History Characters / Warhammer40000AstartesChaptersFirstFounding

* EeriePaleSkinnedBrunette: The Raven Guard have a defect in their Melanochromic organ that turns their skin pure white while their hair and eyes turn jet black. This physical appearance. coupled with the Chapter's predisposition for shadows and stealth, lends the Raven Guard as a whole a ghostly look.

* AmplifierArtifact: The Tome of Vel'cona, a relic of the Chapter's Librarius that was written by the Salamanders' Chief Librarian, contains his teachings on the nature of psychic abilities and how best to harness the fire that lies within the psyche of the Chapter's battle-psykers. Any Librarian who reads the book before a battle is able use this knowledge to enhance their own abilities that are represented by extra powers and bonuses to their casting ability in all editions of the tabletop game.

* MachineWorship: The Iron Hands' reverence for the mechanical has led many amongst the Chapter to share some of the beliefs and practices of the Cult Mechanicus. Whether this idealisation borders on full veneration of the Omnissiah alongside the [[GodEmperor Emperor]] and their [[SuperPrototype Primarch]] tends to very with edition and source material with the 3rd Edition rules making Iron Fathers combined [[TheEngineer Techmarine]]-Chaplains while other background indicates a looser relationship with the religious practices of the Adeptus Mechanicus.

* EpiphanyTherapy: In the aftermath of the Gaudinian Heresy, where the Chapter's preference following cold logic and emotional repression led to rampant daemonic possession, the Iron Hands were forced to re-evaluate their some of their core philosophies. While a the majority of the Chapter still hold to their belief that logic is superior to emotion, an increasing number, particularly amongst the battle-brothers of Clan Company Raukaan, are coming to the realisation that emotions tempered and controlled by logic can forge a strength greater than either in isolation.

* ArchEnemy: The Iron Hands have a particular hatred for the Traitor Legions that betrayed their Primarch during the Drop Site Massacre on Isstvan V and will fight all the harder against those they see as responsible for their gene-father's death. The 8th Edition ''Codex Supplement: Iron Hands'' rules represent this with the Vengeance for Isstvan V Iron Hands Stratagem (granting them a re-roll against World Bearers, Iron Warriors, Night Lords and Alpha Legion units they are fighting in melee) and The Gorgon's Rage Iron Hands Stratagem (granting them bonuses when fighting Emperor's Children in melee, along with other benefits).

While the Chapter has been part of the ''Warhammer 40,000'' game since its 1st Edition, the Iron Hands are generally treated as a stubborn, mechanically focused Codex compliant Chapter. The Iron Hands first received Chapter specific supplemental rules during 3rd Edition in their ''Index Astartes'' article published in ''Magazine/WhiteDwarf'' and later republished in the ''Index Astartes III'' background book. During 6th Edition, ''Codex Supplement: Clan Raukaan'' introduced some new background information and rules for the Chapter that were later updated and reprinted in 7th Edition's ''Codex Supplement: Angels of Death''. In 8th Edition, the Chapter used the basic Astartes rules from the August 2019 release of ''Codex: Space Marines'' with additional Chapter specific rules[[note]]including rules for their first named character[[/note]] released in September 2019's ''Codex Supplement: Iron Hands''.For 9th Edition, the Chapter uses a combination of the rules published in October 2020's ''Codex: Space Marines'' along with the previous edition's Codex Supplement[[note]]with free downloadable errata[[/note]].

As with the other First Founding Chapters, the Raven Guard have been part of the game since its 1st Edition but have rarely had much focus. The Chapter received detailed background information and their first supplemental rules in their 3rd Edition ''Index Astartes'', article published in ''Magazine/WhiteDwarf'', but when the article was republished in the ''Index Astartes IV'' collection the rules section was removed due to the introduction of the Chapter Traits system in the 4th Edition ''Codex: Space Marines''. During 7th Edition the Raven Guard features in the ''War Zone Damocles'' campaign books with the rules from these publications being reprinted in a digital codex supplement focusing solely on the Chapter, and later in ''Codex Supplement: Angels of Death''. In 8th Edition, the Chapter used the basic Astartes rules from the August 2019 release of ''Codex: Space Marines'' with additional Chapter specific rules released in September 2019's ''Codex Supplement: Raven Guard''.For 9th Edition, the Chapter uses a combination of the rules published in October 2020's ''Codex: Space Marines'' along with the previous edition's Codex Supplement[[note]]with free downloadable errata[[/note]].

