Custodes Dreadnoughts Guide — All Variants Compared

The Adeptus Custodes field some of the most powerful Dreadnoughts in Warhammer 40,000. Where a standard Space Marine Dreadnought inters a fallen battle-brother, Custodes Dreadnoughts entomb warriors who were already among the finest fighters in the Imperium. This guide compares the three Custodes Dreadnoughts, the Contemptor-Achillus, the Contemptor-Galatus and the Telemon Heavy Dreadnought, so you can choose the right golden walker for your army in 11th Edition.

For a broader overview of Dreadnoughts across all factions, see our Dreadnought Guide.

Why Custodes Dreadnoughts Are Special

Custodes Dreadnoughts stand apart from other Dreadnoughts in the game for a few reasons. First, the pilot was already a Custodian, a transhuman warrior who surpasses even a Space Marine. On the tabletop this shows up as better characteristics and wargear than most comparable walkers, and typically a strong invulnerable save.

Second, they carry unique, master-crafted weapons, such as the Achillus dreadspear, that no other faction fields. Third, as Adeptus Custodes units they benefit from the faction’s army rule and from whichever detachments you take.

The trade-off is cost. Custodes Dreadnoughts are expensive in points, and Custodes armies are small to begin with, so each Dreadnought is a big share of your army that has to be protected and deployed carefully. For exact profiles and points, check the current Codex: Adeptus Custodes and the Munitorum Field Manual.

Telemon Heavy Dreadnought

The Telemon is the heaviest Custodes Dreadnought and one of the most imposing walkers in the game. Long a Forge World resin model and now also available as a multi-part plastic kit (2026), it is unique to the Custodes and features a massive frame, heavy ranged weapons and the durability to anchor a battle line. It is the closest thing the Custodes have to a tank: a big, heavily armed platform that dominates through firepower and resilience.

Telemon Loadouts

By default the Telemon carries two caestus fists, each with a twin neutronium cascade projector, plus a shoulder-mounted spiculus bolt launcher. That makes it a brutal melee walker with short-range firepower. Alternatively, you can swap one fist for a single heavy arm weapon. The arachnus storm cannon puts out a high volume of shots, making it the anti-infantry option. The iliastus accelerator culverin and the adrathic desolator fire fewer but much harder-hitting shots for dealing with elite infantry and vehicles.

Every loadout keeps at least one caestus fist, so even a gun-armed Telemon stays dangerous in combat; there is no option for two heavy ranged weapons. Check the current datasheet for exact profiles.

When to Take the Telemon

Take the Telemon when your Custodes list needs heavy ranged firepower. Custodes armies excel in melee but can struggle against vehicle-heavy or monster-heavy lists that stay at range. The Telemon gives you consistent, high-quality shooting that forces the enemy to close the distance or suffer attrition.

Contemptor-Achillus Dreadnought

The Contemptor-Achillus (often just called the Achillus) is the assault-oriented Custodes walker. Armed with the Achillus dreadspear, a massive polearm, it is built to charge into enemy lines and destroy whatever it reaches. The dreadspear hits hard enough to threaten both elite infantry and vehicles in melee.

Achillus Loadouts and Tactics

The dreadspear is the Achillus’ primary weapon and defines its role as a melee assassin. It also carries some ranged weaponry, but it is at its best when it reaches combat. Use terrain and screening units to protect it during its advance. In 11th Edition, Vehicles no longer gain cover just for standing in a terrain area, only when intervening terrain genuinely blocks the shooter, so deploy it behind solid line-of-sight blockers and advance it aggressively in the early turns.

When to Take the Achillus

Take the Achillus when you need a dedicated melee threat that can kill elite enemy units and vehicles. It excels against other walkers, vehicles and elite infantry, and is valuable in matchups where you need to contest the centre of the board, as its threat range forces the opponent to respect it.

Contemptor-Galatus Dreadnought

The Contemptor-Galatus is the defensive specialist among Custodes walkers. Armed with a galatus warblade and a massive galatus shield (not to be confused with the praesidium shields carried by Custodian Guard), it trades some of the Achillus’ raw offensive output for extra survivability.

Galatus Loadouts and Tactics

The Galatus has a fixed loadout centred on its warblade and shield. It hits less hard than the Achillus but is still a formidable melee combatant, trading peak damage for consistency and durability. It excels as a front-line anchor that advances into the mid-board and refuses to die, holding objectives and tying up enemy units.

The best way to use the Galatus is as a durable distraction. Push it forward to contest a key objective and force the opponent to commit significant resources to remove it. While the enemy deals with the Galatus, your other Custodes units can manoeuvre freely.

When to Take the Galatus

Take the Galatus when you need a durable objective holder that can survive in the mid-board. It is excellent in matchups where durability matters more than raw killing power, and less effective against armies with lots of mortal wounds or other ways around invulnerable saves.

