The Black Templars are one of the most iconic and zealous Space Marine Chapters in Warhammer 40,000. Devoted to the Emperor of Mankind, Black Templars will stop at nothing to prove their loyalty.
Who Are the Black Templars?
The Black Templars are descendants of the Imperial Fists, known for their unwavering faith in the Emperor and their relentless crusades across the galaxy.
Unlike Chapters that abide by the Codex Astartes, the Black Templars reject many of its limitations and organise themselves into crusade fleets, constantly seeking out heretics, Xenos and Chaos forces to destroy.
Fiercely fanatical, the Black Templars swear oaths to purge the enemies of mankind. Their love of close combat and refusal to tolerate psykers set them apart from most other Space Marines.
They field large numbers of warriors, with Neophytes fighting alongside fully fledged battle-brothers, and their leaders, such as High Marshal Helbrecht and the Emperor’s Champion, are legendary figures in the Imperium.
Black Templars 40k: Quick Facts
The Black Templars are a fanatically devout Space Marine Chapter descended from the Imperial Fists, famous for rejecting the Codex Astartes and waging an endless crusade from fleets instead of a fortress monastery. On the Warhammer 40,000 tabletop they play as an aggressive melee army that wants to get into combat as quickly as possible.
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Parent Legion | Imperial Fists (created at the Second Founding) |
| First High Marshal | Sigismund, the Emperor’s Champion during the Siege of Terra |
| Base of operations | Crusade fleets, with no single fortress monastery |
| Size | Never officially counted; usually described as far larger than a Codex Chapter, with estimates of several thousand battle-brothers |
| Notable characters | High Marshal Helbrecht, Chaplain Grimaldus, the Emperor’s Champion |
| Signature units | Primaris Crusader Squads, Sword Brethren, Marshals, the Emperor’s Champion |
| Famous campaign | Third War for Armageddon, including the defence of Helsreach |
| Colours | Black armour, white shoulder pads with the cross, white or cream tabards with red details |
| Signature rules | Templar Vows (check your current codex and the Munitorum Field Manual for the latest version) |
| Weakness | Few long-range options, vulnerable to gunline armies on the approach |
The Combat Patrol box is the usual starting point, with the Emperor’s Champion and extra Crusader Squads as early additions.
What Are the Black Templars’ Army Strengths?
Black Templars excel at aggressive, close-combat gameplay. Their rules and units reward moving fast and fighting up close. Key strengths include:
- Close combat prowess: Marshals, Sword Brethren, the Emperor’s Champion and Chaplains give the army plenty of melee punch.
- Templar Vows: the Chapter’s signature rules have long been built around vows chosen before the battle, each pushing the army towards a different kind of fight (for example, one vow, Abhor the Witch, is aimed at enemy psykers). Exact effects change between codexes and balance updates, so check the current rules rather than older summaries.
- Bodies on the board: Crusader Squads mix Initiates and Neophytes, giving you sizeable units that can hold ground and soak damage while elite units do the heavy lifting.
- Fit with 11th Edition close combat: engagement range is now 2″, you pick charge targets after rolling the charge, and charging units get Fights First that turn, all of which suit an army built to charge.
Beware, though: Black Templars are less comfortable in a firefight than other Space Marine armies. They need to close the distance to be truly effective.
Where Should Beginners Start?
Some of the best models for beginner Black Templars players include:
- Marshal: the Black Templars’ equivalent of a Space Marine Captain and a strong melee character. In 11th Edition he joins a bodyguard unit as a Leader, and his “while leading” abilities only affect the unit he is attached to; there are no aura re-rolls to manage. See our Leader rules guide if you’re new to attached units.
- Primaris Crusader Squad: the backbone of the army, made up of Primaris Initiates and Neophytes. They hold objectives, absorb punishment and can be armed for melee or a mix of shooting and close combat.
