Proxy Studios and Slitherine shipped the first turn-based 4X game set in Warhammer 40,000 on 12 July 2018, and it strips the genre down to the part 40k actually supports. There is no diplomacy on Gladius Prime: you win by completing your faction's quest line or by killing everyone else. Four factions launched with the game, Space Marines, Astra Militarum, Orks and Necrons, and seven more arrived as DLC over the following five years: Tyranids in 2019, Chaos Space Marines in 2019, T'au in 2020, Craftworld Aeldari in 2020, Adeptus Mechanicus in 2021, Adepta Sororitas in 2022 and Drukhari in 2023. Each one runs a different economy, so switching faction changes far more than the unit art.
Your choice of equipment defines your damage output and playstyle. This guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Equipment Rankings
| Equipment | Tier | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tactical Space Marines | S | Holding objectives, early expansion escorts, clearing wildlife spawns | The Space Marine line infantry and the unit the rest of the roster is built around. |
| Leman Russ Battle Tank | A | Breaking entrenched infantry, trading with enemy vehicles, escorting Guardsmen advances | The Astra Militarum workhorse armour and the point where a Guard army stops being fragile. |
| Necron Warriors | A | Steady frontline advances, holding tomb site cities, early wildlife clearance | The Necron basic infantry, slow and unglamorous but backed by an economy that sustains them on Ore rather than Food. |
| Ork Boyz | B | Constant early aggression, feeding the Influence and Ore economy, wildlife farming | Cheap, numerous and the engine of the Ork economy, because every attack generates Influence and every kill pays Ore. |
| Baneblade | B | Breaking a stalemate, punching into a defended city, late game pushes | The Astra Militarum super-heavy and the payoff at the end of a long Ore investment. |
S-Tier: Tactical Space Marines
The Space Marine line infantry and the unit the rest of the roster is built around. Expensive per model compared to Guardsmen or Boyz, but durable enough to hold ground alone, especially garrisoned in Imperial Ruins where ranged damage drops by 33 percent.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Holding objectives, early expansion escorts, clearing wildlife spawns |
| Key Mechanic | Five resources with faction-specific economies |
| Recommended Build | Space Marines |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Tactical Space Marines: Pairs naturally with Space Marines thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Leman Russ Battle Tank
The Astra Militarum workhorse armour and the point where a Guard army stops being fragile. It gives the Guard the anti-armour and anti-heavy punch that Guardsmen and Heavy Weapons Squads cannot supply on their own.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Breaking entrenched infantry, trading with enemy vehicles, escorting Guardsmen advances |
| Key Mechanic | Cities that claim tiles with influence |
| Recommended Build | Astra Militarum |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Leman Russ Battle Tank: Pairs naturally with Astra Militarum thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Necron Warriors
The Necron basic infantry, slow and unglamorous but backed by an economy that sustains them on Ore rather than Food. They grind forward reliably, which suits a faction whose city placement is locked to tomb sites and whose tempo is deliberate.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Steady frontline advances, holding tomb site cities, early wildlife clearance |
| Key Mechanic | Faction quest lines as a victory route |
| Recommended Build | Orks |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Necron Warriors: Pairs naturally with Orks thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Ork Boyz
Cheap, numerous and the engine of the Ork economy, because every attack generates Influence and every kill pays Ore. Boyz are meant to be spent rather than preserved, and losing a squad in a profitable fight is a good trade.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Constant early aggression, feeding the Influence and Ore economy, wildlife farming |
| Key Mechanic | Wildlife and artefact guardians |
| Recommended Build | Necrons |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Ork Boyz: Pairs naturally with Necrons thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Baneblade
The Astra Militarum super-heavy and the payoff at the end of a long Ore investment. It ends stalled fronts on its own, but its cost and upkeep mean a Guard player who rushes it will have nothing screening it when it arrives.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Breaking a stalemate, punching into a defended city, late game pushes |
| Key Mechanic | Terrain that decides the fight |
| Recommended Build | Tyranids |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Baneblade: Pairs naturally with Tyranids thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
Equipment Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Wire weed
- Leman Russ Battle Tank → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Necron Warriors → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Tactical Space Marines → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Equipment Tips
- Always upgrade your primary equipment before diversifying. One strong option beats three mediocre ones.
- Match your equipment to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- Pick your faction by its economy. Space Marines run on Requisition and Energy, Necrons feed population with Ore, Astra Militarum and Orks need Food, and Orks additionally need to be attacking something every turn to stay solvent.
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War Guides
- Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War Overview
- Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War Best Builds
- Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War Tier List
- Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War Walkthrough
- Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War Beginner's Guide
- Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War Tips & Tricks
- Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War Combat Guide
- Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War Boss Guide
- Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War Maps & Locations
- Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War Crafting Guide
- Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War Classes & Characters
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