History Sandbox / Warhammer40000Astartes

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[[caption-width-right:350:Top: Rhino. Bottom: Land Raider

!!!'''Bikers'''
[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ultrabiker.png]]

The Astartes deploy squads of bike mounted Marines for fast-attack operations, using speed, manoeuvrability and the element of surprise to engage enemy formations before withdrawing while foe is still reeling from their sudden assault. All Marines receive training in the use of the rugged and powerful Space Marine Bike during their time as a Scout and, even after becoming a full battle-brother, Assault Marines and the entirety of a Codex Chapter's 6th Reserve Company continue to train for mounted combat so that they can be fielded as Bike squads should the need arise. When a greater degree of firepower is required, Bike squads will often be accompanied by Attack Bikes, specially modified, two-person Bikes that mount a formidable heavy weapon in addition to the traditional twin bolters that all Space Marine Bikes are armed with.

* BadassBiker: Space Marine Bikes are just as overbuilt and tough as their riders, described as navigating concrete walls by [[DynamicEntry crashing through them]].
* CarFu: Space Marine Bikers are known to use the speed, weight and momentum of their heavily reinforced mounts to pulp the flesh of their enemy when they assault their foe. In some editions this is represented by the Biker gaining a special attack on the turn that they charge.
* CoolSidecar: Attack Bikes are Space Marine Bikes fitted with a sturdy sidecar that sports a heavy weapon such as a heavy bolter or multi-melta, turning the Bike into a capable mobile weapons platform.

!!!'''Land Speeders'''
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/wslandspeeder.png]]

Fast and agile anti-grav vehicles, Land Speeders are able to fulfil a number of different battlefield roles, from armed reconnaissance to seek-and-destroy missions, depending on their configuration. All Astartes receive training in how to crew a Land Speeder, with the most talented battle-brothers able to perform spectacular, high-speed manoeuvres at dangerously low altitudes. There are a number of different Land Speeder patterns in use by the Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes, including the Land Speeder Storm light transport, the long-ranged Land Speeder Typhoon, and the more heavily armoured, single-seater Land Speeder Tempest.

* FragileSpeedster: While the Land Speeder has the highest speed of any Astartes vehicle that isn't an aircraft they also have the lowest Toughness and Wounds characteristics of the Space Marine vehicle pool.
* HoverTank: Land Speeders are the most common form of armoured anti-grav vehicle utilised by the Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes. The grav-drives of a Land Speeder aren't powerful enough for high altitude operations but they are capable of lifting the vehicle over most terrain and obstacles while still retaining a high degree of manoeuvrability.
* TargetSpotter: Land Speeders often act as spotters for Whirlwinds and other artillery units, using their speed and manoeuvrability to scout out enemy positions before relaying their positions to their allies. During 7th Edition this was represented by the Suppression Force Formation that teamed a Land Speeder with a pair of Whirlwinds, while 8th Edition has the Datalink Telemetry Stratagem that increases the accuracy of Whirlwinds firing at targets visible to a nearby Land Speeder.

!!!'''Inceptor Squads'''
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/inceptors.png]]

->''"To fall upon the enemy with meteoric fury, death blazing from your clenched fists, armoured body impervious to shot and blade, and to tear the heart from the foe – that is the way of the Inceptor, and it is a doctrine that has seen the foul xenos defeated time and time again."''
-->--'''Watch Captain Corvean'''

Often forming the spearhead of an assault by Primaris Marines, Inceptors are drop troopers who specialise in rapidly deployment into the heart of an enemy formation before unleashing punishing fire at near point-blank range. The speed and shock of their assaults leave their foes reeling and easy prey for a follow-up attack by their battle-brothers.

* GoombaStomp: Each Inceptor can potentially cause a Mortal Wound when charging, and based on the extra shock-absorbers on their boots, lack of dedicated melee weapons, and the fact that the rule that gives them the ability is called [[MeaningfulName Crushing Charge]], they're pretty explicitly landing on their enemies.
* GunsAkimbo: Instead of the SwordAndGun configuration of regular Assault Squads, Inceptors wield either paired assault bolters (a pistol-form variant of a heavy bolter) or paired Plasma Exterminators (a pistol-form variant of the Plasma Incinerator used by Hellblaster squads).
* HandCannon: Their assault bolters are larger than normal bolt pistols and are able to mount shields on their muzzles. They also don't count as pistols in the game rules, and hit about as hard as a [[{{BFG}} Heavy Bolter]].
* MoreDakka: Each Inceptor is able to put out a punishing amount of firepower due to their paired weapons.
* RocketlessReentry: Inceptors are able to deploy directly to a planet's surface by performing a combat drop directly from an Astartes Strike Cruiser in low orbit, relying on their heavy armour and enhanced physics to survive the rigours of such a manoeuvre. In-game this is represented by the 'Meteoric Descent' ability that allows Inceptors to deploy during a movement phase in the same way as other units with special deployment rules in 8th Edition.

!!!'''Reiver Squads'''
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/reivers_1.png]]

->''"Terror is at its sharpest when the certainty of death is first revealed – the moment the blade is drawn, the instant the fangs are bared. After months on the hunt, the fear in the eyes of a heretic is a sight more joyous than any victory feast. The Allfather's wrath will befall them, and I am become his worthy instrument."''
-->--'''Arnar''', Blackmanes Reiver

A Primaris close support unit, the Reivers are highly trained assault troops sent into battle with the objective of destroying priority targets while instilling fear into the hearts of the enemy. Appearing as if from nowhere, the sudden assault of a squad of Reivers can shatter the morale of all but the most disciplined soldiers, making them easy prey for the rest of the Astartes Strike Force.

