The Warhammer 40k community has one of the richest meme cultures in all of fandom. From painting advice that became a battle cry to character-specific jokes that have been running for decades, these in-jokes are the social glue that binds millions of fans together. If you have ever wondered why someone just shouted “THIN YOUR PAINTS” at you, why everyone hates Erebus, or what people mean when they say “I am Alpharius,” this guide explains every major Warhammer meme, its origin, and why it persists.
We have compiled 30+ of the most enduring and widespread community in-jokes. For each one, we provide the origin, the context, and how it is typically used in the community today. Consider this your field guide to understanding Warhammer internet culture.
Hobby and Painting Memes
1. “Thin Your Paints” / “Two Thin Coats”
Origin: Duncan Rhodes (former Games Workshop painter) painting tutorials
Duncan Rhodes became a beloved figure in the Warhammer community through his painting tutorial videos for Games Workshop. His signature advice to apply “two thin coats” of paint rather than one thick coat became the single most repeated piece of hobby wisdom in the community. “Thin your paints” evolved from helpful advice into a meme that is used both sincerely (as genuine painting guidance) and humorously (shouted at anyone who posts a photo of a badly painted model). Duncan eventually left GW to start his own painting channel, but his legacy is immortal. The phrase “two thin coats” is now printed on merchandise, referenced in other media, and is the first thing any Warhammer veteran tells a newcomer.
2. The Pile of Shame / Grey Tide
Origin: Universal hobby experience
Every Warhammer hobbyist accumulates more models than they can paint. This growing collection of unbuilt, unpainted plastic is universally known as the “Pile of Shame” or the “Grey Tide” (because unprimed plastic is grey). Memes about the Pile of Shame are self-deprecating acknowledgments that buying models is far easier than painting them. Common variants include “I don’t have a problem, I have a hobby,” photos of massive backlogs with “just one more box” captions, and the eternal struggle of buying new releases when you have 500 models still on sprues. Games Workshop’s business model essentially depends on the Pile of Shame phenomenon.
3. “I’ll Paint It Later”
Origin: Universal hobby procrastination
The lie every Warhammer player tells themselves when they assemble a new model and set it aside, promising to paint it “later.” Later never comes. Related to the Pile of Shame but specifically about the act of procrastination. Often used when someone posts a photo of an army of bare plastic on the gaming table — which is technically fine but earns gentle mockery from the community.
4. GW Pricing Memes / “My Wallet Cries”
Origin: Games Workshop’s premium pricing
Games Workshop’s products are expensive, and the community never stops reminding everyone about it. Memes about GW pricing range from comparing plastic miniatures to their weight in gold, to joking about needing a second mortgage for a new army, to the classic “it’s cheaper to buy a real tank” comparison. The memes became particularly intense whenever GW announces a price increase, which happens annually. Despite constant complaints about pricing, sales continue to rise year after year — which is itself a meme.
Lore and Character Memes
5. “Fuck Erebus”
Origin: Horus Heresy novels by Aaron Dembski-Bowden and others
Erebus is a Word Bearers Chaplain who is arguably responsible for the Horus Heresy — the catastrophic civil war that nearly destroyed the Imperium. He corrupted Lorgar, manipulated Horus, murdered Argel Tal, and orchestrated countless betrayals. The Horus Heresy novel series made him so thoroughly, comprehensively despicable that “fuck Erebus” became the single most universally agreed-upon opinion in the entire Warhammer community. It transcends faction loyalty — Chaos players hate him, Imperial players hate him, everyone hates him. The phrase appears on T-shirts, mugs, tattoos, and is shouted at events. Aaron Dembski-Bowden, who wrote several of the key Erebus scenes, has acknowledged the meme with evident satisfaction.
6. “Magnus Did Nothing Wrong”
Origin: Community debate about the Thousand Sons’ fall
Magnus the Red, Primarch of the Thousand Sons, broke the Emperor’s psychic wards on the Golden Throne while trying to warn him about Horus’s betrayal. This act of good intentions with catastrophic consequences sparked a community-wide debate: was Magnus wrong to use sorcery to send his warning, or was the Emperor wrong to refuse to listen? “Magnus did nothing wrong” became the rallying cry of Thousand Sons fans who argue he was unfairly punished. The phrase is used both sincerely and ironically, and has spawned the counter-meme “Magnus did literally everything wrong.” The truth, as always in 40k, lies somewhere in the grimdark middle.
