Build your own custom Space Marine chapter—name it, paint it, rule it your way; no gatekeeping, just good vibes and bolters.
Updated April 8th, 2025, by Rob Baer with new information and links to relevant content from preview day!
Games Workshop dropped rules for building your own custom Space Marine chapter—and it’s about time. Now you can name your squad, paint them however you like, and pick rules that actually match your style of play. No more shoehorning your neon-pink tacti-bros into Ultramarines rules because “lore.”
This update gives hobbyists full control, with real options baked into the Codex. It’s not just about looks anymore—your homebrew chapter can stomp the tabletop with rules that feel tailor-made. Let’s break it down.
So You Want to Make a Custom Space Marine Chapter
So, you’ve decided it’s time to create your own Space Marine chapter. Good call. Why settle for someone else’s vision of genetically-enhanced super-soldiers when you can roll up your sleeves and put your own stamp on the galaxy? The Warhammer 40K universe is more than ready for your crew of power-armored legends.
The Basics: Name, Look, Vibe
Let’s start with the basics. Your Warhammer 40,000 chapter needs a name. Something that hits just the right mix of ominous, dramatic, and slightly absurd—because hey, it’s Warhammer.
Then there’s the chapter symbol. Maybe it’s a burning skull, a lightning-wreathed blade, or a minimalist eagle head with extra menace.
Whatever you go with, make it something you’ll enjoy painting over and over and over again. Speaking of paint, you’ll need a color scheme, too. Are they a Successor Chapter made of midnight-black stealth operators? Gleaming silver knight-types?
Rusty, weather-beaten veterans who’ve seen too much and are held together with prayer and ceramite? Up to you (just be sure to come up with a cool Chapter Master).
Where They Come From (Or Don’t)
Now comes the juicy bit. If you’re into the lore, you’ll want to pick a founding chapter—basically the Space Marine version of a family tree. Your custom chapter could trace its gene-seed back to, say, the noble Ultramarines or the fire-loving Salamanders.
Or maybe you just shrug and say, “Unknown origins (and maybe the Lords of Terra are looking for them),” and go full Blood Ravens with the mystery angle. Then, you get to make the entire Chapter’s history from the Horus Heresy to today!
Let’s Talk Tactics
Once the name, look, and backstory are locked in, it’s time to start messing around with the actual tabletop rules. The 9th Edition Space Marine Codex lets you mix and match traits with Successor Tactics. You get to pick two traits that define how your chapter fights. This is where the fun really kicks in.
In 10th, you don’t get the exact same setup, but you can pick your detachments to meet your wants. However, it’s a little different than before… but don’t let that stop you from making your own custom chapter! Let’s look back at the rules GW dropped to give you some more ideas!
There’s a combo where your guys get to re-roll a hit and wound every time they attack—no frills, just solid reliability. Want to give your units an edge at range? You can bump their bolters’ reach and make those S4 shots feel a little more serious.
Prefer a more sneaky vibe? There’s an option where units count as being in cover if they’re more than 12 inches away. It’s not game-breaking, but it helps, unless you run into Space Wolves and then… well, good luck.
If you want to slap around specific enemy types, there’s a tactic that lets you pick a target faction keyword and go full “I have a grudge against you.” That one gives you re-rolls in melee against your chosen nemesis every time you charge or do a heroic intervention. Feels personal, and it kind of is.
Then there’s the tactic for people who like to roll with big squads. If you’re running chunky blobs of Marines or maxing out plasma death machines like Hellblasters, the Indomitable trait gives you a bit of staying power that could make your opponent sweat, perfect for a Space Marine Custom Chapter.
Sketch It Out First
To help you brainstorm your chapter’s identity, Warhammer Community even dropped a downloadable design sheet. It’s great for sketching out your heraldry, experimenting with color combos, and just noodling around with ideas before you commit paint to plastic.
So, What’s Your Chapter About?
So, which combo are you leaning toward? Are you going to go full flamers and channel your inner Salamander? Or maybe a sniper-heavy force with silent operators in the backfield?
If you’ve already got your chapter locked in, show it off! Post some pics, tell their story, and let others see what makes your Marines different from the next squad of gene-bred zealots.
Custom chapters are more than just a coat of paint. They’re your own slice of the 41st Millennium. And they’re a reminder that in a universe full of grimdark doom, you can still have a little fun by building something uniquely yours—and blasting some heretics while you’re at it.
Learn How to Play Space Marines Here!
Will you be creating your own custom Space Marine Chapter?