* DeviousDaggers: The Reivers specialize in psychological warfare and infiltration. One of their signature weapons is a large, viciously sharp combat knife. The Reivers use these knives to slice apart their opponents in vicious close assault and they are regularly depicted wielding them in a ReverseGrip.
%%* GoodCounterpart: Due to their menacing appearance, Shriek attacks and focus on terror and mayhem, Reivers could be considered the Loyalist version of the Night Lords, and to a greater degree than the Raven Guard.
* GrapplingHookPistol: Reivers use grapnel launchers in order to scale buildings and ruins as part of their infiltrations. In the 8th Edition of the game, these launchers allow Reivers to ignore vertical distances when moving, something all other infantry models must factor into their movement.
* ScreamingWarrior: The Reiver's helmets incorporate vox amplifiers that greatly augment their roars and warcries to such an extent that even the most disciplined of troops are unnerved by their sudden assaults.
* SkullForAHead: To add to their sinister nature and increase the psychological impact of their assaults, the helmets of the Reiver's Mk. X armour are designed to resemble skulls.
* StealthExpert: Reivers use stealth and secrecy to infiltrate enemy lines and to maximise the shock of their sudden and extremely violent assaults, and are equipped with a number of specialist items to assist with this mission. Their Mark X Reiver armour is specially adapted for greater manoeuvrability and is equipped with silenced servo motors, and they are often deployed via silent grav-chutes rather than the more traditional but less subtle jump packs. Despite this specialty, the 8th Edition rules for Reivers [[GameplayAndStorySegregation lack the special infiltration deployment]] that other such stealth troops typically receive[[note]]they do receive the mid-game deployment rules to represent their grav-chute deployment however[[/note]].
* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: It has not gone unnoticed by players and fans that their tactics are uncannily reminiscent of the traitorous VIII Legion, the Night Lords. The Night Lords' entire modus operandi is demoralization and infrastructure collapse through terror, brutality, rapid attacks and ambushes. Their jump packs also harken to the Night Lords' specialization in assault (later [[EvilCounterpart raptor]]) squads, and vox-amplified screams have long been the favored tool of all Night Lords at the start of battle. Aesthetically, skull-painted helms are one of the most common affectations of the eighth Legion even before the Horus Heresy, though the VIII will also use real flesh and bone when they can get some. That said, Primaris Reivers use terror and the element of surprise simply for the tactical advantage in battle, where the Night Lords delight in terror and use surprise to avoid the rigors and dangers of open combat. In fact, Night Lords will use psychological warfare, torture and attrition even if it is far quicker and much easier to defeat the enemy with force, and will never enter a fair fight unless it's completely unavoidable, as they are sadistic and (comparatively) cowardly. In short, the Night Lords' genetic predisposition, Legion philosophy and native culture all amount to a simple specialization of warfare for the Reivers, who are otherwise as noble and courageous as any loyalist Astartes.
* SwordAndGun: Technically, they're a knife-wielding unit, but it still applies as they wield their knives in tandem with their [[HandCannon bolt pistols]]...though sometimes, they do come with power swords.
* TerrorHero: Reivers employ stealth, terror and extreme violence to shatter the morale of the foe, using equipment and tactics designed to maximise the psychological impact of their sudden assaults. This is represented in the 8th Edition of the game by giving nearby enemy units a penalty to their [[MoraleMechanic Leadership value]].

!!!'''Incursors'''
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/incursors.png]]

A Primaris Vanguard close support unit, the role of Incursor Squads is to infiltrate and storm enemy defensive positions, such as trench lines and fortresses, and to destroy the foes strategic assets, such as power generators and munition supplies. Equipped with highly advanced Divinator-class auspexes that link directly to their occulus bolt carbines, Incursors can target their foes through almost any cover, while their razor-sharp combat knives can make short work of enemy soldiers once things get close and personal.

* DualWielding: Incursors are armed with a pair of deadly combat blades with which they can unleash a flurry of blows with incredible skill. In-game, the 8th Edition rules this is represented by these paired blades having the ability to increase the number of hits that an Incursor can cause in close combat.
* {{EMP}}: Some Incursors are equipped with haywire mines, sophisticated mines that produce a sophisticated electromagnetic pulse when enemies pass over them, doing massive damage to enemy equipment and vehicles. In the 8th Edition of the game, haywire mines do multiple [[UnblockableAttack mortal wounds]] against the enemy unit that activated the mine, with [[AntiVehicle vehicles being particularly vulnerable]].
* XRayVision: The multi-spectrum arrays carried by all Incursors are highly advanced auspexes that project a detailed readout of the surrounding area [[HeadsUpDisplay directly onto the Primarus Marine’s visor]]. These auspex scan are so accurate that an Incursor is able to effectively see their foes through solid objects. The 8th Edition rules represent this by ignoring all negative modifiers to hit from an Incursor’s shooting attacks.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fire Support Squads]]

Fire Support squads provide covering fire for their battle-brothers, engaging the enemy at range to suppress infantry and to take out priority targets such as commanders or heavy armour. Roughly a quarter of a Battle Company's fighting strength will be made up of fire support squads while the 9th Reserve Company is made up entirely of such units. The fire support squads utilised by the Adeptus Astartes are generally fielded as Devastator and Devastator Centurion squads while the Primaris Marines are formed into Eliminator, Hellblaster, Supressor, and Aggressor fire support squads, which focus on specialized weapons rather than the variety of weapons Devastators use.

