Warhammer 40K: Strongest Space Marine Chapters
Warhammer 40,000 has never lacked fierce and powerful space marine chapters. These transhumanist super warriors serve the Emperor in protecting the Imperium of Man and are well-versed in dealing with the forces of Chaos. They are often the only line of defense for humanity against extraterrestrial threats, as well as its own follies resulting from genetic experimentation.
While each chapter has its specific skills, traits, and ideals, none of them are less than deadly in carrying out their crusades. Here are some of the best space marine chapters in Warhammer 40,000.
6. The Space Wolves
The Space Wolves are a polarizing bunch, often described as Vikings in space. As a First Founding chapter, they were founded and led by Leman Russ, known as “The Wolf King” and a magic-hating Primarch. The chapter’s disdain for the supernatural is evident in its old-fashioned, often barbaric combat methods. While the wolf-themed aesthetics have divided fans, there is no denying the Space Wolves’ sheer force and ferocity in battle.
5. The Black Templars
The Black Templars are a fanatical and dangerous chapter, spun off from the gene-seed of the Imperial Fists. They are on a perpetual crusade in honor of the Emperor, patrolling the stars in a massive space vessel with no official base. The chapter’s devotion to serving the Emperor is martyr-like, as they refuse to follow the Codex Astartes and instead adhere to High Master Sigismund’s teachings. Sigismund, the Imperial Fists’ first captain, is widely regarded as one of the deadliest combatants in the history of the Imperium of Man.
4. The Blood Angels
The Blood Angels are a deadly chapter with a dark past. They are widely regarded as the most loyal and committed warriors in service to the Emperor, displaying great savagery in battle. However, their gene-seed is troublesome, and the group remains haunted by the death of their noble Primarch Sanguinius, who was killed during the Horus Heresy. The chapter is a powerful presence in the Imperium, unmatched in fighting skills and brutality.
3. The Dark Angels
The Dark Angels are a powerful group of loyalists, feared for their ancient technology, Terminator armor, and the deadliest warriors. However, the group is dogged by an unfortunate secret in their past. During the Horus Heresy, several members of the group moved over to the side of Chaos, and the members who defected, The Fallen, are a thorn in the group’s side. Despite the grim history, the Dark Angels’ deadly combat and the fearsome presence of chapter leader Belial make them one of the Imperium’s finest.
2. The Imperial Fists
The Imperial Fists, formed by the Emperor as a First Founding chapter, are masters of defensive warfare. They have no official home base and originally accompanied the Emperor frequently in his travels. The chapter has avoided accepting the Codex Astartes and stood strong against it, nearly causing a civil war among the numerous space marine chapters. Their ferocity, tactical genius, and all-around combat skills make them some of the deadliest marines out there.
1. The Ultramarines
As a First Founding chapter, the Ultramarines are essential to the Imperium of Man, having saved the day during the Horus Heresy. They are renowned for sticking to the key rules formed by Primarch Roboute Guilliman over 10,000 years before the events depicted in the franchise. The Ultramarines are loosely inspired by the Roman Empire in terms of their titles and culture and are completely in charge of Ultramar, an area of space in the Eastern Fringe. They are accepted as the original and still ultimate space marine chapter, with countless successor chapters unable to match their power and dominance.
In conclusion, the space marine chapters in Warhammer 40,000 are a diverse and deadly group, each with its unique traits and skills. Despite their differences, they all share a common goal of protecting humanity and the Imperium of Man from harm.
If there’s one thing Warhammer 40,000 has never been short on, it’s fearsome space marine chapters. Elite-level, transhumanist super warriors in service to the Emperor and charged with protecting the Imperium of Man, the space marines are no strangers to dealing with the forces of Chaos.
The Emperor’s finest weapon in the defense of humanity throughout the spaceways, the inhumanly strong, scarily skilled space marines are simply a cut above everyone else when it comes to warfare. While the near-endless number of chapters offer a diverse array of particular skills, traits, and ideals, none of them are any less than deadly in carrying out their crusades. Not only must the space marines save humanity from extra-terrestrial threats, it often falls to them to essentially save humanity from itself, stepping in to deal with the follies of a mankind that genetic experimentation has separated them from. Of the many menacing chapters, out there, a select few stand out as what are likely the best space marine chapters in Warhammer 40,000.
6 The Space Wolves Serve As Cosmic Vikings In Many Appearances
Basically serving as Vikings in space, the Space Wolves have proven to be a polarizing bunch with Warhammer 40K fans over the years. One of the First Founding chapters, the group was founded and originally led by Leman Russ, a magic-hating Primarch aptly-nicknamed ‘The Wolf King’.
Russ’ disdain for the supernatural flows through the chapter to this day, ensuring they remain a more old-fashioned, often barbaric unit in combat with complicated lore to draw from. Rocked by the controversial Codex Astartes, the Space Wolves were at one point divided into two units but have since come together as one bloodthirsty chapter once more. Almost everything to do with these marines is wolf-themed, a recurring trend that has divided fans for years as to whether it’s interesting or needlessly excessive.
