Space Marines are getting eclipsed by the latest Primaris model and rules hotness to hit the scene. Will they be the next Thunder Warriors?
Looking back at a recent Black Library book, there were a few tidbits between Marines, both Loyalist and Heretic, that seemed to foreshadow the same grim fate that the Thunder Warriors met. Check it out.
Before we jump in, it’s important to recall that we’ve already seen GW’s graveyard, Warhammer Legends. This is where good models go to die (never being updated again) and there is a growing suspicion by hobbyists that this may be the eventual final resting place for normal Space Marines.
Regular Space Marines, 40k’s Next Thunder Warriors…
Looking back at “Of Honour and Iron”, there are multiple conversations between a normal Astartes (Loyalist and Traitor) about the new Primaris Marines…
Digging into the conversation between two Loyalists, you can see that the Primaris hasn’t heard of the Thunder Warriors. However, the older Marine recalls the “disappearance” of the Thunder Warriors just after they finished their jobs as crusaders. The Primaris, blatantly asks the if (Helios) feels like the same fate awaits him and a bit of chilling foreshadowing takes place.
Even the Traitors See What’s Happening
Looking at another instance out of the book, Helios is about to finish off an Iron Warrior when the Iron Warrior speaks about the Thunder Warriors. He says “That is a name that may mean nothing to you. But we who built your Imperium remember their faces. We remember the purges that were carried out when they were judged obsolete and cast aside by us…”
Foreshadowing the Future?
Obviously, we can see that the normal Marines, both Loyalist and Traitor may feel a bit uneasy about the Primaris’ existence. The Primaris are more versatile and better-equipped, etc. Just as the Space Marines were compared to the Thunder Warriors. The Emperor may even view the Primarchs, more as weapons than sons. He could have no problem replacing the old with the better. Of course, in order to save his Imperium.
As of right now, Roboute is the leading Imperial Warmaster calling the shots. And Guilliman is known to treat his sons more as weapons than anything else. He comes off as cold-yet highly admired and there has been tension with Cawl as of late. The fact that the Primaris were given to multiple Chapters as gifts almost overnight could even be enough to raise suspicion.
Lorewise, there are a few characters out there, one of the main ones being Gabriel Seth, that feels like the Primaris have a darker existence. He feels that Chapters who accept the Primaris will become “Ultramarines in red armor”. There have also been multiple occasions where the Primaris Marines across all Chapters seem to speak more about Guilliman and his plans than their own Primarch. With all of these events coming together, there is the cold possibility of Guilliman “flipping a switch” and turning the Primaris against other Loyalists.
What Have We Seen on the Tabletop?
Lorewise, we may be only getting foreshadowing for what may come. But for the tabletop, regular Marine units are getting phased out. Named characters like Shrike, Marneus, Tigurius, etc. have crossed the Rubicon Primaris. That means that if anyone wants to take them, they’ll have their Primaris stats and model as the latest source.
And as for age-old Astartes tanks, the Vindicator and Predator both lost their Stratagem support overnight in the new Marine codex. Linebreaker Bombardment and Kill Shot are gone. To add even more to the pot, we haven’t seen any normal Marine support since before the start of 8th. Every kind of release having to do with the Astartes has all been Primaris. Just to name a few, we’ve seen:
- Hellblasters
- Inceptors
- Intercessors
- Infiltrators
- Eliminators
- Repulsors
- Invictor Warsuits
- Redemptors
- Aggressors
The list could keep on going. In the midst of all of these exciting new models, we haven’t seen any word on normal Astartes. The only kind of action they’ve been taking is within the Black Library books like the one above. With that said, the normal Marines may not be having a good time.
While there might not be anything new for normal Marines in sight, they still have a wider model range. With so many options of weapons and units, the normal Marines are actually more flexible than the Primaris. However, in the areas where Primaris do have a stake, they seem to be the better option now.
What are your thoughts on Primaris Marines? Do you think Roboute will flip the switch and cause the Primaris to execute the remaining normal Astartes?
Did your favorite units get left behind in the new Space Marine 2.0 codex? Have the Predators and Vindicators gone down with the ship so to speak?
Would the Imperium be overrun if they just killed off half of their fighting force? Let us know in the comments of our Facebook Hobby Group, and sign up to get your free hobby updates newsletter (with discount coupon codes) each morning as well!
About the Author: Wesley Floyd
Wesley Floyd
Job Title: Staff Writer
Joined: 2018
Socials: @RealmbrushPainting
About Wesley Floyd: Wes has been in the Warhammer hobby since 2015 and joined the Spikey Bits writing team in 2018. He is known for his satirist takes on trending topics and imaginative yet amazingly affordable hobby solutions to painting Warhammer miniatures.
Imperial fanboy, tabletop fanatic, and the self-proclaimed King of Sprues. He knows for a fact that Mephiston red is the best-tasting paint and is the commission painting equivalent of a Wendy’s 4 for $4. If you like what he writes and want to contact him or have your tabletop minatures painted (to a mostly okayish standard), message him on Instagram.