!!!'''Devastators'''
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_devastators_0.png]]

->''"A Devastator's reach shall be without limit and his touch without mercy. Fire shall roar from his fingertips, but it shall consume him not. Thunder will roar when he calls, yet it will swallow him not. Let the Devastator squad be thy blazing wrath, bringing the light of the Emperor's justice to the darkest corners of the battlefield. Wherever he stands, that shall be his fortress of righteousness. He shall hold in his gift the fate of all who pass before his unblinking gaze. All shall fear him, and he shall fear no one."''
-->-- '''Roboute Guilliman''', from the ''Apocrypha of Skaros''

The primary Astartes fire support unit, Devastators specialise in providing long-ranged covering fire to their battle-brothers, as well as engaging enemy armoured vehicles and other priority targets. Service with a Chapter's Devastator squads is often the first position a regular Astartes will fill after promotion from the Scout Company, allowing the newly inducted warrior to gain battlefield experience without the risks of front-line combat. Devastator squads are typically equipped with a range of weapons, from regular bolters to high powered lascannons and plasma cannons, with the more lightly armed Astartes acting as spotters and close support for the more heavily armed brethren.

* TheBigGuy: While most Space Marines are of the same size, experienced Devastator Marines usually act as these due to being equipped with the biggest guns even by Astartes standards.
* {{BFG}}: Using these in battle is a Devastator Squad's main purpose. They commonly wield heavy bolters, lascannons, plasma cannons, multi-meltas, grav cannons, heavy flamers and missile launchers, long-ranged and powerful weapons which are utilized easily enough from an entrenched location but are not easily man-portable and would hamper the movement of a Tactical squad to tote around. In-game, this is reflected by such weapons having the Heavy stat, meaning that the bearer takes a -1 penalty to his Ballistic Skill if he moves before firing.
* LongRangeFighter: Devastator Marines are equipped with heavy weapons to act as long ranged battlefield support for their brethren.

%%'''Legion Destroyer Squads'''

%%During the times of the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy, there were times when enemy forces were too well-entrenched for conventional Astartes forces to dislodge. If the situation became dire enough that no tactic was too awful, then the Destroyer squads were deployed. These are specialist marines who use terrible alchemical, radioactive and incendiary weapons to cause mass casualties. The use of the Destroyer squads was seen as extremely dishonourable and a number of loyalist legions refused to use them. Of those that did, members of the Destroyer squads were often treated with disdain by their fellow marines. The aftermath of a Destroyer squad deployment can often render an area uninhabitable for centuries, as all that's left are toxic, irradiated craters.
%%----
%%* BlessedWithSuck: The Destroyers get unique weapons in the Astartes arsenal, including rad missiles and phosphex. Unfortunately, not even their power armor and enhanced physiology can prevent the toll that such toxic weapons will have on their bodies. Almost all Destroyer marines will be so riddled with cancers, that they have to replace large chunks of themselves with bionics.
%%* GodzillaThreshold: The Legion Astartes are no saints, but even so it takes a lot before the Space Marines are willing to cross the line and deploy the Destroyers.

!!!'''Eliminators'''
[[quoteright:325:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/eliminator1.png]]

A fire support unit of the Primaris Vanguard formations, Eliminators are talented snipers who are able to take out almost any target. Armed with Mk.III Shrike-pattern bolt sniper rifles, Eliminators are equipped with various types of specialist ammunition for any situation. Whether it is targeting artillery crew or enemy commanders, Eliminators destroy their targets with pinpoint fire.

* HomingProjectile: The Executioner rounds fired by the Eliminator’s bolt sniper rifles incorporate miniature cogitators and microscopic thrusters that allow them to change their trajectory to hit their target with near perfect accuracy. The 8th Edition rules represent this with a bonus to the Eliminator’s hit rolls and ignoring cover when using the Executioners.
* PoisonedWeapon: The Mortis rounds used by Eliminators secrete a mutagenic toxin that can reduce the flesh of any living creature to slush in a matter of moments. The 8th Edition rules represent this by giving Mortis rounds a chance of causing an additional [[UnblockableAttack mortal wound]].
* SniperRifle: The Mk.III Shrike-pattern bolt sniper rifles that Eliminators are equipped with incorporate some of the most advanced gun-sights in the Imperium, able to use auspex scans to see through solid matter, and has thermoscopic abilities so that they can target their enemies in any light condition. In-game, the 8th Edition rules represent the high accuracy of the bolt sniper rifle by giving them the ability to ignore the usual targeting restrictions when firing at Characters.
* TargetSpotter: Rather than make an attack himself, an Eliminator Sergeant can use his advanced scopes and auspexes to guide the shots of his battle-brothers, granting them a bonus on their hit rolls.

!!!'''Hellblaster Squads'''
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hellblasters.png]]

Hellblasters are the most common fire support squad utilized by the Primaris Marines, providing mobile firepower in support of their battle-brothers assault. Equipped with some of the most advanced, man-portable plasma weapons produced by the Imperium, Hellblaster Squads incinerate their enemies with the power of a solar flare. As with all Imperial plasma weapons, the plasma incinerators used by Hellblasters are highly dangerous when used at full power, leading to many such squads gaining a reputation for martyrdom and self-sacrifice.

* {{Expy}}: Hellblasters are an updated version of the single-armament Special Weapon squads used by the Legiones Astartes during the Great Crusade and the Horus Heresy.
* PlasmaCannon: Hellblasters are universally equipped with plasma incinerators, a new and more powerful type of man-portable plasma weapon created by Archmagos Cawl. Each Hellblaster squad wields either the regular highly flexible plasma incinerator, the rapid-fire and manoeuvrable assault plasma incinerator or the longer ranged and more powerful heavy plasma incinerator. Squads of Hellblasters are also able to upgrade their bolt pistols for plasma pistols.
* TakingYouWithMe: The background material for Hellblasters mentions that they are more than willing to immolate themselves by supercharging their plasma incinerators if it means they can bring down the most dangerous foes threatening their battle-brothers.

!!!Suppressors
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/suppressor.png]]

A rapid response fire support unit most commonly utilized by Vanguard formations. Suppressors use their grav chutes and jump packs to quickly position themselves to engage any enemy threat on the battlefield before laying down withering fire with their accelerator autocannons.

