The Space Marines are the Imperium’s most iconic fighting force, and their range of unit types is the broadest in Warhammer 40,000. From Scout squads and Phobos-armoured infiltrators to Terminators, Dreadnoughts and gunships, the Adeptus Astartes have a unit for almost every battlefield job. This encyclopedia walks through the main Space Marine unit types, what each one is for and its signature wargear.
We cover both the older “Firstborn” designs and the newer Primaris-era units, organised by battlefield role. The aim is to explain what everything does. Exact datasheets, points and which units are currently legal change with codexes and Munitorum Field Manual updates, so always check the current 11th Edition codex and the Warhammer 40,000 app before building a list.
Space Marine Unit Types: Quick Reference
A Space Marine army mixes two generations of warriors: the original Firstborn, such as the Tactical Squad that has been in the game since Rogue Trader and the neophyte Scout Squad, and the taller, tougher Primaris marines created by Belisarius Cawl. They fight side by side in the same army in 11th Edition. Note that many older Firstborn kits have moved to Warhammer Legends, some during 10th Edition and more with the 11th Edition Codex: Space Marines (flagged below), so they are not part of the standard matched-play range.
| Battlefield role | Primaris units | Firstborn and other units |
|---|---|---|
| Battleline | Intercessors, Assault Intercessors, Heavy Intercessors | (Tactical Squad: Legends) |
| Forward deployment | Infiltrators, Incursors, Eliminators | Scout Squad |
| Elite infantry | Bladeguard, Sternguard, Aggressors | Terminators, Vanguard Veterans (Centurions, Company Veterans: Legends) |
| Fast attack | Inceptors, Reivers, Outriders (Suppressors: Legends) | Land Speeder (Assault Squad, Bike Squad, Land Speeder Tornado/Typhoon: Legends) |
| Heavy support | Hellblasters, Eradicators, Desolation Squad | (Devastator Squad: Legends) |
| Dreadnoughts | Redemptor, Ballistus, Brutalis | (Venerable, Ironclad, Contemptor: Legends for most Chapters) |
| Vehicles | Impulsor, Repulsor, Gladiator | Rhino, Land Raider (Razorback, Predator: Legends) |
| Aircraft | — | (Stormhawk, Stormtalon, Stormraven: Legends) |
| Characters | Chapter Master, Captain, Lieutenant, Chaplain, Librarian, Techmarine, Apothecary | |
In the lore, a Codex-compliant Chapter holds about 1,000 Space Marines in 10 companies. On the tabletop, a squad of Intercessors led by a Captain or Lieutenant is a sensible first core to build around.
Infantry — Battleline Units
Intercessors (Primaris)
The backbone of a modern Space Marine army, Intercessors are line infantry armed with bolt rifles. They fill the role Tactical Marines once did, and the kit offers bolt rifle variants such as the auto bolt rifle (more shots), stalker bolt rifle (more range and armour penetration) and the standard bolt rifle (a balance of the two). They are a reliable unit for holding objectives and supporting the rest of the army.
Tactical Squad (Firstborn, Legends)
The classic Space Marine unit, in the game since Rogue Trader. A Tactical Squad combines bolter-armed marines with a special weapon (such as a flamer, meltagun or plasma gun) and a heavy weapon (such as a missile launcher, lascannon or heavy bolter), making it adaptable rather than specialised. Intercessors took over its role, and the 11th Edition Codex: Space Marines moved the Tactical Squad to Warhammer Legends; Tactical Marines can still be fielded as a Legendary proxy for an Intercessor Squad.
Assault Intercessors (Primaris)
Close-combat Primaris infantry armed with heavy bolt pistols and Astartes chainswords. Assault Intercessors are built to charge enemy positions, clear objectives and fight infantry in melee, trading the ranged output of standard Intercessors for more attacks up close.