When it comes to power, it’s difficult to debate the sheer force and ferocity the Space Wolves bring to the table. All over the galaxy, the chapter has caused chaos with their devastating combat methods and fierce, kamikaze-like dedication to the Emperor.
5 The Black Templars Are A Fanatical, Dangerous Bunch
Spun off from the gene-seed of the dreaded Imperial Fists, the Black Templars are on a perpetual crusade in honor of the Emperor and the Imperium of Man. Founded shortly after the Horus Heresy, the Templars patrol the stars in a massive space vessel, working as a nomadic chapter with no official base like most.
There are a variety of curiosities surrounding the Black Templars, including their unconventional worship of the Master of Mankind as a deity, their unending first crusade, and their martyr-like dedication to serving the Emperor. The Templars are also fiercely gutsy in their refusal to follow the Codex Astartes. Instead, the chapter stick exclusively to the rules and teachings of High Master Sigismund.
The Imperial Fists’ first captain, Sigismund was a legend before he even got to the Horus Heresy, the Terra-born warrior is widely considered a strong candidate for the deadliest combatant in the history of the Imperium of Man. The fact that the Black Templars follow his ideals and strategies to the letter says it all in regard to their fierce nature and power.
4 The Blood Angels Are A Deadly Chapter With A Dark Past
The 9th Legion of the Imperium is widely regarded as the most loyal and committed group of warriors in service to the Emperor, frequently going above and beyond in battle where they display great savagery. Despite their glowing combative reputation, the group is often looked at in a negative light due to their troublesome gene-seed.
Originally led by the mighty and noble Primarch Sanguinius, the group remains haunted by his death all these years later. Killed in the closing stages of the Horus Heresy catastrophe, Sanguinius’ death continues to invade the dreams of the Blood Angels, becoming more and more severe as the space marine in question gets older. It’s a grim situation that leaves the bloodthirsty chapter perpetually in dark remembrance of their fallen leader.
If a Blood Angel manages to sidestep dying in battle a much darker fate awaits that will see him gradually descend into insanity as the fallen Primarch’s demise torments his every moment. Beyond the bleak backstory and disturbing situation each marine must endure, the Blood Angels are a powerful presence in the Imperium who are arguably unmatched in fighting skills and brutality.
3 The Dark Angels Are More Connected To Chaos Than They’d Like To Admit
Considering their ancient technology, their dreaded Terminator armor, and their Grandmaster being one of the deadliest warriors to have ever been, it’s hardly surprising the Dark Angels are a fearsome bunch. A powerful group of loyalists, the unit has frequently been dogged by an unfortunate secret in their past.
Despite a glowing reputation as brave defenders of the Imperium, there was a time when the Dark Angels almost crossed the line into complete heresy. During the Horus Heresy, several members of the group did the unthinkable by moving over to the side of Chaos. Many years later, the group continues to live in shame of the occurrence, still striving for complete redemption from a grim moment they’ve frequently tried to keep secret.
The members who defected, now most commonly known as The Fallen, are a thorn in the group’s side, with many missions being carried out to locate and neutralize all of them in order to appease the Emperor. Despite the grim history, the Dark Angels’ deadly combat and the fearsome presence of chapter leader Belial makes them one of the Imperium’s finest.
2 The Imperial Fists Are Masters Of Defensive Warfare
Formed by none other than the Emperor as a First Founding chapter, the Imperial Fists have more than lived up to their name, often serving as key praetorians. With no official home base, the nomadic Fists originally accompanied the Emperor frequently in his travels.
In more modern times, the Fists have noticeably avoided accepting the Codex Astartes, a key code of honor widely adopted by many space marine chapters in the wake of The Second Founding. The result was a compelling piece of Warhammer 40K history that nearly civil war break out among the numerous space marine chapters until the Fists finally backed down.
An intense bunch, the Imperial Fists stand strong in the present day of the franchise as the mighty protectors of Terra. The top dogs of battlefield defense and keeping sieges at bay, their ferocity, tactical genius, and all-around combat skills make them some of the deadliest marines out there.
1 The Ultramarines Serve As Both The Original And The Best
Historically, the Ultramarines are an essential presence in the Imperium of Man due to essentially saving the day during the dreaded Horus Heresy. Unsurprisingly, the group’s illustrious history has ensured its status as arguably the most important and well-honored chapter in Space Marine history.
A First Founding chapter, the Ultramarines are renowned for having avoided swaying from the key rules formed by Primarch Roboute Guilliman a whopping 10,000 years before the events depicted in the long-running franchise. Loosely inspired by the Roman Empire in regards to their titles and culture, the Ultramarines are completely in charge of Ultramar, an area of space nestled in the Eastern Fringe.
Accepted by many as the original, and still ultimate, space marine chapter, the Ultramarines have countless successor chapters, almost none of whom have even given them a run for their money when it comes to power and dominance.
