Why the Iron Snakes are Under-Appreciated

[@RorikH]

They sound weirdly normal for non-compliant Ultramarine Successor chapters, almost like they could actually come from actual Guilliman gene-stock instead of the II and XI legion genestock that is theorized to be the cause of Ultramarine-successor weirdness.

[@thewerdna]

Yeah, i'd think that some of the other wierder Ultramarine successors, like maybe the Mortifactors, would be 2ed or 11th. The Iron Snakes feel very much like, just like the Emperor's Spears, the result of the culture of a chapter homeworld influecing the marines

[@PeachDragon_]

The Geneseeds of those legions are not used bro

[@Kozmokast]

@@PeachDragon_ a friend once told me the reason those two legions don’t have anything is so that the fans can make their own chapters and have them come from that if they don’t fit anywhere else, and I’m sure they tease and hint about the what ifs specifically for fan speculation and engagement like this, keeps people invested.

[@thewerdna]

@@PeachDragon_ except those legions got absorbed into the Ultramarines and the Imperial Fists. And the Soul Drinkers were a fists 2ex founding successor who were convinced they had Dorn Geneseed until someone checked and it came back as unknown So its likely there are 2ed founding chapters from either legion who are unknowlingly 2ed or 11th

[@g.sergiusfidenas6650]

​@@thewerdnaDorn also took some Thousand Sons under his wing at some point, they were part of the troops that were besieging Horus' homeworld, to me those look like the most likely ancestors of the Soul Drinkers with their psykers and weird mutations.

[@jonesdan85]

I once knew a player in 3rd Ed who played an Iron Snakes army. Every Veteran Sergeant was tooled up like a captain. They sometimes held their own against my Hive Tyrants in combat. If your watching this from the Bolton store UK, late 90s your army was cool.

[@RogueBlood343]

Brothers of the Snake is probably the single best book to explain to a new person what a single space marine is capable of and what they can do in large numbers.

[@wavetactics13]

First time hearing about this chapter. Got to admit, the Greek names of their planet and Iron being in their name made me think there was going to be a 4th legion twist for a minute. That aside, this chapter is quite the elaborate Odessey reference. Ithaca, Charybdis, Scylla (the sea serpents), and long voyages thinking longingly of home.

[@rexxo4957]

Brothers of the snake is an incredibly underrated book, so glad you picked iron snakes

[@posslord1221]

Agreed. One of my favorite space marine books

[@LordCrate-du8zm]

Why the fuck does this comment say two weeks ago when the video was posted 3 hours ago?

[@udp1073]

I was going to ask where I can find some lore on the Iron Snakes, is that their book?

[@Evohunter7]

I’ve read it at least a half dozen times. It’s of my favourite novels.

[@josephharrington7129]

I am currently half way through it, great fun indeed@@udp1073

[@Bread-nx9fo]

Their armor just looks nice, also like how the chapter is mostly veterans and specialized in close quarter fighting.

[@lykos2738]

That's one of the most consistent pieces of lore about the Ultramarines/successors. They honor their dead. After the Word Bearers pretty much turned Calth into a Death World and prolonged exposure on the surface essentially was the equivalent of getting microwaved by a poisoned radioactive sun, Ventanus not only ordered all the fallen UM to be collected from the surface of the planet, but also had commissioned giant mausoleums to hold every single one of the Ultramarines' dead. This is all still while the Underwar is happening by the way. He didn't put off going "we've got bigger problems right now". From the onset of the WBs betrayal he refused to leave anyone behind. "Fight for the living, kill for the dead."

[@davidfrancisco3502]

The raven guard let their fallen brothers to be consumed by carrion birds of their homeworld cleaning up the bones; after harvesting the gene seed and collecting their gear to be used by future battle brothers.

[@PTK256]

One of my favourite chapters. Definitely in my top 5. The book Brothers of the snake is just awesome and Dan Abnett did a really great job making these marines human enough to make them relatable, but also different enough from the regular humans, that they still look and act like superhuman warriors. Some books make the space marines look like guardsmen, making them die really easily. Well not this book.

