Sugar, spice, and everything nice, that and the genetically engineered power granted by the Emperor himself. Thus the sons of the Emperor were born. Twenty superior and ‘perfect’ men who were intended to be superhuman generals would embark with the emperor upon the Great Crusade and unite the scattered worlds of the Imperium and bring mankind into a new golden age.
Each Primarch shared attributes such as strength, charisma, intellect, and constitution and was supposedly immortal. Each also embodied a particular skill that set them apart from the others, as intended by the Emperor. Strength is a hard indicator to measure in the realm of Warhammer 40K. Apart from brute strength or martial prowess, there are many other aspects to observe as entire battles and wars have been won on more than strength alone.
10 Ferrus Manus
Known as the ‘Gorgon’, Ferrus Manus was the Primarch of the Iron Hands space marine legion. Ferrus was a talented smith and created many awe-inspiring weapons which included a sword for his brother, Fulgrim, and a bolter for his other brother, Vulkan. Ferrus was also exceptional in understanding warfare, like his brother Horus and was considered one of the most physically powerful Primarchs.
Unfortunately, Ferrus met his tragic end during the drop site massacre of Istvaan V. He was slain by his brother and closest friend, Fulgrim who had embraced Chaos.
9 Corvus Corax
With several monikers and titles such as the ‘Raven Lord’ and ‘Liberator’, Corvus was always considered striking in his appearances and on the field of battle. As Primarch of the Raven Guard legion of the space marines, Corvus was blessed with the ability to move about unnoticed and slip away from his enemies with ease.
It was this skill and his tenacity to fight that allowed him and several other Raven Guard Astartes to survive the massacre at Istvaan V when so many others did not. Though devastated by the betrayal and loss of so many battle brothers, Corvus would again take the fight to chaos only to later discover that his legion would be tainted by chaos. After removing the threats within his legion, something broke within Corvus. After a small self-imposed exile, Corvus traveled alone into the warp to hunt down his traitorous brothers for all the misfortune they have caused. His current whereabouts are unknown.
8 Magnus The Red
Primarch of the Thousand Sons traitor legion, Magnus the Red is a sorcerer of great renown and is currently one of the most powerful daemon princes of the Chaos god Tzeentch. Once a great prodigy and gifted with brilliant psychic abilities, Magnus fell out of his father’s favor due to his pride and belief that he could control the great psychic energy of the warp.
His psychic abilities are second only to the Emperor himself and some of his abilities include being able to grow as large as a titan to crush foes. It is also theoretically implied that Magnus, with enough preparation, can destroy countless ships, lives, and entire populations with his mind. That remains to be seen.
7 Vulkan
Primarch of the Salamanders space marine legion, Vulkan is an incredibly talented smith and warrior who was also known to hunt dragons for sport. The Primarch is also known as a perpetual, a very rare mutant ability meaning that he can never die. He was eventually kept as a prisoner by his traitorous brother, Konrad Curze, who tortured Vulcan ceaselessly.
Vulkan was able to eventually escape by teleporting himself to the homeworld of the Ultramarines at the cost of his mind after endless torture. Although incapacitated, fans eagerly look forward to the day Vulkan returns to the Imperium.
6 Konrad Curze
Also known as the Night Haunter or the ‘Dark King’, Konrad was the Primarch of the traitorous Night Lords space marine legion. Tortured from an early age with visions of darkness and grim warnings of the future, Konrad sought relief from his existence and looked forward to oblivion.
Konrad believed that fear was the most important and potent weapon to use against enemies. Regarded as a natural-born killer and excellent fighter, Konrad was able to seriously wound several of his brothers and instill a sense of fear into them (especially Corvus) and was especially known for his vicious and lightning-fast attacks. The Primarch met his end by an assassin of the Imperium although none know the exact events that went down. It is implied that he knew that allowed himself to be killed as he saw that he had become the very thing he swore to destroy.
5 Fulgrim
Primarch of the traitorous legion of the Emperor’s Children, Fulgrim is best remembered as the favored daemon prince of Slaanesh who slaughtered two of his brothers (technically 1). Fulgrim is an excellent warrior who is perhaps one of the only turn-cloak Primarchs to express remorse for the massacre of his battle brothers on Istvaan V.
Though fans of the Warhammer 40K debate on how powerful Fulgrim is, it is worth noting that Fulgrim was able to overcome his possession by a greater daemon of Slaanesh and in fact, imprison it himself. Fulgrim is believed to reside on a daemon world within the warp.
4 Lion El’Johnson
Primarch of the Dark Angels, Johnson was an exceptionally powerful Primarch so much so that he was referred to as ‘The Duelist’ by the combined powers of chaos. His battle prowess was exceptional and he was known to have unrivaled reflexes when dueling.
As most of the other Primarchs might have had doubts or questioned their abilities when facing off or fighting other Primarchs, it is implied that Johnson did not. Johnson came close to killing Konrad Curze twice (a fearsome duelist himself) and even defeated Kairos Fateweaver, a greater daemon of Tzeentch, with relative ease. It is said that Johnson resides in stasis, deep under the Dark Angels fortress-monastery.
3 Angron
Primarch of the traitorous World Eaters legion, Angron is considered to be one of the strongest and most brutal of the Primarchs. It is said that Angron never tires or loses strength in a brawl. Before Horus’ betrayal, Angron and his legion were known to be brutal and savage, massacring the entire planet of Ghenna and members of its legion who believed their actions were wrong. It was said that Angron was already under the sway of Khorne for all the bloodshed he sanctioned. When Horus began his rebellion, Angron was very quick to follow.
Angron ascended to become a daemon prince of Khorne during the Horus Heresy and although banished into the warp, plots to make a comeback.
2 Sanguinius
Also called the ‘Great Angel’ and ‘Red Angel’, Sanguinius was the Primarch of the Blood Angels Legion and was gifted with prescience. As Horus’ closest brother and friend, it is implied in Fear To Tread that Horus, the most favored son of the Emperor feared Sanguinius and only him. Horus even goes further to say that the mantle to lead and oversee the Emperor’s Great Crusade should have gone to Sanguinius as he ‘had it all.'
Sanguinius would ultimately perish defending the Emperor from Horus on the Horus’ flagship. Rumors even say that chink created by Sanguinius during his duel with Horus was how the Emperor was able to defeat his traitorous son.
1 Horus
The favored son of the Emperor himself and Primarch of the Luna Wolves/Sons Of Horus traitor legion, Horus was the Warmaster who led mankind’s Great Crusade and is considered to be the greatest traitor in the history of man. It was his actions and instigation of the Horus Heresy that has left mankind a shell of its former self, becoming a stagnant and repressive regime.
Horus was powerful in every sense. Talented and naturally strong as well as being the champion of Chaos Undivided, Horus was able to slay his brother, Sanguinius, considered to be another excellent fighter, and gravely wound the Emperor himself.