* {{BFG}}: Suppresors wield the Accelerator Autocannon, a beast of a weapon that fires foot-long, armour-piercing shells capable of blasting apart heavy infantry and most vehicles. For reference, these are guns that tend to be mounted on '''''TANKS'''''.
* CompositeCharacter: They combine two Firstborn Marine units into one, having the aerial attack capabilities of Assault squads and the massive firepower of Devastator squads.
* JumpJetPack: The Omnis Pattern armour worn by Suppressors incorporates both a grav-chute and a jump pack that allow them to quickly deploy into the perfect firing position to make the most of their massive firepower.
* LightningBruiser: They have the speed of any other jump-pack armed unit, with the firepower of a Devastator.
* PinnedDown: They don't call them Suppressors for nothing. Their autocannons have a bonus effect of understandably terrifying the enemy into cover, this is reflected in game by units targeted by Suppressors having penalties to shooting.

!!!Aggressors
[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/aggressors1.png]]

->''"Burn the heretic from his lair. Put the torch to his foul idols, and cast all that he treasures into the flames. Only then, when he realises the true cost of his perfidy, grant unto him the oblivion he deserves."''
-->-- '''Aggressor Zyphan Torl'''

Wearing armour that turns them into a veritable walking bunker, the Primaris heavy infantry known as Aggressors specialise in unleashing overwhelming firepower at short range. Their heavy, but mobile, Gravis armour and their ability to fire on the move make Aggressors particularly effective when operating in dense terrain such as urban environments and trench warfare.

* ArmCannon: Their boltstorm gauntlets are {{Power Fist}}s with belt-fed bolters mounted on them, making them look quite similar to the Gauntlets of Ultramar/Hand of Dominion.
* BackpackCannon: Aggressors equipped with boltstorm gauntlets can also mount fragstorm grenade launchers on their backpacks.
* CloseRangeCombatant: Aggressors are designed to plug up holes in battle lines and pour firepower into enemies that manage to get too close.
* ShouldersOfDoom: Aggressors that take flamestorm gauntlets sport oversized pauldrons to better shield their heads from their weapons' fury.

[[folder:Multirole Squads]]

!!!'''Centurions'''
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/centurions.png]]

->''"Hear me out. A Space Marine...inside...of a Space Marine!"''
-->-- '''Games Workshop CEO''', ''[[WebAnimation/FlashGitzAnimation Inside Games Workshop]]''

Developed from an STC design found in the wake of the Age of Apostasy, Centurion warsuits incorporate heavy ablative armour that provides an Astartes increased protection from enemy attacks, as well as firing aids and recoil dampeners that allow the wearer to fire heavy weapons on the move with increased accuracy. Due to their relative lack of speed, Centurion warsuits are typically fielded in close terrain and for siege warfare. Those who pilot Centurion warsuits are drawn from a Chapter’s Battle and Reserve Companies and can be equipped for either close support or fire support depending on the specialisation of the pilot.

* ArmCannon: The primary weapons wielded by Centurion Devastators are mounted on the underside of their forearms, keeping their hands free so that they can still fight effectively despite carrying a pair of [[{{BFG}} heavy weapons]].
* ChestBlaster: Both types of Centurion Armor have weapons built into their chests for even more attacking power. Hurricane bolters are a standard option, but Assault Centurions can opt for grenade launchers to take care of enemy infantry and Devastator Centurions can take missile launchers for a longer range attack.
* MetaMecha: Centurion armor is essentially a huge, unwieldy suit of PowerArmor wrapped around the pilot's normal PowerArmor and loaded down with either terrifying amounts of firepower or tank- and building-shredding drills with built-in flamethrowers or meltaguns.
* MightyGlacier: Devastator Centurions are deployed for missions that require Space Marines to bring exceptional levels of firepower, such as siege warfare or bringing the firepower of a tank into confined quarters. Their only real weakness is their lack of speed, and they are easily outpaced by fast-moving foes. Thus, they are primarily employed to besiege defended enemy positions or to defend their own fortifications, or used as mobile firebases to strengthen the advancing battle line.
* SiegeEngines: Centurions are brutal specialist weapons tactically deployed as line breakers and besiegers, where haste is less important than durability.
* ThisIsADrill: Assault Centurions have large grinding drills on their arms to tear into enemy fortifications.

!!!'''Scouts'''
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/newscouts.png]]
%%
->''"Forget all your preconceptions of war, of battle-lines clashing in the churned ground. Your mission is to attack before the foe even realises that the war has begun, to strike hard at those vital weaknesses that all armies possess, but that no commander will admit to. Under my tutelage you will learn how to seek out such fragilities and smite them with every weapon at your disposal. Master these duties and I will have nothing more to teach, and you will truly be a Space Marine."''
-->-- '''Sergeant Torias Telion''', Ultramarines 10th Company

Once an initiate has reached a certain point in their biological development and martial training, he will become a Scout and join his elder battle-brothers on campaign to gain real combat experience and master his enhanced physiology. The ''Codex Astartes'' stipulates that the 10th Company of a chapter be a dedicated Scout Company, and it is here that a Chapter's Scouts are organised, armed, and trained by sergeant instructors under the command of the Master of the Recruits.

As Scouts do not have the full complement of enhanced organs (most specifically the Black Carapace that allows an Astartes to interface with their trademark power armour), they wear lighter carapace armour, and often wield less powerful weaponry, geared more towards stealth than strength. On the battlefield, Scouts are typically fielded as infiltrators and assassins, gathering intelligence, sabotaging enemy positions, sniping leaders, and generally causing as much chaos and disruption as possible. Once a Scout has proven themselves worthy, they will be implanted with the remaining Astartes organs and join the ranks of the Chapter as a fully-fledged warrior.