[@LJD442]

Alright these dudes are pretty cool I don't know if I have have ever heard of them before this video. Thanks for showing off such a neat chapter I might pick up a book about them soon.

[@g.sergiusfidenas6650]

The also appear in the Sabbat Worlds Crusades, they are one of the main Astartes chapters of that Crusades, though the main books that cover that war are about an Astra Militarum regiment IIRC there is a book in which the Iron Snakes are the main focus.

[@BloopTube]

Dan Abnett wrote it, so you are in for a hell of a time. Easily top 10 space marine books

[@LJD442]

@@BloopTube that's a hell of a recommendation

[@NightmanEX]

"Brothers of the Snake" is hands down my favorite Warhammer 40k novel. Thanks for sharing them!

[@inductivegrunt94]

These guys are really cool. Very special forces among Astartes in terms of tactics and deployments. Smaller more flexible and independent squads vs companies that are rigid and deploy in single locations. Especially love the true family aspect and how care deeply about their brothers, like the humans they once were. And the flask and funeral rites are really bittersweat, like you said, and is very wholesome deep down. Very underrated, but very amazing.

[@commissarmartin]

Best space marine chapter, one of the most understated and believable chapters imo; they have their interesting traditions and organisation without becoming an over the top one-trick-pony caricature like a lot of chapters

[@pigeon4x250]

Thank you for sharing this, Arthur. I've never known anything about the Iron Snakes other than they exist, and all this time they've been a terribly kickass and interesting chapter. I really like their whole deal with the flasks, and I like your theory with them too. May have to add this to my list of Killteams to make....my ever growing list...

[@grmpynrthmn5371]

Brothers of the Snake was my introduction to 40K and Space Marines in general. Absolutely loved the book. Reread at least once a year.

[@dudeboydudeboy-zj8kd]

Good that more chapters are getting mentioned aside from the original 9 loyalists, flesh tearers, lamenters, minotaurs, carcharodons, black dragons, templars, crimson fists, grey knights, and death watch. They are still cool but glad the iron snakes are getting the attention as well👍

[@MrLimboTime]

Making a homebrew squad of them based off all the snakes from metal gear solid now..

[@_underscore_6970]

new favorite Ultramarine successors

[@cytorakdemon]

Got into 40k and was having trouble deciding what to paint my Space Marines as, Blood Angels and Carcharodons were in the running for a while but then I discovered the Iron Snakes and I was hooked. One of my favorite chapters.

[@NotHere-o6s]

I was hoping for the Mortifactors, but the Iron snakes are cool too.

[@Snakefarm223]

You don’t know how many KZbinrs I’ve asked to talk about the Iron Snakes! I am so happy

[@ayyitsrith]

Iron Snakes seem like some interesting lads. The concept of them sending a single marine on missions was something our Deathwatch GM used for one of our recent missions in which we were sent looking for one that went missing when they went looking into reports of a Genestealer Cult in a Hive City.

[@MrZippidydoodahh]

Running as Deathwatch is so smart. I was painting Iron Snakes a while ago and we frustrated I couldn't make them more lore accurate on the table and gave up.

[@PeachDragon_]

I run red hunters as death watch because it's the closest we get to space marine special forces

[@mikepenny8940]

You are quickly becoming one of my favorite 40k youtubers. Iron Snakes is the first space marines chapter I got into. I love them

[@aldraone-mu5yg]

I like the Mentor legion, it’s cool that you can have a few in any space marine army lore wise.

[@LordCrate-du8zm]

I'm surprised this wasn't the Lamenters episode, what with 13 being an unlucky number.

[@matthewmcgill3125]

I had no ideas who the iron snakes even were! Never heard of them, thanks dude great vid

[@elgringofeo9348]

God i love bitter sweet stories in 40k, it like a spark of light surrounded and overwhelmed by darkness, all you can do is appreciate the moment before it fades away, i also thought of how long it takes for a partitioners, imagine you spend 20 years training and making connections with others in the monarchy only to leave with a squad and not see them for many years or ever again quite sad

[@garethevans2926]

I do enjoy the snakes lore, following Priad from his solo deployment to leader of his own "notable" squad. Then into the Urdesh series.

