In the 41st Millenium, everything is driven by important characters. Great heroes lead charges into battle, while commanders and lords plot against eachother from their ships and plantes across the galaxy.
But which of them is strongest? Who is the most important among these powerful heroes? We’re going to run down the top 15.
15. Ibram Gaunt
Gaunt poses for an official portrait
Lord Militant General Ibram Gaunt is a commander of the Astra Militarum, who commanded the Tanith First and Only Imperial Regiment, known as ‘Gaunt’s Ghosts’, from the novel series of the same name.
He is known for bringing the rag-tag survivors of Tanith, his homeworld, together, and making them one of the greatest Imperial Guard regiments ever known, leading them on many great battles and crusades. They got their nickname after they spent 2 years fighting with the resistance on Gereon, becoming masters of stealth and guerilla tactics in order to survive.
Ibram Gaunt Strengths:
- Elite Strategist - veteran of countless battles
- Master of Stealth
- Close Combat Fighting skills
14. Inquisitor Eisenhorn
Eisenhorn in his prime, the runestaff of Magon Bure at his back
Gregor Eisonhorn is an inquisitor of the Ordo Xeno, the division of the inquisition which defends the Imperium against alien attacks and infiltration. He is a powerful psyker, one of the strongest of their order - though at times he was considered a heretic for his approaches.
He is known for his turn to the ideology of Radical Xanthism, that being the belief that the power of Chaos should be tamed and controlled, rather than ultimately destroyed as the mainline belief of the inquisition goes. He is also responsible for the destruction of the rogue Inquisitor Quixos, the heretical text Necroteuch, and the renegade Pontius Glaw.
Inquisitor Eisenhorn Strengths:
- Intense psychic ability
- Investigation and deduction
- Sorcerous Rituals
13. Kaldor Draigo
Lord Kaldor Draigo manifests warp-lightning to push back the daemons of Khorne
Kaldor Draigo is the Supreme Grand Master of a secret chapter of the space marines called the Grey Knights, who are all psykers, sworn to protect the Imperium from the warp. He wields the legendary Titansword, originally forged by the Emperor himself.
Draigo originally became Grand Master when he banished the Daemon Prince M’Kar the reborn on the world of Acralem, but he has done many other great deads since, including the banishment of Mortarion, a former primarch now sworn to the Chaos God Nurgle. He was banished into the Warp in his second fight against M’kar, but has stood resolute against corruption, and can now return for short periods of time, to help where the fighting is thickest.
Kaldor Draigo Strengths:
- Incredibly resistant to chaos corruption
- Incredible swordsman
- Inspiring leader
12. Angron
Angron the Red Angel on the world of Armageddon
Angron is the Primarch of the World Eaters Legion - or once was, atleast. He is now a daemonic prince, corrupted and manipulated by the chaos god Khorne into a hulking beast, wielding the huge sword known only as the Black Blade.
He is known for his savage nature and battle-prowess as one of the most effective fighters among the primarchs, and for his ravaging of the planet Armageddon- though the Black Blade was destroyed by the Grey Knight Hyperion, and his banishment by Brother-Captain Taremar Aurellian. Since the opening of the Great Rift, he can now return much more quickly, and is destroying everything he can - but his rival, Lion El’Johnson, is doing everything he can to stop him.
Angron Strengths:
- Huge daemonic form
- Massive cursed blade
- Vast psychic power that he can use to scourge worlds
11. Trazyn the Infinite
Trazyn oversees his collection from his Overlord’s throne
Trazyn the Infinite is a Necron overlord, hailing from the Nihilakh Dynasty, renowned as a keeper of treasures, relics, and curiosities. He awoke early from the Great Sleep, and used his time to expand his great collection across the world of Solemnance.
His search has lead him to many caches of history and hidden information - most notably, the discovery that the Necron pylons on Cadia were holding back the Great Rift, and even took part in the final battle against Abaddon before teleporting away. Since then, he has been using his collection to search for information that will let him enter the great rift himself, to find where Chaos lives and take things for his world. He is also renowned for uploading and downloading himself into other Necron bodies, which is where he gets his epithet from.
Trazyn the Infinite Strengths:
- Huge collection of relics and treasures
- Super intelligence
- Functionally immortal - if his body is destroyed, he just downloads himself into a new one.
10. Ghazghkull Mag Uruk Thraka
"Humies is all weak scum that deserve ta get stomped. 'Cept for One-Eye Yarrick. He knows how ter fight”
Ghazghkull Mag Uruk Thraka, the prophet of the Waaagh! known as the Beast of Armageddon, is one of the strongest warbosses ever known. Supposedly blessed by the Ork gods Mork and Gork, he leads a vast army of Orks in one of the biggest Waagh!s every seen.
