In a Warhammer 40,000 Crusade campaign, units are not static blocks of rules. They are veteran combatants whose skills, experience, and battle-won accolades grow over time. Understanding how Crusade rank progression and Experience Points (XP) work is essential to managing your Order of Battle and ensuring your roster grows in power.
How units earn Experience Points (XP)
During your campaign battles, units can accumulate experience through three core methods. After each match, during the post-battle sequence, you record the XP gained on each unit's Crusade Card:
- Battle Experience (+1 XP): Every unit from your Crusade force that participated in the battle gains 1 XP, representing the baseline experience of surviving the engagement.
- Dealers of Death (+1 XP): Keep a tally of the total enemy units destroyed by each of your units over the course of the campaign. For every 3rd enemy unit destroyed, the unit receives +1 XP. This tally is cumulative and carries forward from game to game.
- Marked for Greatness (+3 XP): At the end of the battle, you may select exactly oneunit from your army to be Marked for Greatness. That unit receives a bonus of 3 XP for standout performance, vital contributions, or thematic roleplay.
- Agendas: You may also choose up to 3 Agendas before a battle. Agendas are secondary objectives that reward bonus XP when completed (e.g., holding a specific marker or destroying enemy units with a particular weapon).
Units that never earn XP
Certain units on your Order of Battle are too powerful, expendable, or simple to gain experience.Epic Heroes (such as named characters like Roboute Guilliman or Abaddon the Despoiler),Fortifications, Swarms, and Summoned/Replacement unitsnever gain XP and auto-pass all Out of Action tests.
Crusade ranks and experience thresholds
As a unit banks XP, they advance through five distinct ranks. Passing a threshold lets the unit gain a rank and acquire a Battle Honour.
| Crusade Rank | XP Required | Progression & Rules |
|---|---|---|
| Battle-ready | 0–5 XP | Default starting rank. No honours. |
| Blooded | 6–15 XP | Earn 1st Battle Honour (points cost increases). |
| Battle-hardened | 16–30 XP | Earn 2nd Battle Honour. Non-character cap unless upgraded. |
| Heroic | 31–50 XP | CHARACTER units only. Earn 3rd Battle Honour. |
| Legendary | 51+ XP | CHARACTER units only. Earn 4th+ Battle Honour. |
The character level cap and Legendary Veterans
In Warhammer 40K Crusade, there is a fundamental restriction on unit ranks to reflect their place in the narrative. Standard squads (non-CHARACTER units, such as Intercessors or Termagants) are capped at30 XP (the top of the Battle-hardened rank). They cannot exceed this cap, earn Heroic or Legendary ranks, or gain more than 3 Battle Honours.
If you wish to unlock a squad's full potential, you must spend 3 Requisition Points (RP)on the Legendary Veterans requisition when the squad reaches 30 XP. This removes the 30 XP cap, allowing the squad to progress to Heroic and Legendary ranks, and increases their maximum Battle Honours cap to 6.
Gaining Battle Honours
Every time a unit gains a Crusade rank, they receive one Battle Honour. These represent specialized equipment, combat doctrines, or tactical traits.
Taking a Battle Honour increases the unit's potency, but it also raises their Crusade Points by 1 (or 2 if the unit is TITANIC). If your army's total Crusade Points are significantly higher than your opponent's, they will receive Crusade Blessings in your matches, so choose your upgrades wisely!
This guide explains unit progression and XP mechanics in Warhammer 40,000 Crusade mode. For the official rules, consult the Games Workshop Crusade rules. Echelon is an independent campaign tracker and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Games Workshop.