Heavy Intercessors (Primaris)
Heavily armoured infantry in Gravis armour carrying heavy bolt rifles, hellstorm bolt rifles or executor bolt rifles. Heavy Intercessors give up speed for durability and firepower, making them a solid unit for anchoring an objective under pressure while laying down steady fire.
Infiltrators (Primaris)
Phobos-armoured infantry who deploy ahead of the main army. Infiltrators carry marksman bolt carbines and are best known for their omni-scramblers, which in 11th Edition mark an enemy unit as detected, making it easier to see and target. They are forward-screening units that give your army board control from the first turn. Check the current datasheet for the exact effect.
Incursors (Primaris)
Like Infiltrators, Incursors wear Phobos armour and deploy forward. Their occulus bolt carbines are designed to dig enemies out of hiding by ignoring cover, and the unit can carry a haywire mine. Where Infiltrators deny the enemy space, Incursors punish units that try to hide in terrain, which matters more now that cover worsens the attacker’s Ballistic Skill by 1 in 11th Edition.
Scout Squad (Firstborn)
Space Marine neophytes who have not yet received their full power armour or every implant. Scouts wear lighter carapace armour and deploy forward to harass the enemy and grab objectives early. Depending on the kit build they carry bolt pistols and combat knives, boltguns or shotguns. In the lore they represent the future of the Chapter, learning the skills they will need as full battle-brothers.
Infantry — Elite Units
Terminators (Firstborn)
Veterans in Tactical Dreadnought Armour, the most iconic elite unit in Warhammer 40,000. Terminators combine a 2+ armour save and an invulnerable save with storm bolters and heavy weapons such as the assault cannon or cyclone missile launcher, or with melee options such as thunder hammers, lightning claws and power fists. They teleport into battle with Deep Strike, and the Terminator Squad carries a Teleport Homer that helps them arrive where you need them. Wearing Terminator armour is one of the highest honours a Space Marine can earn.
Bladeguard Veterans (Primaris)
Elite close-combat specialists armed with master-crafted power weapons and heavy bolt pistols and protected by storm shields. Bladeguard Veterans are among the most durable infantry in the army, pairing strong saves with solid melee output, and they make a natural bodyguard for a Captain or Lieutenant.
Sternguard Veterans
Veteran marksmen who carry specialist ammunition tailored to different targets, making them one of the Chapter’s most flexible ranged units. The current Sternguard kit wears Mark X armour; older Firstborn Sternguard models still represent the same unit.
Vanguard Veterans (Firstborn)
Jump-pack assault veterans who strike from the skies with close-combat weapons. In 11th Edition Vanguard Veterans carry master-crafted power weapons, with combat shields and plasma pistols as options and a relic blade, power fist or thunder hammer for the Sergeant, and their mobility makes them good flanking and character-hunting units.
Company Veterans (Firstborn, Legends)
Versatile veteran marines armed from the Chapter armoury, traditionally used as bodyguards for a Captain. Company Veterans were moved to Warhammer Legends in 10th Edition, so they are not part of the standard matched-play range.
Centurions (Firstborn, Legends)
Marines wearing Centurion warsuits, exo-armour that layers extra weapons and plating over their power armour. Devastator Centurions carry heavy weapons such as lascannons and grav-cannons, while Assault Centurions bring siege drills and flamers for close-range destruction. They are slow but very tough and hit hard. Both Centurion squads moved to Warhammer Legends with the 11th Edition codex.
Aggressors (Primaris)
Gravis-armoured marines carrying auto boltstorm gauntlets or flamestorm gauntlets. Aggressors are close-range fire support, putting out a heavy volume of attacks at short range, and their gauntlets double as power fists in melee. Their armour lets them walk forward into enemy fire.
Jump Pack and Fast Attack
Inceptors (Primaris)
Gravis-armoured jump pack troops who drop from orbit with assault bolters or plasma exterminators. Inceptors provide mobile fire support, arriving by Deep Strike or using their jump packs to reposition rapidly and bring firepower where it is needed.
