My Five Favorite Warhammer 40k Factions

[@MinusTheGreatSubtractor]

Mort being the most chill gaming reviewer and having a thing for skulls just makes sense for some reason.

[@FelisImpurrator]

Average goth

[@Arcling]

Skulls increase happiness.

[@blackhammer5035]

If you know where you're ultimately going to end up, you know there's less to worry about before the inevitable happens.

[@alexjensen007]

Skulls can't talk. Yet they are still telling the story of their own.

[@onatgz]

there was a research or something about metal music fans being happier than non-metalheads in general. checks out.

[@elricedge8116]

Hearing Mort say “Blood for the Blood God! Skulls for the Skull Throne!” in his matter of fact tone is just chef’s kiss 😂

[@armelior4610]

-Orks : because they're funny but that's obvious. They also are the only ones having fun in the universe, and the more important part : what they believe, happens. Red goes faster ! It's such a fun concept combined with their makeshift tech -Adepta sororitas : because being even more over-the-top religious nutcases compared to the rest of the imperium is quite a feat - and I like flamethrowers... -Mechanicus : because the game is awesome at presenting the faction : unlike Jensen they "totally asked for this" -Imperial guard : because they're average schmucks in a world of supervillains and eldritch monsters

[@ThatReplyGuy]

Necrons AND Word Bearers? Man of culture, I see.

[@Draclord35]

You call this culture, I call this Heresy!

[@ZenPaladin]

Number 1? The guard. There's something incredibly compelling about normal men against eldrich horror and the guard is exactly that.

[@StarkeRealm]

It doesn't hurt that two of the best novel series both revolve around Commisars.

[@albimperator]

@@StarkeRealm do you mind sharing the titles? always open to more warhammer books

[@Riri_734]

The Guard is my favourite too. Coincidentally, when i enlisted i was assigned to the Guards regiment, an air assault regiment kinda like Elysian Drop Troops or Harakoni Warhawks. The Guard is my destiny!!!

[@tatsuvoid]

​@@albimperator I think one he's probably referencing is Gaunt's Ghosts. Dan Abnett at some of his best.

[@Thetonn]

'Cadia broke before the guard did'

[@adammoynihan2589]

I'm one of the 12 people who really like the Eldar and i wish GW did more with them in lore and some more novels focused on them and the hopeless tragedy of their existence.

[@user-ow1bc4sx2r]

there’s been a lot of cool xenos novels released in the past decade so I’m hopeful

[@FelisImpurrator]

It doesn't hurt that Rogue Trader has best girl Yrliet.

[@tatsuvoid]

There's actually quite a few people who like Eldar, it's just unfortunate that no one at GW is one of them. The Ynnari was such a sad waste of potential.

[@Knochenhosentyp]

The Lore around the Harlequins are extrem interesting and their role in the universe is fantastic.

[@DeMause]

I love all the Wraithguard type stuff but don't much care for the rest of the Eldar.

[@Kraniumbrud]

orcs has to be number one for me.. the pure chaos of their society, magic and everything is just so fun

[@Nostromo2144]

You might love the new racing game that's just out in early access then: WH40K: Speed Freeks ;)

[@Jasta85]

Same here, Orks are the only race living their best life in the 40k universe, they love war and war is everywhere.

[@Lux_Ferox]

I love the way their magic works.

[@chriscowart8018]

Orcs have lore that makes them far more scary than any other faction. Then they call their flying units fly boys. Very funny

[@HendrikHagelslag]

​@@chriscowart8018They have tech capable of teleporting a goblin inside me. The fact that their entire existence is one giant slapstick, is the only reason the rest of the galaxy still gets to spend some of its time doing something than being practice targets and soon after, hopefully, dead.

[@gavinr4214]

The Word Bearers Omnibus by Anthony Reynolds is underrated, it has the best normal human turning to chaos I've ever read. Highly recommend.

[@ColbyNeblett]

Seconded. Those books are dope

[@charlieboone1298]

I've never had a book drain all hope out of me like Dark Disciple. It is staggeringly grim and fucked-up.

