When most think of Warhammer 40K, they think of giant soldiers in power armor fighting hundreds of Orks. These super-human soldiers are Space Marines, and are the poster child of the Warhammer 40K universe. From tabletop to video games, Space Marines are instantly recognizable amongst casual to hardcore fans.
Their time in the spotlight has resulted in lots of lore expansion for the faction. The color of their armor, the weapons they use, and how they behave in combat have all been explained through the lore that many casual fans don't know about. Here are 10 facts about Space Marines many fans don't know about in Warhammer 40K (and we're focusing on the universe of Warhammer 40K and not the tabletop game).
10 Various Chapters
One of the most distinctive features of a Space Marine is their armor. The color and emblems on their power armor make them distinct from each other, but these colors aren't simply a vanity choice.
Space Marines are each part of a group called a Chapter. Each Chapter has an emblem and armor color that makes them unique, but it doesn't stop there. Chapters also have distinct personalities and rules they live by. The stoic by-the-rules Ultramarines in their blue power armor behave differently than the anti-authority Space Wolves, as an example.
9 Marine Types
Anyone who has played tabletop will know that there are various types of Space Marines. Their armor color and emblems might be tied to their Chapter, but each Marine has a certain role in combat they must perform.
Tactical Marines are the most common form of Space Marines, using Bolters and other weapons to take down opponents. Assault Marines use jetpacks and prefer melee weapons such as Chainswords to take down enemies. Devastator Marines provide support using devastating Heavy Bolters, and all of these Marines typically get information from Scouts that use lighter armor to infiltrate enemy lines and employ stealth tactics to win engagements.
8 Wide Range Of Equipment
A Space Marine's equipment is as important as their life. Their armor is a platform to show their experience, and their weapons are a manifestation of the Emperor's wrath.
Most Space Marines wear power armor that can absorb unprecedented amounts of punishment. As for weapons, a Space Marine's signature weapon is the Bolter. These weapons fire massive .75 caliber rounds that pierce into targets before detonating, effectively working as a fully-automatic rocket launcher. More niche situations might call for Plasma weapons, Melta guns that disintegrate armor, or the use of a Chainsword to slash through opponents in melee combat.
7 Genetic Mutations
While the equipment a Space Marine uses makes them superior to their Astrum Milatirum brethren, that is not all that makes a Space Marine superior. To use their power armor and arsenal of weapons, they must undergo extensive genetic mutations.
Two hearts, synthetic organs that allow for rapid tissue regeneration, and enhancements to a Marine's strength are a few examples of the genetic changes and organ additions a Space Marine goes through. This is also why Space Marines are much larger than most humans, standing over 7 feet tall without power armor.
6 Gene-Seed
Part of what makes the Space Marines so powerful yet so distinct from each other is the gene-seed they inherit. This seed has been defended down from the Emperor himself tens of thousands of years ago, originally used to create the first 20 Primarchs that would form their respective Chapters.
Repeated use of the gene-seed on future generations has caused issues, such as the rejection of new organs or amplified anger from various Chapters. These are minor setbacks in the eyes of many Space Marines that grow exponentially stronger after they are implanted with the gene-seed.
5 No Female Space Marines
Female Space Marines do not exist in Warhammer 40K. All Space Marines in the universe are men. This is because the gene-seed that gets passed to Space Marines originated from male Primarchs, which behaves poorly when implanted into females.
A lack of female Space Marines is also likely due to tradition, as the original Space Marines were male over 10,000 years ago. Besides, female Space Marines would be redundant, as the Sisters of Battle exist.
4 Serve Even In Death
Even with all of the tools a Space Marine has to defeat the Emperor's enemies, they are still mortal. Space Marines can be damaged beyond repair and unable to fight, at least not traditionally able to fight.
Instead of retiring as most would expect, Space Marines are put into Dreadnought. These mechs are effectively weaponized coffins that keep the Space Marine alive with a sophisticated life-support system. Dreadnoughts are heavily armored and equipped with devastating weapons such as missile launchers and twin-linked Heavy Bolters. Even after death, Space Marines still serve the Emperor.
3 Loyalists Versus Traitors
Newer fans of Warhammer 40K might be confused as to why there are Space Marines and Chaos Space Marines. Many regard Chaos Space Marines as traitors to the Emperor while Chaos Space Marines refer to those loyal to the Emperor as fools.
This schism began in 30,000 with the Horus Heresy. Horus, the most loved son of the Emperor, was an Imperial Warmaster until he was swayed by the forces of Chaos. This lead to a bloody civil war named the Horus Heresy that set humanity back to the dark ages. It also led to the birth of the Chaos Space Marines and sparked the conflict between loyalists and traitors that still exists over 10,000 years later.
2 Follow The Codex Astartes
Even though the Space Marines are extreme in their views, they still have rules and guidelines they must follow both in and out of combat. This ruleset is given by the Codex Astartes, a sacred tome that outlines all behavior Space Marines must exhibit.
It was created to prevent another civil war from occurring after the Horus Heresy set humanity back for multiple millennia. Not all Chapters follow the text extensively, but it is revered as a holy tome sanctified by the Emperor himself that all must follow.
1 Rarely Seen
Even though Space Marines are the poster child of Warhammer 40K, they are rarely seen in-universe. Only small squads of Marines are sent out to take care of dire situations, usually without the help of other regiments.
Imperial Guardsmen and most regiments of the Imperium have never seen a Space Marine, as a result. This has given them a mythical status among most of humanity and a discussion point among humans as to what they're capable of.