Traitor Legionary

Chaos Portal
Chaos Space Marines

A Chaos Space Marine Traitor Legionary^[1d]

Traitor Legionaries, or Chaos Legionaries, are the most common type of soldiers found in Chaos Warbands and Traitor Legions.^[1a]

Description

Standing over seven feet tall, they possess extraordinary physical attributes, including multiple hearts, superhuman strength, rapid healing, and resistance to pain. Trained for constant warfare, they fight with relentless dedication and without mercy.^[1a]

They are further empowered by the dark powers of Chaos and their unwavering devotion to the Dark Gods. After the Horus Heresy, many Space Marines turned away from the Emperor, choosing the path of Chaos for various reasons, from personal ambition to ideological conviction. Once fallen, they are beyond redemption, knowing they can expect no mercy from former brothers.^[1a]

Traitor Legionaries have all the strengths and skills of their loyalist kin, but are further augmented by the powers of Chaos and experience from ten thousand years of battle. Since the Horus Heresy these warriors have known that there can be no peace, forgiveness, or absolution for them. They are wholly committed to the path they now tread, for good or ill, and they can expect no quarter from their former battle-brothers. There is little uniformity between squads much of the organization and structure of the former Space Marine Legions has fallen by the wayside as they turned to the path of Chaos. In place of appointed sergeants they follow the strongest and most merciless Chaos Champions.^[1c]

Appearance

Whether a Traitor from the Imperium's ancient past or a recent Chaos Renegade, a Chaos Space Marine gradually undergoes a physical and spiritual transformation influenced by the dark powers he worships. His flesh merges with his armor, and his consciousness fuses with the machine spirits of his gear. Over time, this corruption manifests in grotesque forms, such as a helmet becoming a flayed skull or his body blending with the machinery of his armor. These twisted transformations often mirror the daemons of the Chaos Gods, marking the Marine as their servant, body and soul.^[1b]

Traitor Legionaries of the Black Legion^[4b]

Organization

Though their armament is similar to that of loyalist Space Marines, their structure and organization have become chaotic and fragmented. The strongest, most brutal of their number rise to lead, often without formal rank, and they fight to gain favor with the Chaos Gods. Their weapons may include trophies from fallen enemies or relics from the Horus Heresy. The most ambitious seek to prove themselves through personal combat, striving to become Champions of Chaos.^[1a]

Equipment

Power Armour

During the time of the Horus Heresy, Crusade-pattern power armor was being phased out in favor of more advanced designs for the Space Marine Legions. However, due to intense battles, both loyalist and traitor forces had to revert to older armor marks to make up for losses, often scavenging from fallen comrades. The armor of the Traitor Legions from this period often displayed the chaotic and tumultuous nature of the times, featuring studded and riveted plasteel plates instead of the later smooth ceramite designs.^[1b]

Chaos Space Marines frequently customized their armor with crests, horns, and other grotesque decorations. Newly turned renegades might still wear armor close to their original Chapter's standard gear, marked only by defiled imperial symbols. Over time, prolonged exposure to the warp transformed their armor, leading to mutations like spines, scales, or flickering warp energy.^[1b]

The armament of Traitor Legionaries differs little from their loyalist counterparts, consisting of Bolters, Plasma Guns, Meltaguns, Flamers, and Heavy Bolters or one-handed Bolt Pistols and Plasma Pistols. For close combat, they are equipped with Close Combat Weapons, Chainswords, Power Fists, Power Swords, Power Axes, or other ritual weapons.^[1c]

Specialized Legionaries

Havocs

Chaos Space Marine squads known as Havocs specialize in heavy weapons designed for anti-infantry and anti-armor attacks, overwhelming enemies with relentless firepower. The thrill of destruction becomes an obsession for many Havocs, who come to see themselves as gods of the battlefield. Over time, prolonged exposure to the Warp can cause their weapons to merge with their bodies, becoming twisted extensions of themselves. Guns blend with flesh, and ammunition hoppers turn into ravenous, living parts of their being. In the Warp, form is defined by compulsion, and the inner darkness of the Havoc is made manifest in their grotesque, fused form.^[1a]