[@ColbyNeblett]

@@charlieboone1298 yeah dark apostle was peak grimdark. Sacrificing citizens to summon demons that burst out from their bodies, the captured guard being so mentally broken they fight against the Imperium and my favorite part; our protag chilling on his lunch break only to discover that the meat they used for taco night was human flesh

[@evedael]

Blood angels are probably my favourite "faction" in 40k. Something about them being the sons of Sanguinus, the greatest primarch, becoming a shell of their former selves is so captivating. They still maintain some of the radiance that they had when Sanguinus was alive. They still care for the common man but behind everything, they need to deal with the black rage and red thirst. They are just a small missstep away from damning themselves to Khorne. There is also Dante, someone who is technically older then even Guilliman and probably has more combat experience then most of the loyalist primarchs. He's 1600+ years old and just wants to die but everytime he's about to fall or be overwhelmed, a primarch comes in and saves him. First the Sanguinor, then Guilliman and now the finally the Lion.

[@xani666]

This could be fun april's fool videos, "my five favourite factions" then just talk about loyalist space marines factions

[@Taranchule]

I've been a Cadian man for three decades now. Been a fan since the days of the Ichar IV global campaign. In the pages of White Dwarf I read the studio's battle for the campaign. While the Eldar and Space Marine players had really close games against the Tyranids, the Guardies decimated the bugs with a wall of heavy bolters. Beautiful.

[@gamelover2222]

Space Marine 2 has Cadians, so you must be a happy camper!

[@TheAzureGhost]

Well they are kinda based on the mobile infantry, so it's only natural that they are experienced bug hunters.

[@Taranchule]

@@gamelover2222 First one did too. As did the Dawn of War games. Cadians are kinda the default Imperial Guard.

[@gamelover2222]

@@Taranchule Sad that Cadia fell. They might be running low soon.

[@Johannicus]

My favourite faction is Iron Warriors. When I started my discovery of the universe in 3rd edition they jumped at me with their love for artillery and mechanised units. The fact they also dont like mutations and replace such with mechanic limbs, got my younger self into them.

[@erynnbarker31]

The Salamanders noble sons of Vulcan are my favorite Astartes legion - The only Astartes that aren't psychopaths. Orks are my favourite Xenos - Orks, Orks, Orks. The Thousand Sons are my favourite traitor legion - What could possibly go wrong.

[@PotionSmeller]

Love the dusty bois, from both a visual and narrative standpoint. Excellent theming.

[@puntacana7550]

But salamanders are bald

[@FieryKanata]

To me nothing goes above the sheer gothic grimdarkness of the Adepta Sororitas. That faction just goes so hard. And the sculpts they get are awesome too.

[@Hesadryt]

Best aesthetics of any faction, hands down.

[@r.lum.r]

Oh man, The nuns with guns are tons of fun. Their tank that’s also a functioning Organ is just so over the top and cool

[@BigMikeMcBastard]

They've always felt really out-of-place to me. Corsets and high heels and boob plate. I'll stick with my Imperial Guard ladies in boots and flak armor that isn't designed to make them look extra hot.

[@halohead5655]

Number 1's gotta be the Blood Angels, but I have big respect for a Word Bearers fan

[@Zettern96]

My favorites are Necrons, Tyranids, Astra Militarum and Drukari. Tyranids and the Guard is just because I like the way they look and work. With the Necrons and Drukari it is because my favorite events in 40k history is the war in heaven (war between Necrons and the Old Ones) and the fall off the Aeldari empire. I also love how those two look.

[@abraxis59]

I really like Tzeentch and Slaanesh - Entities praying upon the desires and ambition of mankind are a story as old as humanity. That and the miniatures are really cool.

[@x1xruex1x]

Great insightful video ^_^ Oh regarding the Tyranids and Zerg, the reference probably comes from the fact that Warcraft was originally a Warhammer game but that fell through so Blizzard kept the general aesthetics and rebranded to what we all now know. You can see how heavily influenced Warcraft and Starcraft are from the Warhammer universes though.

[@elementz301]

Not the video I expected, but I like it. I think mine are: Farsight Enclaves, Genestealer Cults, Sisters of Battle, Salamanders and their successors, then maybe Sons of Horus/Black Legion

[@mr.mammuthusafricanavus8299]

My faves: - The Tau: Cool anime style - Space Wolves: Space Vikings - Worldeaters: Berserkers! - Mentors: I always want to play them like the lore leading Imperial Guardsmen - Imperial Guard: Tanks! Tanks! Tanks! ;p

[@Draclord35]

Nah eff the space wolves. We remember Prospero!

[@synthetic240]

I would say the Iron Hands. They have close ties with the Cult Mechanicus and I love the look of cybernetic Space Marines. The Word Bearers are arguably where the whole Heresy started. Ultimately, Lorgar's book being the foundation for the Imperial Cult is exactly why the Chaos Gods will eventually win. It's also why the Alpha Legion may the Imperium's last hope for salvation...

