Betrayal, destruction, and an undying grudge: Perturabo vs. Dorn is Warhammer 40k’s most tragic rivalry; learn how it shaped the Imperium’s fate and turned one into a daemon prince.
Updated February 14th, 2025, by Rob Baer with new information, his fate in 40k, and links to relevant content.
Some grudges burn hot for a lifetime. Others crack planets in half. The feud between Perturabo and Rogal Dorn wasn’t just a clash of personalities—it was a war that left the galaxy in ruins. One saw the Imperium as a fortress to be perfected, the other as a prison of thankless toil. Their animosity didn’t just spark bitter battles; it shaped the very course of the Horus Heresy and the Imperium’s fate.
Loyalist or traitor, Imperial Fist or Iron Warrior, there’s no denying this was the defining rivalry of the age. From the Siege of Terra to the brutal slaughter of Olympia, these two primarchs waged a personal war that echoed across the stars. If you’re looking for the real reason the Imperium still bleeds, it starts here.
A Planet-Destroying Rivalry
Some rivalries start with a disagreement. This one ended with entire planets being torn apart. The grudge match between Perturabo and Rogal Dorn wasn’t just about codex tactics or ideology—it was a war of pride, resentment, and the slow, grinding march toward destruction. In Warhammer 40k, Perturabo didn’t just hate Dorn; he loathed everything he stood for. And Dorn? He never gave his bitter brother a shred of respect.
From the Siege of Terra to the ashes of Olympia, this was personal. And when things got personal between Primarchs, the Imperium paid the price.
Background of the Primarchs
The Emperor’s grand plan was to create twenty sons, each leading a Legion that would conquer the galaxy. Some turned out to be noble defenders, others bloodthirsty maniacs, and a few—like Perturabo in 40k—were stuck in a thankless existence of siege warfare and trench battles. His opposite, Rogal Dorn, embodied everything he hated: an unshakable fortress-builder praised for his defenses, while Perturabo was condemned to a life of grinding attrition.
It was only a matter of time before that resentment boiled over.
Perturabo: The Primarch of the Iron Warriors
If you asked the Iron Warriors, they’d say Perturabo was the Imperium’s best general—its most brilliant siege master, its greatest military mind. If you asked anyone else, they’d probably call him bitter, cold, and one bad day away from snapping. The problem? They weren’t wrong.
His story was a tragedy from the start. Where Dorn received endless praise for his defenses, Perturabo was buried under impossible tasks. If a warzone was too brutal for anyone else, it landed in his lap. If a siege had to be broken, his Legion was sent in. No glory. No gratitude. Just endless sacrifice.
And then came Olympia.
When did Perturabo destroy Olympia? Right before turning traitor. The world he once called home rebelled, and the Primarch of the Iron Warriors decided there was only one solution: extermination. Why did Perturabo destroy Olympia? To prove a point. To silence any doubts. To show the galaxy he wasn’t weak. It was a massacre that shattered whatever humanity he had left. The path to daemonhood had begun.
Today, Perturabo reigns as a Daemon Prince, a god-forged engine of war. While he rarely gets the same attention as others, Perturabo, as a Daemon Prince, remains one of the most tragic figures in Warhammer history.
Rogal Dorn: The Unyielding Protector
If Perturabo was the bitter pragmatist, Dorn was the unbreakable idealist. The Imperial Fists were everything the Iron Warriors were not—praised, honored, and trusted to defend Terra itself. Dorn saw war as a duty, a responsibility. To him, fortresses weren’t prisons—they were shields against the darkness.
His rivalry with Warhammer Perturabo was inevitable. Where Dorn stood for order, Perturabo embodied resentment. When the Siege of Terra began, it was Dorn standing in defense while Perturabo 40k led the assault. It wasn’t just about tactics. It was the final proof of who was truly the Emperor’s chosen.
And in the end? The bitterness between them never faded. One became a legend of the Imperium. The other, Perturabo, disappeared into the Eye of Terror, forever a Daemon Prince, still seething over the past.
The Seeds of Rivalry
Some grudges stay personal. Others shape the fate of the galaxy. The animosity between Perturabo and Rogal Dorn wasn’t just a clash of personalities—it was a slow-burning war that left devastation in its wake. While some Primarchs found brotherhood in their shared purpose, these two were destined for conflict from the start.
