Here’s how the Emperor’s mighty Thunder Warriors from the Unification Wars would play in Warhammer 40k.
If you don’t know what they are, Thunder Warriors are a thing of the past but were basically the OG Space Marines. While they weren’t actual Space Marines, they were the early warriors that helped him conquer and reach prestige.
If you’re a long-time fan of 40k and have wondered what it would be like to see them follow the 9th edition 40k rules set. Here’s how we think they would stack up, but tell us how you’d like to see them in the game!
Who Were The Thunder Warriors?
They were the Emperor’s first batch of super soldiers that assisted him in the battles of the Unification Wars against Techno-Barbarians.
Believe it or not, they used to have a model way back in the day.
They were called Thunder Warriors because Big E’s logo back then was a thunderbolt, and they rocked the symbols across their armor. Being that the Emperor wasn’t actually the Emperor yet. Nor did he have the resources he did when he made Space Marines; he had to cut corners.
Also, they sorta look like RoboCop.
The Thunder Warriors were definitely super soldiers in their own right. However, they did not have nearly the lifespan of a standard Space Marine and would eventually become obsolete. Once the Emperor got the resources for better supersoldiers, he had these guys “disappear.” There hasn’t been any record of them since.
So What Would They Look Like in 40k?
Believe it or not, they actually had early (prototype) versions of weapons that Space Marines use today. It was thought that they had access to early plasma and experimental ammunition for bolters. The Thunder Warriors were tougher than regular Space Marines in base size/muscle alone.
With that said, their armor wasn’t as advanced. Taking all this into consideration, in 9th edition, their stats might be:
M 6″ BS 3+ WS 3+ S5 T5 W1(maybe 2) A2 Ld8 Sv 4+
Since they are tougher than a regular Space Marine, there’s a chance they could have two wounds, but one seems more likely as they don’t have all the extra organs and such. Now, when compared with a Custodian Guard, could they stand up in the crazy current Grimdark future?
M 6″ BS 2+ WS 2+ S5 T5 W3 A3 Ld11 Sv 2+
They have quite the stat line, but they have been perfecting them for generations! Plus, they are the Emp’s primary defense, so he would obviously want them beastly. Still, if the points were right, it would be super awesome to see them make a comeback. Their biggest strength and weakness might be their weapons. Since they were so much more experimental, they could either work perfectly or fizzle out.
As far as weapons go, they’d probably have something like an even faultier plasma. Maybe on a roll of one, regardless of overcharging, they would be slain. And to overcharge, you’d have to roll a 3+ to see if you even could fire the overcharged profile. Perhaps it would be their tech and or stratagems that would set them apart on the tabletop.
They’d probably have something like an even faultier plasma. And to overcharge, you’d have to roll a 3+ to not die from the plasma. Then maybe once per battle, they could shoot special ammunition rounds. Perhaps it would be their tech and or stratagems that would set them apart on the tabletop.
Points-wise, they would likely sit just a few points above a normal Marine and well below a Custodes. Unfortunately, there will probably never be a full release of Thunder Warriors back into the game unless GW makes a special exception for a named Thunder Warrior…Arik Taranis.
Did GW Leave The Window Open For Thunder Warriors to Return?
In the book “Outcast Dead,” Arik Taranis and his Lieutenant Ghota managed to survive the rest of the Thunder Warrior’s eradication and found a dead traitor marine and harvested his progenoid gland.
Otherwise known as Geneseed. This is the DNA-storing gland that sets apart an Astartes from an average human. Somehow, they managed to implant the genetic data into themselves, making them somewhere between both warriors. (Probably called a Thunder Astartes).
After this, things went dark on the whole story. They could have settled down on Terra and died in the great Siege or may have escaped and explored the rest of space.
Either way, the most likely area we might see these guys pop up could be something like a Blackstone Fortress expansion. We’ve already seen the obscure Ambull and Men of Iron models come to the tabletop, so why not them as well?
What do you think about the Thunder Warriors? What would their datasheet look like? Do you think GW would ever throw a Thunder Warrior model into a special release?
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About the Author: Travis Pasch
Travis Pasch
Job Title: Head Writer & Editor
Socials: @paschbass
About Travis Pasch: Travis has been a Warhammer 40k hobbyist since the 1990s, playing the game since Third Edition. Through extensive traveling, he’s seen a lot of the miniatures hobby from across the world, giving him a unique perspective on the latest gaming topics and trends.
Travis’s brother even owns a commission painting studio, where he’s picked up a lot of good advice and techniques for painting Warhammer and tabletop miniatures over the years, as well. Travis joined the Spikey Bits team in 2019 and has been the lead writer since 2020.
Currently, he’s working on converting all his 40k Adeptus Mechanicus models and becoming a true tech enjoyer, complete with both sad and happy robot noises!