[@kevinchappelle5473]

I love hearing about your favorite factions and would also be curious of who are your least favorite factions. My favorites are the Salamanders and Sisters of battle.

[@kaname110]

I'm starting on the hobby. Unfortunately the miniature sets themselves are quite expensive here in Brazil, so I'm starting with video games and novels. Beat Space Marine 1, will start the 2nd one today, looking forward to Rogue Trader as I love CRPGs (but after your 30s you many times lack the patience to complete them lol). Your videos are always great, Mortym! My go-to channel for CRPGs and reviews.

[@grimsbeast]

My two favorite are the Grey Knights and the Thousand Sons. I love mage warrior/paladin type stuff so the fact that both the Grey Knights and Thousand Sons are filled with psykers, always had the appeal for me. I love the Grey Knights for that Paladin aesthetic and the fact that most of their powers are channeled inward and then the Thousand Sons and Magnus is my favorite Horus Heresy faction. I think Magnus and his sons got hella screwed over and I feel bad for them. After those two, I love the Salamanders...the most human of the Space Marines, Vulcan is just awesome and I love their dedication to humanity over dogma. It's also why I kind of like the Space Wolves while still a pack of assholes, I like that they aren't afraid to tell Imperial mouth pieces to go screw themselves when they make a bad call plus I like the werewolf aesthetic...and yes, I do like both the Thousand Sons and Space Wolves...it was a huge miscommunication caused by Horus. I also like Perturabo and the Iron Warriors, another faction I think that got utterly screwed in the Horus Heresy.

[@th3_patch]

My favorite has to be the Grey Knights. I love their lore and their armor style. I loved playing Warhammer 40K Chaos Gate Daemon Hunters. It's a solid game and one I pick up from time to time. Highly recommend if you like the xcom style games.

[@shawngillogly6873]

I know you said a faction name. But I can't remember who it was...

[@r.lum.r]

I’m also new to the hobby but Number 1 for me are The Grey Knights. There’s something so cool about a whole specialized crew of super powerful elite Psykers who specialize in daemon hunting using their space/mind magic. Hell yes. 2 is Adeptus Mechanicus for almost the exact same reason described in the video tbh. What an interestingly contentious relationship they have with the Imperium of Man. Also that character design is SO sick. 3 is Death Guard, so you can guess my favorite Chaos God is Nurgle. Runner up is Adeptas Soritas.

[@stryf3360]

'ere we go, 'ere we go, 'ERE WE GOOO!!! you have 1 guess... aaand go!.

[@OrcBro]

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!!

[@charlieboone1298]

The English?

[@stryf3360]

@@charlieboone1298 HA! STOOPID HUMIE!!

[@VenatorStellorum]

My favorite factions are the dead Old Ones and their (ostensible) descendants the Slanni, mainly because the Lizardmen from Warhammer Fantasy are my favorite Warhammer faction overall but sadly neither of them get much love in the current lore, mainly just lip service to how the Old Ones were so important but not much else

[@user-ow1bc4sx2r]

War in heaven series when

[@VenatorStellorum]

​@@user-ow1bc4sx2r fr though, give me some of that good good space frog techno magic GW

[@yadakakadu]

@@user-ow1bc4sx2r They could make at least 3 concurrent series with variable consistency. One from eldar perspective, one from necron perspective and one misc. They would not need to be very consistent with each other because it was so long ago and they from the viewpont of different sides.

[@gustavoraffo489]

1-Tau 2-space marines (grey knights) 3-Chaos (red corsairs)

[@DeMause]

I like the Tyranids but it is the Genestealer Cults specifically that I love the most. I love their lore, I love their models and I love their mechanics. I have yet to take the plunge to put together a full 40k army but if I ever do it will be Genestealer Cults. Kroot are probably my number two and the Farsight Enclaves my number 3.

[@michael2968]

BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD! the world eaters were my tabletop army, loved it.

[@Shad0000w]

I don't know if rogue traders can be considered a faction, if so, my list is: 1. Rogue traders - Do whatever they want for profit (at least until the Inquisition comes after them). 2. Inquisition - Do whatever they want to fight heresy (or what they consider heresy, for some inquisitors if you look the wrong way, say the wrong thing or just dress the wrong way it is heresy). 3. Grey Knights - Perfect and cool demon killing machines. 4. Adeptus Mechanicus - Your self-made radio is techno heresy, so you are sentenced to be converted into a servitor. 5. Orcs - WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!!