** The Ultramarines hold a great hated towards the [[HordeOfAlienLocusts Tyranids]] and have been heavily involved in the defence of the Imperium from this extra-galactic xenos. This is hatred dates back to the very first Hive Fleet to assault the galaxy, Hive Fleet Behemoth, nearly destroying Macragge and wiping out their entire First Company. This hatred has even led to a rare departure from the ''Codex Astartes''[[note]]until Guilliman officially sanctioned their existence after his resurrection[[/note]] with the formation of special Tyrannic War Veteran Squads, specifically trained and equipped to destroy the Tyranid menace. When included as a specific unit[[note]]rather than having regular Sternguard Veterans "count-as" Tyrannic War Veterans[[/note]], Tyrannic War Veterans have special in-game rules that enhance their abilities while fighting Tyranids, such as the 8th edition Bane of Tyranids rule that grants them re-rolls when fighting against the xenos.

-->Pain is...a lesson that the universe teaches us. Pain is the preserver from injury. Pain perpetuates our lives. It is the healing, purifying scalpel of our souls. Pain is the wine of communion with heroes. It is the quicksilver panacea for weakness -- the quintessence of a dedicated existence. Pain is the philosophic vitriol which transmutes mere moral into immortal. It is the Sublime, the golden astral fire!

* SymbolicWings: The jump packs worn by the Sanguinary Guard are decorated with large angelic wings in imitation of the mighty pinions of their Primarch, the [[WingedHumanoid Great Angel Sanguinius]]. The angelic image that these wings give the Sanguinary Guard greatly boosts the moral of their allies and strikes fear in the heart of their enemies.

* WeatherManipulation: The Rune Priests of the Space Wolves chapter practice a unique psychic discipline called the Tempestas discipline. This discipline allows the Rune Priests to call out lightning storms that strike at their foes or invoque blizzards that obscure the enemy's sight.

* ACommanderIsYou: Elitist/Brute. The Space Wolves hhave access to powerful HQ choices, unique wargear that no other Astartes chapter can use, and fast and powerful Thunderwolf Cavalry, deadly in close assault.

* BodyCountCompetition: Space Wolves will often compete with the other members of their pack see who can score the most kills in a particular battle.

* AntiMagic: The talismans and charms worn by the warriors of the Space Wolves are said to ward against the Evil Eye and protect their bearers from malign sorcery. The 8th Edition rules represent this with the "Talismanic Shield" Space Wolves Stratagem that give a Space Wolf Character a chance to stop enemy PsychicPowers. The Hounds of Morkai, specialized anti-psyker troops, use runic totems to protect themselves fro psychic powers -- in-game, enemy psykers can only target a unit of Hounds if no other possible targets are closer -- and vocal amplifiers known as Morkai's Howl, which scramble Warp currents and impair the use of Warp-craft in targeted enemies.

The Space Wolves have been a part of ''Warhammer 40,000'' since the 1st Edition of the game and in 1994 they were the first ever faction to receive a codex sourcebook. In 2016, the Chapter were the focus of the ''War Zone Fenris''[[note]]consisting of the ''Curse of the Wulfen'' and ''Wrath of Magnus'' books[[/note]] campaign as part of the material that advanced the setting's background considerably in the lead up to the release of the game's 8th Edition. The 8th Edition rules for the Space Wolves can be found in ''Codex Adeptus Astartes: Space Wolves'' released in August 2018, with additional rules published in March 2020's ''Psychic Awakening: Saga of the Beast''.For 9th Edition, the Chapter uses a combination of the rules published in October 2020's ''Codex: Space Marines'' combined with the ''Codex Supplement: Space Wolves'' book, released November 2020.\\

* TheChooserOfTheOne: The Librarians of the White Scars, known as Stormseers, are responsible for overseeing the recruitment of each new generation of aspirants from the hardy Chogorian tribes. Every ten years these warrior-mystics observe the battles of the nomadic tribesmen, choosing those who show exceptional skill and bravery and taking them to the fortress monetary of Quan Zhou where that are given the chance to join the Chapter. In addition to this, the Stormseers also choose who shall serve as Chapter Master after the death of the previous Great Khan, putting those who wish to take on the role through a series of mysterious challenges that few survive.

* UndyingLoyalty: Implied to be the case towards the Lion. They watched over him for 10,000 years while keeping him alive and in shape, all the while assisting the Dark Angels as much as they could. When the time came to awakne the Lion, they acted as his guides, then as his support.