7. “I Am Alpharius”
Origin: Alpha Legion lore and the Horus Heresy
Every member of the Alpha Legion claims to be their Primarch, Alpharius. This is a security measure in the lore — if everyone claims to be the leader, the enemy cannot identify and target the real one. In the community, “I am Alpharius” is used whenever someone wants to deflect a question about their identity, allegiance, or intentions. It has evolved into a universal response to literally any question. “Who ate my lunch?” “I am Alpharius.” “Who broke the toilet?” “I am Alpharius.” The meme perfectly captures the Alpha Legion’s infuriating, endlessly recursive mystery.
8. “Just As Planned” (Tzeentch)
Origin: Tzeentch, the Chaos God of schemes
Tzeentch plans everything. Everything is according to his plan. Even the things that go wrong are part of a larger plan that you cannot comprehend. “Just as planned” is used whenever something — anything — happens in a way that can be retroactively justified as intentional. Your army gets tabled turn one? Just as planned. You trip and fall at a tournament? Just as planned. The meme perfectly parodies the unfalsifiable nature of conspiracy thinking and Tzeentch’s supposed omniscience.
9. Slaanesh Jokes / “This Quiet Offends Slaanesh”
Origin: Dawn of War: Soulstorm, plus Slaanesh’s nature
Slaanesh is the Chaos God of excess and sensation, which the community has embraced as license for endless innuendo. “This quiet offends Slaanesh” is a line from Dawn of War: Soulstorm that became a meme used whenever a conversation, thread, or voice chat goes quiet. Broader Slaanesh jokes revolve around the god’s association with extreme sensation — the community walks a delicate line between in-universe references and increasingly creative euphemisms.
10. Nurgle’s “Gifts” / “Grandfather Nurgle Loves You”
Origin: Nurgle’s lore as the loving plague god
Nurgle is unique among the Chaos Gods because he genuinely loves his followers. He sends them “gifts” of plague and disease out of sincere affection. The community has embraced this unsettling fatherly love, using “Grandfather Nurgle loves you” as both a joke and a strangely comforting meme. It peaks during cold and flu season, when every sniffle, cough, or stomach bug is attributed to “Nurgle’s blessings.” Death Guard players actively celebrate being sick because it is “on brand.”
11. “Cadia Stands!” / The Planet Broke Before the Guard Did
Origin: Fall of Cadia campaign (7th/8th Edition transition)
When Abaddon’s 13th Black Crusade finally destroyed the fortress world of Cadia, the Imperial Guard did not break and run — the planet was literally shattered beneath their feet. “The planet broke before the Guard did” became an instant classic, a testament to mortal courage in the face of impossible odds. “Cadia stands!” persists as a defiant battle cry even though Cadia emphatically does not stand anymore. Imperial Guard players use it as their rallying cry, and it has become a symbol of stubborn refusal to accept defeat.
12. “Orks Is Da Best” / Everything Orky
Origin: Ork culture in general
The Ork belief system creates a self-fulfilling reality through psychic gestalt — if enough Orks believe something is true, it becomes true. Red vehicles go faster because Orks believe red is fast. Purple is stealthy because “have you ever seen a purple Ork?” The community uses these Ork beliefs for endless humour, applying Ork logic to real-world situations. “My car is slow because it’s not red enough” is peak Orky thinking. The Ork WAAAGH! energy extends to Ork players themselves, who are generally considered the most enthusiastic and fun-loving segment of the community.
13. Commissar Executing Guardsmen
Origin: Imperial Guard lore and tabletop rules
Imperial Commissars maintain morale by executing anyone who retreats. In older editions, this was a literal game rule — your Commissar could shoot your own troops to prevent them from running. The meme of the Commissar executing his own soldiers for minor infractions (“Commissar, the water’s cold” *BLAM*) has become a beloved format. It satirizes the Imperium’s brutality while acknowledging the dark humour that is central to 40k’s identity.
14. The Emperor’s Text-to-Speech Device (TTS)
Origin: “If the Emperor Had a Text-to-Speech Device” by Bruva Alfabusa (YouTube)
One of the most beloved fan-created series in Warhammer history, TTS imagines the Emperor communicating through a text-to-speech device on the Golden Throne. The series features hilarious voice acting, surprisingly accurate lore, and running gags that have permeated the wider community. Kitten (the Custodian captain), Rogal Dorn’s brutal honesty, and the Emperor’s exasperation with the Imperium he created are all community touchstones. The series was paused after GW updated their IP guidelines but remains enormously influential.
15. “Heresy!” / “Did Someone Say Heresy?”
Origin: Imperial culture, the Inquisition
In the Imperium, anything can be declared heresy. In the community, anything can be declared heresy. This meme involves dramatically declaring something heretical — regardless of context. Putting ketchup on a hot dog? Heresy. Preferring fantasy to sci-fi? Heresy. Not liking Ultramarines? Believe it or not, also heresy. The meme captures the absurd paranoia of Imperial culture and is one of the most versatile in-jokes in the community.