[@poatrykdas]

i recommend you playu dawn of war: dark crusade where the playable chaos faction is word bearers and you play as eliphas the inheritor, one of the most badass chaos champions

[@kRispy_dwight29]

Just about to finish up the 4th Horus heresy book tonight at work and I’m loving it the books are so good

[@undeadamerican1107]

For me that moment was watching the Last Church animation on youtube. Hearing the philosophy of the Emperor of Man articulated in that discussion really roped me into the setting, showing it had more to offer than just grimdark war and carnage. There's no better place on youtube for 40k lore than Luetin09's channel - excellent long form content delivered with soothing calmness.

[@Heritor7]

I enjoy your channel's RPG focus and am a big warhammer fan, so would obviously enjoy any warhammer related videos you throw out. On the the other hand, beware becoming part of youtube's 40k industrial complex, haha

[@christianansell3170]

firstly a great choice for number one. then thank you for making me feel old as i remember the first warhammer coming out and playing it but brought back memories so will have to dig the rogue trader rule book out again.

[@syraphian]

The most annoying 40k fans in the world will be making fun of your number one choice, but I believe Lorgar is one of, if not the most human and complex Primarchs and it’s cool that you were able to appreciate the tragedy of his arc. However, I am deducting points for not having the Tau anywhere on here. I’m gonna excuse it for now and assume it’s because you haven’t seen too much of them in the games you’ve played so far

[@trenchmouse2438]

There’s an annoying lack of self-awareness in this comment…

[@syraphian]

@@trenchmouse2438 I’m assuming you’re referring to me being objectively correct about the tau being an interesting faction, but please elaborate!

[@trenchmouse2438]

@@syraphian It’s just that you warn of people making fun of his number one choice but then you flippantly point out the lack of Tau on his list. Ergo, you made fun of it. Or maybe it’s a purposeful joke and it flew over my head.

[@lakshraghav4273]

I've been looking into warhammer lore because i came across a video on the youtube about orks vs kroot and now my favourite gaming youtube makes a video on the same topic at the same time..... Noice❤️

[@garethdavies2093]

If you’ve not read / listened to (audio book is great) The Infinite and The Divine, it’s a great Necron book and pretty great Sci-fi. The Fabius Bile / Cawl stuff is great too.

[@gamelover2222]

Agreed on both points! Cawl is basically a faction unto himself! I really want more books based on him.

[@kharacon]

Tyranids, Tau, Ad Mech, Thousand Sons and IG (Drukari are cool, but similar to Necrons are best as a lurking menace rather than an overwhelming sector threat imo)

[@jacoporegini8841]

My favourites have always been the Aeldari. Great aestetics, rich lore, tragic history. Leading them feels like leading an army if vangeful elven ghosts.

[@xtremeranger30]

The Horus Heresy novel First Heretic by Aaron-Dembski Bowden really does a good job showing Lorgar and the Word Bearer's fall into Chaos after the destruction of Monarchia. Highly recommend reading that one since you love the Word Bearers.

[@michaelaho5641]

i know its a cop out but i just love the general fact of 40k that theres like a million factions across all races, so many interconnecting motives makes great story telling

[@WeakOrbit]

I’m a staunch fan of the Kroot. Learn through consumption of other cultures except Tyranids, Chaos and our buddies the Tau.

[@Arkhimael]

Big like for the Word Bearers). Thousand sons and Word Bearers - my two favorite factions in entire W40k universe.

[@seanaugust]

I'm pretty new to 40k lore, so I'm sure there are specific factions I'd really like once I find them, but for now the easy pick is Orks.

[@Kottery]

First Heretic (The book about Word Bearers) features one of the best lines in the setting: "When the stars fell, when the seas boiled and the earth burned, my faith didn’t die. That is when I began to believe. God was real, and he hated us." Because of this book I love Word Bearers too. But my favorite legion is Night Lords by far. Soul Hunter, Blood Reaver, and Void Stalker were incredible reads telling the fascinating tales of Talos Valcoran and his First Claw. "I wanted to be a hero, and look where that got me." Viris colratha dath sethicara tesh dasovallian. Solruthis veh za jasz! Also a Sevatar, a Night Lord, was the first Astartes to ever utter the words "Death to the False Emperor". As for Loyalists, I honestly do love my some Ultramarines. Also a Blood Angels, Flesh Tearers, Black Templars, and Raven Guard enjoyer. Xenos-wise I like the Farsight Enclaves, Biel-tan, and Bad Moon Orks.

