Review: Raven Guard Aethon Shaan & Imperial Fists Darnath Lysander

Today we’re unboxing and reviewing not one, but two brand-new Space Marine character kits: Raven Guard Chapter Master Aethon Shaan and Imperial Fists Captain Darnath Lysander. Both miniatures bring their own distinct flavour to the tabletop. Shaan is a striking, maximalist centrepiece bursting with Corvidae iconography, while Lysander is a modernised take on an old fan-favourite. Let’s take a closer look.

The new Space Marines releases will be available for pre-order starting Saturday, 6 September 2025. The pre-order period lasts two weeks, with the official release date set for 20 September 2025.

Raven Guard Aethon Shaan, Master of Shadows unboxing & review

The model itself is monopose, but you can choose between a helmeted head, a bare head with cowl, or a half-masked variant. With 29 parts plus one of the three head options, it’s a fairly intricate kit to assemble.

Aethon Shaan comes in a small box, though the kit is a bit more special than most Space Marine characters as it includes not just one but two small sprues, along with a 50 mm base and an instruction sheet.

Patreon bonus content: Ultra high-res, uncompressed versions of these sprue images (and backsides of the sprues) can be downloaded here.

Once Kayvaan Shrike’s First Captain, Shaan succeeded him as Chapter Master of the Raven Guard after his withdrawal – and he has certainly brought plenty of flair to the office. The model is a real showpiece: Shaan perches like a bird of prey atop a metal carcass, its front covered in what is bark-like texture or molten stone (it’s hard to tell).

The design is utterly maximalist: Shaan is draped in a cloak of feathers, with long sashes flowing from his shoulders, while small raven-shaped servo skulls flit below him, trailing purity seals in their wake. Every piece of Shaan’s armour is customised to the taste of the Corvidae, from his jump pack and belt buckle to his claws and even his shoulder plates. That makes the model truly spectacular, though perhaps a bit over the top for some tastes. With every single piece of his armour customised, Shaan could at first glance be mistaken for an unofficial sculpt by a talented 3D artist.

Imperial Fists Darnath Lysander unboxing & review

Darnath Lysander, Captain of the Imperial Fists’ First Company, comes in a small box containing a single sprue, a 50 mm base, and an assembly guide.

Patreon bonus content: Ultra high-res, uncompressed versions of these sprue images (and backsides of the sprues) can be downloaded here.

Like Shaan, the model is monopose, though you can choose between a bare head (pt. 15) or a Terminator helmet (pt. 17).

The old Lysander was an iconic miniature, but the designers have done a fine job updating him. Many of the characterful details of the classic sculpt can still be found in the new kit. Proportions, size, and level of detail have all been brought in line with the 2023 Terminator release (you can find a scale comparison with the various Terminator iterations here). The only minor gripe might be that the Imperial Fists emblem has shifted from the right to the left leg plate, where it ends up hidden behind the shield. And the new more static pose may come down a bit to personal taste.

Where to get

You can find the latest GW releases at our 🇬🇧/🇪🇺 partner stores Wayland Games, Element Games, and Firestorm Games, at 🇩🇪 Taschengelddieb and PK-Pro, and at 🇺🇸 Noble Knight Games with a welcome discount of up to 20% over RRP. Using our links helps to support Tale of Painters at no additional cost to you, so thank you very much for using them!

I hope you found this review helpful, feel free to leave a reaction or comment below, or post your questions here or discuss on our Discord channel.