The NINE TRAITOR LEGIONS of the Chaos Space Marines | Warhammer 40,000 Lore Explained!

The nine Traitor Legions who sided with Horus in the Heresy are abroad! If you're looking to serve the Dark Gods, I take a look at each legion in turn, and see what they're up to in the 40k galaxy!
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Copyright: Unless noted in the video, all images © Games Workshop 1987-2022. Title music is 'Black Rainbows' by Karl Casey @White Bat Audio
#warhammer #warhammer40k #warhammerlore #chaos #spacemarines #hereticastarted #chaosspacemarines #horusheresy #imperium #astartes #boardgames #tactica #letsplay #tabletopgaming #warhammer40k #warhammerworld #gamesworkshop #warhammer30k

[@SC1ENCEP1E]

Ian's a great KZbinr and Narrator, you see a title and think I'll know all this but still click it straight away because you wanna hear him tell it anyway

[@jamesmaybrick2001]

Yeah, Its weird. Despite us probably having equal knowledge, i suspect im a tad older and thus claim seniority i still listen to him telling me everything i already know. Its almost like he has some strange power to compel me to listen. Dare i say some sinister power of compulsion? Explain that Emperor botherers! :)

[@Michael_Raymond]

How did you tag me in this comment without typing anything

[@user-tp6tj6dx5g]

Truly the most cogent, non-hype, and no rambling 40k person out there.

[@edwardharman1153]

Sometimes I just like the sound of his voice.

[@Zdarkete]

I am in this post

[@michaelgrey1351]

The Alpha Legion: a mystery wrapped in an enigma The Nigh Lords: misery wrapped in an enema

[@TheRainbowThief]

I appreciate this comment. (You misspelled Night Lords 😉)

[@michaelgrey1351]

@@TheRainbowThief don't know what you mean. Cough.

[@euansmith3699]

@@TheRainbowThief These are the Nigh Lords; the almost space marines.

[@killer-ox4rp]

slow clap

[@LordyT34]

It's time like this I remember my favorite Chaos Marine quote "muhehehahah-EHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHA!!!" - Dawn of War

[@terraneaux]

"Sanity is for the weak!" is my favorite scenery-chewing line from that lol

[@tflwulf69]

is that version 1, 2 or 3 of that quote 🤣 Yes there was three.

[@santtu9164]

That's reminds me of my favorite quote from The Chaos Emperor's Children: "Oh yeah, not just that hole! I want your tentacles in every hole, and if you got more tentacles, make new holes...use a knife for that!" 😅😂❤

[@OldBrensBarns]

Enemies!!!! We need enemies!!!

[@voidheartmc9637]

They hide in metal BOXES!!!

[@davydatwood3158]

I confess, I do miss the days when "renegade" Space Marines were just a Chapter that had decided to ignore the idiots in charge of the Imperium and had nothing to do with Chaos.

[@itsaBoomer]

Soul Drinkers moment

[@thecl0ck30]

30 minutes of actually informative information that can help deepen my understanding of the warhammer universe

[@Ryan30z]

You mean you don't prefer clickbait titles and a video full of mistakes?

[@EVER_PRINCE]

Arbiter Ian, truly the greatest Arbite of all to serve his Holy Emperor

[@Mr_Bunk]

Saw this comment right as the video ended with Ian’s blessing for the dark gods. Oof.

[@OldManRogers]

@@Mr_Bunk Should really be 'Arch-Telemancer-Arbitrator-of-Truth Ian'

[@dmeep]

As punishment for refusing to stop worshiping the emperor as a god he made the entire word bearer legion grovel for forgiveness with his psychic might and if there is one way to prove you are not a god that is probably it

[@user-kt4to5xs9l]

Nah the giant golden man wielding a flaming sword, possessing immense knowledge and psychic powers, and immortal? Totally a normal human dude

[@RedAceplayer]

Can't emphasise how immersive these videos are for us humble (maybe heretical) fans that haven't read novels/rule books! Great fun to watch

[@brya9681]

Ave Dominus Nox brothers & sisters!

[@r31n0ut]

'may the dark gods smile on you' is a 'may you live in interesting times' if I've ever heard one...

