Space Marines are considered the perfect warriors of the Empire in Warhammer 40,000. However, before they existed, the Emperor created other fighters who could easily defeat any Space Marine in battle. The first attempt, however, was flawed in too many ways.
What kind of warriors are they? The Thunder Warriors are the first superhumans created by the Emperor – alongside the Adeptus Custodes.
Through genetic manipulation, a human was transformed into a warrior who was bigger, stronger, faster, and above all, more brutal. These supersoldiers were created for one purpose: to unite Terra, which is our Earth.
To subjugate the scattered and divided realms of our Earth, the Emperor created a weapon that would guarantee him victory. The fact that the Thunder Warriors no longer exist today is due to a mistake in their creation – or perhaps dark calculation.
In our special, you can learn more about the emergence of the Imperium of Man.
Brutal Superhumans and Perfect Killing Machines
Thunder Warriors were among the strongest warriors ever produced by humanity. They even had thicker bones and faster reflexes than Space Marines in today’s Warhammer 40,000 – and those already undergo intense genetic changes.
It is said that their tolerance for psychic powers was so high that attacking psychics experienced immense pain. In later battles, a single Thunder Warrior is said to have taken on 4-5 Space Marines alone. To give you an idea, here are some tales from the world:
- A Thunder Warrior had such hard bones that he could crush a Space Marine’s skull with a headbutt. Normally, such a skull could even withstand a bolt round.
- With a simple kick, a Thunder Warrior could kick through the torso of an ordinary human.
- In focused combat with 2 Astartes, a Thunder Warrior could still dodge an incoming plasma shot.
Heretics might say that Thunder Warriors were essentially the human version of the warlike Orks. In battle, the warriors were considered virtually invincible. Only one flaw ultimately doomed them to extinction.
Warriors without Discipline and Morality
On Reddit, a user asked why the Emperor didn’t utilize the Thunder Warriors for combat if they were so much stronger than Space Marines. This question sparked a significant discussion.
The Thunder Warriors had a similar structure to that of the Space Marines today. 20 legions, each led by a Primarch, fought for the Emperor. However, their imperfections meant they lacked the most important aspect of a soldier: discipline.
The genetic modifications of the Thunder Warriors were not perfect. Their bodies and especially their minds continuously deteriorated. Thus, while the Thunder Warriors were perfect, brutal warriors, they also frequently disregarded orders or simply collapsed dead. Their lifespan was significantly shorter than that of the Adeptus Astartes today.
Like Space Marines, Thunder Warriors could not reproduce independently. New warriors had to be created, usually by the Emperor. However, towards the end of the Unification Wars, he decided not to do so anymore.
According to history, all Thunder Warriors died in the last battle on Terra at Mount Ararat. However, one survivor claims that this story is merely a cover. In reality, the Custodes are said to have wiped them out when the Thunder Warriors rebelled against the Emperor.
The End of the Thunder Warriors and the Beginning of the Adeptus Astartes
Today, officially there are no more Thunder Warriors. The few who escaped the genocide have either succumbed to their genetic defects or fallen in battle at some point.
However, from the “experiment” emerged the Space Marines, or the Legiones Astartes. Similar in strength to Thunder Warriors but significantly less hot-headed, the Space Marines were loyal and disciplined warriors and strategists that the Emperor wanted for his Empire.
If you’re wondering where these strange names always come from: In Warhammer 40,000, humans have their own language.
According to rumors and stories, there are still some Thunder Warriors who have improbably survived and later became part of the Astartes. One survivor, Arik Taranis, even attempted to create his own Thunder Warriors using the techniques of the Emperor.
If these rumors are true, human historians will likely strive to conceal it.
Today, the Empire has a physically weaker but more suitable replacement for war with the Space Marines compared to the Thunder Warriors. However, even the normal
humans produce fighters that stand toe-to-toe with the superhumans of the Astartes: Forget Space Marines: A female order in Warhammer 40,000 is far more impressive, as they are “just humans”