[@XoRandomGuyoX]

Before watching the video, but knowing your penchant for the evil route, I'm expecting a lot of Chaos representation, maybe dark horse entries from the Dark Eldar or Iron Hands Space Marine chapter(because, you know, they're three-quarters of the way to heresy or whatever). For players of Rogue Trader though, perhaps the Sisters of Battle at least register on their radar? I mean, Argenta's rants about burning heretics and comparing it to fields of blooming flowers might influence some...

[@JinzoTK]

I have the same number 2 and number 3. Tyranids and Necrons. My number 1 is the Genestealer Cults. If we count them as part of the Tyranids however, then the Tyranids would be my favourite faction with Necrons second and the Adeptus Mechanicus (along with the Titan Legions) 3rd.

[@Genethagenius]

I just got into WH40K w/ “Rogue Trader”. I think my favorite factions are: Sisters of Battle, Adeptus Mechanicus, Callidus Assassins, and last is tie b/w Grey Knights & Blood Angels

[@schemage2210]

I had been expecting the good old space marines to top the list. Personally I do vibe more with the Adeptcus Mechanicus and Necrons.

[@toniviskari417]

I'm so basic that to me it is the Wolves in all their glory. Although Salamanders and Raven Guard are pretty close behind. Additionally Guilliman is so awesome that I've found myself warming to the Ultramarines, which is a bit unsettling. On the Xenos side the Farsight Enclaves, who else.

[@Cowbell_Hero]

I think what makes the Warhammer universe so compelling is how every single faction and race are taken to such extremes that there is something for everyone. Also claiming any one faction as the most powerful is complete madness, some could be claimed weaker for sure but that's about it - there are just to many factors, unknowns and pure conjecture - and I would assume it is intentionally so, again it is what makes the universe so fun. With that said, top 5 in the broadest strokes. 1. Tyranids was my first pick way back when, for similar reasons as yourself coming from original Starcraft. An ever rapidly evolving, ever adapting, endless swarm that sole purpose, if you could even call it that, is to devour. Somehow they are more machine-like, if biological, than a faction made of soulless(?) robots. 2. Orks grow on you, at first glance they're pure comic relief and there's nothing wrong with that, but the more you learn about the funny green boyz the more you realise the pure absurdity of their existence, whatever they believe becomes real. There's also just an absurd amount of them, they might just rival Tyranids in their ability to reproduce. 3. Necron is another faction that a first glance seem simple, basically robot space skeletons. They do share some broad strokes from their fantasy brethren, a fallen empire of immense strength here to reclaim what's theirs. I think it's their origin story, or what is known of it, that sets the stage for basically everything else is what makes them so fascinating. 4. Chaos in all it's forms is basically a giant thought experiment, you can probably learn a lot about a person based on their preferred Chaos god, I think I find Slaanesh the most interesting after getting past the surface level appearance and into the more psychological part of what drives people slowly to extremes, something about the human condition in trying to find fulfilment and never reaching a state of satisfaction. 5. The imperium of man, the lens we see the world through, filled to the brim with great history and more sub-factions than you can shake a stick at, roots the setting in the grimmest of darkness lead/oppressed/saved by the God Emperor. That only leaves Eldar and Tau, so a bit of a silly top 5. Oh well.

[@vaxfantomen]

If you got some time over I'd recommend you listen to the audio book Brutal Cunning. It gives a rather fun stand alone story of how the orcs think and do stuff and the Mechanicus (in vain) trying to figure them out.

[@fazed343]

If you want Khorne's Blood Legions with more lore and flavor, try looking up the Blood Pact. They're one of the largest traitor Guard regiments and they are dedicated to Khorne, They also actually fight with disciplined tactics and strategy (not that they dont also have berserk members). They are one of the main enemies in the Gaunt's Ghost series of books

[@grandlancer]

Outside of RT my experience with 40k is just reading a bunch of wiki entries. As such my favorite is the Harlequins.

[@tomemaster1744]

My favourite is Chaos Space Marines specifically the Word Bearers (currently collecting them and painting them up like the Marauders from Doom: Eternal). The other winners are T'au Empire, Mechanicus, Necrons and lastly the Orks. 30k however? I actually personally don't have any favourites. The miniature aesthetic of 30k is just that good. (Still Word Bearers as my favourite Legion though.)