- Emperor’s Champion: an iconic duellist who excels at taking down enemy characters and elite units. His job is simple (charge in and kill something important), which makes him easy to use while you learn.
- Redemptor Dreadnought: a durable walker with strong ranged and melee weapons. It gives a melee-heavy army some much-needed firepower and makes a good centrepiece model.
Check the current datasheets and the Munitorum Field Manual for stats, wargear and points before you build a list.
How to Paint Black Templars
Painting Black Templars is enjoyable and rewarding. Their striking black, white and red scheme looks great on the tabletop. For a detailed step-by-step approach, see our Black Templars painting guide.
Colour Scheme Ideas
Classic crusader
- Base colour: Abaddon Black for the armour.
- Shading: Nuln Oil in recesses and armour joints.
- Highlights: Dawnstone edge highlights to define the black armour without lightening it too much.
- Accent colours: White Scar for shoulder pad crosses, insignia and tabards.
- Metals: Leadbelcher on weapons and chains, highlighted with Stormhost Silver.
This is the classic Black Templars look: black armour with crisp white heraldry.
Battle-worn variant
Use Corvus Black for a slightly greyer armour tone, shade with Agrax Earthshade for a grittier look, edge highlight with Eshin Grey, paint tabards and purity seals in Zandri Dust, and pick out metal details with Retributor Gold highlighted with Auric Gold.
High-contrast variant
Keep Abaddon Black and Nuln Oil, but edge highlight with Administratum Grey for sharper edges, and use Mephiston Red for robes, seals and eye lenses, with Leadbelcher and Stormhost Silver on the metals.
Black Templars Painting Techniques
- Black armour: add depth with a dark grey or blue-grey in recessed areas, and highlight the edges with progressively lighter greys. Start with a black primer and build up through Eshin Grey and Dawnstone.
- White heraldry: build white up in thin layers (for example Celestra Grey, then Ulthuan Grey, then White Scar) for smooth results over black.
- Weathering: drybrushing or sponging adds scratches and wear, and some dirt on the lower legs suits an army on endless crusade.
- Power weapons: blend from dark to light along the blade, and use glazes to build up colour.
- Tabards and cloth: start with a darker base and highlight the folds progressively.
- Purity seals and script: use a fine detail brush for small text and wash the parchment with a sepia tone for an aged look.
Black Templars Lore and History
The Black Templars trace their origins to the Second Founding, when the Imperial Fists Legion was divided according to the Codex Astartes. Their first High Marshal, Sigismund, was one of the greatest swordsmen of the Great Crusade and the Emperor’s Champion during the Siege of Terra. The Black Templars inherited his zeal, forging an identity centred on perpetual crusade and absolute devotion to the Emperor, whom they worship as a god.
The Chapter has no fortress monastery. Instead it operates from crusade fleets spread across the galaxy, each led by a Marshal. One of its most famous recent campaigns was the Third War for Armageddon, where High Marshal Helbrecht brought a huge force to fight Ghazghkull Thraka’s Orks and Chaplain Grimaldus led the defence of Helsreach.
The Black Templars are unique in their organisation. They are not bound by the Codex limit on Chapter size and are generally thought to be far larger than a standard Chapter. Neophytes fight alongside fully initiated battle-brothers, learning in battle under the watch of a mentor rather than in a separate Scout company. The Sword Brethren serve as elite veterans, and an Emperor’s Champion is chosen through visions before major battles. Chaplains hold exceptional influence, and the Chapter’s hatred of psykers means it has no Librarians at all.
How Black Templars Play in 11th Edition
Black Templars remain an aggressive melee army in Warhammer 40,000 11th Edition. Several core changes affect how they play:
- Cover helps the approach. Cover now worsens the attacker’s Ballistic Skill by 1 for Infantry in terrain areas, so Crusader Squads advancing through ruins are harder to shoot off the table.
- Charging is cleaner. Engagement range is 2″, you choose charge targets after rolling the distance, and charging units get Fights First that turn.