Tabletop and Gaming Memes
16. “Rolling 1s” / Dice Shame
Origin: The universal wargaming experience of bad dice
Every wargamer has experienced the agony of rolling critical 1s at the worst possible moment. Warhammer players have elevated dice-related misery into an art form, with memes about dice that “hate” their owner, dice jails (where poorly performing dice are put in timeout), and the eternal belief that certain dice are cursed. Some players perform elaborate rituals to appease the dice gods, and dice-related superstition is genuinely widespread.
17. “That Guy” at the Gaming Table
Origin: Universal tabletop gaming experience
“That guy” is the player everyone dreads facing — the one who argues every rule, slow-plays to run down the clock, brings hyper-competitive lists to friendly games, or smells bad. Every gaming store has one. The meme serves as a cautionary tale and a way for the community to collectively define what good sportsmanship looks like by identifying its opposite.
18. Ultramarines Hate / “Smurfs”
Origin: Ultramarines’ prominence in GW marketing
The Ultramarines are Games Workshop’s poster boys — featured on most boxes, rulebooks, and marketing materials. This overexposure has made them the most mocked Chapter in the community. Calling them “Smurfs” (because they are blue) or “Ultrasmurfs” is standard. The meme peaked during 5th Edition when Codex author Mat Ward was perceived as making the Ultramarines unreasonably powerful and important in the lore, spawning the “Spiritual Liege” meme. Modern Ultramarines hate has mellowed into affectionate ribbing.
19. “Plastic Crack”
Origin: The addictive nature of buying miniatures
Warhammer miniatures are jokingly referred to as “plastic crack” because they are addictive, expensive, and you always want more. The joke acknowledges the compulsive nature of collecting while being self-deprecating about the community’s spending habits. Games Workshop’s CEO has reportedly acknowledged the nickname with good humour.
20. “New Primaris Lieutenant” / Primaris Lieutenant Jokes
Origin: GW releasing numerous Primaris Lieutenant models
Games Workshop released an extraordinary number of Primaris Lieutenant models in the years following 8th Edition’s launch. Every few months, another Lieutenant variant appeared — with different weapons, different armour marks, and different poses. The community mocked this relentlessly, turning “another Primaris Lieutenant” into shorthand for GW’s perceived overproduction of Space Marine characters. The joke persists whenever GW releases anything remotely Lieutenant-shaped.
Dawn of War and Video Game Memes
21. “METAL BAWKSES” / Boreale Speeches
Origin: Dawn of War: Soulstorm, Indrick Boreale’s dialogue
In the poorly voice-acted Dawn of War: Soulstorm, Space Marine captain Indrick Boreale delivers spectacularly bad speeches, including his infamous warning about the enemy arriving in “METAL BAWKSES” (boxes — referring to transport vehicles). His entire speech is a masterclass in awkward delivery and has been endlessly remixed and quoted. “SPESS MEHREENS” (Space Marines) and “STEEL REHN” (Steel Rain) from the same game are equally beloved.
22. “WAAAGH!” / Ork Player Energy
Origin: Ork culture
WAAAGH! is the Ork battle cry, but it has become a meme that represents unbridled enthusiasm for anything. Ork players are known for shouting WAAAGH! at tournaments, during dice rolls, and in everyday life. The meme extends to the Ork community being the most energetic and welcoming faction community — Ork players are stereotyped (often accurately) as the ones having the most fun.
23. Blood Ravens Stealing Everything
Origin: Dawn of War video games, community interpretation
In the Dawn of War games, the Blood Ravens Chapter acquires numerous relics and artefacts from other Chapters. The community interpreted this as the Blood Ravens literally stealing from other Chapters, spawning endless memes about them showing up at other Chapters’ fortress-monasteries and walking off with anything not bolted down. “Gifted by the Blood Ravens” has become a catchphrase for anything that has gone missing. The meme works because the Blood Ravens’ mysterious origins and obsession with knowledge make them genuinely suspicious.
Community Culture Memes
24. “Welcome to the Hobby — You’ll Never Leave”
Origin: Community wisdom
Once someone starts collecting Warhammer, they rarely truly quit. They may take breaks of years or decades, but eventually they return. This meme acknowledges the lifelong nature of the hobby and serves as both a warning to newcomers and a celebration of the hobby’s staying power. “You can leave Warhammer, but Warhammer never leaves you.”