[@stephangg000]

I think a big problem with GW and their media, that far too much of it is imperium centric. Necrons, Tau, Dark eldra, Ork, Tyranids, even most of the chaos factions outside the space marine traitors. They are never playable outside of the Dawn of war franchise pretty much. The last stand, A game mode where you could play as most of these in this cool horde mode team up was super cool. I really hope that they pursue more playable factions in digital media going forward. Especially since I am a 40k enjoyer, but I really can't get into the tabletop itself. Here's hoping that xenos enjoyers get a worthy successor to last stand going forward.

[@CJ-wh7ik]

You don't have to be a rocket scientist to understand that human faction are by far the most popular thus they get majority of attention

[@stephangg000]

@@CJ-wh7ik not even many human factions are playable. We have some imperial grunts in Darktide, and Space Marines. We haven't played as the adeptas Soritas, and 1 major title for the Mechanics. Plus we have the precedent with last stand and the total war fantasy series. I know why they're popular but a sequel to last stand could be a start.

[@zabrac1566]

Adepta Sororitas or Sisters of Battle. I recently got into the WH:40K setting in the last year and somehow I've found myself really enjoying the nuns with guns. It's not really because of any particular event or story or even really what they stand for, instead just that I find them to be super cool. An entire faction of female soldiers that religious zealots for their god emperor. A hero unit that who is kept from death by the god emperor's will, a tank with an organ of destruction placed atop it, I just find it super cool to imagine this faction showing up to a planet, blasting their religious music from orbit planet wide, dropping what amounts to churches filled with nuns with guns from low orbit. Somehow to me they the Sisters of Battle feel like a unique spin on a very overdone trope and I think that's pretty cool!

[@roguerifter9724]

MMine are the Salamanders, the Adeptus Mechanicus, the Dark Mechanicum (the section of the Mechanicus that turned traitor), The Iron Hand Traitor Legion, and the Imperial Navy (The Imperial Navy has lots of Frigate classes while for some reason the Chaos fleets have no unique Frigate designs. Most Chaos warship classes are Imperium designs that the Imperium no longer produces so I never understood while there aren't any old Frigate designs in the Chaos inventory)

[@badrhetoric5637]

A new 40k convert, welcome. I hope you enjoy the drama so many fans bring 😅

[@beano_addiction901]

Since you asked, here are some of my fav factions in no particular order: - Genestealer Cults. Infected by Tyranids, these human/alien hybrid people believe they're doing a good job of overthrowing the tyrannical Imperium, but in the end, the hive fleet shows up and thanks them by eating them. Very Lovecraftian Cthulhu cult vibes. - Imperial Guard. As others have said, the Guard is cool because they don't have gene therapy or ultra-powerful tech to help them fight, they're just normal dudes who fight the aliens anyway. - Salamanders. They're like the only space marine legion that tries to avoid civilian casualties, so some people mock them for not being grimdark enough. But I like the idea of marines who view themselves as servants of the people, rather than just the Emperor. - Emperor's Spears. These space marines were assigned long ago to protect a remote world called Nemeton. Kinda like the Salamanders, the marines care deeply for the world they protect. But the people of Nemeton hate the marines. They don't see the Spears as sons of Nemeton who joined the military to protect the planet, they see the marines as child-takers and angry ghosts. A mother who gave her son to the Spears will spit when a patrol passes, uncaring that her son is in that very patrol. I dunno, I find that sort of tension cool.

[@bobbybee2975]

Never even heard of warhammer until a few years ago but it seems to be an ideal setting for the types of games and fiction that appeal to me.

[@willemneill5418]

As much as a Loyalist as I am, I love the Word Bearers, easily my favourite Chaos faction. Tyranids are my favourite Xenos, and I love the Celestial Lions and Crimson Fist Astartes Chapters :)

[@amayreka]

Damn my fav reviewer covering warhammer? Love it

[@AliG-ih8ku]

Love your picks and agree the Word Bearers and their lore is cool, they get a lot of hate but mostly it's for being the villains imo

[@inigomontoya6968]

I wish I could fan boy over one faction but I have many favorites. Black Templar's, Adepta Sororitas, (everyone's favorite space vampires) Blood Angels, Death Guard and Adeptus Mechanicus are probably at the top of the list. Honorable mentions to the Emperor's Children and Alpha Legion.