[@johnnybigbones4955]

The two traitor legions I like are the two most different - Word Bearers and Night Lords. Word Bearers are the most CHAOS of chaos space marines, and allow you to use every aspect of Chaos as a faction - cultists, all kinds of Daemons, and every type of Chaos trooper. Also their colour scheme is great. That's who I chose, in the end, at least partially because my Imperial Marines are Crimson Fists and Red vs Blue is classic. Night Lords I never really put too much pass on until I read ADB's books, which are the best portrait of a chaos warband that exists, and just so much fun. Someday I'll model up First Claw.

[@Mugdorna]

The ADB trilogy was/is superb.

[@magnusmillerwilson]

It sure was. Out of all the 40K books I’ve read in the past few years, that series is one of the most memorable. I can’t believe ADB turned the Night Lords into such powerful protagonists that you really cared about despite their despicable nature.

[@GustavSvard]

Nine? oh yes, nine. obviously. No more, no less. Never any others.

[@benfraser6840]

They weren't traitors, they were female legions lol

[@Spaxuable]

the picture with Magnus standing over his marines by Neil Roberts are what got me into HH Tsons. Such a good art piece!

[@Mugdorna]

I'm 48 years old. Got into 40K in the early 90s. Stopped playing/painting 15 years back. Still read the books. Ian's deep knowledge of the background and lore is second to none. His delivery is clear and direct. No TikTok style ckickbait

[@TheSunnyOne]

I think this is the first time I've watched one of your videos that mentions Abaddon and you pronounce his the name the way I pronounce it. Thank you for that 😅 Iron Warriors have always been my go-to army, largely because painting them when I was a kid was so much easier than, like, any other army ever. Despite all that, I genuinely didn't realise that they weren't too big on the whole Chaos Worship thing, and just used it as a tool. Which is kinda cool to know.

[@Sneaker3719]

You found the Iron Warriors *easiest* to paint? That is definitely not a common opinion, mostly due to their hazard stripe motif. But hey, I'm glad you were able to crack it and have fun with them!

[@TheSunnyOne]

@@Sneaker3719 strange I know, but at the time it was a lot easier for me to build a set, add a few variations of metal colouring and then add a few bits of yellow/black stripes. I wasn't great at it, but it was quick and I could do it all in batches 😅

[@JACKXK]

52 Seconds 178 Views. Is that the Chaos candle in the background? Nice touch.

[@ArbitorIan]

WELLLLLL the patreons get the link a week earlier and there a load of those!

[@euansmith3699]

@@ArbitorIan Time moves strangely on Patreon.

[@andreasfallman9217]

Best WH40K lore channel on KZbin, hands down

[@NeloBladeOfRanni]

Praiss be to the Urizen Glory to the pantheon

[@Sneaker3719]

Coming back to this vid, I would like to vouch for the World Eaters, as they’ve crawled a little bit back from being disparate warbands. Angron: the Red Angel by David Guymer shows that after the Fall of Cadia, Angron’s return has caused World Eaters from across Imperium Nihilus to follow him to whichever battlefield he goes to next, and this has allowed Kossolax the Foresworn to assert himself as Lord Regent of the legion while he poses as Angron’s emissary, and is in command of the old legion’s flagship, _the Conqueror._ But, that’s a minor oversight in what is still a great intro vid to the Traitor Legions!

[@HistoritorJimaldus]

I’m not Alpharius

[@namefinder]

Me neither

[@JACKXK]

@@namefinder I am.

[@Ahriman_362]

Liar

[@billdefranza4927]

I'm not Rapport.

[@meyfrootandy]

​@@namefinderNor am I

[@TheNightmareRider]

Small correction: The Space Wolves weren't originally sent to kill Magnus or burn Prospero. They were sent to apprehend Magnus and bring him back to Terra. Horus intercepted this message and deliberately twisted it into an order to burn Prospero entirely.

[@totalCoolerUsername]

Tbf Russ indeed wanted to talk first, but Magnus had a deep emo phase atm

[@childrenofthesun471]

Doesn't change the fact that they gladly wanted to kill the T sons

[@Sneaker3719]

Important context, but ultimately superfluous info for a video meant to succinctly introduce all nine traitor legions.