In Warhammer 40k, Perturabo wasn’t one to forget a slight, and Dorn? He was too proud to acknowledge an equal. It wasn’t just about who was better at siegecraft; it was about recognition, respect, and the bitter truth that only one of them was ever going to get it.
Early Interactions
Before the Horus Heresy tore the Imperium apart, Perturabo and Dorn were already circling each other like caged warhounds. The Primarch of the Iron Warriors had always been saddled with the hardest jobs—grinding trench warfare, breaking unbreakable strongholds, bleeding for victories that earned him nothing but more demands. Dorn, on the other hand, was the golden boy of Imperial defense, tasked with building the Imperium’s greatest fortresses, including the Imperial Palace itself.
It didn’t help that Dorn’s confidence often came across as condescension. If there was one thing Perturabo despised, it was the feeling that someone thought they were better than him in 40k.
Differences in Ideology
To Perturabo, war was a brutal equation: pressure, attrition, and cold efficiency. There was no glory, only the grind of reality. Dorn saw it differently. The battlefield wasn’t just a place to fight; it was where ideals were proven. He believed in duty, honor, and standing firm against impossible odds (and their rivalry would be perfect for the Cavill Amazon series).
For Perturabo, this was nonsense. He built fortresses, but he never saw them as symbols of hope. They were prisons, built out of necessity, designed to buy time before the inevitable collapse. Dorn, on the other hand, treated defense as an art form, an unshakable testament to the Imperium’s might.
It’s no surprise that when the Horus Heresy broke out, Perturabo didn’t hesitate to turn against the Imperium. If it had never valued him before, why should he fight for it? The grudge against Dorn only deepened as the war raged, culminating in the Siege of Terra, where the Iron Warriors tore through the very defenses their primarch had spent a lifetime perfecting.
The Role of Their Legions
The Iron Warriors and the Imperial Fists were built to do the same job, but their approach couldn’t have been more different. Perturabo Warhammer trained his Legion in siege warfare, but his warriors embraced brutality, pragmatism, and relentless efficiency. The Imperial Fists, under Dorn, were disciplined, unyielding, and driven by a sense of noble purpose.
It wasn’t just their Primarchs at war—it was their entire way of thinking. The Iron Warriors saw themselves as the Imperium’s unappreciated workhorses, while the Imperial Fists stood as its shining defenders. The resentment only grew, and by the time Perturabo turned into a Daemon Primarch and finally ascended, any hope of reconciliation had long since crumbled.
Key Events in the Horus Heresy
The Horus Heresy was filled with betrayal, broken oaths, and enough grudges to fuel an eternity of warfare. Few rivalries were as personal as the one between Perturabo and Rogal Dorn, and when the Imperium started tearing itself apart, there was no way these two wouldn’t end up on opposite sides.
In Warhammer 40k, Perturabo had spent decades watching his contributions go unnoticed while Dorn was showered with praise. When Horus made his move, the Primarch of the Iron Warriors saw his chance to step out of the Emperor’s shadow and forge his own path—one paved with blood, shattered citadels, and a war that reshaped the Imperium forever.
When Did Perturabo Destroy Olympia?
The fall of Olympia was one of the defining moments of Perturabo in 40k and his descent into madness. The exact timing? Just before his open betrayal of the Imperium. As the Horus Heresy erupted, Olympia, the world that had once been his home, decided they had enough of Imperial rule. The rebellion spread, and instead of trying to reason with his people, Perturabo responded the only way he knew how—with absolute destruction.
Why Did Perturabo Destroy Olympia?
There’s a difference between a measured response and pure, unrelenting fury. The slaughter of Olympia wasn’t just about putting down a rebellion; it was about proving a point. The Iron Warriors had spent years feeling like the Imperium’s expendable workforce, forced to grind through brutal wars without recognition. When Olympia rose against him, it was the last betrayal 40k Perturabo could take.
Wiping the planet clean of life was his way of showing that he would never be weak again. The massacre was so complete that even Horus was impressed—he welcomed Perturabo into the ranks of his most trusted commanders. But the cost? Any lingering humanity Perturabo had left was buried in the ashes of his own homeworld.
The Siege of Terra
For all the bloodshed leading up to it, the Siege of Terra was the moment that truly defined the rivalry between Warhammer 40k Perturabo and Rogal Dorn. The Iron Warriors had spent their entire existence breaking fortresses, and now they stood before the ultimate prize—the Imperial Palace, designed and defended by Dorn himself.
