A Brief History of Tactical Dreadnought Armour Through the Ages
Space Marine Terminators have been blasting Tyranids to pieces in the grim darkness of the 41st Millennium for real-world decades, starting off way back in the first edition of Warhammer 40,000, spending their time on space hulks blowing Genestealers limb from limb.
Nobody has more experience grinding up the hungry hordes than the 1st Company, and everyone’s favourite Tactical Dreadnought-armoured veterans are back where they belong – as the stars of the new edition of Warhammer 40,000.
We’ve seen one of these hulking new Terminators already, but impregnable as they may be, one isn’t enough to fight back the entire Tyranid menace. We’re going to need a whole squad.
If Space Hulk and the Battle for Macragge have taught us anything it’s this – there’s no better option for xenos-busting than several tons of Tactical Dreadnought armour. But though the basic design has a long history, there are many earlier incarnations.
Terminator armour first appeared in 1988 with a unique high-shouldered armour design. However, 1989 was truly the year of the Terminator with several iconic new designs added to the armoury. Issue 112 of White Dwarf laid out the background for this formidable wargear and established the style of Terminator armour we know and love today. The first edition of Space Hulk was released a mere month later, cementing that age-old rivalry with Genestealers.
More miniatures appeared in later White Dwarfs and Citadel Catalogues, adding a wide range of variants including, among many, Grey Knights, Chaos Traitors, and the cyclone missile launcher.
The classic Terminator armoury also began to take shape around this time, with lightning claws and thunder hammers laying the foundations for later Terminator Assault Squads, Even Ordo Malleus Inquisitors got in on the action with unique suits of their own.
Then came the plastic revolution and some beefed-up multipart Terminators. Chapters who made extensive use of the armour, including the Grey Knights, Space Wolves, and Dark Angels later got their own upgrade kits, though the base design of this Indomitus pattern Terminator armour remained the same throughout.
It is this pattern that forms the basis for the new Terminators, now substantially filled out to match the scale, and the increased detail, of modern Space Marines.
The distinctive helmet and Crux Terminatus are present and correct, and no squad should enter battle without their signature assault cannon.
But how exactly will the new Terminators perform on the battlefield? You’ll need to stay tuned for an in-depth deep strike into their new rules. Make sure you’re on the VIP list for new information by signing up for our newsletter.