[@TheMrFishnDucks]

Informative, concise and entertaining. Thank you for respecting your viewers time. So much little stuff happening with each legion and how those cracks lead to the Heresy. Nice video. Keep up the good work.

[@magnusmillerwilson]

One thing to remember about the Night Lords is that Conrad was really freaking crazy. All of the future visions he couldn’t control took their toll early on and he just kind of went down some crazy paths afterwards.

[@georgesulea]

Hydra Dominatus...

[@SamusSelf-Destruct]

So, I always thought the Alpha Legion as a whole never actually turned to Chaos? It was my understanding that some elements became what we would understand as chaos marines, but most of them were traitors and heretics but had rejected the power of the Warp.

[@ArbitorIan]

Who knows? It's all secrets within lies within secrets within tricks!

[@euansmith3699]

@@ArbitorIan Or is it?! 🤔

[@SarithenVol]

Chaos Space Marines were what drew me to 40k in 7th Edition and I’ve never looked back.

[@ITCamefromthePage]

It is so funny to me that The Death Guard and Mortarion are actually nicer as chaos Space Marines, which says more about how terrible The Emperor than anything.

[@angronprimarchdemon5343]

Blood for the Blood God👹 Skulls for the Skulls throne!!! 💀💀💀

[@Drac611]

Chaos bless you Ian, thank you for doing this video

[@LGMUFO]

You've been churning out some incredible content lately Ian, I've been following since early days, and love to see you just being so consistently great!

[@stanislavkrajcovic3807]

Great overview with lots of details and information, thanks :) keep up the good work

[@Bluecho4]

Ave Dominus Nox

[@ataraxia7439]

Who is your profile pic?

[@Raspberrygoop]

Great video once again! Would love to see more videos like this for the other factions.

[@CrimsonTemplar2]

Excellent work ArbitorIan.

[@bengeorge9063]

Love your videos Ian. Informative and to the point!

[@dak4303]

Thanks, Ian! Looking forward to this one

[@gadzilla6664]

Nice video. But you missed the bit about Decimus uniting the 8th against Ulthwe, as well as the various tidbits in rulebooks (the 8th edition CSM codex and Faith and Fury supplement, specifically) that point towards the 8th Legion acting as a unified Legion once again.

[@social_ghost]

Hi Ian, I love your lore videos! Have you ever considered doing a video on the Ashen Claws? I find them really interesting, being a group of renegade space marines aligned with neither the Imperium or Chaos.

[@peterixon8708]

Ian, as usual, a stellar performance. Well done

[@hervedumont1614]

Thanks for the video

[@MHR1001]

A nice refresher 👍

[@khaiwong728]

My favorite Traitor legion is the Iron Warriors and the Alpha Legion. The Iron Warriors because they are cold, ruthless efficiency, and an unbreakable invincibility. And the Alpha Legion because of their sneaky, stealthy approach to spying, espionage, infiltration.

[@MG-gj7pv]

Chaos really has some of the most amazing artwork

[@ToTheNines87368]

14:30 do I remember wrongly or didn’t the emperor just want to apprehend Magnus? And Horus ended up twisting the orders to Russ? Honestly I can’t quite remember, it’s been so long since I’ve read the books.

[@oberonfeyarch4128]

You remember correctly.

[@DoomsToys]

We have been blessed by all this new content, art is a better word for it

[@cynicalcitizen8315]

This dude's voice could command the Inquisition.

[@blackdragonxtra]

My head canon is that the Alpha Legion is Tzeentch's actual personal legion, and the Thousand Sons are just getting played

[@Warriorsoul101]

Will you do a Siege of Terra timelines video like you did for the heresy? ❤

[@Judiciar_Geo]

Thank you Brother Ian!!!!

[@collecter343]

In Midnight Clad, we have come for you.

[@PrimetimeD]

New Arbiter Ian content makes me happy. :)

[@JohnnyFiction]

*sniff sniff* is that heresy I smell?

[@wasteyelo1]

Great video

[@Sneaker3719]

Excellent primer video for prospective hobbyists! I have a great love for the World Eaters, as "BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!" may have been my first exposure to 40k as a franchise. Though I also love the Iron Warriors because of their straightforward approach to warfare, as well as the Black Legion because of their focus on the Long War against the Imperium, as opposed to the Great Game the Chaos powers like to play against each other so often.

