Your guide to all 21 Warhammer 40k Primarchs created by the Emperor; from heroes to traitor legends, here’s their lore, and where they are now.
Updated on August 24th, 2025, by Rob Baer with new information and links to relevant content.
You can’t talk Warhammer 40k without the Primarchs kicking down the conversation like it’s a Black Crusade. From the golden-boy glory of Guilliman to the warp-drenched madness of Fulgrim, these demigods shaped the galaxy, and fans haven’t stopped arguing about them since.
This guide runs through all 20 of them: where they came from, where they are now (dead, missing, plotting…), and the moments that made them legendary. Loyalist or Traitor, these are the names that built the Imperium, and broke it.
40k Primarchs: Who’s Dead, Lost, or Causing Chaos
The Warhammer 40k’s Primarchs are the Emperor of Mankind’s powerful, imperfect “sons” who left their mark on the Imperium, and often a messy trail of chaos.
Whether you’re new to the lore or a fan of all things 40k, the tales of these Primarchs are packed with heroism, betrayal, and some intense family drama.
Which Primarchs Are Alive in Warhammer 40k?
The million-credit question: which Warhammer 40 000 Primarchs are still around in the current timeline?
- Roboute Guilliman – Alive and ruling as Lord Commander of the Imperium.
- Lion El’Jonson – Recently awakened and back in action.
- Magnus, Mortarion, Angron – All active as Daemon Princes of Chaos.
- Fulgrim – Just got a new model in 40k, so definitely alive.
- Perturabo, Lorgar Aurelian – Daemon Princes, waiting for their time to shine. Perturabo is currently in the Eye of Terror.
- Alpharius Omegon– Who knows? Dorn killed Alpharius, but they are the masters of deception, so you can never say 100%.
- Vulkan, Corvus Corax, Leman Russ, Jaghatai Khan – Missing but not confirmed dead.
- Ferrus Manus, Sanguinius, Horus, Konrad Curze, Rogal Dorn – Dead or believed dead. Well… Dorn might not be dead if GW really wants to pull a fast one.
What is a Primarch in Warhammer 40k?
The Primarchs Warhammer 40k lore centers on the Emperor’s grand experiment. Think of it this way: he wanted a squad of genetically perfect, larger-than-life commanders who could each lead a Space Marine Legion. The plan worked, sort of…
The Chaos Gods snatched these creations and scattered them across the galaxy, giving us twenty very different upbringings. Each Primarch grew into a leader molded by their environment, carrying both brilliance and crippling flaws.
When the Emperor finally reunited with them, they became generals, icons, and in some cases, walking disasters.
They weren’t just taller than average giants (though most stood 10-12 feet tall); they were built to inspire loyalty, fear, and sometimes awe. If you’ve ever wondered how many Primarchs are there in Warhammer 40k, the official answer is 20.
Add Constantin Valdor, the Emperor’s golden bodyguard who rivals their power, and some fans will tell you it’s really 21.
The Role of Primarchs in the Lore
Each Primarch was designed to embody a specific trait, from Guilliman’s administrative genius to Sanguinius’ angelic compassion. The problem? Those same traits often became their downfall.
- Fulgrim’s obsession with perfection turned into an obsession with Slaanesh.
- Angron’s tragic implants, the Butcher’s Nails, made him little more than a fury machine.
- Horus, the Emperor’s favorite, ended up leading the galaxy’s greatest betrayal.
Whether loyalist or traitor, every Primarch left a stamp on their Legion that still defines Warhammer 40k today. Their impact is baked into the culture of each Chapter, even ten thousand years later.
The Lost Primarchs
The big mystery: two Primarchs were erased from Imperial records completely. Known only as the “Forgotten” and the “Purged,” they’re the blank spots in the Emperor’s grand design.