25. Warhammer Boyfriend / Explaining 40k Lore
Origin: Social media, relationship dynamics
A format where someone (usually a partner) asks a seemingly simple question about Warhammer, and the fan launches into an hour-long explanation of interconnected lore. “My boyfriend just asked me what the Horus Heresy was, and I have been talking for six hours.” The meme captures both the depth of 40k lore and the tendency of fans to massively over-explain when given the opportunity.
26. “The Lore Is the Best Part”
Origin: The eternal debate between lore fans, painters, and gamers
The Warhammer community is roughly divided into three tribes: people who collect and paint, people who play the game, and people who are in it purely for the lore. Lore fans are stereotyped as having thousands of hours of Warhammer knowledge but zero painted models and no interest in actually playing. The meme playfully acknowledges that many people who are deeply invested in 40k have never rolled a single dice.
27. “Grimdark” as an Adjective for Everything
Origin: The 40k tagline (“In the grim darkness…”)
The word “grimdark” was coined by the Warhammer community and has since escaped into mainstream use. It describes anything that is excessively dark, hopeless, or bleak. In the community, it is applied liberally to everything from game outcomes (“that was a grimdark dice roll”) to real life (“my commute is pretty grimdark”). The term has been adopted by literature and media criticism to describe an entire genre.
28. Games Workshop’s Social Media / “We Know”
Origin: GW’s community team responses
Games Workshop’s social media team has developed a reputation for engaging with community memes in a self-aware, humorous way. When the community complains about something GW is clearly already aware of, the response is often a knowing wink. This has created a meta-meme about GW’s awareness of their own memes — they know about Erebus, they know about Primaris Lieutenants, and they lean into it.
29. “Dorn Fortifies” / Rogal Dorn’s Personality
Origin: Rogal Dorn’s characterization in novels and TTS
Rogal Dorn, Primarch of the Imperial Fists, is characterized in the lore and especially in TTS as an extremely literal, humourless, and obsessively fortification-focused individual. The meme reduces all Dorn interactions to fortification — “Rogal, what would you like for dinner?” “I would like to fortify this position.” His deadpan delivery and inability to understand humour have made him one of the most meme-able Primarchs.
30. “Vulkan Hugs” / The Friendly Primarch
Origin: Salamanders lore and TTS characterization
Vulkan, Primarch of the Salamanders, is the most humanitarian Primarch — he actually cares about civilian lives and is portrayed in TTS as an enormous, enthusiastic hugger. “Vulkan hugs” represent the one genuinely warm and wholesome element in the otherwise grimdark setting. The contrast between Vulkan’s friendliness and the horror of the 40k universe makes the meme both funny and oddly touching.
Bonus Memes
31. “Exterminatus” as a Solution to Everything
Origin: Imperial doctrine of planetary destruction
Exterminatus is the Imperium’s nuclear option — the complete destruction of a planet’s biosphere. The community uses it as a punchline for any problem: “This customer complaint is frustrating. Recommend Exterminatus.” It satirizes the Imperium’s disproportionate responses while being darkly funny.
32. “For the Greater Good” / T’au Jokes
Origin: T’au Empire philosophy + community stereotypes
The T’au’s “Greater Good” philosophy is endlessly mocked because it is either genuinely idealistic (in a setting where idealism is suicidal) or secretly authoritarian (the Ethereals may use mind control). T’au players are stereotyped as the ones who would not survive five minutes in the actual 40k setting because they think cooperation and reason can solve problems.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most famous Warhammer meme?
“Blood for the Blood God! Skulls for the Skull Throne!” is probably the most widely known outside the community, having crossed over into mainstream internet culture. Within the community, “thin your paints” and “fuck Erebus” are the most universally recognized references.
Where do Warhammer memes originate?
Warhammer memes come from multiple sources: the game’s lore and rulebooks, video games (especially Dawn of War), fan-created content (especially TTS), the Black Library novel series, social media communities (Reddit’s r/Grimdank is a major hub), and the shared hobby experience of painting, building, and playing.
Is Warhammer 40k meant to be taken seriously?
Both yes and no. The setting is genuinely dark and deals with serious themes — totalitarianism, religious extremism, xenophobia, and the cost of eternal war. But it is also deliberately over-the-top and self-aware, with a tradition of black humour going back to Rogue Trader. The meme culture reflects this duality — fans can discuss profound lore themes in one breath and shout “METAL BAWKSES” in the next. The ability to be both serious and silly is one of the franchise’s greatest strengths.
What is r/Grimdank?
r/Grimdank is the primary Warhammer meme subreddit on Reddit, with over a million subscribers. It is the epicenter of Warhammer meme culture online, producing and cataloguing the community’s jokes, references, and in-jokes. It exists alongside r/Warhammer40k (general discussion), r/Warhammer (broader Warhammer), and numerous faction-specific subreddits.