- Stratagems are more deliberate. A unit can benefit from only one stratagem per phase (Command Re-roll included), so you can no longer stack several buffs on the Emperor’s Champion or a Sword Brethren unit in one fight.
- Detachment Points. Army building now uses Detachment Points (2 at 1,000 points, 3 at 2,000 points), so you can mix detachments as long as you don’t take the same detachment twice or two detachments with the same Unique tag. See Detachment Points explained.
Which Black Templars rules are current depends on your codex: 10th Edition books stay valid until your faction’s 11th Edition codex arrives. Check the Warhammer 40,000 app and the Munitorum Field Manual for current detachments, vows and points, and our Warhammer 40k faction tier list for the latest rankings.
Collecting Black Templars
The Black Templars Combat Patrol box is the ideal entry point, giving you a balanced force that shows off the Chapter’s aggressive playstyle.
Beyond the Combat Patrol, good next purchases include the Emperor’s Champion and more Primaris Crusader Squads. Chaplain Grimaldus is a characterful addition who represents the Chapter’s spiritual heart. Sword Brethren add elite melee power and a Redemptor Dreadnought adds fire support. The Black Templars upgrade sprue lets you customise standard Primaris kits with tabards, crosses and crusade heraldry.
Related Armies
If you enjoy Black Templars, you might also like these armies:
- Imperial Fists — The Black Templars are a successor Chapter of the Imperial Fists, sharing their gene-seed and determination.
- Ultramarines — The most Codex-adherent Chapter of all, and an interesting contrast to the Codex-rejecting Templars. Both use many of the same Space Marine kits.
- Adepta Sororitas — The Sisters of Battle share the Black Templars’ religious fervour and devotion to the Emperor.
Everything Black Templars on Warhammer Guild
Painting
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the Black Templars?
The Black Templars are a zealous Space Marine Chapter descended from the Imperial Fists. They are generally thought to be one of the largest Chapters in the Imperium, fighting a perpetual crusade across the galaxy and rejecting much of the Codex Astartes in favour of endless holy war.
Are Black Templars good for beginners?
Black Templars are fairly beginner-friendly. Their aggressive melee playstyle is straightforward, but they reward good movement and charge planning. Crusader Squads and the vow system add a little more to learn than a standard Space Marine army.
What are the strengths of Black Templars?
Black Templars excel in close combat, with strong melee characters and units like Sword Brethren and the Emperor’s Champion, plus vows that push the whole army towards a particular kind of fight.
What are the weaknesses of Black Templars?
Black Templars have no psykers and fewer ranged options than other Space Marine Chapters. They need to close the gap quickly to be effective, which can leave them vulnerable to gunline armies during the approach.
How do Black Templars play on the tabletop?
Black Templars play as an aggressive melee army that charges forward relentlessly. Use terrain to cover your approach, transports and fast units to get into combat quickly, and the vows to shape how the army fights. Check the current codex for the exact vows available.
Do the Black Templars have Librarians?
No. The Black Templars refuse to use psykers, viewing psychic power as witchcraft, so the Chapter has no Librarians. Chaplains, who hold exceptional influence in the Chapter, take on the spiritual leadership role.
Who leads the Black Templars?
High Marshal Helbrecht leads the Black Templars as the Chapter’s overall commander, directing its many crusade fleets. He has crossed the Rubicon Primaris and fights with the Sword of the High Marshals. Below him, individual crusades are led by Marshals, supported by Castellans, Chaplains such as Grimaldus and the Emperor’s Champion.
Did the Black Templars fight in the Third War for Armageddon?
Yes. The Black Templars sent a huge force to the Third War for Armageddon under High Marshal Helbrecht to fight Ghazghkull Thraka’s Orks. The defence of the hive city Helsreach, led by Chaplain Grimaldus, is one of the Chapter’s most famous stands and is told in Aaron Dembski-Bowden’s novel Helsreach.
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