Suppressors (Primaris, Legends)
Jump-pack infantry in Omnis-pattern armour carrying accelerator autocannons. Suppressors combine mobility with suppressive firepower, pinning down the units they hit. In 11th Edition they no longer have their own datasheet: they are a Legendary proxy that uses the Inceptor Squad datasheet.
Reivers (Primaris)
Phobos-armoured shock troops built to sow terror and confusion. Reivers can deploy with grav-chutes or grapnel launchers, carry combat knives, bolt carbines or heavy bolt pistols and shock grenades, and wear skull-faced helms. They disrupt enemy lines and pressure isolated units and objectives.
Assault Squad (Firstborn, Legends)
Traditional jump-pack infantry with bolt pistols and chainswords, a Space Marine staple since the early editions. The Assault Squad was moved to Warhammer Legends in 10th Edition; Vanguard Veterans and Primaris jump-pack units fill this role in the current range.
Outriders (Primaris)
Primaris Space Marines on Raider-pattern combat bikes. Outriders carry twin bolt rifles and Astartes chainswords, combining fast shooting with the ability to charge in. They are faster than any infantry unit and work as flankers and objective raiders.
Bike Squad (Firstborn, Legends)
Classic Space Marine bikers on war-bikes with twin bolters. Bike Squads (along with Attack Bikes and Scout Bikes) were moved to Warhammer Legends in 10th Edition; Outriders are the current bike unit.
Land Speeders
Light anti-grav skimmers crewed by two Space Marines, among the fastest units in the army. The current Land Speeder datasheet carries a multi-melta, an onslaught gatling cannon (swappable for a pyrecannon) and a stormfury missile launcher, and can shoot and then dart away. Older variants such as the Land Speeder Tornado, Typhoon, Storm and Tempest are Legends and can only be fielded as Legendary proxies.
Heavy Support and Fire Support
Devastator Squad (Firstborn, Legends)
Dedicated heavy weapons squads carrying weapons such as lascannons, missile launchers, heavy bolters, multi-meltas and grav-cannons. Devastators moved to Warhammer Legends with the 11th Edition codex; the Primaris Desolation Squad now fills the dedicated heavy-weapons role, and Devastator models can be fielded as its Legendary proxy.
Hellblasters (Primaris)
Primaris infantry carrying plasma incinerators, among the strongest man-portable weapons in the Space Marine arsenal. Hellblasters can overcharge their plasma for extra damage at the risk of harming themselves, making them a premier anti-elite infantry unit.
Eradicators (Primaris)
Gravis-armoured marines carrying melta rifles built for destroying vehicles and heavy infantry. Eradicators combine Gravis durability with short-ranged weapons that can slag a tank in a single volley if they get close.
Eliminators (Primaris)
Phobos-armoured sniper teams armed with bolt sniper rifles or las fusils. Eliminators are built to pick off characters and other high-value targets from concealed positions. In 11th Edition, Precision attacks let a shooter choose a visible character’s group instead of hitting the bodyguards first, which is what makes snipers dangerous to enemy leaders.
Dreadnoughts
Redemptor Dreadnought (Primaris)
The largest Dreadnought pattern in the current range. The Redemptor carries a heavy onslaught gatling cannon or macro plasma incinerator alongside a Redemptor fist, making it a walking weapons platform that provides both fire support and melee punch.
Ballistus Dreadnought (Primaris)
A ranged Primaris Dreadnought carrying a ballistus lascannon and ballistus missile launcher. The Ballistus is long-range anti-armour fire support with the durability every Dreadnought shares.
Brutalis Dreadnought (Primaris)
A melee Primaris Dreadnought armed with Brutalis fists or Brutalis talons. The Brutalis is built to charge into enemy lines and tear apart vehicles and infantry alike.
Venerable Dreadnought (Firstborn, Legends)
An older Dreadnought chassis housing a Space Marine of great age and experience. Venerable Dreadnoughts represent ancient heroes of the Chapter, interred for centuries. With the 11th Edition codex the general Venerable Dreadnought datasheet moved to Warhammer Legends (Space Wolves keep their own version).