Fan theories are endless. Some think they committed crimes too dark for even the Emperor to forgive. Others believe they’re hidden away, waiting for the Imperium’s darkest hour. Leman Russ even hinted that his Space Wolves may have been ordered to wipe one of them out, while the Lion dropped cryptic lines that his Legion almost suffered the same fate.
But it is more possible that it was the Lion who was behind it all, as detailed in the novel Fear to Tread:
‘I will not be responsible for the erasure of the Blood Angels from Imperial history. I will not have a third empty plinth beneath the roof of the Hegemon as my Legion’s only memorial!’
For fans, the Lost Primarchs 40k mystery is the galaxy’s favorite unsolved riddle.
Constantin Valdor: The 21st Primarch That Wasn’t?
Before the Primarchs 40k, there was Constantin Valdor, the Captain-General of the Adeptus Custodes. He fought at the Emperor’s side long before the Great Crusade, and some argue he was even more perfect than the Primarchs themselves.
Rumors swirl that Valdor might be the Emperor’s “prototype,” a 21st Primarch in all but name. After the Heresy, he simply vanished. Now whispers in the lore suggest he may still be alive, cloaked in gold, operating in the shadows of the 41st Millennium.
Loyalist Primarchs: The Emperor’s Heroes
Roboute Guilliman: The Blue Bureaucrat Who Actually Fights
The Ultramarine Primarch is back from stasis and running the Imperium like the world’s most stressed-out CEO (and who knows, maybe we’ll see a glimpse of him in the Cavill Amazon series). Thanks to a little Eldar magic and Belisarius Cawl’s tinkering, Guilliman was revived and now bears the title of Imperial Regent.
He enforces the Codex Astartes, fights in person when needed, and keeps the Imperium from completely imploding.
Lion El’Jonson: The Brooding Strategist
Raised in the forests of Caliban, the Primarch of the Dark Angels embodies stoic discipline. After centuries of slumber inside The Rock, he’s returned to a galaxy gone mad. Fans are already watching his uneasy dynamic with Guilliman, because nothing says family reunion like two brothers with wildly different leadership styles.
Vulkan: The Eternal Forgefather
The Salamanders’ Primarch Warhammer 40k is compassionate, unkillable, and known for his smithing skills. As a “Perpetual,” Vulkan always comes back. Though missing, many believe he’ll return when the Imperium needs him most, probably with a hammer big enough to break a planet.
Leman Russ: The Emperor’s Wolf
The Space Wolves Primarch 40k was fierce, loyal, and blunt to a fault. After vanishing on a mysterious “hunt,” legend says he’ll return in the Imperium’s darkest hour. Until then, his wolves keep his name alive with mead, claws, and chainswords.
Sanguinius: The Angel of Baal
The most beloved of the loyalist Primarchs Warhammer 40k, Sanguinius literally had angel wings. Noble and selfless, he died confronting Horus during the Siege of Terra, a sacrifice that left the Blood Angels permanently scarred with the Red Thirst and Black Rage.
Rogal Dorn: The Stone-Willed Defender
The Imperial Fists Primarch built walls and stood on them until his last breath. Dorn’s iron will saved Terra during the Heresy, but his fate is hazy. Some say he died in a battle with Chaos, others that only his skeletal hand was ever found.
Corvus Corax: The Shadow in the Warp
The Raven Guard Primarch was a master of stealth and hit-and-run warfare. Haunted by his failures, Corax disappeared into the Warp, where he’s rumored to stalk Chaos itself.
Ferrus Manus: The Iron Gorgon
The Iron Hands Primarch was known for his metal arms and pursuit of strength. Tragically, he was killed by Fulgrim during the Heresy, a death that still defines the Iron Hands’ obsession with purging weakness.
Jaghatai Khan: The Warhawk of Chogoris
The White Scars Primarch 40k was a cavalry genius who vanished into the Webway chasing Dark Eldar. Rumors suggest he might one day return, riding out with speed unmatched.
