Intro to Warhammer 40K: The Armies – The Forces of the Imperium

The forces of the Empire are serving the divine will of their God-Emperor in preserving humanity against all those baddies we mentioned last week. The forces are broken into three basic groups: the masses of the Imperial Guard, the superhuman Space Marines, and the militant forces of the Inquisition\Ecchlesiarchy.

The backbone of the Emperor’s forces is the faceless numbers of the Imperial Guard. Members of the IG are not indoctrinated super-humans; they are the normal inhabitants of the worlds within the reaches of the imperial boundaries. They are recruited from their home worlds en masse and shipped to a far distant field of battle, or are assigned to a Planetary Defense Force (PDF). The IG excel at wars of attrition where wave after wave of troops are thrown at the enemy forces, as well as mechanized assaults led by the fearsome Leman Russ Battle tanks. Game play with IG looks like numerous infantry models in large platoon “blobs” laying down massed las-gun fire, supported by Manticore missile launchers and Hydra Flak tank fire. Perhaps the most potent army build on the competition scene currently is the mechanized IG list, where the general takes a high number of Chimera transports, Manticores, Valkyrie Gunships, Leman Russ Tank variants, and anything else with treads on it as a massed force that overwhelms its opponents with more armor plating and firepower than they can handle.

Imperial Guard by Immerhass of BoLS forum

The Space Marines are the elite enforcers of the Emperor’s justice. They are super human warriors that are capable of precision striking through orbital drop pods, teleporting veterans in tactical dreadnought armor, as well as fielding some of the heaviest armor in all the game. The Marines are separated in multiple chapters and successor chapters, each with their own home world and tactical preference. In terms of game play there are a number of various chapters that have their own codecies in addition to the standard Codex, or Vanilla, Marines.

Codex Marines are the quintessential “jack-of-all-trades, master of none” style of army. They still are one of the most flexible armies capable of being assault heavy, infiltrating and striking on the first turn, or a shooting heavy army capable of laying down numerous templates and Twin-Linked (re-rollable) shots. The back bone of the Codex Marine chapters are the reliable Tactical squad, typically taken in 10 man squads with an assault weapon and heavy weapon. The Codex marines have a wide selection of special characters that allow a player to shape the playstyle of an army list. Captain Shrike allows the entire army to be fleet, Vulkan makes all Thunder Hammers, Flamers, and Melta twin linked, or Khan which allows then entire army to outflank. Correct combination of HQ choices and unit selection can make a very competitive list.

Imperial Fists by Mal of BoLS forums

Black Templars are an assault heavy Marine chapter known for their zeal in destroying heretics and psykers. The BT’s are known for their tactical squads equipped with chainswords and bolt pistols being transported by the destructive Land Raider Crusader. While not the most competitive army currently on the scene, the BT’s are due up for a new codex in the near future.

Black Templars by Grendels Lair

Dark Angels are a chapter with a dangerous and shameful secret their members are busily seeking to stamp out. They are known for their fielding of the Ravenwing and the Deathwing squads. The Ravenwing is a squadron  of attack bikes supported by a land speeder, while the Deathwing is a force of Terminators capable of crushing any resistance, the latter of which is still considered to be a relatively competitive composition.

Dark Angels by Gaalsien at Dakka Dakka forum

The Blood Angels are a force tainted with a blood induced rage and known for their swift moving vehicles and jump pack assault troops. Multiple Assault squads, Baal Predators, Stormraven gunships, the Death Company, Vindicators, and Razorbacks are prolific in a BA list. Extremely dangerous in close combat as well as present considerable difficulty with their fast moving vehicles. Currently the BA’s are considered to be a top tier competitive codex.

Blood Angels by Sorienor of BoLS forum

Last but not least we have the Space Wolves. The sons of Russ are known for their Longfang squads, Thunderwolf Calvary, Vidicators, Skimmers, Wolf Scouts, and Bloodclaws. They are a feral chapter typically fielded withviscous close combat and multiple Razorbacks loaded with heavy weapon teams. MSU (Multiple Small Units) is the trend currently with these top tier competitive army.

Space Wolves by Mannahnin at Dakka Dakka forums

Finally, we have the forces of the Inquisition and Ecchlesiarchy. These are the forces dedicated to eradicating the taint of Chaos mutation and threat of heretical teachings among the Imperium. They are divided into three major Ordos: The Ordo Malleus (threat beyond), Ordo Hereticus (threat within), Ordo Xenos (threat without). Inquisitional representatives and characters make appearances in all the armies though rarely will be fielded, or can be, on their own:

First, there is the Ordo Malleus commonly referred to as the Demonhunters. The Chamber Millitant of the Ordo Malleus is comprised of the Grey Knights forces. The Grey Knights are an elite army filled with terminators and land raiders. All members of the GK’s are equipped with potent Psycannons and force weapons capable of destroying demons and humans alike. On the table, a GK force is often supplemented by inducted guard and Inquisitional forces, or seen as an elite army with very few models.

Grey Knights by Fritz at Fritz 40K

Second, we have the militant Chamber of the Order Hereticus, the Adepta Sororitas, or Sisters of Battle. The Sororitas are a fearsome force of power armored human women that hunt down the heretic with fervent zeal. Also an army that is rarely seen without Inquisitional or other inducted allies, they specialize in the use of purging fire. On the table the Sisters are bolter-wielding combatants close to the Marines in resilience though able to field the most flamer or melta weapons in a single army.

Sisters of Battle, Celestian Squad by Sister Lucy of BoLS forum

And for an honorable mention we have the enormous ollection of Gir’s custom Space Marine chapter the Wings of Sanguinus…

Wings of Sanguinus by Gir from BoLS forum