Ironclad Dreadnought (Firstborn, Legends)
A heavily armoured assault Dreadnought built for close-range fighting. Ironclads carry seismic hammers or chainfists, hurricane bolters and other close-range weapons, and their extra armour makes them very hard to bring down with small arms. The Ironclad is now a Legends unit.
Contemptor Dreadnought
An ancient Dreadnought pattern dating back to the Horus Heresy era. Contemptors are protected by atomantic shielding, which gives them an invulnerable save. They are not part of the current Codex: Space Marines range (the Relic Contemptor is a Legends unit).
Vehicles
Rhino
The standard Space Marine armoured personnel carrier. The Rhino carries a squad of power-armoured marines in a simple, reliable chassis that has served the Imperium for ten thousand years and is one of its most common vehicles.
Razorback (Legends)
A Rhino variant that gives up transport capacity for a turret weapon such as twin heavy bolters, twin assault cannons or twin lascannons, making it both a transport and a fire support platform. The Razorback moved to Warhammer Legends with the 11th Edition codex.
Impulsor (Primaris)
A fast grav-transport for Primaris infantry. The Impulsor can mount support systems such as a shield dome or weapons, and trades the Rhino’s capacity for speed.
Repulsor (Primaris)
A heavily armed grav-transport bristling with weapons such as las-talons, onslaught gatling cannons and ironhail heavy stubbers. The Repulsor can engage several targets while delivering its passengers to the front line.
Repulsor Executioner (Primaris)
An up-gunned Repulsor carrying a macro plasma incinerator or heavy laser destroyer as its main weapon. The Executioner gives up some transport space for heavy anti-armour firepower, acting as both battle tank and troop carrier.
Predator (Legends)
The Space Marines’ classic battle tank, built as the Destructor (autocannon turret) or the Annihilator (twin lascannon turret). Predators were a Space Marine staple for decades, but both the Destructor and Annihilator moved to Warhammer Legends with the 11th Edition codex.
Gladiator (Primaris)
A Primaris grav-tank built on the Impulsor chassis, available as the Lancer (anti-vehicle), Reaper (anti-infantry) or Valiant (close-range firepower). Gladiators are dedicated gun tanks without a transport role.
Land Raider
The iconic Space Marine heavy assault transport and one of the toughest vehicles in the army. The standard Land Raider carries twin lascannons and a twin heavy bolter and delivers Terminators or other elite infantry into the heart of battle. Variants include the Crusader (more transport space and anti-infantry firepower) and Redeemer (flamestorm cannons). It is one of the most recognisable Warhammer models.
Aircraft (Legends)
Stormhawk Interceptor
An air-superiority fighter designed to sweep enemy aircraft from the skies, armed with las-talons or an icarus stormcannon alongside assault cannons. It is one of the few dedicated anti-air units in the Space Marine range.
Stormtalon Gunship
A light gunship that provides close air support to ground forces, strafing enemy positions with its twin assault cannon and secondary weapons.
Stormraven Gunship
A heavy transport gunship able to carry infantry and a Dreadnought into battle. The Stormraven combines transport capacity with heavy firepower and speed. The Stormhawk, Stormtalon and Stormraven all moved to Warhammer Legends with the 11th Edition Codex: Space Marines, so they are not part of the standard matched-play range.
Characters and Command
In 11th Edition, characters with the Leader or Support ability join a bodyguard unit when you write your army roster, and each bodyguard unit can take one Leader and one Support character. A Leader keeps its “while leading” abilities even after its bodyguard models have been destroyed. See our guide to what a Space Marine is for the background on how these ranks fit together.
Chapter Master
The supreme commander of a Space Marine Chapter. On the tabletop, Chapter Masters mostly appear as named characters such as Marneus Calgar, and they are among the most powerful Space Marine heroes. Check the current codex for how Chapter Masters are represented and what they do.