[@shadowxps]

Let me guess, it all starts with the unifications wars on Terra?

[@Cursed42One]

Woe Be The Day The "Night Haunter" Walks Among The Stars Again😰

[@jamesconnor5923]

Let’s gooo my favorite Warhammer KZbinr

[@trajanfidelis1532]

Hydra Dominatus

[@shadowgod1797]

i dont know about you guys but for me the traitor legions have always been more interesting and fascinating to me than loyalists

[@draconurgling]

The Death Guard section goes a bit wrong at the end. As a Legion they are still one of the most organised with less infighting thanks to how theyve been structured. There are Seven plague companies, each split into countless Sepsis Cohorts, further split into two Maledictums each. Otherwise yeah it's alright.

[@randomacademypilot]

Thank you.

[@RyanORourke18]

I've gotten really into the 40K homebrewing scene over the past few months, and while I haven't made my own Chaos Warband yet, this video will be an enormously helpful quick-start reference for when I do. Great video!

[@velvetine74]

@18:43 Erebus... What a guy....

[@Scufflegrit]

When the EC codex finally comes out, I’m going to paint my warband like a big, fluorescent Jackson Pollock, then clean up the trim with mirror chrome.

[@acoruna5421]

2nd and 11th are my favorite Legions

[@santtu9164]

"Well, actually.."🤓 Space wolves were not sent to destroy the Thousand Sons, but to arrest Magnus and bring him in front of the Emperor to answer he's "crime" , but Horus lied to the Primarch of Space Wolves, that the Emperor wants Magnus the Red, and the whole Thousand Sons to be destroyed, Totally...and that's what makes it so tragic.

[@kemarisite]

Iron Warriors. Iron within, iron without. Although I feel (about 30 seconds into the video, right after "how best toserve the dark gods") that I have to quote Bricky on the subject: "Iron Warriors don't serve chaos because they like them. They serve them because 'Fuck you!'"

[@NoRetreatNoSurender]

I would really like a video about later traitors, like the red corsairs.

[@jemeleartis7318]

I don't know why but I have always loved the word princeling as a description of a character.

[@collecter343]

So demeaning of a term but in a sorta snarky/classy way.

[@alextruecustodian6174]

Ian falling to the True Gods I see ;)

[@ChaseDaOrk3767]

Will you be covering some alternate Heresies (such as the Dornian Heresy, Roboutian Heresy, and the more recent Lionel Heresy)?

[@catcadev]

My favourite legions have to be the World Eaters-- their new lore is super cool and if I were to fall to chaos, it'd be Khorne. After them, it's the Iron Warriors, who aren't really chaos marines but more their own war machine and keep their brutal, pragmatic ways. Last are Night Lords. They're phychos and that's epic

[@supersaltlee7657]

The Death Guard shall heal the galaxy

[@rickkcir2151]

I don’t understand why GW and Black Library don’t have Fulgrim and the EC attacking craftworlds and exodites. It would be a great way to give two factions with little lore, more attention. While also making sense because I’d assume Slaanesh would want those Eldar souls.

[@Kristian.B.Kristiansen]

From Shame and Shadow recast. In Black and Gold reborn!

[@belegl.7721]

the Alpha Legion aren't traitors, they are the Emprerors most loyal suns very deep undercover

[@jacobhatcher5409]

Ave dominus nox

[@MatthewsIanJ]

"I am Alpharius." "Gesundheit."

[@sunidaze]

18:44 I was not expecting a picture of someone smiling and holding a demon book. 😂 Is that Lorgar?

[@engerkover6443]

No that’s Erebus. He is smiling because he knows that he‘s the biggest cunt in all of 40k

[@Sneaker3719]

Nope, that's Erebus. First Chaplain of the Word Bearers, instigator of the Horus Heresy, and biggest rat bastard in all of 40k. Check out Ian's video on him to learn more.

[@zaccheaus3853]

As much as some people dislike all the Chaos infighting, at least to a greater degree, I'd love to see Pert wake up and challenge Abbadon's influence, power, and command of the forces of Chaos. Cause if the Black Legion is the largest, the IV has to be 2nd and not far behind.

