Space Marine legions
The Space Marines are Games Workshop's best-known and most popular creation, and for good
reason - they're a faction of power-armoured super soldiers who are central to some of the best storytelling in the
Warhammer 40,000 universe, as well as being perennial favourites on the tabletop. In this section, we'll take a
comprehensive look at the Space Marine legions, their chapters, tabletop tactics, codexes and lore.
Space Marine legions are the mainstay of the Imperium's military might. They are comprised of the best and bravest
warriors from across humanity, who have been selected and genetically modified to become superhuman fighting
machines. In times of war, Space Marine legions can be mobilised en masse to crush their enemies beneath their
armoured feet.
There are ten Space Marine legions in total. These legions were originally created by the Emperor of Mankind during
the Horus Heresy, a galaxy-wide civil war that threatened to tear humanity apart. The Emperor Himself is a powerful
psyker - one who can utilise the magical energies of the Warp to devastating effect - and he used his powers to create
the first Space Marines. He then gave them each their own legion, with which they would fight to protect the Imperium
of Man from its many enemies.
Since then, many more Space Marine legions have been created by Games Workshop. The latest incarnation is the
Ultramarines legion, which was formed following the Ultramarines' victory over the Chaos-worshipping Tzeentchian
daemon army known as the Word Bearers during the Battle of Calth. Today there are a total of ten Space Marine
legions: Ultramarines, Dark Angels, Blood Angels, Salamanders, Raven Guard, White Scars, Iron Hands,
Night Lords, Alpha Legion and Word Bearers.
Space Marine chapters
While all Space Marines belong to a particular legion, not all members of a legion will serve in its chapter.
A chapter is a smaller organisational unit within a legion that is made up of around 1,000 marines. This number can
vary depending on the chapter's size and strength; for example, the Ultramarines chapter is much larger than
most other chapters due to their status as one of the largest and most prestigious Space Marine legions.
Each chapter is led by a Chapter Master - an incredibly powerful Space Marine who has been entrusted with leading
his brothers into battle - and is made up of several squads known as companies. These companies are each led by a
Captain who commands around 100 marines. Each company also has its own unique heraldry and colours which
distinguish it from all other companies in its legion. This helps Space Marines fighting together identify which units
they belong to and co-ordinate their attacks more effectively on the battlefield.
Tabletop tactics
When playing Warhammer 40k on the tabletop, Space Marines can be incredibly effective when used correctly.
Their combination of heavy armour and powerful weaponry means they can deal out incredible amounts of damage
while also soaking up plenty in return. As such, they make great shock troops who can be used to smash through
enemy lines and cause havoc in the enemy's rear echelon. Additionally, their ability to fly allows them to reach any
part of the battlefield quickly and strike at unsuspecting enemies from unexpected angles.
Codexes and lore
Space Marines have featured in several codexes over the years designed for use with Warhammer 40k miniatures.
These codexes provide rules for using Space Marines in your games as well as background information on each
individual chapter. Additionally, there are numerous novels set in the Warhammer 40k universe that explore different
aspects of life as a Space Marine or delve into famous battles fought by these iconic warriors. If you're interested in
learning more about Warhammer 40k's iconic space soldiers then we highly recommend checking out some
of these resources!
Summary
Space Marines are a powerful force on the Warhammer 40k tabletop. Their combination of heavy armour, powerful
weaponry and ability to fly make them ideal shock troops who can quickly reach any part of the battlefield. If you're
looking to add Space Marines to your army then we recommend checking out one of the many codexes or novels
set in the Warhammer 40k universe. Thanks for reading!