He rallied his Orks to attack the world of Armageddon twice, causing untold destruction, but being pushed back by the Black Templars and the Imperial Guard under Yarrick each time. He has died twice, once, when he had his awakening during a raid in his home planet of Urk, and again at the hand of Wolf Lord Ragnar Blackmane during the Battle of Krongar - but both times, he came back even stronger than ever.
Ghazghkull Mag Uruk Thraka Strengths:
- Huge Army of Orks
- Blessed by Mork and Gork
- Huge suit of Mega armour with power klaw and a four-barrelled cannon
9. Lion El’Jonson
The Lion stands proud.
Lion El’jonson is the Primarch of the Dark Angels, the Lion of Caliban, and a son of the Emperor. He disappeared for many millennia after the destruction of his homeworld of Caliban during the Horus heresy, but has recently returned from his slumber to protect the Imperium.
He fought well in the Horus Heresy, notably defeating the Night Lords lead by his brother Konrad Curze. However, during the Destruction of Caliban, he was mortally wounded, but was interred to slumber and heal until the Imperium needed him most. that time has now come- he has returned, leading his Dark Angels once again to defeat Angron, another of his brothers.
Lion El’jonson Strengths
- Incredible commander, both in space and on the ground
- Psychic relics - the blade Fealty and the Emperor’s Shield
- Superhuman geneseed strength
8. Yvraine
Yvraine, wielding the legendary Crone Sword Kha-vir and accompanied by her Grynx familiar
Yvraine is the prophet of the newly awakened Eldar god of Death, Ynnead, who spawned from the souls of the Eldar stored in the infinity circuit of each craftworld. She leads the followers of Ynnead, known as the Ynnari, and is currently locked in a civil war with Asdrubael Vect, the leader of the Drukhari.
She was once from craftworld Biel-tan, where she walked many paths, before turning to the Drukhari and becoming a corsair, and then a pit fighter on Commorragh. She was killed in a fight, but was resurrected by Ynnead as a prophet of her will, ad Ynnead knew only she could unite both the Aeldari and the Drukhari under one banner, as she had been both. Protected by the Visarch and Yncarne, she is continuing to rally forces, and complete the rituals needed to bring Ynnead back.
Yvraine Strengths
- Great psychic power
- Huge army of eldar of all kinds
- Protected by avatar of Ynnead
7. Magnus the Red
Magnus in his daemonic form, surrounded by his Thousand Sons
Magnus the Red, also known as the Crimson King, is primarch of the Thousand Sons legion, and is a mighty sorcerer, perhaps the second most powerful psyker in the galaxy (after the Emperor). His attempts to warn his father of Horus’ corruption using his warp-touched abilities lead to his own undoing, and his eventual servitude to Tzeentch.
He is known for many deeds, both great and evil, both during the Horus Heresy and after. During the Burning of Prospero, he battled Leman Russ and his Space Wolves as the attacked Magnus’ Homeworld of Prospero, and during the Battle of Luna, he used his sorcerous magic to duel Roboute Guilliman and the Ultramarines, where he was forced to retreat into the Webway.
Magnus the Red Strengths:
- Second most powerful psyker
- Powerful sorcerer entourage
- Huge daemonic form
6. Asdrubael Vect
Vect during the great civil war, armoured as an Incubus.
Asdrubael Vect is the patriarch of the Kabal of the Black Heart, the strongest Kabal on Commorragh - making him the defacto leader of the Drukhari. He has survived for over 10,000 years, making him one of the oldest mortal beings in the galaxy- and therefore, having lived that long as leader of one of the most dangerous factions would make him one of the most dangerous people in the galaxy.
He is currently locked in a civil war with Yvraine and the Ynnari - a split off faction of both the Aeldari and Drukahri. Vect is holding his own though - he even fought on the front lines when Commorragh was overrun by daemons during the Thirteenth Black Crusade, though he was seemingly killed in the battle. However, he was resurrected and declared himself a living Dark Muse, an ascended prophet of the Drukhari people - thus cementing his position even further.
Asdrubael Vect Strengths:
- Control of one of the most lethal armies in the galaxy
- Modified ravager gunship for when he flies into battle
- Ancient power of the Dark Muses
5. The Swarmlord
The Swarmlord, reborn again
Among the creatures created by the tyranid hivemind, there is only one who can be said to be truly unique and truly immortal - The Swarmlord. This bioform can pop up anywhere, recreated with all the abilities and memories it had before.
It is known for its lethal reputation - the devastation in the Battle for Macragge, its duel with Marneus Calgar on Ichar IV, the scouring of countless systems, including Talon, Megyre, Baal, and Brynarr, and its ability to return and be recreated, even when slain many times by great heroes of the Imperium. It was even spotted recently on Sanctum with the Leviathan fleet, during their assault on the Segmentum Pacificus.
