Middenland (webGW-ES)
- High Priest Ar-Ulric Emil Valgeir (SoC, p.43)
- Valmir von Raukov, Elector Count of Ostland (webGW-UK)
- Ludwig Schwarzhelm - Champion of Karl Franz (webGW-UK)
- Thyrus Gormann, Grand Master of the Bright Order (webGW-UK)
- Marius Leitdorf, Elector Count of Averland (webGW-UK)
- Marius Leitdorf, Elector Count of Averland (WD#314-UK)
- Valten, Champion of Sigmar (CR-04, p.73)
- Valten, Exalted of Sigmar (SoC, p.41)
- Valten, Chosen of Sigmar (WD#288-UK, p.63)
- Arch Lector of Sigmar (WD#304-UK, p.85)
- Steam Tank (CR-04)
- Warrior priest of Ulric (WD#279-UK)
- Knightly Orders rules (CJ#43, p.11-13)
- Knightly Orders rules (WD#310-UK)
- Custom Knightly Orders rules (WD#310-UK)
- Reiksguard on Foot (WD#310-UK, p.120)
Set up the Army Builder
This is how you configure the tool to organize your Empire host without flipping through five different PDFs.
- Copy this exact URL: lexicanum-imperialis/Warhammer-Fantasy-Battles-6th-Definitive-edition
- Open New Recruit.
- Go to your Click here to try it now! settings.
- Click in Add more games. At the bottom, search for Add from GitHub
- Add the version Latests Commit (Head) if you want the hotests updates.
- Add the version Latests Release if you want the last stable version.
- Now select the WHFB 6th Gamesystem and create your lists!
If you are brave enough you can always make your lists by hand or build your own spreadsheet. Just be aware of the last Errata and FAQs of both BRB and Armybooks!
Click to the complete guide to all the rules of the 6th edition.
Bibliography
- "Ravening Hordes", (2000)
- "Warhammer Armies: the Empire (6th Edition)" (by Alessio Cavatore, Oct. 2001)
- "Warhammer Armies: Kislev" (Allied Contingent, 2003)
- "Storm of Chaos" (by Gav Thorpe, 2004)