Daemon Perturabo was more than ready to tear it all down. The resentment, the years of being overlooked, the belief that he had always been the better siege master—it all fueled his assault. And yet, despite the brutal effectiveness of his Legion, the Imperial Fists held strong. Dorn had spent his life preparing for this moment, and Perturabo Daemon Primarch found himself locked in a battle that tested every ounce of his ability.
The Aftermath of the Rivalry
The war between Perturabo and Rogal Dorn didn’t end with the Siege of Terra. The Imperium was left in ruins, half the Primarchs were missing or dead, and the Legions had either fractured or fled. But some grudges don’t fade, and this one was far from over.
Warhammer 40k Perturabo had spent his entire existence trying to prove he was the greatest siege master in history, only for Dorn to become the Imperium’s ultimate defender. Even after the traitors were pushed back into the Warp, the Primarch of the Iron Warriors wasn’t done proving his superiority. And Dorn? He was still standing, unbroken, a constant reminder of everything 40k Perturabo hated.
The Rise of Perturabo as a Daemon Primarch
The rewards for betrayal aren’t always what you expect. While some traitor Primarchs were given vast kingdoms in the Eye of Terror, theDaemon Primarch Perturabo didn’t get the luxury of indulgence. Instead of ruling over an empire of worshippers, he was sent back to doing what he always had—building, planning, and laying siege to anything that stood in his way.
Becoming a Daemon Prince for Perturabo should have been the final victory, a transformation that placed him beyond mortal limits. But even as a Daemon Prince Perturabo, his bitterness never faded. Unlike some of his brothers who fully embraced their new god-like existence, Perturabo Warhammer remained cold, calculating, and methodical. The same mind that designed the Imperium’s greatest war engines was now working for Chaos, but the resentment that drove him hadn’t changed.
He wasn’t just a warrior anymore—he was a force of destruction, tearing down everything the Imperium tried to build. The Iron Warriors followed him into the Warp, their brutal siegecraft now turned against the same Imperium they had once bled for.
Dorn’s Legacy in the Imperium
While Perturabo 40k faded into legend, Dorn became something more—an enduring symbol of sacrifice. The Imperial Fists were nearly destroyed in the wars that followed, and Dorn himself eventually vanished, presumed dead after leading a desperate assault against a Chaos fleet. But his name carried on, his ideals still shaping the Imperium long after his body was gone.
The Warhammer Perturabo rivalry didn’t just define the Horus Heresy; it set the stage for the ongoing battles between the Iron Warriors and the Imperial Fists. Every war fought between these two forces is a continuation of that grudge, a struggle that neither side can seem to let go of. The Imperium may have won the war, but Dorn’s walls are still under siege, and Daemon Primarch Perturabo is still out there, waiting for the next chance to break them.
The bitterness, the rivalry, the destruction—it never really ended. It just took on a new shape, one forged in daemon fire and unyielding stone. The Imperium still stands, but so do the Iron Warriors, and as long as that’s true, this war isn’t over.
Art and Representation
In Warhammer 40k, Perturabo is a character built on bitterness, precision, and an unrelenting need to prove himself. That kind of personality makes for some striking visuals. Unlike some of his brothers, who are draped in symbols of nobility or raw savagery, Perturabo 40k is often shown as a cold, calculating warlord, weighed down by the burden of siegecraft and endless war.
His aesthetic is all about function over form—bulky armor, mechanical enhancements, and the look of a general who’s spent his entire existence trapped in the trenches of galactic war.
Dorn, on the other hand, stands in direct contrast. While Perturabo is usually seen as dour and brooding, Dorn’s imagery is one of stoic nobility. His golden armor, proud stance, and unyielding expression reinforce his role as the Imperium’s ultimate defender. When placed side by side, the two primarchs visually embody their philosophies—one a relentless destroyer, the other an unbreakable fortress.
Perturabo Artwork and Models
Perturabo’s artwork captures his transformation over time from a pragmatic but burdened Primarch to the monstrous Daemon Primarch Perturabo. Early interpretations often show him as an embittered warrior, clad in war-torn armor, his face lined with the stress of a lifetime spent in the mud and blood of siege warfare. Later depictions take this to its logical extreme, with Daemon Perturabo becoming an iron-clad monstrosity, more machine than man, towering over his enemies with a cold, merciless gaze.