----
* BadassNormal: Scouts are this in comparison to Astartes, as they haven't received the full regimen of organs that creates a Marine, and their Scout-type carapace armor isn't as strong as normal power armor. Still, they are deadly opponents and can more than hold their own in combat. Averted by some Chapters on principle and other chapters by circumstance. The Space Wolves only put their experienced veterans into the scouts, whilst other chapters pragmatically deploy their most talented marines into the scout companies to train a dedicated covert force.
* BoobyTrap: Space Marine Scouts mounted on bikes are often equipped with cluster mines, advanced anti-personnel explosives that the Scouts deploy behind enemy lines to disrupt movement and to cover their retreat. In some editions of the game, these mines allowed a Scout Bike squad to booby trap terrain pieces, turning them into dangerous terrain that had a chance of wounding enemy models that moved through them. In 8th Edition, however, Cluster Mines are a Space Marine Stratagem that has a chance of causing [[UnblockableAttack mortal wounds]] when a Scout Bike squad Falls Back.
* ColdSniper: Scouts are the only ones who get armed with a SniperRifle for long distance strikes against enemy commanders and other important targets. For a full fledged Brother to do this would be considered dishonorable.
* CombatPragmatist: Scouts are responsible for the Chapter's covert operations.
* JackOfAllTrades: Scouts perform all sorts of battle support but they're not as flexible as Tactical marines, as good in close combat as Assault marines or as precise with heavy weapons as Devastators.
* OvershadowedByAwesome: Scouts could give Delta Force or Seal Team Six a run for their money. Alas, it is their armored brothers that get all the press.
* ShotgunsAreJustBetter: Some Scouts are equipped with Astartes shotguns, sometimes known as Astartes assault or combat shotguns, that are more powerful than the shotguns used by other Imperial forces[[note]]represented in 8th Edition by a higher Strength characteristic than Astra Militarum shotguns[[/note]]. The high rate of fire and the ability to fire on the move make these short-ranged weapons highly useful to Scout squads operating in dense terrain.
* StealthExpert: Scouts frequently wear an InvisibilityCloak made of a material called cameoline which mimics the surroundings.
[[/folder]]

!!!Veterans
[[folder:Terminators]]
[[quoteright:349:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/newtermies2.png]]
[[caption-width-right:349:Top: White Scars Terminator with storm bolter and cyclone missile launcher.\\
Bottom: Blood Angels Assault Terminator with thunder hammer and storm shield.]]
%%
->''"Within dark and forgotten places hide the enemies of the Emperor. You have been chosen to enter such places and, protected by the best armour the Adeptus Mechanicus can provide, cleanse it. Take with you weapons, a valiant heart and the Emperor's blessing, and engage the enemy where it makes its lair. Acknowledge death as it approaches, but do not succumb to its touch, for your purpose is great. You have proved yourselves to be worthy of the status you now hold. Every one of you standing here, all of whom have declared allegiance to the Emperor and take his will as your guide, have shown courage and have been rewarded for it. Those that stand before me, I charge you now, go forth and vanquish the foe."''
-->-- Extract from the ''Pax Terminatum''

Those promoted to the honoured 1st Company of a Chapter have proven themselves worthy of being armed with some of the most powerful equipment available to the Astartes and the rare and powerful suits of Tactical Dreadnought armour, more commonly known as Terminator armour, is one of the most iconic of these. Considered to some of the best personal armour available to the forces of humanity, Terminator armour is capable of shrugging off all but the most devastating of attacks and wield powerful weapons that even a regular Astartes would struggle to lift with incredible ease. While the Indomitus pattern is the most commonly seen form of Terminator armour other, even rare and more powerful, patterns are sometimes worn by a Chapter's greatest warriors.

----

[[folder:Firstborn Transports]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/transports_4.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Top: Rhino. Bottom: Land Raider

The Firstborn Marines' primary transport is the Rhino, an ancient machine whose history dates back to mankind's first expansion into the galaxy. In the current era, the Mars-pattern Rhino serves not only as a personnel transport, but as the base chassis for many other tanks.\\
\\
The Land Raider is the most powerful armored personnel carrier in the arsenal of the Firstborn. Packing enormous firepower and heavy armor, it can both take and deal enormous punishment, and it can be set up with various weapon loadouts for both long- and close-ranged firefights.

* AwesomePersonnelCarrier:
** The Rhino: Giving your 10-man squads of superhuman armoured badasses a taxi ride to their next ass-whipping session since 1987.
** The Land Raider, overlapping with TankGoodness. The highest vehicle armor in the game, weapon options that can obliterate tanks or reduce infantry to ashes or chunky salsa, a "machine spirit" that can assist with shooting or take over for the driver, ''and'' it can still carry a squad of Terminators into the thick of combat.
* BoringButPractical: The ubiquitous Rhino personnel carrier. It's not particularly well-armed or -armored, but it's based on a tractor template that can run off almost anything, including wood or corpses, and its design is so well-made and practical that all of the Firstborn Astartes' tanks aside from the Land Raider are variants on its design. In-game, the Rhino's weapon options are limited to a storm bolter or hunter-seeker missile, but it can carry up to 10 standard Marines, and it's the only transport with the ability to gain back wounds.
* TheJuggernaut: Land Raiders are exceptionally tough and are the hardiest tanks the Astartes have in their armories. In-game, all Land Raider variants have 16 wounds and are the only Astartes tanks with a 2+ armor save.
* SapientTank: A Land Raider's machine spirit is powerful and advanced enough to be able to take control of the tank if necessary, although its overall function is limited.
* TankGoodness: The Land Raider eclipses the Predator dedicated battle tank, which tends to look a little underpowered when compared to the Imperial Guard's vehicle pool.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Repulsor Armoured Transports]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/repulsor.png]]

->''"Barricades, is it? And reserves doubtless lurking in the ruins behind, poised to ambush. Send in the Repulsors, and leave nothing but rubble and dust"''
-->-- Captain Aphael of the Blood Angels at the Siege of Kardalla

The primary armoured personal carrier used by Primaris Marines, the Repulsor armoured transport is a huge grav-tank that combines brute force with the ability to traverse any terrain. Following the same "heavily-armed and armoured multi-purpose vehicle" design philosophy as the Land Raider, the Repulsor is able to unleash a storm of heavy fire from multiple weapon systems while safely carrying its cargo of Primaris Marines into the heart of the enemy battle line. As with many Imperial vehicles, there are variants of the Repulsor that fulfill different battlefield roles, such as the Repulsor Executioner heavy transports and the light Impulsor reconnaissance transport.