[@scarecrow2097]

These are mah booooyyyss. Honestly didn't expect you would make a video about them :')

[@davidetasca4968]

i liked their lore so much the first time i read about it, i decided to paint a single reiver for my phobos strike team with their painting scheme

[@bigzamband]

thanks to the shout out of genesis being cool dudes, had some asshole told me I should strip paint my army and start again cause I chose them when I played space marines at the time.

[@gauthier_arts3174]

Hey! Another case of my Iron snake drawing being used in love videos!! That’s sooo cool xD (The walking one with the corvus helmet)

[@joemiller361]

You did a kickass job, the lil wrap of cloth giving the impression of a toga was a fantastic touch

[@AllGameNoLife]

They were one of the first books in 40k I read when i was still newly getting into the series outside the games. I remember thinking they were amazing and thought most space marines fought like them. I remember thinking if I liked them I was going with vanilla marines. Oh how wrong i was haha

[@unclesamlore]

Oh hey it’s that one chapter from that mishmash did a short on 🤪

[@HB_1415]

I’m guessing these guys were inspired by the Odyssey. Ithaca being Odysseus’ home island (Charybdis was a whirlpool monster he encountered on his journey.) Their armour has motifs reminiscent of Greek art as well. I also like the idea of them having their own Odyssey across the stars only to return to Ithaca when they can. Grief over lost battle brothers is something that occurs often in the Odyssey so that fits with them as well.

[@Mister42Unhinged]

Great choice for lore. Brotherhood of the Snake is great, also The Urdesh Novels are great. The Iron Snakes seem to have some humanity, where other writers make them without feelings per say. Always a joy to read their novels.

[@whitlocktherevanchist5236]

God i love the emperors spears color scheme. That color of blue is just sick for armor.

[@g.sergiusfidenas6650]

I wish there was more information about the Libators which seem to be one of the wackiest Ultramarine successors and those guys are Second Founding but then again the Mortifactors are Second Founding too. A lot of variety between Guilliman's sons, from straight-up Ultramarine carbon copies to "you cannot be dad's son"

[@rexxo4957]

Oh hey my second favourite chapter! I love me some iron snakes

[@TheRealUncleDutch]

Dawg i really cant tell ypu how absolutely happy i was to see that it was the Iron Snakes. Thank you.

[@leodhasw-s3739]

Love these guys. The name of the planet as well, Ithica, just sounds amazing

[@ivanivanovic5586]

Ah yes, the brothers of the snake, good times, good stuff. The squads(notables) always have an apothecary as part of them. The novel even covers how main character, priad(iirc) recruits/rescues one named kyron for his damocles squad. A chapter not covered often, if at all, in the lore/novels. Sofar, aside from brothers of the snake and a handful of short stories, haven't seen them much(one shows up in gaunt's ghosts, was either in warmaster or anarch, or both), and perhaps Urdesh novels(didn't read those yet).

[@alastor8091]

The Iron Hands are the most underrated.

[@TheFirstVonGunther]

Reminds me of the team of mercs in the Hammer's Slammers book, The Sharp End. Brothers of the Snake audiobook by Dan Abnett only $4 on Amazon today.

[@KaosandRiot]

The lore and chapter structure following Greece mythology and society was alot more independent from The Ultramarines than I expected. The nautical world reflected from the Mediterranean was well done. So GW, more lore and stories please!!!

[@imjustsam1745]

The most underrated chapter is absolutely ALWAYS your homebrew.

[@evanfish4505]

Man, you should have done the Astral Claws/Red Corsairs Because it would be hilarious

[@tadhgmcelligott3693]

Except this series is about second founding chapters, chapters founded directly after the dissolution of the legions. Astral Claws were found sometime in m35 so nowhere close to second founding

[@fallentitan9811]

Damn, I was really hoping for Mortifacters for this episode. Oh well, at least we still get another one of Gullimans weird ass kids.

[@hyperunity5649]

I feel like the Iron Snakes were made for Kill Team before Kill Team existed. Lore wise at least. They don't have companies and instead just have squads, each member of the squad is a master of their craft, and these squads are just sent out to do shit on their own. Pretty neat.