When it comes to the Perturabo model, the Forge World sculpt stands out as one of the most intricate Primarch designs. It perfectly captures his methodical and imposing nature—his bulky Terminator armor, the towering presence, and the massive Forgebreaker hammer that once belonged to Ferrus Manus. The Perturabo model doesn’t scream grandeur like some of his brothers, but that’s fitting for the Primarch of the Iron Warriors. He wasn’t one for theatrics; he was about results.
The transition from mortal Primarch to Daemon Prince Perturabo has also been a subject of artistic interpretation. While a full model of Daemon Primarch Perturabo hasn’t hit the tabletop yet, fan concepts and unofficial art show him as a monstrous fusion of iron and flesh, with mechanical limbs and a body shaped by both Chaos and his own relentless drive for perfection.
Iconic Depictions of Dorn and Perturabo
Any good rivalry needs strong visuals, and the contrast between Warhammer Perturabo and Dorn has been cemented in countless pieces of art. Dorn is often shown standing tall, clad in his golden armor, framed by the symbols of Imperial might. His posture is rigid, his expression firm—he is the wall that will not break.
Perturabo 40k, on the other hand, is usually seen surrounded by the wreckage of war. His armor is functional rather than ornate, his stance less about grandeur and more about calculation. Where Dorn’s imagery evokes the idea of unwavering duty, Perturabo Warhammer embodies exhaustion, resentment, and a determination to prove that destruction is just as important as defense.
Even after the Horus Heresy, their visual legacy continues. Daemon Prince Perturabo is now an iron-plated nightmare, while Dorn remains an immortal legend. One stands in the shadows of Chaos; the other still holds the walls of the Imperium.
Conclusion
The legacy of Perturabo is one of resentment, destruction, and a lifetime spent proving a point. From his days as the primarch of the Iron Warriors to his transformation into a daemon prince, Perturabo, his story is a tragedy of genius left unrecognized, of skill overshadowed, and of a grudge that quite literally cracked planets in half. While his rivalry with Rogal Dorn defined much of his arc, his bitterness ran deeper than any single feud.
Warhammer 40k Perturabo was never one for glory. He wasn’t draped in golden armor like his brothers, nor was he the favored son of the Emperor. He was a war machine, designed for the most brutal campaigns, and left to break his own soul in the process. His art, his models, and his lore all reflect that cold pragmatism. Even as a daemon prince Perturabo, his transformation wasn’t about indulgence like Fulgrim or madness like Angron—it was just another step in an endless war.
FAQs
Did Perturabo become a daemon?
Yes. After the Horus Heresy, Perturabo was eventually elevated to daemon prince Perturabo by the Chaos Gods. Unlike some of his traitor brothers who embraced their newfound power with zeal, he remained the same cold and pragmatic warlord he had always been. He didn’t turn into a mindless berserker or a preening demigod—he became a siege master of Chaos, still dedicated to tearing down anything that stood in his way.
What does Perturabo mean?
The name Perturabo is derived from Latin, roughly translating to “I endure” or “I suffer.” It fits him perfectly. He spent his life enduring impossible demands, suffering under the weight of his own bitterness, and eventually tearing down everything around him in response. Whether it was fate or irony, the name shaped his entire existence.
What happened to Perturabo 40k?
After the Horus Heresy, Perturabo retreated to the Eye of Terror with his Iron Warriors. Unlike some daemon primarchs who disappeared into madness or decadence, he remained active, constantly waging war and perfecting his siegecraft. He hasn’t had as much attention in recent editions of Warhammer, but he remains a major Chaos warlord. There’s always speculation about a new daemon primarch Perturabo model, but for now, he waits in the shadows, plotting his next move.
Why does Perturabo have tubes on his head?
The tubes and implants on Perturabo’s head are part of the cybernetic enhancements he made to himself over time. While some primarchs focused on psychic abilities or physical perfection, Perturabo saw technology as the ultimate tool. The tubes likely enhance his cognitive functions, allowing him to process siege strategies with machine-like efficiency. They also serve as a stark visual contrast to the more regal or monstrous appearances of his brothers—his modifications are functional, not decorative.
Final Thoughts
Perturabo Warhammer 40k lore is filled with moments of brilliance, tragedy, and pure destruction. His artwork, models, and stories paint a picture of a primarch who was never truly at peace—either with his brothers, his father, or himself. Whether it’s the burning of Olympia, his feud with Dorn, or his ascension as daemon primarch Perturabo, his name is forever tied to the relentless march of war. He may not be as flashy as some of his traitor kin, but if there’s one thing he proved, it’s that walls don’t last forever.
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