A Note on Names

The Achillus and the Contemptor-Achillus are the same unit and the same model. The full name reflects that it is a Custodes pattern of the Contemptor Dreadnought, as is the Contemptor-Galatus. The Telemon is a separate, larger chassis. The Horus Heresy game also has Legio Custodes Contemptors for the 31st Millennium setting, but in Warhammer 40,000 these three are the Custodes’ signature Dreadnoughts. The faction can also field a Venerable Contemptor Dreadnought.

Comparing All Custodes Dreadnoughts

The Telemon is your ranged fire support platform. The Contemptor-Achillus is your melee assassin. The Contemptor-Galatus is your durable anchor. In a list with room for two Dreadnoughts, the Telemon plus either the Achillus or the Galatus gives good coverage across both shooting and melee.

In smaller games you will usually only have room for one, so choose based on what your list lacks. A few 11th Edition rules matter for all three:

• One Stratagem per unit per phase: you can no longer stack several Stratagems on one Dreadnought in the same phase, and Command Re-roll counts as one, so choose between a buff and a re-roll.
• Objectives are terrain areas: the Galatus and Achillus are good at walking into a contested terrain area and staying there.
• Engagement range is 2″: cheap enemy units can tie a Dreadnought up more easily, so keep infantry nearby to clear screens.

Painting Custodes Dreadnoughts

Custodes Dreadnoughts are stunning painting projects. The large, ornate surfaces provide an excellent canvas for detailed work. Start with a gold base such as Retributor Armour, then shade with Reikland Fleshshade or Agrax Earthshade for depth. Edge highlight with a lighter gold or Stormhost Silver for crisp definition. Red gemstones on armour plates, blue power cables and white or cream cloth add contrast to the dominant gold. The Imperial eagle and Custodes iconography on the hull deserve careful attention with fine detail brushes.

Weathering should be subtle on Custodes models. Custodes maintain their wargear meticulously, so keep it minimal and purposeful: small battle-damage chips with a sponge, a little dust around the feet with pigment powders, and faint smoke staining near weapon barrels. The goal is to suggest these machines have seen combat without implying they are neglected.

For display-level painting, non-metallic metal techniques produce stunning results on Custodes Dreadnoughts. The large flat panels are perfect for smooth NMM blending, and freehand designs on shield panels or shoulder guards add personal touches.

FAQ

Which Custodes Dreadnought is best?

It depends on what your list needs. The Telemon is the most popular pick for its combination of firepower and durability, but the Achillus and Galatus fill melee and objective-holding roles it can’t. Relative strength also shifts with each balance update.

Are Custodes Dreadnoughts worth the points?

They can be, but they must be protected. When played carefully and supported by the rest of your army, their characteristics and weapons justify the cost. Check the Munitorum Field Manual for current points.

Can Custodes Dreadnoughts benefit from faction abilities?

Yes. Custodes Dreadnoughts are Adeptus Custodes units and benefit from all applicable faction abilities, detachment rules and Stratagems, within 11th Edition’s limit of one Stratagem per unit per phase.

Where can I buy Custodes Dreadnoughts?

The Contemptor-Achillus and Contemptor-Galatus have been sold as resin Forge World kits. The Telemon is now a multi-part plastic kit, released in 2026 both on its own and in the Custodes Support Battle Group box. Check the Games Workshop website for current availability and pricing.

How many Dreadnoughts should I run in a Custodes army?

One or two is typical at 2,000 points, and one at 1,000 points. They are expensive and Custodes armies are already small, so balance your Dreadnought count against the need for enough infantry to hold objectives.

Is the Telemon better than the Achillus?

They fill different roles. The Telemon provides ranged firepower that Custodes armies typically lack, while the Achillus is a dedicated melee platform. If your list is short on shooting, the Telemon is usually the safer pick.

Do the Adeptus Custodes have Dreadnoughts?

Yes. When a Custodian is mortally wounded but too valuable to lose, they can be interred in a Dreadnought sarcophagus and fight on. Custodes Dreadnoughts are rare even by Custodes standards, and each pilot was already one of the finest warriors in the Imperium. On the tabletop they are fielded as the Contemptor-Achillus, the Contemptor-Galatus and the much larger Telemon Heavy Dreadnought.

How many Custodes Dreadnoughts are there?

There are three main Custodes Dreadnought kits: the Contemptor-Achillus, armed with a dreadspear; the Contemptor-Galatus, armed with a warblade and shield; and the Telemon Heavy Dreadnought, a larger walker that is unique to the Custodes. The Achillus and Galatus have been resin Forge World models, while the Telemon is now available in plastic. The Horus Heresy game also has Legio Custodes versions of the Contemptor for the 31st Millennium setting.

How is a Custodes Dreadnought different from a Space Marine Dreadnought?

The main difference is the pilot: a Custodes Dreadnought houses a fallen Custodian, a warrior far beyond a Space Marine, so its characteristics and wargear are better. The Contemptor pattern itself was also used by the Space Marine Legions during the Great Crusade, but the Custodes versions carry unique weapons such as the Achillus dreadspear. In game terms, they cost more points and usually have stronger invulnerable saves.

Related Content

• Adeptus Custodes Army Guide — full army overview for Adeptus Custodes
• Warhammer 40k Factions Ranked — see where every faction stands