[@mikenolan73]

A detail that I always enjoyed but can't remember where it came from is that even in 41st millennium because of the warps time distortion traitor ships are still arriving in Eye of Terror who have fled the Heresy.

[@kitredKitredson]

Ian! Trim your candle wick before you light it! Lol

[@endymionm1374]

Can you do a video like this about the Grey Knights?

[@thatlonewolfguy2878]

The way you describe both the Night Lords and Black Legion, the latter in particular, for some reason reminds me of Sons of Anarchy in the way that biker gangs tend to patch in other smaller clubs to further the reach and size of the club doing the patch-over, someone should really write that kinda crime drama in a 40k setting, have the feds going after them represented by an Inquisitorial warband of the Ordo Hereticus for that morally grey option, I couldn't write it myself, I get bored with my own writing after like 3 pages, I don't have the patience to write even a short story let alone an entire book

[@disturbedrenegade9815]

AVE DOMNIUS NOX!!!

[@boydsinclair7606]

Some of them were never that loyal to begin with... Lorgar, I'm looking in your direction.

[@LordyT34]

Blood for the Blood God!!

[@alexanderminor2663]

Kinda skipped a bit ian...Morty did have to deal with chaos fighting chaos, but he was sent back by the emperor possesing guilliman, killing him, and lighting nurgles house of fire, while casually mentioning he could fix him.

[@TheRainbowThief]

I just thought, this is a good idea, must make sure to like it only to find I already did. So long as I like it an odd number of times that should be okay, I guess.

[@Aberinkula9]

IRL I would not want to be ruled by none of the Chaos Legions (and warbands) as much as I would not want to be an imperial citizen - the bastards! But, aesthetically speaking, I wholeheartedly love love and love the extreme metal vibes of all of them: the Death/Gore/Splatter aesthetics in general of the Plague Marines and, specially, World Eaters [BOLT THROWER INTENSIFIES]! But, specially, the whole Black Metal aesthetics of the Black Legion (guys there certainly would love Venom), Night Lords, Word Bearers, Thousand Suns - who would dig the more symphonic, atmospheric and/or progressive bands of the subgenre - and, last but not least, The Emperor's Children and its Noise Marines who are all Glam Rock enjoyers in their excesses with narcotics and debaucheries with daemonettes! Hell yeah! I just have no idea what would be the musical preferences of The Alpha Legion. Suggestions anyone? As always Ian, great video!

[@irishwarlock]

Brilliant video to brighten up some boring admin work

[@bongbongGAMING7878]

Slaanesh: S3x, drugs and rock n roll Me: Sign me up.

[@ZeRo-bx7lp]

it's all fun and games until you open your eyes one day surrounded by the corpses of innocents and you see your body modified beyond recognition.

[@jamesconnor5923]

Yeah slaanesh gonna take away ur euphoria for fun and let you experience the emotion of pure terror. Worst nightmare. At least nurgle would never.

[@euansmith3699]

Every Slaanesh aspirant sees them self doing the s3x, and drugs and rock n roll; not having s3x, and drugs and rock n roll done to them. 😫

[@jonbaxter2254]

God, I love the Alpha Legion. What are they up to?

[@raypurchase1239]

Do you think they will ever introduce the 2nd and 12th primachs? I’m new to the lore but always wondered why they were wiped out.

[@craigzinkta3988]

Ian is ALPHARIUS

[@drinksanddice9528]

How do Gork and Mork feel about Alpharius and Omegon?

[@arthurhill8185]

It's only just now occurred to me how generic a name The Thousand Sons is for a space marine chapter. Literally every chapter is, by definition, 1000 marines, and marines are all metaphorically the emperor's sons. (And also kind of literally once gene seed gets involved) couldn't get more generic without calling them The Marines Of Space or something

[@Frosty-kz4om]

I'm interested to know where the "blue and gold of old Prospero" is sourced. I assumed it was just because those are Tzeentch's colours.

[@filteredjc4653]

I think it's kind of an Ancient Egyptian theme. Thousand Sons warriors look like they are wearing Tutankhamun's death mask which is gold and blue

[@stevejackson3396]

Ian - this video really really needed to be divided into chapters for easier viewing.

[@captaincorundum9788]

Emperor's Children forever!