Where have all the powered armor Space Marines gone? Come see some thoughts on why normal marines seem to be disappearing from GW’s publications as of late.
It hasn’t even been a year yet since we saw the introduction of Primaris Marines to Warhammer 40k. Which depending on who you ask, along with Adeptus Astartes, are terms GW can lay claim to instead of their previous “Space Marine”.
Today our guest writer, Matt P, is pointing out how he’s noticed Primaris seems to be the focus of Games Workshop. Come find out what he had to say.
I was at the game store the other day when I overheard some guys talking about how Games Workshop has been emphasizing “power armor” over everything else lately. This really cracked me up, but I was in a hurry so I didn’t get into it with them. Inspired by the post about how the Custodes are force-feeding the Primaris to the older chapters, I thought I’d start up a discussion here about what I’ve noticed.
Not only is GW not putting out new “power armored” models, they are taking great pains to remove them from everything.
How many pictures of power armored Marines are in the following publications? By power armored, I mean (A) infantry not bikes, (B) Loyalist not Chaos, and (C) 40,000 timeline not 30,000.
1) Chapter Approved 2017
2) The Citadel Paint App
3) December White Dwarf (I haven’t checked other sources.)
What would you expect, compared to Primaris marines? 50-50? 75%? Here are the results:
1) CA 2017. There is one picture of Grey Knights in power armor and one Apocalypse picture that has some Ultramarines.
2) Paint App: None. Grey Knights are represented by a Paladin. The only power armored guys are Chaos. Does anyone remember if this was the case when it was released?
3) Dec WD: There is one advertisement showing a Forge World 30k special character in power armor. Even the Golden Daemon pictures are all Primaris or two of the new Deathwatch Character. Same with readers choice, and the Dark Angel battle report uses all Primaris save for Terminators and Bikes. There is one Thousand Son Sorceror but no plain Power Armor marines that have Primaris versions.
4) Jan WD: Only power armor seen are some Space Wolves MK4 marines from the Prospero box.
5) Feb WD: Golden Demon section has Cypher and the robed Veteran models opposite a squad of Blood Angels with their new plastic chaplain, a small picture of Thousand Sons,
Another interesting point of note is the only non-special character power armored models in the Dark Angels codex are the old Veterans with robes. on page 65 and the overleaf battle picture on page 133 features some power armor squads in the extreme corners of the two-page action shot.
This doesn’t feel, to me, like they have just added new models to the line. When the Centurions came out, we still saw all of the old models. This feels far more insidious than that. It is like they still want to do what they did to form Age of Sigmar’s universe but don’t want anyone to see it coming.
What was the last loyalist plastic power armored model to be released? Cypher? What was before that? Um, Wulfen don’t count. I honestly can’t remember.
What does it mean if GW not only won’t put out any more regular power armored models and much more won’t even show pictures of them?
Gone are the “armor through the ages” stories. Gone are all existing special characters. Is there going to be a plague that kills all non-Primaris Marines?
What are the non-Primaris numbers in other publications that you’ve found? What do you think this means for the future?
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About the Author: Rob Baer
Rob Baer
Job Title: Managing Editor
Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
Socials: Rob Baer on Facebook and @catdaddymbg on X
About Rob Baer: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor of Spikey Bits, the leading tabletop gaming news website focused on the hobby side of wargaming and miniatures.
Rob also co-founded and currently hosts the Long War Podcast, which has over 350 episodes and focuses on tabletop miniatures gaming, specializing in Warhammer 40k. and spent six years writing for Bell of Lost Souls.
Every year, along with his co-hosts, he helps host the Long War 40k Doubles Tournament at Adepticon and the Long War 40k Doubles at Las Vegas Open, which attracts over 350 players from around the world.
Rob has won many Warhammer 40k Tournaments over the years, including multiple first-place finishes in Warhammer 40k Grand Tournaments over the years and even winning 1st place at the Adepticon 40k Team Tournament.
With over 30 years of experience in retail and distribution, Rob knows all the products and exactly which ones are the best. As a member of GAMA (Game Manufacturers Association), he advocates for gaming stores and manufacturers in these difficult times, always looking for the next big thing to feature for the miniatures hobby, helping everyone to provide the value consumers want.
While he’s played every edition of Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy (since 5th Edition) and has been hobbying on miniatures since the 1980s, Titans of all sizes will always be his favorite! It’s even rumored that his hobby vault rivals the Solemnance Galleries, containing rulebooks filled with lore from editions long past, ancient packs of black-bordered Magic Cards, and models made of both pewter and resin.