Traitor Primarchs: The Fallen Icons
Horus Lupercal: The Warmaster Who Broke the Galaxy
Once the Emperor’s favorite, Horus turned traitor after falling to Chaos. He led the Horus Heresy and nearly destroyed the Imperium. The Emperor obliterated him so completely that not even his soul survived.
Magnus the Red: The Crimson Sorcerer
The Thousand Sons Primarch 40k mastered psychic sorcery to save humanity, but ended up destroying Prospero. Betrayed and broken, Magnus joined Tzeentch and became a towering Daemon Prince.
Fulgrim: The Perfectionist Gone Wrong
The WH40k Primarch of the Emperor’s Children sought beauty in all things, but Slaanesh’s temptations twisted him into a serpentine Daemon Prince. His betrayal of Ferrus Manus is one of the Heresy’s darkest moments.
Angron: Rage Made Flesh
The World Eaters Primarch was enslaved, tortured, and surgically mutilated. His implants left him consumed by rage, and he found his place as Khorne’s favorite blood-soaked Daemon Prince.
Perturabo: The Bitter Siege Master
The Iron Warriors Primarch grew resentful after being treated as the Imperium’s builder and breaker. Chaos gave him validation, and he’s now a Daemon Prince whose bitterness matches his tactical genius.
Lorgar Aurelian: The Faithful Heretic
The Word Bearers Primarch wanted to worship the Emperor as a god. When scolded for it, he turned his faith to Chaos instead. Now he spreads the dark gospel as a Daemon Prince of Chaos Undivided.
Konrad Curze: The Night Haunter
Raised on terror, the Night Lords Primarch believed fear was the only true form of justice. Murdered by an assassin (or was he?), his Legion still carries on his brutal legacy.
Mortarion: The Lord of Decay
The Death Guard Primarch hated psykers, but his bitterness drove him into the arms of Nurgle. Now he spreads plague across the galaxy as a Daemon Prince, rotting worlds in the name of his new master.
Alpharius & Omegon: The Twins of Mystery
The Alpha Legion Primarchs thrive on secrecy and deception. Officially traitors, but maybe not? Their true motives remain one of the greatest mysteries in all of Warhammer 40k.
The Current Status of Primarchs in the 41st Millennium
So where does that leave us now? In the 41st Millennium, two loyalists, Guilliman and the Lion, are confirmed active, while Chaos boasts four Daemon Prince Primarchs. The rest? Dead, missing, or waiting for their grand reappearance.
Rumors keep the fandom buzzing: Vulkan’s resurrection, Leman Russ returning from his hunt, Jaghatai Khan riding back from the Webway, or even the Lost Primarchs stepping out of the shadows.
The tension between Guilliman’s pragmatic leadership and the Lion’s brooding independence is already setting up the next big storyline. And let’s be honest, the thought of a Primarch 40k reunion has fans foaming at the mouth.
Fan Theories, Jokes, and Memes
Warhammer fans don’t let the Primarchs stay too serious for long. Memes portray:
- Guilliman as the overworked CEO of a crumbling empire.
- Angron as the sibling who desperately needs yoga.
- Fulgrim as the poster child for impossible beauty standards.
- The Emperor as the ultimate “dad who went out for milk and never came back.”
This humor keeps the lore fun, reminding us that the WH 40k Primarchs are as much a flawed family as they are legends.
Final Thoughts on the Primarchs of Warhammer 40k
The Primarchs of Warhammer 40k remain the beating heart of the setting. They’re warriors, schemers, martyrs, and monsters, and they’re also the biggest source of drama in the galaxy.
From Guilliman’s boardroom wars to Angron’s battlefield tantrums, the Primarchs keep shaping the Imperium’s story ten thousand years later. Fans will argue forever about which one was the greatest, which might return, and what really happened to the Lost Primarchs.
One thing’s certain: as long as there are wars to fight and memes to post, the Warhammer 40k Primarchs aren’t going anywhere.
A Complete Guide to Every Warhammer 40k Faction
Oh no… thanks for the huge spoilers!