[@jumpysniper]

Ithaca being their planet reminded me of ithacus (I think) which is the home planet for the necrons in the twice dead king. So I thought, "was this the group that raided there?" Swiftly realizing, no those were blood angels.

[@MIDencezzz]

I hope soon you talk about the Tome Keepers, love your content bro thank you

[@librarybear3419]

I have painted exactly one Iron Snake marine -as a body on Possessed base. The Chaos Warband I paint was originally made from stolen and mutated Ultramarines Successor geneseed, and they have an obsession on hunting them. Every helmet on their trophy racks originates from a different Successor Chapter. Iron Snake armor and lore are really nice, so they got a position of honor.

[@theodorehodbor5080]

One thing that worries me about the Iron Snakes is given their borderline intrinsic attachment to Ithaca I feel like they would be completely unable to deal with the loss of their homeworld like the Scythes of the Emperor did to the Tyranids. If Ithaca was lost the Iron Snakes would almost certainly be lost too. Perhaps there would be survivors of a last stand but whoever remained would likely be so changed and traumatized they wouldn't really be Iron Snakes anymore.

[@andresperedo1275]

The wolfs wouldnt survive that. Although, I don't see Fenris destroyed without the wolves dying before

[@AGuyNamedRicky]

Brothers of the Snake was my first introduction to WH40K. It’s an underrated book, they’re an underrated chapter. And they will always be my favorite

[@Channel-23s]

I’d say the Mortifactors are cool or maybe more awesome wearing skulls of there enemies and also eat there foes and wear there faces too a 180 from the Ultramarines

[@mateuszbanaszak4671]

Cool to see a Chapter that actually has a good reason to use the emblem they do.

[@miketogwell1000]

was hoping for the "fire hawks" .... - well what they turned into anyway - unless your saving them for the Badab war

[@InternetSupervillain]

They're lack of care for humans, really sets them apart from ultras. Like I think they're cool, I just can't write them like I do ultras.

[@reallybig4868]

5m10s. That family feeling. Esprit de corps my bro

[@involuntaryanalysis]

Hi Arthur, You help me sleep, thanks man.

[@thomasmann9727]

That was a good one, overlooked the chapters lore.

[@drunknnirish]

Well as a huge Emperors Spears fan I guess I will read Brothers of the Snake and see if I can now enjoy two Ultramarine successors.

[@blayzjr]

Ayyyy I love the iron snakes. Brothers of the Snake was one of the first warhammer books I listened to

[@Viktor_Johansson]

Love this video. Please do one of The Charcarodons

[@lizadon0740]

Salamander bodies go into the volcano. Dragonspears eat them.

[@PenumbranWolf]

Easily my favorite Smurf successors.

[@TYPHON13KTA]

Can you do and emperors spears or mentors legion vid/vids? I love that book and id love to hear your views on especially the mentors legion.

[@notknightbean]

Emperors spears and iron snakes actually have a strong dislike for each other, because the iron snakes redeployed in a vital battle where the spears need them. The dislike has gotten to point the spears send a box of sea serpents to them every year, basically calling them “traitorous snakes”.

[@PeachDragon_]

Sigma spear behavior

[@TheBoneZone40k]

I'm like 90% certain that's the Aurora Chapter and not the Iron Snakes but It's been a minute since I read spears of the Emperor or the accessories so I'll have to check. Yep, I just looked it up it's the Eukarian Insurrection you're referring to, and it was actually the Aurora chapter Though I don't fault you, Guilliman has too many sons.

[@notknightbean]

@@TheBoneZone40k oh yeah fair enough.

[@nobleman9393]

The book of grudges remains full.

[@warhounds]

man this was very good video, the best i think you have done. now i kinda want to make a squad of them also PLS do soul drinkers

[@warhounds]

i just gotta say i finished 80% of my iron warriors and 50% of dark eldar and today i finished my first iron snake

[@Channel-23s]

Emperor Spears are also a great choices too very funny sense of humor and great graves with jokes of the death for fun savage too but honorable

[@Spacefriend594]

This would be a really cool chapter to do as a kill team

[@glynquigley4364]

Wasn't it implied they maybe Alpha Legion who Robbie G generously added to his personal empire of borrowed others?

