Review: McFarlane Warhammer 40k Dark Angels Sternguard Veteran
- Mephitsu
- 2 hours ago
- 6 min read
"We are the Lion's Angels, and we know no fear!"
McFarlane’s Warhammer 40k line has been running since 2020, initially focusing on basic figures along with unpainted ‘Artists Proof’ variants, with more complex figures released as Gold Label Exclusives. In 2024, the line was rebranded and with that came figures with increased accessories, decor, a new box design, and a higher price tag. The frequency of releases, compared to other McFarlane lines, was quite high in 2024 following the rebrand, then dropped considerably, with fans now pretty much restricted to one full wave per year. For 2026, that wave arrived in April and featured three new Space Marines, including the first from the Blood Ravens. The wave also included a Space Wolves Grey Hunter and a Dark Angels Sternguard. Sitting alongside the wave was the first Warhammer 40k release in McFarlane’s premium Elite series, with the Blood Ravens Captain Cyrus from Dawn of War.
In this review, we will be looking over the Dark Angels Sternguard Veteran, who arrives in the new box format with a white base and a large open window, in which the figure and accessories are spread out and displayed against a gloss black inner tray. To the base of this window, we have the Dark Angels Chapter colouring as a green insert, and the Sternguard name to confirm the troop type. The side art of the box features greyscale gothic art on the right-hand side overlaid with the character name, the opposite side features a blue-hued starmap from WH40k and over this sits the Dark Angels chapter badge.
The back of the box features a single full-size illustrated image of the Dark Angels Sternguard in battle, but interestingly, the illustration shows the Dark Angels in their Terminator armour not the Marine armour on which the figure is based. There is no background information or checklist of other releases; the only text being the logos for McFarlane and Games Workshop and some legal text. A zoomed in version of this image is replicated on the included collector card, and here we do get some background on the Sternguard Marines on the reverse of the card.
The Sternguard Marine is built onto the existing Intercessor Space Marine body, first released in 2020, with the various armoured components cast in the bone white of the Dark Angels 1st Company Deathwing, to whom the Sternguard Veterans belong. Joints between the bulky armour are cast in black.
Each new Marine usually introduces a new armour part or element. For the Sternguard, we have new leg armour with a studded design on the left, with the studs painted silver, and the upper guard is plain and in gold. The right leg is plain, but has a dedication plaque in silver that reads ‘Caliban’. The guard above here is also gold and features three studs.
The upper chest piece features a green painted winged skull, while the left hand pauldron is a smooth piece with twin upper trims, as taken from the original Ultramarines Intercessor. This surround trim is painted gold, and a red decal for the Dark Angels winged broken sword chapter badge. The right pauldron is also new, and features a sculpted Death Wing symbol painted in gold to match the outer trim. The Sternguard also features a belt piece with brown painted sections and a holster with a bolt pistol picked out in silver. The pistol is not removable and is therefore a missed opportunity for an additional weapon and working holster. From this belt flows the first soft goods tabard we’ve seen in the line. A soft and stitched green material that hangs pretty naturally.
The marine armour concludes with the backpack, a standard version but tweaked with a central skull and Deathwing symbol in the middle section, painted in gold. The entirety of the armour then features a wash or weathering of sorts. It is subtle, but adds some grime around the full armour parts and really makes the Sternguard Veteran look like a battle-hardened veteran.
Our Sternguard has the MK6 beaked helmet, another first for the line as a helmeted look. This features red painted eye visors, gold on the Deathwing symbol above, and silver on the side components. This can be swapped out for an unmasked head featuring a bald Sternbuard marine with heavy sculpted scarring on one side. He also features service studs on his upper left forehead, and implanted components painted silver on each side. Like the other unmasked head in this wave (Wolf Guard), the realism is much improved, and the skin tone, scarring, lips and eyes are very well painted if not printed.
The Dark Angels have had a previous release in the WH40k line from McFarlane, the 2022 Assault Intercessor Sergeant. This older version was released in the standard green armour, but still matches well with the Sternguard’s green tones for Chapter uniformity. As the base bodies are the same, the heads can be swapped between the two figures.
The only weapon provided with the Sternguard Veteran is the debut of the Heavy Bolter for the Marines. This is a large piece, almost as long as the legs on our Marine, and is cast in solid plastic with a silver body and red component parts, including a winged Deathwing sculpted symbol on one side just back from the barrel.
The significant issue of getting gun grips into hands persists, and you will very likely need to warm up the Sternguard right hand with hot water or a gentle hairdryer to open the grip enough. Once in place, the weapon has a trigger where the trigger finger sits, and due to its size, the left hand is left as a flat supporting palm for two-handed poses.
Articulation remains standard at 17 points overall, including pins at the elbows and knees. The design of the joints allows a good level of movement despite the bulky armour, but the figure is let down by some balance issues with the lankle rockers not bending far enough forward to counteract the back-heavy figure’s balance.
There is also an ongoing lack of strength or ratchets in the arms, in particular, apart from the elbow. The sheer weight of the blaster is hard to keep upright once posed, and even the two-handed pose has a tendency to sag with no stability in the shoulders or wrists.
More dynamic posing with the legs can be achieved using the included circular stand, which pegs into either foot. While it looks undersized based on the profile of the figure, it adds some level of stability to have your Sternguard marching forward or with weapons outstretched.
For me, personally, the Sternguard ticks a lot of boxes. The Dark Angels and, in particular, the Deathwing were a personal favourite of mine when I played WH40k, and the execution of the Veteran armour is great on the figure, particularly thanks to the weathering. I also love the beaked helmet, adding some variety to a wider Space Marine collection of McFarlane figures, which had started to feel a bit samey. The new parts expand the range nicely, and you cannot knock the improvement on the unmasked heads. Including two options also opens up some level of army building or retrofitting new heads to older bodies.
Sadly, there are cons, and the hand grip concerns continue to frustrate, along with the inherent weakness of the shoulders and wrists. All that with a significant price hike over the last few years to circa £32 now here in the UK.
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About Me : As a child of the 70's and 80's I grew up in a golden age for action figures and in my youth bought and sold myself through collections of Star Wars, G.I. Joe (Action Force) and M.A.S.K. while also dabbling in He-Man, Transformers and Ghostbusters. Roll forward and I am now reliving that Youth with the action figures of today and am a collector and fan of the larger 6-8 inch figures from my favourite movie and TV licences - including the ones mentioned above, but also the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Who and the Aliens. I launched The Mephitsu Archives in 2015 with a view of creating a UK focused site or these figures where fans can pick up the latest action figure news, read reviews and get information on where to buy their figures and what is currently on store shelves. I hope I am delivering that to you guys...
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