* AwesomePersonnelCarrier: It can carry ten normally-armored Primaris Marines into battle, or five in Gravis armor.
* BeamSpam: With the proper loadout, it can put out four lascannon shots per turn, combined with all the other firepower it can take.
* HoverTank: The Repulsor uses the same anti-gravitic generator systems as Land Speeders. However, its bulk and armaments weigh it down to the point that it plods along at about the same speed as a Land Raider, its anti-gravitic field keeping it just above the ground while crushing flat everything in its path.
* MoreDakka: Can be configured to have an egregious amount of anti-personnel firepower, or just a huge amount combined with devastating anti-tank capabilities.
* SquashedFlat: The fate of ''anything'' in the path of a Repulsor due to the strength of its anti-grav field. In the ''Dark Imperium'' novel, an Iron Warrior tries to jump underneath one to plant an explosive charge but is pancaked instead.
* TargetSpotter: The light Repulsor variants known as Impulsors are often equipped with orbital comms arrays that allow them to feed targeting data to orbiting Astartes spacecraft so that they can unleash a devastating [[OrbitalBombardment orbital barrage]] once per game.

* AwesomePersonnelCarrier:
** The Land Raider, overlapping with TankGoodness. The highest vehicle armor in the game, weapon options that can obliterate tanks or reduce infantry to ashes or chunky salsa, a "machine spirit" that can assist with shooting or take over for the driver, ''and'' it can still carry a squad of Terminators into the thick of combat.
** The Rhino: Giving your 10-man squads of superhuman armoured badasses a taxi ride to their next ass-whipping session since 1987.

* BoringButPractical:
** The ubiquitous Rhino personnel carrier. It's not particularly well-armed or -armored, but it's based on a tractor template that can run off almost anything, including wood or corpses, and its design is so well-made and practical that all of the Astartes' tanks aside from the Land Raider are variants on its design. In-game, the Rhino's weapon options are limited to a storm bolter or hunter-seeker missile, but it can carry up to 10 standard Marines, and it's the only transport with the ability to gain back wounds.
** The Predator, the main line battle tank used by the Adeptus Astartes, may lack the massively powerful weaponry or special rules that the armoured vehicles of other factions receive, but it's a relatively cost-effective way of including multiple heavy weapons such as [[AntiArmor lascannons]] and [[AntiInfantry heavy bolters]] into an army. During a game they are so unremarkable that an inexperienced opponent will often ignore them in favor of something more immediately or [[DrawAggro apparently]] threatening, something that savvy players will use to get the most out of their Predators.

* TheJuggernaut: Land Raiders are exceptionally tough and are the hardiest tanks the Astartes have in their armories. In-game, all Land Raider variants have 16 wounds and are the only Astartes tanks with a 2+ armor save.

* SapientTank: A Land Raider's machine spirit is powerful and advanced enough to be able to take control of the tank if necessary, although its overall function is limited.

* TankGoodness: The [[AwesomePersonnelCarrier Land Raider]] again, eclipsing the Predator dedicated battle tank, which tends to look a little underpowered when compared to the Imperial Guard's vehicle pool.

[[folder:Repulsor Armoured Transports]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_199120101192_primarisrepulsor01.png]]

->''"Barricades, is it? And reserves doubtless lurking in the ruins behind, poised to ambush. Send in the Repulsors, and leave nothing but rubble and dust"''
-->-- Captain Aphael of the Blood Angels at the Siege of Kardalla

The primary armoured personal carrier used by Primaris Marines, the Repulsor armoured transport is a huge grav-tank that combines brute force with the ability to traverse any terrain. Following the same "heavily-armed and armoured multi-purpose vehicle" design philosophy as the Land Raider, the Repulsor is able to unleash a storm of heavy fire from multiple weapon systems while safely carrying its cargo of Primaris Marines into the heart of the enemy battle line. As with many Imperial vehicles, there are variants of the Repulsor that fulfill different battlefield roles, such as the Repulsor Executioner heavy transports and the light Impulsor reconnaissance transport.

* AwesomePersonnelCarrier: It can carry ten normally-armored Primaris Marines into battle, or five in Gravis armor.
* BeamSpam: With the proper loadout, it can put out four lascannon shots per turn, combined with all the other firepower it can take.
* HoverTank: The Repulsor uses the same anti-gravitic generator systems as Land Speeders. However, its bulk and armaments weigh it down to the point that it plods along at about the same speed as a Land Raider, its anti-gravitic field keeping it just above the ground while crushing flat everything in its path.
* MoreDakka: Can be configured to have an egregious amount of anti-personnel firepower, or just a huge amount combined with devastating anti-tank capabilities.
* SquashedFlat: The fate of ''anything'' in the path of a Repulsor due to the strength of its anti-grav field. In the ''Dark Imperium'' novel, an Iron Warrior tries to jump underneath one to plant an explosive charge but is pancaked instead.
* TargetSpotter: The light Repulsor variants known as Impulsors are often equipped with orbital comms arrays that allow them to feed targeting data to orbiting Astartes spacecraft so that they can unleash a devastating [[OrbitalBombardment orbital barrage]] once per game.