[@jaegerbomb269]

Good pick for the Ultramarines.

[@ThePipLad]

Absolute top lads those Iron Snakes

[@SamraK64]

Pretty awesome! I guess they inherited the emphasis on meritocracy thing The "sailor culture" touch is pretty neat and relatable, and seems pretty consistent with the setup/background

[@thatonegreenguy2842]

It’s interesting to me that people mention how non compliant to the Codex some of the Ultramarines successors are. Leutin made an interesting observation about the Ultras themselves, the whole ‘Our presence remakes the past’ part. If anyone here has read or listened to ‘The Returned’ you may see the point I’m about to make. In Returned, it is mentioned how the original Chapter Master of the Doom Eagles (another 2nd founding Ultra successor) formed the chapter with the idea that the Ultras had failed the Emperor and Imperium by arriving too late to Terra. They had the idea that they would rather die in the right place than live another day and let Imperial citizens be harmed. I argue most of the Ultra successors hold similar beliefs and hence their lack of compliance to the Codex. Hell most of the Iron Snakes mention Bobby G as ‘The Primarch’. Most Ultramarine successors have determined that they failed in the siege of Terra. Now they each have their own mission and method to avenge the failure and kill the enemies of the Imperium. Edit: Originally referred to Monastery of Death but the book I am speaking of is actually ‘The Returned’. TL;DR: Iron Snakes aren’t REALLY that non compliant to the Codex Astartes if you consider that the Ultra Marines and MOST Ultra successors (Especially 2nd founding Chapters) think they failed the Emperor by arriving too late to Terra. Iron Snakes mega badass but have a good reason to not 100% follow in Bobby G’s direction.

[@tfallspark5104]

Now I have 3 top favorite Chapters. Back Templars Salamanders And now: Iron Snakes

[@ethanrumley746]

You're gonna love Blood Gogons

[@Sirmissalot90]

I'm just getting my feet wet in Warhammer 40k, and I chose the Iron Snakes as my favorite.

[@tre3961]

dude your really good at going in on these chapters, right up there with isyander & koda in my honest opinion =) keep it up

[@tjorgensen8760]

They are one of my favourites

[@lmpure_4542]

Another huge win for Rogue Trader lore!

[@bwtrader]

Amazing Chapter by Dan Abnett..

[@naib_stilgar]

Inwas gonna build a Salamanders kill team but now I am sold on Iron Snakes..

[@ChaplainJoshua]

Emperor be praised! My favorite chapter 🐍

[@gamingborger]

and the black templar maintain...8?... fleets numbering between 100 and 1000 marines because sigismund politely told Guilliman he wasn't adhereing to the codex astartes, but the is video is about the Iron Snakes and not them :)

[@thebaguette5097]

The death spectres mummify the dead they can recover

[@fluffywolfo3663]

Did you know their initiation rituals involve cheese?

[@Turnil321]

Could you make a video about the Ashen Claws?

[@roberthadley8745]

It is interesting that there is an Astartes chapter with an Odyssey theme.

[@thisguynamedmatt12]

I hope they do something like that for the dark krakens

[@innocenceUnknown]

This man keeps skipping da Mortifactors I shall bring CHAOS upon thee... With that said the Iron Snakes I agree are a very interesting and unique chapter. I remember reading their book while stuck on a 3 month deployment in the Northern Atlantic. Only reason I managed to get the books was due to porting in Scotland and stumbling on a GW store there.

[@christheconquerer9944]

Brothers of the snake is a fantastic book, if anybody hasn’t read it check it out!

[@pavlemarjanovic1896]

Could you please explain The Phenix lords? Especially Maugen Ra.

[@Kroeghe]

A snake as solid as iron.

[@andreibaciu7518]

you should do the Mortifactors next

[@Matt-md5yt]

Glad you talked about ones that's not talked much

[@zooman1445]

You got put them in a play list

[@monferno1]

Ngl I unironically love the Ultramarines, Guilleman is great in 30k and 40k and I love Ultramarine characters, I don’t think they should be necessarily shoved in our face but they are great