Captain
Company Captains lead the companies of a Chapter. They are versatile Leaders who can be equipped for shooting, melee or a balance of both, and are available in several armour types (standard, Gravis, Phobos and Terminator). A Captain can join squads such as Intercessors, Assault Intercessors, Hellblasters, Sternguard and Bladeguard Veterans.
Lieutenants
Second-in-command to a Captain. In 11th Edition the Lieutenant is a Support character, so it can join a squad alongside a Captain and boost that squad. Variants include the Lieutenant in Phobos Armour and the Lieutenant with Combi-weapon; the Reiver-armoured Lieutenant is now Legends.
Chaplain
Spiritual leaders who stir their battle-brothers with litanies of battle. Chaplains are strong melee fighters armed with a crozius arcanum and boost the fighting ability of the squad they lead. They are available in several variants, including jump pack and Terminator armour.
Librarian
Psyker warriors who wield the warp as a weapon. There is no separate psychic phase any more: a Librarian’s powers are psychic weapons and abilities on its datasheet, typically protecting the squad it leads and striking enemy units. Librarians are available in several armour types, including Phobos and Terminator.
Techmarine
Engineer-warriors trained on Mars who maintain the Chapter’s vehicles and wargear. On the tabletop, Techmarines repair damaged vehicles and support nearby war machines.
Apothecary
Combat medics who recover the gene-seed of the fallen. In 11th Edition the Apothecary is a Support character: it must join a bodyguard unit, and its narthecium heals the unit in your Command phase and can bring destroyed models back once the survivors are at full wounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Firstborn and Primaris?
Firstborn are the original Space Marines created during the Great Crusade. Primaris marines were created by Belisarius Cawl with additional gene-seed implants, making them taller, stronger and more durable. Both serve in the same army in 11th Edition. The newer kits tend to be Primaris-era designs, while several older Firstborn units have moved to Legends.
How many Space Marines are in a Chapter?
A Codex-compliant Chapter contains approximately 1,000 Space Marines organised into 10 companies of around 100 marines each. In practice, Chapters fluctuate above and below this number. The Black Templars notably ignore the Codex limit and may number in the thousands. See our guide to Space Marine Chapter size for the full organisation.
What units should I buy first for a Space Marine army?
Start with a box of Intercessors and a Captain or Lieutenant to lead them. From there, add units based on your playstyle: Eradicators for anti-tank, Hellblasters for anti-elite, Aggressors for close-range firepower, or Bladeguard Veterans for melee. A Combat Patrol box is usually the most cost-effective starting point.
Are Terminators still good in 11th Edition?
Terminators remain one of the signature elite choices. Their 2+ save and invulnerable save make them very durable, they can Deep Strike into the enemy deployment zone from battle round 2, and they make a strong bodyguard for a Terminator-armoured character. How competitive they are at any moment depends on their current points and detachment rules, so check the Munitorum Field Manual.
Will Firstborn Space Marines be removed from the game?
Several Firstborn units, including the Assault Squad, Bike Squad, Company Veterans and the Land Speeder Tornado and Typhoon, were moved to Warhammer Legends in 10th Edition. The 11th Edition Codex: Space Marines moved more, including Tactical Squads, Devastator Squads, Centurions, the Razorback, Predators, the standard and Venerable Dreadnoughts and the Stormhawk, Stormtalon and Stormraven. Terminators, Scouts, Vanguard Veterans, Land Raiders and Rhinos still have current datasheets. Check the current codex and the Warhammer 40,000 app for the latest list.
What is the difference between Gravis, Phobos and Tacticus armour?
They are different patterns of Mark X power armour. Tacticus is the standard pattern worn by Intercessors. Gravis is heavier and bulkier, worn by units like Heavy Intercessors, Aggressors and Eradicators who trade speed for durability. Phobos is lighter and quieter, built for stealth and recon, and worn by Infiltrators, Incursors and Eliminators.