Changes

{{DarkAngelsPortal}}

{{ambig|subject=Dark Angels/ Unforgiven Chapters Terminators|disambiguation=Deathwing}}

<table style="clear:right;float:right;max-width:330px">

<td>

|-

|}</td></table><br>

The '''Deathwing''' is the [[Dark Angels#Organisation|First Company]] of the [[Dark Angels]] [[Space Marines]] [[Chapter]]. The Deathwing (and the chapter's second company, the [[Ravenwing]]) are not part of the standard [[Codex Astartes]] structure system, although the remaining companies of the chapter do adhere to the Codex. The Dark Angels' successor Chapters (collectively known as the [[Unforgiven]]) also have similar formations, although they are not referred to by the same title. The Deathwing is an honored position within all Unforgiven Chapters, and only upon ascension to the Deathwing can one eventually be admitted to the [[Inner Circle]].{{Fn|4}} The Current Master of the Deathwing is [[Belial]].

==Overview==

The Deathwing formed mainly from the remains of the [[Host of Crowns]] of the [[Unification Wars|Unification]] and [[Great Crusade]]-era First Legion. This Host was famed for its line breaking and marksmen abilities, and those of its Inner Circle who survived an infamous swore oaths that no member of the wing would ever leave the field of battle in the hands of the enemy, accepting death over dishonor or retreat. During the [[Horus Heresy]] they acted as a special operations unit specializing in not only line-breaking but also as elite veteran infantry and honor guards.{{Fn|11}}

The Deathwing is not solely a tactical formation - promotion to the Deathwing also means that an individual is bestowed many of the darkest secrets of the Chapter. The most closely guarded of these secrets is that of the betrayal of [[Luther]] and the [[Fallen]], and the subsequent fate of their [[Primarch]], [[Lion El'Jonson]].{{Fn|1}}

The Deathwing itself contains multiple specialized sub-formations, such as [[Deathwing Command Squad]]s and the dreaded [[Deathwing Knights]], who comprise the elite of this already veteran Company.{{Fn|4}} As of the [[Era Indomitus]], it has also come to include [[Primaris Space Marine|Primaris]] [[Bladeguard Veteran]]s.{{Fn|10}}

During the Horus Heresy, and prior to the events on Thranx, the Deathwing coloured their armour in the black of the legion. Having some of their armour plating painted bone white signified a warrior of the Deathwing that has taken a mortal wound meant for another and survived.{{Fn|2}}{{Fn|11a}}{{Fn|15}}

The unique all bone white colour scheme was later adopted as a mark of remembrance for a lone squad of Dark Angel Terminators who freed a recruitment world from a [[Genestealer]] infestation and slew a [[Broodlord]] that had terrorized the [[Galaxy]].{{Fn|4}}{{Fn|20a}}{{Fn|20b}} As they did not expect to survive such a confrontation, they painted their armour white in preparation for their deaths. In the end the Deathwing triumphed and a vital part of the Dark Angels' heritage was saved.{{Fn|2}}

According to another version, the armor was painted white when the Dark Angels needed to reconquer a lost recruiting world, and the color change was due to the warriors of the 1st Company being distinguished from the [[Heretic Astartes]].{{Fn|16}}

==Forces==

===Pre-Heresy===

*[[Praetor (Rank)|Deathwing Praetor]]{{Fn|11b}}

*[[Deathwing Companion]]{{Fn|11b}}

*[[Deathwing Command Squad]]{{Fn|14}}

*[[Deathwing Champion]]{{Fn|14}}

*[[Deathwing Apothecary]]{{Fn|14}}

*[[Deathwing Knight]]s{{Fn|14}}

*Deathwing [[Terminator]]s{{Fn|14}}

*[[Deathwing Land Raider]]{{Fn|14}}

===Post-Heresy===

*[[Belial]] — Current [[Grand Master of the Deathwing]]

*[[Apharan (Primaris)|Apharan]] — The first [[Primaris Space Marine]] inducted into the Deathwing{{Fn|8}}

==Images==

==See also==

*[[Hexagrammaton]]

**[[Ravenwing]]

**{{Endn|11a}}: pg. 124

**{{Endn|11b}}: {{Cite this}}

*{{Endn|13}}: [[White Dwarf 127 (UK)]], pg. 56

*{{Endn|14}}: [[Codex Supplement: Dark Angels (9th Edition)]], pgs. 67-70