Summary
The twentyPrimarchsare some of the mostpowerful beings inWarhammer 40,000.Genetic creations of the Emperor himself, they were designed as his generals, each fulfilling a certain role at the head of his legions. Each Primarch was a master of arms and warfare. Some were forgemasters, others diplomats, and several were psykers.
As the Emperor is often treated as one of the most powerful characters in the setting, especially since ascending to the Golden Throne, it stands to reason his sons would be too. Some might struggle with the odd enemy that perfectly exploits their specific weaknesses but as a whole they’re incredibly tough to take down. That being said, there are some who could take one on.
10Abbadon The Despoiler
Warmaster Of Chaos
Abbadonis one of the strongestSpace Marines alive. The successor to his father, Horus, as Warmaster, Abbadon leads the Black Legion, a reformed coalition of the remnants of the Sons Of Horus and other Space Marines disillusioned with their legion or chapter. He is the one responsible for the galaxy’s fracturing and the creation of Imperium Nihilus, and it might be him who finally takes Terra.
Abbadon has actually killed a Primarch, namely, a clone of his father, Horus. While it is likely that a meeting between him and Lion El’Jonson would see Chaos needing a new Warmaster, he has been supercharged with warp powers. Abbadon versus a less combat-focused Primarch, such as Guilliman, might even go another way.
9C’tan Shards
Shattered Star Gods
TheC’tan Shardsare the remnants of the star gods known as the C’tan. They were cast down by the ancient Necrons during the galaxy-destroying conflict known as the War In Heaven. The war was so destructive that it turned what was then known as the Sea of Souls into what is now the Warp, turning what might have been a peaceful afterlife into literal hell.
The Shards are just poor reflections of their original forms, but they’re extremely powerful, able to lay waste to the battlefields that their Necron masters deploy them to. They even power the most destructive forms of Necron war machines. The Shards are able to manipulate reality around them, and it is feasible for one to take on a Primarch in single combat.
8Constantin Valdor
Greatest Of The Custodes
Captain-General of the Custodes during the tumultuous days of the Horus Heresy,Valdoris one of the best combatants inWarhammer.While he didn’t have the legions of genesons to back him up and was tied to being a bodyguard for the Emperor, it could be said that he was a Primarch in all but name. Presumably, it comes down to the fact that each Custodes is a uniquely gene-crafted work of art, and he likely had the best implants.
Valdor would fight in the Unifcation Wars, Horus Heresy, and beyond, seeing action against the horrors of Age Of Strife era Earth, the Thousand Sons at Prospero, and later, the untold hordes of Daemons that threatened to engulf Earth during the War In The Webway. He survived it all, and despite resigning the Captaincy of the Custodes, it is unknown if he’s still kicking.
7Ka’Bhanda
Khorne’s Favoured Son
During the battle of Signus Prime, The Blood Angels were deployed against what they believed was a new alien civilization, only to discover Daemons for the first time. Soon, their Primarch, Sanguinius, arguably the most powerful of his brothers, would come face to face withKa,Bhandain single combat, a duel that left the Primarch broken and the Daemon free to wreak havoc across his legion.
The greatest of Khorne’s Bloodthirsters, Ka’Bhanda is no slouch in melee combat, something to be expected of any child of the Blood God. He is also one of the most powerful creatures in the setting. First coming to prominence during the Horus Heresy, he has been seen since in the Era Indomitus, actually saving the Blood Angels from the Tyranids, if only so that he could have another go at destroying them.
The Ultimate Farseer
One of the greatest psykers in the setting,Eldradis not someone to mess with. An ancient Aeldari Farseer, Eldrad is well over ten thousand years old. Eldrad can predict the future with near-perfect certainty, allowing him to influence the galaxy at large long before events play out.
He was instrumental in the awakening of Ynnead, the Eldar God of the Dead and prophesied killer of the Chaos god Slaanesh. He orchestrated a series of events that led to the birth of Ghazgkull Thraka, the most dangerous Ork since the War Of The Beast. Given enough time and forewarning, Eldrad could take on almost anything simply by preparing for it.
5Be’lakor
The Dark Prince
The first Daemon Prince.Be’Lakoris one the most mysterious characters inWarhammer. While his fantasy counterpart is much more fleshed out,Warhammer 40,000’s Be’Lakor intentionally hides his past and his true power from the wider galaxy.
Able to blend with shadows, and move across battlefields unseen, the First Damned is an extremely effective fighter, able to use surprise to his advantage as much as his physical prowess. It is also important to note that Be’lakor is the most powerful of all Daemon princes, having the power of all four major Chaos gods. Given that a Daemon prince mortally wounded Horus, Primarch of the Lunar Wolves, Be’lakor would be in the running for a true Primarch killer. His model wouldcertainly tower over mostof them.
4Norn Emissary
The Hive Mind’s Will Made Manifest
The Swarm’s brute strength made manifest, theNorn Emissaryis a colossal beast, evolved specifically to kill particularly powerful enemy commanders in single combat. They’re the Tyranid Hive Mind’s Will in physical form and one of thedeadliest Tyranids yet seen.
A relatively new addition to theWarhammer 40,000universe, they first saw use during the Fourth Tyrannic War. Four have been deployed, three at Sanctum and one at Regium. In all cases, they were whirlwinds of death, massacring Imperial soldiers and only falling to the sheer weight of numbers. With the Hive Fleets growing in power with every planet they consume, it’s likely they will be seen in ever-increasing numbers.
3Szarekh
The Silent King
The Silent King is the most powerful of the extremely technologically advanced Necrons. A veteran of the apocalyptic War In Heaven, it was under his rule that the Necrons rebelled against the C’tan, shattering the star gods and locking their Shards away for later use.
Relatively new to the setting,Szarekhis not known for being a master combatant; he has at his disposal the deadliest weapons the Necrons have to offer. Szarekh rides into battle atop the Dias Of Dominion, a throne powered by an enslaved C’tan, and wields a staff powered by another imprisoned star god, not to mention the two colossally-powerful Menhirs flanking his throne. It’s safe to say nothing could even get close to the Silent King.
2Another Primarch
Sons Of The Emperor
There is this in-universe belief that only Primarchs can kill Primarchs, which is evidently not true givenWarhammer 40,000lore, but it’s easy to see how it came about. Most Primarch deaths have been at the hands of their brothers: Ferrus at the hands of Fulgrim, Alpharius at the hands of Dorn, Vulkan killed over and over again by Curze, and so on.
Even in the Era Indomitus, Guilliman, was killed by Mortarion, only to be resurrected by the Emperor himself. Angron, while not killed outright due to his ascension to Daemonhood, was beheaded and banished by the Lion. In fact, all but two of the confirmed Primarch deaths have been at the hands of a brother.
1The Emperor
Man, Or Eldritch God?
Probably the most powerful being in the setting, The Emperorkilled his son, Horus,at the culmination of theHorus Heresy,after spending the previous fifteen years fighting a never-ending horde of Daemons with virtually no breaks. His mortal wounding and internment on the Golden Throne was only due to Horus being given colossal amounts of power by all four Chaos gods.
Now, in the Era Indomitus, The Emperor has been transformed into something new, eldritch, and unknowable. Even Guilliman, the only person to speak with him in millennia, doesn’t know what he is anymore, but what is evident is that he is only growing in power with each passing day.