[@SCUB4Owl]

1. Ad mech 2. Inquisition 3. Necrons 4. Imperial Guard 5. Grey Knights Honorable Mention: Rogue Traders (can't get 3 of them to work together so not really a faction)

[@Eji1700]

Good list. One of the huge upside of 40k is that it's really got some crazy variety to its factions, which is why it KILLS me when you get "humans, evil humans, elfs, and orks" for most 40k launch titles. They seem to FINALLY have figured out that space marines, chaos marines, eldar, and orks is a really boring way to show off what makes 40k unique, and they tend to at least include one of the other, potentially unique, factions. The imperium leaning into its uniqueness more (guard, adeptus, etc), and some better focus on the CHAOS side of Chaos marines also helps, but man does it feel like they phone it in often. Also you forgot milk for the Khorne Flakes

[@Hedonite]

The word bearers and lorgar are examples of genuine good storytelling in the warhammer universe

[@ryanzz1357]

I am surprised by your choice of word bearer. But nuns with guns reign supreme 😂

[@JoeFlamenco]

Warcraft was also supposed to be a Warhammer Fantasy Battles game but we all see how that turned out.

[@gostchiken]

Out of all the factions, only the Orks, Chaos, and Dark Eldar seem to be having any fun.

[@ColbyNeblett]

I think for Chaos my favorite faction is Iron Warriors. Similar reasons why you like the Mechanicus. They build war machines then put daemons in em. Pretty fkn dope imo lol Beyond them tho i like the Tau. I tend to like being goofy two shoes in games and they're only somewhat good guys in the setting. As good as you can expect in a setting like 40k

[@Ren99510]

A very heretical list, I'll put forth mine! 5. Orks 4. Tau 3. Space Marines 2. Sisters of Battle 1. Imperial Guard

[@sarahlally5111]

Im a sucker for the Tau I like my sliver of hope in an otherwise very dark setting. I also like how they demonstrate that there is another path forward. Also its interesting to have an alien faction who perceive the humans as the ancient alien Empire rather than the other way around.

[@ritto1463]

My favorites legions: Raven Guard (unfortunately they don't get much content) and White Scars (also don't get much content), iron warriors Favorite xenos: orks Favorite chaos: Slaanesh and Teetzneth (or Vashttor if he manages to become a chaos god)

[@gamelover2222]

I like anything to do with Necrons, Tyranids, Inquisitors, and Cawl. The Thousand Sons are my favorite legion because they only went to Chaos when they got done dirty and they are the Tank/Mage class you always wanted to make in D&D!

[@ekapratama2894]

My all time favorite has to be The Necrons. I love Space Robotic Egyptian mummies. I love them ever since they are introduced in the "Dawn of war" games

[@stynkus]

My favourites in order: 5. Black Templars. Craziest of the Loyalist Legions. 4. Sisters of Battle. Crazy battle nuns. 3. The Inquisition. Everybody expects these crazies; but are still surprised when they do show up. 2. Astra Militarum/Navis Imperialis. Crazy normies; but boy are they cool. 1. Death Cult Assassins. Straight up crazies; nuff said. Addendum: I'll be calling the Inquisition on all you heretics who are listing traitors and xenos! For shame!

[@Allanchan-nel]

Not much of a spread there....

[@stynkus]

@@Allanchan-nel Indeed; because I'm a good citizen of the Imperium.

[@daken5566]

As solely a lore enjoyer, I’ve never played the TT, the Dark Angels are my favorite legion of marines, closely followed by the Custodes and Necrons.

[@kingleech16]

For me: 1. Imperial Navy 2. Raven Guard 3. Imperial Guard 4. Eldar (Ulthwe) 5. Farsight Enclave Honorable Mention to Da Boyz. I don't really like playing as them and their lore can be kinda weak, but whenever they come in as a wrecking ball to ruin the plans of Chaos, Necrons, Drukhari, or some other big threat just because they felt like shooting something it makes me smile.

[@Guitarman5705]

Iron warriors are my favorite traitor legion mostly for Perturabo, hes a bit of a petulant child but i doubt the traitors would have even made it to terra without him and his legion. That and some of the other warlords of the legion like honsou are just comically evil and outright bastards, super fun stuff. I really like Dark Angels for loyalists with the whole knightly order style thing and doing whatever it takes to ensure no one finds out about the traitors that were in their legion to the point of killing even imperials who get in the way of that.

[@pokelogikx]

World Eaters and their big boss Angron for me. But I also like their equivalents in sigmar.

[@NGC4261]

No particular order: Iron warriors; IG Cadians ; Mechanicus;Black templars and orks

[@nsp477]

Regardless of which faction you like the most, the best way to experience most of them, apart from tabletop, is the first Dawn of War game. No Tyranids, though, but I would not be surprised if somebody made a mod for them.

