For many fans, the Space Marines and the Imperium in Warhammer 40,000 are considered “the good guys” of the setting, even if that is already questionable. However, one Order of the Space Marines cannot be counted among them: the Carcharodons, an Order of slavers. Space Marine 2 will soon bring them as DLC.
In the world of Warhammer 40,000 there is not exactly “good and evil”, but some factions come very close to the extremes. The Carcharodons are one of these factions. They are one of the most controversial, but also one of the most popular Orders of the Space Marines.
When exactly the Carcharodons were created is not known in detail. However, they are said to have existed since shortly after the Horus Heresy, roughly since the 32nd millennium. Their origin is also unknown.
Speculation suggests they are outcasts of the Raven Guard, one of the original Orders of the Space Marines. The reason for their banishment: they were simply too brutal, their methods not compatible with the morality of the Imperium or at least their original Order.
Since their exile, they have followed the “Forgotten” and fight on the borders of the Imperium against the enemies of humanity, for despite everything, they are loyal to the Emperor of Mankind.
So brutal that the Imperium has banished them
Their name means roughly translated from High Gothic “Space Sharks” and they behave exactly like that. They still murder, kidnap, and enslave citizens of the Imperium today, and that was also the reason for their original banishment.
It is not known when exactly or by whom the Carcharodons were cast out, but the “Raven Guard” theory is probably the most likely: after the return of the primarch Corvus Corax, he expelled the brutal part of his Legion.
Corvus Corax is possibly the most powerful of all Primarchs and is, based on his origin story, absolutely opposed to slavery. Raised on a tyrannized world and among slaves, he has grown up as a rebel and freedom fighter.
The kinship of the Carcharodons to the Raven Guard is indicated by titles they give to their Astartes. However, they are also attributed a certain kinship to fallen brothers, followers of Chaos, which is not surprising given their methods.
Recruits rarely come voluntarily and the gene-seed makes them into monsters
Carcharodons raid Imperial worlds and call it the “Red Tithe”. There, they take most citizens they can find as slaves and make them servants of their Order.
Some few chosen “get to” undergo the trials, to ultimately become a Space Marine, albeit not necessarily voluntarily. Those who do not pass the trials likely die.
When a Space Marine is created, an Apothecary implants the gene-seed of the Order, which slowly changes the man’s body. However, in the case of the Carcharodons, this has severe side effects because the seed itself is unstable and prone to mutations, similar to the Raven Guard:
- The skin becomes pale, almost corpse-like.
- The eyes lose their color and become jet black, without pupils.
- Carcharodons become more aggressive and malevolent purely from the gene-seed, showing no regard for civilians.
- Older Carcharodons even develop grayish scales on their skin.
The Ashen Claws, a traitorous but not Chaos-corrupted branch of the Raven Guard, do not view the Carcharodons as brothers
, but rather as unnatural hybrids – and even equate them more with the treacherous World Eaters.
Carcharodons coming to Space Marine 2
At the end of February 2026, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 will receive its Patch 12. This brings the Tech Marine as a new class into the game, as well as new DLCs for the game, including the Carcharodon DLC.
The DLC includes the complete heraldry of the Carcharodons, with which you can customize your Space Marine for coop missions and PvP: two helmets, left and right shoulder plates, and chest pieces. Unlike other cosmetic DLCs, you do not get a new heraldry page, but get the armor pieces directly in the selection when you purchase the contents.
In addition, Focus Entertainment will also provide the “Raven Guard” DLC… the kinship of the two Orders is a widely spread theory. Additionally, there will be a new map, new weapon variants, and new equipment for healing.
The Carcharodons are not one of the most well-known, but definitely one of the most notorious Orders in Warhammer 40,000 – and with their behavior certainly not the first choice for most (new) fans. If you want to know which Order suits you, take the test here: In Warhammer 40,000, the Emperor created 20 perfect sons – which gene-seed would you receive?