* CripplingOverspecialization: Sometimes Scouts, Assault Marines or Devastators find themselves unable to transition to other roles and thus stay in that roles for their entire career.

* HandCannon: The standard-issue Space Marine sidearm is the bolt pistol, which is essentially a boltgun with a shorter range.

* SuperiorSuccessor: They're a distinct improvement to the [[FlawedPrototype Thunder Warriors]], the Emperor's original mass-produced super-soldiers. The Thunder Warriors were a powerful force of superhuman warriors, but the Emperor designed them hastily as he needed pure muscle to serve as a blunt instrument to batter down the tech-barbarians of Terra. They were easy to produce and exceptionally powerful, but terribly flawed brutes prone to physical and psychological defects that were crippling, and often lethal. The Space Marines, however, were designed with far more care as their purpose was to face a much more complicated and longer-term task in the Great Crusade. They're physically weaker than their predecessors, but capable of excelling in almost any human pursuit on and off the battlefield.

* SkullForAHead: To add to their sinister nature, and increase the psychological impact of their assaults, the helmets of the Reiver's Mk.X armour are designed to resemble skulls.

* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: It has not gone unnoticed by players and fans that their tactics are uncannily reminiscent of the traitorous VIII Legion, the Night Lords. The Night Lords' entire modus operandi is demoralization and infrastructure collapse through terror, brutality, rapid attacks and ambushes. Their jump packs also harken to the Night Lords' specialization in assault (later [[EvilCounterpart raptor]]) squads, and vox-amplified screams have long been the favored tool of all Night Lords at the start of battle. Aesthetically, skull-painted helms are one of the most common affectations of the eighth Legion even before the Horus Heresy, though the VIII will also use real flesh and bone when they can get some.
** In contrast, Primaris Reivers use terror and the element of surprise simply for the tactical advantage in battle, where the Night Lords delight in terror and use surprise to avoid the rigors and dangers of open combat. In fact, Night Lords will use psychologia warfare, torture and attrition even if it is far quicker and much easier to defeat the enemy with force, and will never enter a fair fight unless completely unavoidable, as they are sadistic and (comparatively) cowardly. In short, the Night Lords' genetic predisposition, Legion philosophy and native culture all amount to a simple specialization of warfare for the Reivers, who are otherwise as noble and courageous as any loyalist Astartes.

* CompositeCharacter: They can be seen as a combination between an Assault and a Devastator marine of the Firstborn.

** The ''Leviathan'' box set for the 10th edition rules features a Ballistus Dreadnought, a variant of the Redemptor Dreadnought that is focused on ranged firepower and is equipped with twin lascannons, a Ballistus missile launcher, and twin-linked storm bolters.

* GoodIsNotNice: Remember, even the "good" chapters are ultimately working for the xenocidal fascist state that is the Imperium at large. To quote Blood Ravens Devastator Sargent Avitus (one of aforementioned "good guys"), "We are the Emperor's angels of death, not his angels of mercy."

%%Please see the discussion page for the following examples.

%%** Similarly to the Tactical Squad, Normal Terminator Squads are this to just about every other variation of Terminators available to Space Marines. They had the perk of being able to wield heavy weapons on the move and had absurdly high armor saves when first introduced, but you could often buy more non-terminator units for the same cost as a fully kitted out squad; the fact that every terminator had to pay for the armor, power fist and storm bolter meant you felt every single casualty, and terminators are not completely invincible. Melee Terminators initially outshined them since being stuck in to combat meant they actually got more mileage out of their insane armor and bonus attack than normal terminators. Then the variant terminator squads were released. Cataphractii Terminators were even slower, but came with a higher Invulnerable save making them much less squishy than their normal kind. Tartaros Terminators had the ''exact same stats'' but were faster than normal Terminators at the expense of moving and shooting (but all their weapons are assault weapon anyways, making this point moot). And both could mix and match weapons within the squad, meaning you could take a cheaper loadout on the "buffer wounds" members in the squad. The only perks left to normal terminators is that they still have access to weapons that the others don't, so in very niche cases they come out on top, but those are very rare now.

* {{Thunderbird}}: Invoked with several SpaceMarine ships like the iconic Thunderhawk, a powerful transport/ground attack craft (and variants like the Stormbird, Storm Eagle, etcetera) and the Stormraven, a LightningBruiser fighter.

After his return, Roboute Guilliman's rewritten Codex Astartes added the rank of Lieutenant to the Astartes Order of Battle. Each Company includes a pair of Lieutenants, each of whom take command of a Demi-Company so that the Captain can concentrate on overseeing the entire battlefield.

* AwesomeButImpractical: Originally, Terminator armor was meant to replace the regular kind as the legions’ main battle plate due to its better armor, firepower, and usefulness in the shock-and-awe tactics the Space Marines favor. This didn’t happen, due to Terminator armor being very heavy and unwieldy, extremely maintenance-intensive and expensive to make, and vulnerable against Marines in regular, more nimble armor.

** The Ironclad Dreadnought is essentially a walking {{Siege Engine|s}}. Designed for close quarters combat and breaching attacks, it has exceptionally heavy armor and is usually fitted with some combination of a chainfist, power fist, or seismic hammer. Its projectile weaponry is also mostly designed for closer fighting than other Dreadnoughts.

