Difference between revisions of "Dreadnought"

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A Chaos Dreadnought is a Dreadnought in the service of the [[Chaos Space Marines]]. Under the influence of [[Chaos]], many Chaos Dreadnoughts have degenerated into insane monsters, known as [[Helbrutes]].{{Fn|19a}} However, exemplars of ancient Dreadnought patterns still exist, having become dark reflections of their imperial counterparts.{{Fn|19b}}{{Fn|19c}}
 
A Chaos Dreadnought is a Dreadnought in the service of the [[Chaos Space Marines]]. Under the influence of [[Chaos]], many Chaos Dreadnoughts have degenerated into insane monsters, known as [[Helbrutes]].{{Fn|19a}} However, exemplars of ancient Dreadnought patterns still exist, having become dark reflections of their imperial counterparts.{{Fn|19b}}{{Fn|19c}}
  
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==Xenos "Dreadnought" equivalents==
+
==Xenos Dreadnoughts==
 
===Ork Dreadnoughts===
 
===Ork Dreadnoughts===
 
[[Orks]] also have their own version of a Dreadnought, called a [[Deff Dread]], and a smaller version called a [[Killa Kan]].{{Fn|20}}
 
[[Orks]] also have their own version of a Dreadnought, called a [[Deff Dread]], and a smaller version called a [[Killa Kan]].{{Fn|20}}

Latest revision as of 01:04, 31 March 2026

Targetdrone.gif This article is about the Space Marine Dreadnoughts. For other uses of Dreadnought, see Dreadnought (disambiguation).

Dreadnoughts are a classification of large war-machines.[2a][20][21]

Imperial Dreadnoughts

Space Marines Dreadnoughts

A Castaferrum Pattern Dreadnought of the Ultramarines[22]

Space Marine Dreadnoughts are piloted by an honoured Space Marine hero whose body has been ravaged in battle. Dreadnoughts are also known as the Old Ones in the Space Marines Chapters.[2a][3a]

A Dreadnought is a large, armoured walker which carries both powerful guns and lethal close combat weaponry, built to withstand all but the most powerful of enemy firepower and often relied upon by Space Marine forces to tear an opening in enemy defences.[2d][3a][3b] Each Dreadnought contains a living being, permanently interfaced with the machine through a form of Mind Impulse Unit. Dreadnoughts are surprisingly agile, able to walk and balance with the ease of a living creature. It is said that old proto-Dreadnoughts of the Unification Wars could be piloted by non-Adeptus Astartes warriors, but later only Space Marines could be interred in them.[2d]

Dreadnought machines themselves are ancient, the oldest dating back tens of thousands of years to the Age of Strife. Because the art of constructing them has been almost lost, Dreadnoughts are revered as rare machines, though the most distinguished specialists still dare to construct 'new' Dreadnoughts.[2a] Although a Dreadnought can be damaged and disabled, it can survive unless the actual armoured tomb containing the occupant's form is destroyed.[2a] Extended neural interface with a vehicle as large and complex as a Dreadnought causes immense mental stress on the occupant, creating conditions such as lethargy, confusion, dyschronometria, and even senility.[23] Thus when not fighting, the Chapter's Techmarines will allow the fallen heroes to sleep away the centuries[3b][9], sealed in stasis vaults[2a], until once more they are called to battle.[3b][9] Usually Dreadnoughts wake from their slumber only in time of great need or when their advice is required for some special missions.[2a] When awoken, Dreadnoughts can be deployed for weeks without maintenance or the need to return to slumber. In extreme circumstances, a Dreadnought can even be pushed to remain active for several months without rest. However, the amniotic fluids which preserve the pilot and the neural input systems which link them to the walker will begin to increasingly degenerate the longer they go without sleep.[15]

a Redemptor Dreadnought with its Sarcophagus exposed

Pilot

The pilots within Dreadnoughts are Marines who have suffered mortal wounds in battle, maimed and crippled beyond recovery: instead of being mercifully killed, the greatest heroes are instead given what is considered the honour of continuing to serve the Emperor past their normal lives. Once interred within the Dreadnought, the Marine cannot leave the metal womb and is destined for a life of endless battle until destroyed. Some are so ancient their memories may extend back to the founding of their chapter and its earliest history. For this reason they are revered not just as powerful warriors but also as ageless forebears and living embodiments of battles fought long ago. If a Dreadnought is destroyed, the Space Marines will fight to retrieve the armoured shell so that the occupant can be returned to the chapter's mausoleum for his long-deserved final rest.[5]

All Dreadnoughts contain speakers and the warrior within can communicate with other Space Marines. An interred warrior’s thoughts and emotions are translated by the Dreadnought’s systems into a simulated vocalization loosely reminiscent of the pilot’s original flesh voice.[15] An example of a machine quirk might be the translation of laughter into the cycling of autocannon rounds.[28] The synthesised, crackling voice emanates from within the machine, making a conversation with a Dreadnought an eerie experience. Traditionally, every Dreadnought also bears a scroll with the inscribed name of the hero on it. When a new warrior is interred as a pilot, the Dreadnought will take a new name.[2a]