Iron Warriors Chaos Terminator^[12]

Chosen

The most seasoned and devoted Chaos Space Marines are known as Chosen. Easily recognizable by their ornate armor adorned with forbidden runes and daemon-like helmets, they are clearly favored among the Chaos ranks. Equipped with the best wargear available, the Chosen are even more ruthless and callous than other Chaos Marines, often willing to sacrifice their comrades to gain favor with the gods. With centuries of combat experience, they typically lead the charge in battles, seeking glory and spoils. They answer only to the Chaos gods and their champions.^[1a]

Bikers

Chaos Biker squads are highly mobile and well-armed, riding bladed bikes that possess a dark, mechanical sentience. Known for their cruelty, these bikers relentlessly pursue enemies, sometimes melding physically with their bikes, which spew balefire and have oil flowing in their veins. Ideal for reconnaissance and hit-and-run raids, their bikes are designed for rugged terrain but often twisted by Chaos into grotesque forms. Fitted with boltguns and armed with blades and spurs, they dismember foes as they charge, making them fearsome and relentless in battle.^[1b]

Raptors

Raptors are the jump pack-equipped Chaos Space Marine equivalent of Assault Marines.^[11b]

Terminators

Clad in heavy Terminator Armour, Chaos Terminators are the fighting elite of any Chaos Space Marine warband.^[11a]

Possessed

Chaos Space Marine Possessed are Traitor Legionaries who have given themselves fully to the powers of Chaos and are now host to a potent Daemon.^[11a]

God-Specific Legionaries

• Berzerker - Bloodthirsty close combat specialists of Khorne.^[4a]
• Plague Marine - Disease-ridden implacable warriors of Nurgle.^[14]
• Rubric Marine - Mindless Tzeentchian automations of the Thousand Sons.^[11c]
• Noise Marine - Hedonistic warriors of Slaanesh that wield Sonic Weaponry.^[11d]

Chaos Space Marine Squad Miniatures

• 

  Legionary Kill Team
  (Kill Team: Nachmund)^[5]

• 

  Chaos Space Marines miniatures (8th Edition)

• 

  Chaos Space Marines miniatures
  (Shadowspear)^[7]

• 

  Chaos Space Marines miniatures (4th Edition)^[8]

• 

  Chaos Space Marines miniatures (3rd Edition)^[9]

• 

  Chaos Space Marines miniatures (2nd Edition)^[10]

• 

  Chaos Renegades (1st Edition)^[13]

Sources

• 1: Codex: Chaos Space Marines (8th Edition)
  • 1a: pg. 64
  • 1b: pg. 65
  • 1c: pg. 62
  • 1d: pg. 13
• 2: Codex: Chaos Space Marines (9th Edition), pg. 6
• 3: The Art of Warhammer 40,000 (2006), pg. 142
• 4: Codex: Chaos Space Marines (3rd Edition, 2nd Codex)
  • 4a: pg. 44
  • 4b: pg. 65
• 5: Warhammer Community : Sunday Preview – Spec Ops Skirmishes Come to Nachmund (06/03/22) (saved archive page, dated 06/03/22, last accessed 06/03/22)
• 6: Games Workshop Chaos Space Marine Squad saved page, original link: https://www.warhammer.com/en-WW/shop/Chaos-Space-Marines-2019?srsltid=AfmBOoqMPv5dnzpA7zyAOAOVZ74xdF5hiOY512tsgyUM7Em-uZZVbiq8 (last accessed 30/1/2025)
• 7: Codex: Daemonkin (8th Edition), pg. 11
• 8: Citadel Catalogue 2010, pg. 246
• 9 Games Workshop 2002 catalog, pg. 31
• 10: White Dwarf 203 (UK) pg. 71
• 11: Codex: Chaos Space Marines (4th Edition)
  • 11a: pgs. 28-29
  • 11b: pg. 34
  • 11c: pg. 37
  • 11d: pg. 39
• 12: Index Astartes I - Bitter and Twisted: The Iron Warriors Space Marine Legion
• 13: White Dwarf 104 (UK), pg. 40
• 14: Codex: Chaos Space Marines (6th Edition), pg. 46