** Above other Dreadnought variants is the Leviathan Dreadnought. Much bigger and stronger than any other Dreadnought pattern, this artifact of LostTechnology was made on Terra instead of Mars and were designed to have force fields and tremendous amounts of firepower, including guns unique to them. However, they are rarely used as their systems take a dangerously high toll on the entombed Astartes' mind and body, spurring them to horrible violence and driving them to the brink of insanity, if not beyond. A Space Marine can live for centuries normally and are virtually immortal inside a standard Dreadnought, but only have a lifespan of a few years if they're encased in a Leviathan.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/landspeedernobase.png]]

'''[[Characters/Warhammer40000XenoRaces Xeno Races]]:''' [[Characters/Warhammer40000Eldar Aeldari]] ([[Characters/Warhammer40000CraftworldEldar Asuryani]], [[Characters/Warhammer40000DarkEldar Drukhari]]) | [[Characters/Warhammer40000LeaguesOfVotann Leagues of Votann]] | [[Characters/Warhammer40000Necrons Necrons]] | [[Characters/Warhammer40000Orks Orks]] ([[Characters/Warhammer40000OrksCharacters Characters]]) | [[Characters/Warhammer40000TauEmpire T'au Empire]] | [[Characters/Warhammer40000Tyranids Tyranids]]]]-]]]

[[quoteright:349:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dreadstransparent.png]]
[[caption-width-right:349:Top: A Castaferrum pattern Dreadnought with twin lascannons and missile launcher.\\
Bottom: A Redemptor Dreadnought with plasma incinerator and Redemptor fist with gatling cannon.]]

[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sup_3.jpg]]

[[caption-width-right:349:"While the enemies of the Emperor still draw breath, there can be no peace."]]

[[quoteright:344:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/baldwin3_1687.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:344:"While the enemies of the Emperor still draw breath, there can be no peace."]]

[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/astartescaptain.png]]

* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: The leaders of Space Marine companies and typically their best fighters, and the Chapter Masters are usually the best fighters in their entire chapter, with some exceptions.

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/aggressors.png]]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_1veterans.png]]

* ContinuityNod: Two of the bare heads from the Sternguard Veterans ([[https://www.games-workshop.com/resources/catalog/product/600x620/99120101133_Sternguard05.jpg specifically these]] [[http://i.imgur.com/MIdyJJ6.jpg two]]) are clearly based on Captain Titus and Sergeant Sidonus from the ''VideoGame/Warhammer40000SpaceMarine'' video game.

[[caption-width-right:349:Top: A Castaferrum pattern Dreadnought with twin lascannons and a missile launcher.\\

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/newtermies.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Top: White Scars Terminator with storm bolter and cyclone missile launcher.\\
Bottom: Blood Angels Assault Terminator with dual lightning claws.]]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/termiestransparent.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Top: Ultramarines Terminator with power fist and storm bolter.\\

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/reivers.png]]

[[quoteright:175:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/primarisreivers.png]]

[[quoteright:275:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_flyprimaris.png]]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_scouts_6.png]]

The release of the game's 8th edition rules came with a huge change in the lore of the Astartes, revealing that in the bloody aftermath of the Literature/HorusHeresy, Roboute Guilliman charged the Archmagos Bellisaurius Cawl with the creation of a new legion of soldiers to defend the Imperium in its next darkest hour. From that moment forth, Cawl worked upon the improvement of the Astartes, attempting to refine both their enhanced biology and their equipment. Obsessively working on his mission for the next ten millennia, the opening of the Great Rift and Guilliman's resurrection saw the Archmagos finally unleash his creations upon a shattered galaxy. The Ultima Founding, as it is known, saw Cawl's new breed of Astartes, the Primaris Space Marines, reinforce the existing Chapters, as well as the creation of a large number of new Chapters made up entirely of Primaris Marines. Guilliman was also forced to rewrite his magnum opus, the ''Codex Astartes'', to reflect the new threats of the dark new era that the Imperium now found itself in. Primaris Marines are stronger, faster and larger than their brethren, with gene-seed enhancements not possessed by "firstborn" Astartes, and they are equipped with some of the most advanced armour and weaponry available to the Imperium.

[[quoteright:344:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/baldwin3_1687.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:344:"While the enemies of the Emperor still draw breath, there can be no peace."]]

The release of the game's 8th edition rules came with a huge change in the lore of the Astartes, revealing that in the bloody aftermath of the Literature/HorusHeresy, Roboute Guilliman charged the Archmagos Bellisaurius Cawl with the creation of a new legion of soldiers to defend the Imperium in its next darkest hour. From that moment forth, Cawl worked upon the improvement of the Astartes, attempting to refine both their enhanced biology and their equipment. Obsessively working on his mission for the next ten millennia, the opening of the Great Rift and Guilliman's resurrection saw the Archmagos finally unleash his creations upon a shattered galaxy. The Ultima Founding, as it is known, saw Cawl's new breed of Astartes, the Primaris Space Marines, reinforce the existing Chapters, as well as the creation of a large number of new Chapters made up entirely of Primaris Marines. Guilliman was also forced to rewrite his magnum opus, the ''Codex Astartes'', to reflect the new threats of the dark new era that the Imperium now found itself in. Primaris Marines are stronger, faster and larger than their brethren, with gene-seed enhancements not possessed by "firstborn" Astartes, and they are equipped with some of the most advanced armour and weaponry available to the Imperium.

** Both the Leviathan and Redemptor patterns have guns built into its torso to make these two the WalkingArsenal of the bunch.

* SiegeEngines: Ironclad Dreadnoughts are designed for close quarters combat and breaching attacks, with exceptionally heavy armor and striking weapons used to smash enemy fortifications and tanks. Their projectile weaponry is also mostly designed for closer fighting than other Dreadnoughts.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_devastators.png]]

[[quoteright:225:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/primariseliminators.jpg]]

[[quoteright:275:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_darkangelsprimarisaggressor.png]]

* ArmCannon: Their boltstorm gauntlets are {{Power Fist}}s with belt-fed bolters mounted on them. Which look quite similar to the Gauntlets of Ultramar/Hand of Dominion.

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[[quoteright:175:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_darkangelsprimarishellblaster.png]]