The amniotic fluid within the sarcophagus housing the pilot is like a thick oil and is numbingly cold. The amniotic fluid sustains them and fills their lungs as they breathe. The stabbing input cords connect them to the machine. They must focus on controlling the Dreadnaught lest their mind returns to the natural state of awareness centering on their butchered and crippled physical body.[28]

Armour and Systems

Dreadnoughts are armoured with ceramite and adamantium, their muscles are formed of electro-fibre bundles and magna-coils. They are usually armed with weapons to suit a particular role, such as destroying other heavy armoured vehicles.[1]

Patterns

Blood Angels Redemptor Dreadnought[18]
A Dreadnought of the Space Wolves.
Pre-Heresy Emperor's Children Contemptor Dreadnought

Adeptus Custodes Dreadnoughts

The Adeptus Custodes also employ Dreadnought technology:

Other Types of Imperium War Walkers

Chaos Dreadnoughts

Main article: Chaos Dreadnought

A Chaos Dreadnought is a Dreadnought in the service of the Chaos Space Marines. Under the influence of Chaos, many Chaos Dreadnoughts have degenerated into insane monsters, known as Helbrutes.[19a] However, exemplars of ancient Dreadnought patterns still exist, having become dark reflections of their imperial counterparts.[19b][19c]

Xenos Dreadnoughts

Ork Dreadnoughts

Orks also have their own version of a Dreadnought, called a Deff Dread, and a smaller version called a Killa Kan.[20]

Eldar Dreadnoughts

Wraithlords (also known as Iron Knights, Wraith-Giants and Eldar Dreadnoughts) are giant Wraith-constructs made of wraithbone and inhabited by the souls of dead Eldar heroes.[21]

Images

Trivia

TriviaScrollTrans.png

The following information is not to be regarded as officially sanctioned and/ or is not written from an in-universe point of view. A detailed explanation of the term "Trivia" as used in the Lexicanum can be found here.

Conflicting Sources

  • In the 1st Edition rulebook, Dreadnoughts are not walking, armoured tombs exclusively piloted by mortally wounded Space Marines. The pilot may in fact originally be able-bodied but due to the highly immersive nature of the bodily interface, they become so attached to their new bodies that leaving the Dreadnought causes serious psychological harm. To leave it multiple times causes cumulative effects.[24b]

Sources

Uncited

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Space Marine Vehicles
Light
Vehicles

Bike (Attack Bike • Scout Bike • Outrider Bike) • Invader ATV • Grav-Bike • Land Speeder (Proteus • Storm • Talonmaster • Tempest • Tornado • Typhoon • Vengeance • Darkshroud • Sirocco • Lightning • Hurricane • Thunderbolt • Assault Buggy) • Storm Speeder (Hailstrike • Hammerstrike • Thunderstrike)

Walkers &
Dreadnoughts

Centurion Warsuit • Dreadknight • Dreadnought (Castaferrum • Hellfire • Venerable • Chaplain • Grey Knights • Contemptor • Deredeo • Furioso • Death Company • Durandal • Librarian • Ironclad • Leviathan • Mortis • Redemptor • Ballistus • Brutalis • Siege • Wulfen) • Invictor Tactical Warsuit

Armored
Personnel
Carriers 		Rhino (Razorback • Damocles • Rhino Primaris • Rhino Advancer • Techmarine Rhino) • Impulsor • Armoured Supply Carrier
Battle
Tanks 		Predator (Annihilator • Destructor • Baal) • Land Raider (Phobos • Crusader • Redeemer • Achilles • Prometheus • Terminus Ultra • Ares • Excelsior • Wrath of Mjalnar • Angel Infernus • Solemnus Aggressor • Anvilarum) • Vindicator Laser Destroyer • Repulsor (Repulsor Executioner) • Gladiator • Astraeus • Hercules
Artillery Whirlwind (Hyperios) • Vindicator • Stalker • Hunter • Land Raider Helios
Aircraft Stormtalon • Thunderhawk (Thunderhawk Transport • Shadowhawk) • Stormraven • Storm Eagle (Fire Raptor) • Stormhawk • Caestus Assault Ram • Xiphon • Dark Talon • Nephilim • Stormfang • Stormwolf • Corvus Blackstar • Overlord
Air-Dropped
& Deployed 		Drop Pod • Hammerfall Bunker • Firestrike Servo-Turret • Icarus Stormcannon Array • Skyspear Missile Launcher
Rare &
Retired 		Contemptor Dreadnought • Deredeo Dreadnought • Leviathan Dreadnought • Lucifer Dreadnought • Furibundus Dreadnought • Saturnine Dreadnought • Arquitor • Cerberus • Deimos Rhino • Deimos Predator • Falchion (Ascalon) • Fellblade • Javelin • Jetbike • Kratos • Mauler • Land Raider Proteus • Land Raider Achilles • Mastodon • Sabre • Sicaran • Spartan (Prometheus • Hermetika) • Typhon • Whirlwind Scorpius • Harpy Interceptor • Hercules • Hephaestus • Wrath • Stormbird • Stormcrow • Lightning Crow • Stormstrike • Hawkwing • Stormhawk • Orgus Flyer • Apis • Lotus • Corsair • Castellan • Deathbird • Pythos • Dreadclaw • Swordstrike • Kharybdis Assault Claw • Termite • Mantolith • Plutona • Araknae
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