[@josephercanbrack8393]

I love cults, demons, and eldritch monsters. So Ad Mech, GSC, Tryanids, and Words Bearers are my favorite

[@FelisImpurrator]

Aesthetically I really dig Eldar and Tau. Energy weapons and magic are my thing. Mechanicus too, especially the weirder ones. I'm also a big fan of Tzeentch and the concepts he represents. The pursuit of knowledge above all, no matter how taboo, in search of the deepest mysteries of the universe... If madness is the price to pay for understanding, so be it! (As Chaos goes, I also have a bit of a soft spot for Slaanesh... For, well, the usual Slaaneshi reasons.)

[@Airdeis]

For me it's got to be the Leagues of Votann with their fascinating contrast of technology focus, extreme pragmatism, and brother/sisterhood above all else makes them a perfect counterpart to what you see in the rest of the 40k universe. (also I like dwarves)

[@MoneyPrinter123]

There's an added irony to the Word Bearers because the behavior they were reprimanded for and which led to their betrayal (worshipping the Emperor as a god) is now the dogma of the Imperium.

[@cmleibenguth]

- Grey Knights - Dark Angels - Thousand Sons - Tau - Orks Bonus: - Adeptus Arbites (used to be an army, now a kill team) - Enforcers (really more Necromunda, still cool) - Cadian Kasrkin / Militarum Tempestus / Stormtroopers

[@cmleibenguth]

From AoS - Stormcast Eternals - Fyreslayers - Khorne Bloodbound (mainly the mortals) - Soulblight Gravelords - Iron Jawz (specific orc faction)

[@ClumsySandbocks]

Tau, Kroot Mercenaries, Eldar, Orcs and Imperial Guard are my picks. The Tau are fun because they act as an optimistic foil to the Imperium. I like that they can be diplomatic even if they are just as conquest hungry as the other races. The Kroot have a cool biology where they take on traits of the species they eat. It gives them a lot of potential variety for home-brew lore. Eldar are cool because they present a possible future for the Imperium if it loses it's way. A lot of their worst traits feel like exaggerated takes on humanity. Orcs have very cool lore as weird fungi tech savants. Imperial Guard are easy to empathise with since they are always the under dog.

[@MrAdrick1]

Black Templars are eternal and so is our crusade.

[@11679MRT]

1. Black Templars - Emperor worshiping, xenos hating, witch hunting S.O.B's. They refuse to have Librarians amongst their ranks. They ignore the Codex and have thousands upon thousands of marines in their chapter. They're on an eternal crusade that goes back to the end of the Heresy. Their original High Marshal, Sigismund was the first Emperor's Champion. Just an all around bad-ass chapter that is everything 40k is to me.

[@LAHFaust]

Might I recommmend the Gaunt's Ghosts book series. The primary antagonists are Khornate guardsmen who just replaced the Emperor with Khorne. They still practice combined arms warfare and even have Commissars.

[@xneurianx]

So, firstly the best groups are the gangs and groups in Necromunda (Spyre Hunters and House Delaque are my favourites!). But of the WH40k armies... 5. Adeptas Sororitas. Space catholics in power armour. Bosh. 4. Aeldari. I always think of them as Eldar still, but there we go. I especially love the Harlequins. 3. Emperors Children. Noise marines are cool. 2. Orks. 40k Orks are amazing. 1. Blood Angels. By far my favourite chapter of Space Marines when I was a kid. I love their aesthetic. I love their lore. I love their battle strategies. I love them in the Black Library books. Some other chapters of Chaos Marines and Space Marines are also great; the Death Guard, World Eaters, Salamanders, Alpha Legion, Dark Angels, Grey Knights,

[@hooligan2588]

The Mentors chapter are extremely underrated, top 3 favorite for me

[@chillax319]

Number 1 - Tyranids for sure. I love the concept of a basically an amoeba on a cosmic scale gobbling up everything edible around and adapting in the meanwhile. Number 2 - Chaos in general with some daemons/traitors being more appealing than the others. And third...a though choice but instead of Astartes I'd go with my favourite portayal of orcs in the media period. Orcs are both hillarious and absolutely terryfing if you try to imagine yourself facing them as a real threat in the world. Orcs being basically a hybrid of animal and a shroom and the fact that they are basically the most fullfilled thinking species in the Wh40k galaxy makes them really interesting(they thrive due to war as humanity did due to farming, Wh40k is basically a perfect environment for Orcs to exist in).

[@Pr0m3th3us]

For me, one of my favorite factions is the Thousand Sons because I'm a sucker for wizards which is also the reason I like the Blood Ravens a lot.