The Imperium in Warhammer 40,000 is not just “feeble humans” – Here are its 6 most dangerous organizations

Rank 5: The Deadliest Humans: Officio Assassinorum

When it comes to lethality and precision, no one can match the assassins of the Officio Assassinorum. Those humans who are trained here undergo not only rigorous training but are often additionally physically altered through drugs and other substances.

Most adepts do not survive the training. Those who complete their training acquire abilities that far exceed those of any other human. The Officio Assassinorum is divided into different “Temples” with different tasks:

• Adamus: The classic “assassins” who study their target extensively to take them out (ideally) with a single blow. They are masters in combat with swords and needle pistols.
• Callidus: Infiltrators whose members possess the ability to shapeshift and can even kill through touch. Callidus assassins are mostly women because they tolerate the shapeshifter drug polymorphine better.
• Culexus: The members of the Culexus Temple consist entirely of Blanks or Pariahs that can deactivate any psychic power and exclusively hunt psychics. Most Culexus assassins are male, as women are trained by the Adepta Sororitas to become Sisters of Silence.
• Eversor: Perhaps the most unconventional assassins, Eversors act as killing machines that can wipe out entire regiments. In a stricter sense, they are not even human anymore but drug-pumped, biotechnically and cybernetically enhanced humans without memories and conscience.
• Vanus: Actually, these aren’t even assassins. Members of the Vanus Temple gather information and calculate the outcome of every situation. They are more like human computers – similar to lobotomized servitors.
• Venenum: As the name suggests, Venenum assassins are masters of poisons. During the Horus Heresy, they are said to have had the greatest influence on battles.
• Vindicare: Similar to Adamus assassins, the Vindicare kill with just one blow – or shot, as they rely on sniper rifles and are extremely patient. Some Vindicare assassins are said to have waited six years in position for the perfect shot.

Just like the Commissariat, the Assassinorum is directly subordinated to the Administratum and has correspondingly high authority. They usually act as support for elite imperial troops such as the Space Marines or the Adepta Sororitas.