By now you’ve surely caught the incredible Armouring of a Space Marine video (and if not, go watch it right now – we’ll wait), which demonstrates just how many Tech-Priests, servitors, and cherubim are involved in putting on just one suit of power armour. It’s… well, it’s a lot. But what is power armour? How does it work, and what makes it so cool? This week’s episode of Loremasters on Warhammer+ goes into great detail about the legendary armour of the Adeptus Astartes.
While Wade and the Loremasters team take an impressively deep dive into the serious business of how power armour works, here at Warhammer Community we're more focused on fashion – so it's time to take a look at some of the ways Space Marines decorate their armour.* Without further ado, let’s zhuzh it up.
Mk II – Crusade Armour
If you think Mark II armour has a brutal and funky aesthetic, you’re not wrong. This Word Bearer leaned into the quirkiness, accessorising the segmented plates by adding lots of parchment, inscriptions, and even a bit of sacred geometry. A flaming daemon head completes the look – maximalism is in.
Mk III – Iron Armour
Whoever said Mark III armour was crude and clumsy? This Imperial Fists Praetor has added a flowing cape to highlight his smooth moves, together with an attention-grabbing transverse crest to really add some distinction to that silhouette. And just look at the layering of trinkets and honour badges! Nothing plain about this.
Mk IV – Maximus Armour
Arguably the earliest of the “modern” suits, this Ultramarines Honour Guard demonstrates how to put the Maximus pattern to work. He had to include the signature pteruges,** of course, but why stop there? Why not put a bird on it? And make it gold? And add more birds? That faceplate really says “if you’re close enough to admire my detailing, you’re close enough to impale on my power sword.”
Mk V – Heresy Armour
Don’t let an unfortunate name – or the notoriously slipshod construction – hold you back from a stunning Mark V ensemble. Just look at the use of texture here. This Salamander Legionary has used dragon-hide and bone charms to accentuate those exposed cables and bonding studs, taking his armour from “incomplete” to “savage chic”. Truly, Vulkan’s sons are craftsmen without peer.
Mk VI – Corvus Armour
Just because you won’t be seen, doesn’t mean you can’t look good. The Raven Guard understand this, which is why their Primarch helped design such a classy outfit. Affectionately dubbed ‘beaky’ armour after its conical faceplate, the crisp Mark VI looks fantastic in classic black. This Apothecary has used its wide, flat plates as a canvas for honour markings and squad designations.
Mk VII – Aquila Armour
Mark VII suits dominated the power armour fashion industry for many years, and with good reason – they’re incredibly versatile. This Blood Angels Chaplain stretches the design to the limit with loads of bespoke details, from his exposed-muscle panelling to his feathered pauldrons. Toss on a few purity seals and a skull-plate visor, and you’ll be chanting litanies with the best of ‘em.
Mk VIII – Errant Armour
What can we say about the Errant pattern? For a long time, this was the most refined power armour around – and like all hot fashion items, it was hard to get your hands on. Even the Chapter’s finest artificers would hesitate to mess with such a well-honed formula – just check out that popped collar. There’s something to be said for how practical and complete this suit looks.***
Mk X – Tacticus Armour
Belisarius Cawl might be a little eccentric, but he’s at the cutting edge of the Imperial catwalk. His ingeniously modular Mark X can be stripped down to Phobos, armoured up to Gravis, and everything in between.
Here we see Lazarus, Captain of the Dark Angels 5th Company, sporting the Tacticus variant. He’s taken this instant classic and festooned it with his Chapter’s finery. Cape, robes, winged helmet, a backpack icon… heck, why not toss in an incense burner and a feather? Go wild! Lazarus declined an interview, but we’re sure each piece carries some deep symbolic meaning. All we know for sure is that he’s really working it.
If you want to learn more about where all these power armour designs come from, you should head over to Warhammer TV for a more thorough guide in Loremasters. While you’re there, catch a new Citadel Colour Masterclass. Flyers of the Dark Millennium has also been added to the Warhammer Vault – it’s packed with tons of reference material about the markings and insignia of the aircraft dominating the skies of the far future.
* We’ll be skipping the Mk I Thunder armour – though stylishly retro, it was worn by few actual Space Marines. Who did wear it? No more questions, citizen…
** For the less fashion-forward fans, pteruges are those leather strips. Ultramarines especially love them – just look at Marneus Calgar.
*** We thought there might be a number between VIII and X, but the Inquisition assures us that our maths teachers were mistaken.