The Swarmlord Strengths:
- Four huge boneswords that can slice through adamantium or forcefields alike, with the close combat skills to use them.
- More independence and tactical thinking than any other bioform
- Ability to return from the dead with any hive fleet
4. Elrad Ulthran
Ulthran smiting the enemies of the Asuryani
Elrad Ulthran is the chief farseer of the Ulthwe craftworld, a very prestigious position within the Asuryani people. He is a gifted psyker, possessing foresight unlike any other, allowing him to consistently warn his people of danger and execute complex plans to turn events in the galaxy to his and his people’s favour.
Eldrad was responsible for the creation of the Ynnari, and has helped Yvraine with her pursuit of rituals to awaken Ynnead. He was also responsible for directing Ghazghkull Mag Uruk Thraka towards the hive world of Armaegeddon, in order to protect his aeldari people, as well as warning the imperium of Horus’ turn towards chaos during the Horus Heresy.
Eldrad Ulthran Strengths:
- Incredible foresight ability
- Mastermind, controlling things from the shadows
- Backed by the Ynarri, and Ynnead themselves
3. Abaddon the Despoiler
Abaddon welding the Talon of Horus in the Eighteenth Black Crusade
Ezekyl Abaddon, known as the Despoiler, is the Warmaster of Chaos and master of the Black Legion, blessed by the four chaos Gods, and the successor to the Warmaster Horus. He charges into battle from the Eye of Terror, leading the Chaos Space Marines and all who follow them.
Though Abbadon has a long history of destruction and chaos, most recently he is known for destroying the Imperium’s foothold on Cadia, including the Necron Pylons on the planet which were keeping the rift back - clashing personally with some of the Imperium’s greatest heroes including Inquisitor Greyfax, Saint Celestine, Orven Highfell and Geminae Superior. Since then, he has built the Arks of Omen: two huge space hulks with the power to assault the imperium, in order to find the parts of an ancient weapon.
Abaddon the Despoiler Strengths:
- Chaos-blessed making him almost immortal
- The leader of possibly the greatest force in the galaxy - if they can make it out of the Eye of Terror
- Huge terminator armour and ancient weaponry letting him kill anything in his path
2. Szarekh, The Silent King
The Silent King rises, larger and greater than any other Necron!
Szarekh is the last ruler of the Necrons, responsible for the betrayal of the godlike C’tan during the War on Heaven. He has the most advanced and sophisticated Necron bodies, given the greatest form during the Biotransference due to his high rank. He wields the Sceptre of Eternal Glory, a weapon powered by the soul of a C’tan.
When the War in Heaven ended, Szarekh flew off into the void of space, taking his dynasty with him in stasis, experiencing aeons of grief while all others slept. However, he encountered the tyranid threat out in the void, and realised that the devouring hive mind could prevent the Necrons from returning, if all biomass in the galaxy was destroyed. Thus, he returned, and began awakening the Necrons from their crypts, and took personal command of his armies, resulting in hundreds of major defeats for the Imperium.
Szarekh The Silent King Strengths:
- Ancient knowledge beyond any organic life
- God-powered equipment which can wreak havoc on all who defy the Necrons
- Reanimation protocols mean his armies are incredibly difficult to kill
1. Roboute Guilliman
Guilliman during his youth, as primarch of the Ultramarines
Roboute Guilliman, known as the Avenging son, is the strongest of the Primarchs currently active in the galaxy. He saw himself as a builder of civilisations, unlike his brothers, who only saw themselves as warriors. He was brought back from near-death, making him stronger than ever, and he now wields the Emperor’s Sword, the counterpart to his brother Lion’s shield.
Guilliman is now the Lord Commander of the Imperium, a title he gave himself after he was healed by the Ynnari and returned from his stasis-sleep. He began the Indomitus Crusade, a great push to save the worlds devastated by the opening of the Great Rift, trapped on the other side of the galaxy. He is now attempting to bring the Emperor back from death, all while leading and defending the Imperium from Chaos’ increasing power.
Roboute Guillman Strengths:
- Great commander - possibly the primarch to truly learn how to rule from their father
- Incredible fighter, with the emperor’s sword at his side
- The Armour of Fate - a powerful relic with advanced life-sustaining technology, protecting him from harm
So that’s the run down of the 15 most powerful characters in Warhammer 40K. However, with each of these characters pursuing their own great agendas, this could all change soon enough, with another character taking the top spot, or perhaps some meeting their end. That’s the fun of an ongoing story like 40K - you never know what happens next.
